The Director of Early Learning and Childcare with Metis Nation – Saskatchewan was pleasantly surprised with the number of students who enrolled in a Michif immersion project. Lisa Fleming says she was concerned that with safety around COVID-19 parents would want to keep their children home, but enrolment was promising in the five school divisions where the Michif immersion program was introduced this past fall.

She believes it shows just how important learning the language is for Metis families, because it connects them with their culture, identity, values and traditions. The pilot project is for pre-k and kindergarten students and their families.

Fleming appreciates the elders and language keepers who give their time to promote the Michif language, and the Saskatoon and Regina public and Catholic school divisions and the Ile-a-la-Crosse school for supporting the Michif Early Learning Pilot Project. Michif is an endangered language, so the MN-S is striving to increase the number of speakers to help maintain and grow Metis culture.