Cabin sleepovers part of Innu education revamp to keep culture thriving

A gaggle of kids laugh as they push each other over in the snow. Two teachers watch, until it's time to head inside the Sheshatshiu culture cabin to cook over a wood stove.

"I like everything here, playing outside, get to spend time with friends," Grade 5 student Libby Nuna said.

Libby said it feels pretty nice to be learning about her heritage on sleepovers held at the cabin. She's grateful for the chance to stay overnight out at a cabin, immersed in nature.

"I love my culture," Libby said.

At the culture cabin used by Sheshatshiu Innu School, kids learn to set snares, hear from elders, make Innu donuts, go on hikes and learn about their traditional ways.

"It's really fun to bond with them in this way because you have a different relationship in the classroom than when you've had these types of experiences together," said Grade 5 teacher Simone Faulkner.

The culture cabin, which opened last year and began welcoming students for overnight trips this fall,is just one of the elements Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education is working to build up as the Innu school division reviews its curriculum and regional education agreement with the federal government.

Kanani Davis,the regional education agreement co-ordinator, saysthey're working to understand what other First Nations are doing and what could be implemented in their schools.

Davis said she wants to see more cultural andlanguage programming in schoolsbut also understand how to help students so they don't drop out and encourage those who have dropped out to return to finish their education.

"What is it that we need to do different so that we can get more students to come in, to come to school and to keep them in school and but also be able to teach them their Innu way of life, healthy living?" Davis said.

"We all know that the Innu way of life and what Innu used to practise and what we used to do in the country was healthy. It was their home. And I think that's what we really need to look at when we look at the education system."

Davis said language is an important need and they are dreaming big. But, she said, it's a fight to maintain two cultures: modern ways and traditional ways.

"We're in a tough spot because elders are dying," Davis said. "We'd love to be able to go out on the land like we used to. But then there's other things that we also have to look at like, for example, employment, education."

MTIE is holding community forums, too.Paul Rich, community director of education, said getting the community involved has been a long time in the works.

"We also need their help in making sure that they understand that it's not just the school but it's the whole community that has to work together to solve the issues," Rich said. "Being able to keep maintaining and bringing our language back, also show our traditional lifestyle."

Rich said he's most looking forward to the programming to keep the language alive and thriving. He said they're exploring hiring more Innu classroom assistants so there's an Innu-aimun speaker in each class, developing staff andlooking at credit courses.

"From what we hear from the community, the language is the most important," Rich said. "We had this language for thousands of years and we're not going to lose it."

WATCH I Why a culture cabin has become a success story:

These kids explain why sleepovers as part of school at this Sheshatshiu cabin are so fun

10 months ago

Duration 1:56

At the Sheshatshiu Innu School, theres cooking, hiking and doughnut-making and opportunities for students to learn about their culture from elders. Overnight trips at t he culture cabin, which is associated with the Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education, started last fall.

Ann-Margaret Snow talks to the Grade 5 students completely in Innu while they run around the Sheshatshiu culture cabin. Many of them understand what she's saying, even if they're not able to respond. Snow is one of the Innu-aimun language teachers.

Snow said it's important for kids to "see and to explore outside, country," also known as Nutshimut in Innu-aimun.

"Some of the kids don't go to the country and go cabins here, it's the first time, some of them, and they really like it," Snow said.

"It's good because it's part of our culture," said Grade 5 student Evangeline Rich. "It feels good because we're out of the school and we're spending more time together."

This is the second overnight trip for this classroom this school year. The students requested to come back for a second time. Snow and Faulkner hope they remember the time at the cabin well into the future.

Davis wants to see more Innu youth staying in school in the future and completing their education, too andhopes to see them speaking theirlanguage as they grow up.

"We'll be so much stronger and better community if we're able to teach our kids both worlds and give them their dreams of what they want to do," Davis said.

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