The Nawican Friendship Centre has a new program coming up that is designed to prepare children for kindergarten, learn the Cree culture and help them bond with their parents.

“It’s all about connecting parents with their children, and also getting them ready for school at the same time,” explained Megan Cardinal, who will be teaching and running the program.

The program is funded by Success by Six. Children up to age six will learn to use coat racks, wear indoor shoes and behave in the way they will need to in school. There will be regular picnics and games, and the program is infused with the Cree culture.

“Instead of us teaching them the word dog in English, we teach it in Cree, so they’re learning the English language as well as our language that we speak every day, which is really good. It teaches me Cree as well,” laughed Cardinal.

Cardinal is a certified Mother Goose, well-versed in nursery rhymes and dealing with children. She has a child with disabilities herself, and similar programs to this one have helped her learn a lot about caring for kids.

“I used to attend small programs like this with my son, and it got me to learn a lot more about my son and the learning disabilities that he has, because not every kid’s the same at all.”

She thinks childhood is a crucial time to instill good behaviour and sense of culture.

“It’s easier to teach them at a younger age than it is when they’re a little older. Their little brains are like sponges, and they just absorb everything. If we can give them an environment where it’s just about them and their parents, it will go into their minds that they’re learning together and learning from one another.”

“It’s rebuilding family community,” added Brenda L’Hirondelle, program director at the Nawican Friendship Centre. “Aboriginal people have always been community and family orientated, and that’s what the program is about: family, community and the bond that we all share.”

“It’s our history,” continued Cardinal. “It’s what we were brought up as, and I think it would be a good thing to learn, because not only is our language disappearing, but our culture. Not many of our youth know it, but would love to get to know it.”

L’Hirondelle detailed how deeply rooted the Cree language is in its culture, and how different inflections on the same word can produce wildly different results.

“When people get together and tell jokes in Cree, they laugh and laugh and laugh, but when they translate it into English it’s not funny. They tell it to us in English and it’s like, ‘That’s not even funny,’” she said laughing.

The mix of English and Cree is designed to represent both sides of the community’s heritage.

“We speak English, so we will teach them that, but we will also teach them Cree so that they’re not forgetting it. Because the culture doesn’t die, it’s just forgotten. It doesn’t ever die, but it is slowly getting lost by a lot of people,” Cardinal explained.

She harkened back to her days as a youth. She would cut meat for hours with her elders, which taught her patience. It also made her feel needed, which she thinks is absolutely necessary for the development of a child.
“Just little tiny interactions with their parents slowly show them that they are wanted and needed in this world, even if it is just a little chore, like preparing snacks together as a group. We can all take turns in preparing. Kids can’t handle knives, but they can get us plates or set the table.

“That’s most important, knowing that you have somebody who wants you.”

For six months, Cardinal adopted a baby. She wanted to make sure her biological son did not feel unwanted or pushed away because of this, so she had him bring her bottles and other items to keep him feeling needed.

“The world and our society has gone all around money and working. This should just give parents a chance to come in and understand their children’s needs,” she added.

Despite the focus on Cree culture, the program is open to all people, and Cardinal wants to make that point clear.
“If they’re willing to come in and learn with the same structure we have for everybody, they’re more than welcome. I would love for other people to come and learn things here, and not be afraid that there’s aboriginal only people here. There’s a lot of people that come in, and we keep that door open for everybody.”

The program is free. All Cardinal wants, at the very least, is someone to take something away from the experience.
“I want the parents to have a better understanding of their children, and to realize they aren’t just kids, that they are a little sponge growing, and they need to have a good environment to grow in.

“At least one person learning something will make me feel like I’ve done something, even if it’s just learning a song in Cree or English.”

Awasahk Otehnigahn, translated from Cree to English as Our Children’s Future, is starting Sept. 20 for children their parents. The program mimics kindergarten in that it will run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for 12 weeks.

For more information, contact the Nawican Friendship Centre at 250-782-5202.

sburnett@ahnfsj.ca