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Training program for early childhood educators to help keep Mi'kmaw language alive I The Star
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Mi'kmaw language alive
By FADILA CHATERFor StarMetro Halifax
Mon., Nov. 19, 2oi 8
HALIFAX—The federal and provincial governments are teaming up with a
IndigenousMi'kmaw advocacy group and the Nova Scotia Community College to create an
` `f training program forearly childhoodeducation.
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program,Development Minister Zach Churchill on Monday afternoon in Wagmatcook, N.S.
to announce the Nova Scotia Community College pilot
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11/20/2018
Training program for early childhood educators to help keep Mi'kmaw language alive I The Star
A renderinar of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre's proposed 70,000-
b
square -foot space on Gottingen St. The current centre is also located on
Gottingen St. and will be one of the sites used for a new pilot program for
early childhood educators. (CONTRIBUTED / EKISTICS PLAN+DESIGN)
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chance to upgrade their skills and earn a second -level diploma in the accelerated
workplace training program, which will launch in January.
Ann Sylliboy is a post -secondary consultant at Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, an
advocacy group of chiefs and educators who promote the educational interests
Mi'kmaw communities to preserve the language rights of the Mi'kmaq. I
"For many of our children, maybe they're not hearing their language at home,"
Sylliboy said. "That's who you are. If our language here is lost, there is nowhere else
Sylliboy was at Monday's announcement and said the online training program wi
be available in all 13 First Nations in Nova Scotia and at the Mi'kmaw Native i
99"Iff P1011
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRQ called upon all levels of
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11/20/2018 Training program for early childhood educators to help keep Mi'kmaw language alive I The Star
Two years later, the federal government worked with Indigenous partners to
develop the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework. The guide
supports equal education opportunities for preschool -age Indigenous children.
That year the federal government also dedicated $1.7 billion toward bettering
Indigenous early childhood education programs over the next 10 years. However,
Sylliboy could not confirm that the new ECE program is funded through this
initiative.
According to the 2011 National Household Survey, there were 136,100 Indigenous
children between the ages of zero to four in Canada, including 2,735 in Nova Scotia -
However, Indigenous children are less likely than non -Indigenous children to
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and Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities.
Both programs take an Indigenous approach to education, health and culture an
1_t,romote Indigenous languages and skills.
However, e to difficulties maintaining a competitive wage for staff, these
programs have struggled to attract early childhood educators, especially from
Indigenous communities.
"I can't speak for the world, but in Nova Scotia,, early childhood educators aren't
compensated enough," Sylliboy said.
The training program, Sylliboy says, will help existing educators advance their
career and allows them to work in classroom settings.
"We are very excited about this new partnership," she said. "Providing
opportunities such as this to our teachers helps to bring even more Mi'kmaw
language and culture into our early childhood education facilities, which benefits
not only our children but our communities as well."
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11/20/2018 Training program for early childhood educators to help keep Mi'kmaw language alive I The Star
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