The First Nations, Inuit and Metis Unit at Saskatoon Public Schools was granted $5,000 through the SPSF Programs of Excellence to be used towards their Indigenous Cultural Arts and Language Program.
For 10 weeks in the fall of 2019 at Hugh Cairns School, the annual Indigenous Song and Dance added the component of language to celebrate the United Nations designated 2019 international Indigenous languages. Offered was Cree, Nakota, Dene, Saulteaux, Metis/Michif, Dakota/Lakota. For the first time in program history, language teachers for all the languages were available for every week for all students that attended.
Over 280 students within Saskatoon Public Schools attend every Tuesday for 10 weeks at Hugh Cairns. They learned specific greetings and TPR (Total Physical Response) method of teaching language. They were able to perform this at the final presentation in all languages learned.
Classes were offered for Elementary students, Collegiate students, and SPS staff and was part of the SPS Indigenous Ensemble program.
