LAC LA BICHE – Light of Christ School has been chosen by the Lakeland Catholic School Division (LCSD) to pilot Alberta Education’s new Cree Language and Culture course in the upcoming 2022-23 school year.
“We will be offering it to students in Grades 4 through 9 at Light of Christ School,” stated Pamela Guilbault, the superintendent of Lakeland Catholic.
The course will be provided in partnership with the Lac La Biche Native Friendship Centre.
Students participating in the Cree Language and Culture course will receive first-hand learning from an experienced Cree language instructor, under the supervision of a certified teacher.
“This program was created as a response to parental and student requests to learn the language, and our division is proud to be able to offer it to those at our Lac La Biche school,” said Guilbault.
Commitment to Reconciliation
With more information surfacing in relation to the historic atrocities that took place at Residential schools in Canada, the stripping of language and cultural identity was just one of many traumas inflicted on First Nation, Métis and Inuit youth.
Lakeland Catholic’s superintendent says efforts are being made to pursue reconciliation.
“The division has made a commitment to meet the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and by teaching Aboriginal language courses for credits, we are honouring this commitment,” stated Guilbault.
