Indigenous research & scholarship
Launching kâniyâsihk Research and Development Institute (kRDI)
kâniyâsihk Culture Camps (kCC) and kCAE have always been places of learning and teaching; they continue as places for Indigenous Research and Scholarship. We have a place where visiting scholars, Graduate Students, PhD students and Professors can take part and join Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Elders and Land Users.
We specialize in Translating, Transcribing and Documenting Indigenous Languages. Our professional developments and workshops also include Land Based Programming and implementation of Indigenous Languages within any program. Assessment of Language and Land Based programming is also a specialty.
Please contact us for more information.
Cree Immersion Land-Based School
Declaration of Cree as a First Language
kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa Cree Academy of Excellence (Immersion School)
Declaration for kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa Cree Immersion School
kisê-manitow kâkî-sawêyimikoyahk ôma nêhiyawêwin.
Acknowledging that our Cree language is a gift by the Creator.
kinanistawinênânaw ôma kinêhiyawêwininaw ka-âhkamêmototamahk
Recognizing that our Cree language is important in transmitting and enriching our culture – our history, ways of being – ways of coming to knowledge.
kikiskihtêyinanâw mîna ka-manâ-wanihtâyahk ôma.
Realizing that language loss threatens our survival as iyiniwak.
âsay wîya misiwê-pihtâkwan ôma môniyâwêwin mâka poko kâ-mâmawi-kamahtohk ôma kinêhiyawêwininaw
Acknowledging that English is so pervasive and maintaining our Cree language into the future in the face of this requires determination by the whole community.
kinanistawinênânaw ôma kinêhiyaw-ohpikinawâwasôwin ê-miywâsik êkwa ôtê nîkân ka-wîhcîkocik ôki kitawâsisiminawak
Recognizing that our identity as nehiyawak is inherently connected to our Cree language and that maintaining this is crucial to our children’s well-being, success and survival.
nêhiyawêwin ôma ka-astamastêw ôta ôma kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa kiskinwahamâkêwikamik.
We, the people of our traditional territories, therefore state that our Cree language is hereby declared the official language of kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa Cree Immersion School.
Learn More
The camps are still in high demand because of the benefits of connecting to fresh air, land and water. It was such a success that we needed to have a school that gave our students education throughout the entire year. The school has been a dream of our staff and community for over two decades. It takes a lot of planning and prayer. The school is hovering at 25 students that have committed to learning around the months and seasons of an entire year.
The Staff and administration are amazing! Without their vision and hard work, the dream of this type of school would be still a dream. Come and visit. pê-kîwêk!
Photo Gallery
Cree Immersion Program Staff
otatoskêwak
Director/Principal
Mrs. Matilda Lewis (M.Ed) recently graduated from the Indigenous Languages Certificate Program through the University of Saskatchewan. Mrs. Lewis holds a Bachelors of Education as well as Master’s Degree in Education. She has taught over 30 years at all levels and was a part of the Cree Immersion Program of Island Lake School. She continues to promote Indigenous languages and has extensive research and experience in community development and is a strong advocate of teaching languages at home and at work. She has also played a foundational role in the development of kâniyâsihk Culture Camps as an instructor, Cook, and kohkom.
Instructor/Resource Development Unit Lead
Educational Assistant
Elder in Resident
kohkom Margaret Crookedneck
kohkom has been instrumental since the beginning. She is the dictionary, knowledge holder and Elder for the school. She has worked as a Bus Driver, Custodian and understands the importance of language, culture and education.
oskâpêwisak-Camp Helpers
Land Based Program Coordinator
Cook/Camp Helper
Outreach Worker & Community Liaison
Dr. Jody Houle BA, BISW, MA, ipkDoc
Jody Houle is from the Whitefish Lake First Nation, AB. She has received a Bachelor of Indian Studies and a Bachelor of Social Work from the First Nations University of Canada. Jody is a registered Social Worker as well as NIB Mental Health Therapist. She then went on to pursue a Masters of Integrated Studies through the Athabasca University. Jody has completed her ipkDoc at the University of Nuhelot’ine Thaiyots’I nistamêyimâkanak Blue Quills. She is very passionate of land-based education and about revitalizing the language. She is a beginner learner of the Cree language as she understands and can speak a little of the language. She enjoys walking, painting, dogsledding, canoeing and spending time with family and friends.
Staff Professional Development with Outdoor Council of Canada Trainers
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