Chief Mise'l Joe
Director of Education Edwina Wetzell
Mi'kmaw Language teachers three

 Conne River, also known by Mi'kmaw as Miawpukek, is the only Mi'kmaw community in Newfoundland, (Taqamkuk).  It was in 1973 when Conne River was recognized as a native community by the government of Newfoundland, yet, archaeological evidence proves that Mi'kmaq were in Newfoundland for thousands of years.

 In April 1999, the Conne River Band Council indicated to the Centre that there are seven hundred and thirty Mi'kmaq in Conne River housed in one hundred seventy-eight households.   There are other Mi'kmaq living off the reserve who are not band members.

 St. Anne's School in Conne River has been under local control of local educational authority for the past thirteen years.  The present enrollment is one hundred and eighty students from K-12.  They have been struggling for years to have Mi'kmaw taught in their school by fluent teachers.  Up to now, they have been assisted by linguist Bernie Francis of Membertou, Nova Scotia.  Presently, Mi'kmaw is taught in daycare, primary to grade six.  Mi'kmaw will be taught in the junior high and high school levels starting next fall.  Mi'kmaw is taught as a second language.

 In September of 1998, the Director of Education decided to embark on a new initiative to send a fully qualified teacher from their community to Eskasoni to job shadow Mi'kmaw language teachers for the entire school year.  The individual that came to Eskasoni is Rod Jeddore.  In addition to job shadowing, he is staying in a home where Mi'kmaw is spoken as a first language.  This idea proved to be so successful that Conne River is sending a second teacher in September in 1999.

 At the present time there are no plans to have an immersion program in St. Anne's School.  According to the director, immersion requires the teachers to be fluent and they are just in the process of preparing teachers for the Mi'kmaw language program.  Offering Mi'kmaw in their school is a priority and immersion is unlikely for the time being.
 

 Conne River is quite isolated.  The town of Grand Falls is about two hours away by car.  There are two small non-native communities across the lake, but none of the children of Conne River attend these schools.  There are no Mi'kmaw language courses available anywhere in the Newfoundland public school system.  Conne River being the only place in Newfoundland where a child can learn Mi'kmaw.

 Mi'kmaw values and morals are considered important skills to teach children.  Like most communities, Conne River needs resource people to teach these skills.  They also need curriculum and resource materials for their language teachers which will be obtained from the Centre of Excellence in Eskasoni.

 In order to help those interested in learning the language, the director has recommended that curriculum be offered at different levels.  For instance, Level I for non-speakers, Level II for developing speakers and Level III for fluent speaking non-readers.

 Conne River community has a total of thirteen teachers in their schools, none of whom are fluent.  There are three who have a basic knowledge of the language.

 When you observe the data collected by the surveyor, it shows that there are six women between the ages of twenty and thirty-nine who understand the language but do not speak it.  There is one male child who understands.  There are two known individuals who are fluent in Mi'kmaw.

 Conne River First Nation has taken unique measures to bring their language back through the education system.  It will be interesting to see how this community does with the strategy they have implemented.

 
 
 
 
 

How many and what ages in household?	Language spoken most often at home?	Why is Mi'kmaw not spoken in home?	How many speak Mi'kmaw in household?
How many understand but do not speak Mi'kmaw in household?	Can anyone at home read Mi'kmaw?	Can anyone in home write Mi'kmaw?	Has any member taken a Mi'kmaw course?
What type of course was taken?	How long was the course?	What course would you take if offered?	Have you attended a St. Ann's Mission?
Was the Mi'kmaw language used?	What percentage of Mi'kmaw was used?	What other cultural activities were you involved in?	Are you aware of books/materials in Mi'kmaw?