The rest of them will follow

by IDA JOHNSON DENNY

Kwe’, Ni’n teluisi Ida Johnson Denny, Nikanus Essissoqnikewey Siawa’sik-Lnuey Kina’matnewo’kuom (Eskasoni Immersion Program) Grades K-4 Wejikwey Essissoqnikewey l’nue’kati. Ta’n l’nui’suti mekite’tasik pasik ta’n aklasie’wk etlukipnik. Nkuey Band Office, Health Center aqq net Indian Day School. Mu na Aklasie’wisultimk pasik na’te’l. Nike’ kiskuk, ms~t ula I’tlukutipni’k aklasie’wkik na ms~t L’nu’k etlukutijik. 

Ta’n tujiw poqjisku’lewianek, na l’pa mu nata aklasiewi’siwap pasik katu ta’n telimulsiap tluen Yes aqq no, aqq May I leave the room. Ula klusuaqnn nutaiapn net Indian Day School. Mukwite’tm wejinu’kwatmanek tliman nujikina’muet, “May I leave the room”, jel mu kejituap ta’n telueyanek katu neki’k~pnik ktkik tewita’jik ta’n tujiw kistluej wen net. Ta’n tujiw tewieyanek jel mu kejituap ta’n tla’teketes. Telo’tmas kiseyanek.

Nutaqipnik nujikina’mua’tite’wk kaqi’sk kowey telua’tijik klapis nestaqik aqq me’j pa kaqueyulsiek~p ta’n tujiw mu nestmu’an.

Eymek~p naqsi kina’masultiek!`p aqq eyk~pnik mu teli naqsi kisa’masultikipnik. Mu ali aklasie’wi’siewi”siwap ta’n tujjiw tewiteyanek net kina’matnewo’kuom. Wjit ni’n, mu na aklasie’wimawt kikma’j mita,

L’nu’k mu telo’lti’k. Kwetaiwik~p nikmanaq ta’n wejita’tijiek Shubenacadie Residential School, mu nuku’ natawi l’nui’sultik~pnik.

Kisi kwenipnik nujaq wsukwisl Annie Morris aqq Wklamuksisl Simon Paul, Telo’tmas naqsi kina’masianek ta’n teli lnu’kiljemk. M~ta kaqi’sk ekitmapnn wi’katiknn petkitkl niskamij ta’n tujiw eykek nepisimko’kuom. Nikmaq mekite’tmi’tip l’nuoltimk. Mawi kesatmap ta’n tujiw pa’skite’ka’timk. Ekina’mulsiap ta’n teli ketantmk tetpaqamu’k kmu’j aqq ta’n tela’tmk. Pekija’tmk.

E’pite’suwianek, weli aklasie’wi’siap, pasik e’wmap wjit ta’n tujiw kowey menuekey. Kisi kitmap elt l’nuiktuk, wi’katiknn niskamij petkitkl. Mu kejiaqik ta’n weji kinamasisni’k net Rand Orthography.

Ta’n tujiw nijanianek, welkuik~p kisi kina’muen l’nuituk. M~ta naspiap na amkwesewey Eskasoni School board 1980ek. Na nemituap ta’n kisi tli kina’masultitaq nijanaq l’nuiktuk. Na tele’kek, naji kina’masiap University of New Brunswick, Na’tel mawi attiknetmap Native Studies. Ajipjutuap kisitla’sin wtanminaq. Ta’n tujiw nutmaianek etek certification program St. Thomas University wjit telkina’muemk puktaqi l’nu’kina’muemk,na wetnu’kwalsiap lien. Ta’n tujiw asite’tasianek, na tujiw elt ikt~kik wije’wipnik, jel na nuku pejis~tasikip tett eymek klaman ma nuta’nuk knekk lien wen. 

Pekiji te’tmap mna’q eyknuk puktaqi kina’masimk l’nuikuk, na klapis 1999ek kisite’tasik poqtamkian. Me’ katu welta’siap na tujiw. 

Ki’s na ekina’mupnik l’nuiktuk sku’lk pasik mu tepianuk~p, aqq telo’tmap mu telwla’sinuk~p. Ta’n tujiw puktaqi Lnuikina’muj na msit kowey wiaqi kin’mujik mijua’ji’jk l’nuey nkutey, ktapekiaqnn, pepkije’te’mamk, aqq wiaqa’lujik kisiku’k. 

Nanijik ntusk, ta’n mawi nutkwe’te’wk me’ nekmowk me’ kesatmi’tip aklasie’wisi’tij mita witapuaq aklasie’wisultijik aqq pekwankwitij aklasie’wey wsitqamu. Mawi-kisikultite’wk me’ weli l’nui’sultijik, Wela’lukwi’tij ta’n tett etlukuti’jik. Aqq elt wela’liekk elt ni’n, ekina’maq~pnik mijua’ji’j l’nuiktuk ta’n mu weli nestmu’tik~p aklasie’wiktuk.

Immersion Program asami pekije’kek kisi poqtamikia’q na nijinkik menso’tmi’tijek, katu ne’sijik nuji’jk welapetmi’tij aqq telte’lmkik eskwiejik. Ma tlkaqianuk!!

Ida and husband Jeff with grandchildren; Nolan, Scarlett, Tyce and Jord. Photo credit: Courtesy of Ida Johnson Denny

My name is Ida Johnson Denny, Principal of Essissoqnikewey kina’matnewo’kuom (Eskasoni Immersion Program Grades kindergarten-4).

I grew up in the first nation community of Eskasoni. The Mi’kmaq language was very dominant in my community except for facilities such as the police station, band office, health center and of course the Indian Day School, due to non-native staff. It was very rare to have English spoken or heard in our community. 

When I began school, I was unable to speak English but was taught basic words such as “yes, no” and “may I leave the room.” These basic words were a necessity to survive the day at the Indian Day School. I recall practicing my English by asking the teacher, “May I leave the room?”

Without knowing the meaning but saw others that left the room after saying those words. I tried it one day, I said those words and was allowed to go out. I thought that was funny, because I didn’t even know what to do after that. 

I can recall the educators repeating words to us that did not mean much to me, but by the end of that school year I understood more because how we were disciplined to make sure we understood.  There were students that caught on quickly and others not so much. Those who didn’t understand easily were often punished. My friends and I didn’t use it outside or at play. In my culture, you wouldn’t speak to one another in a different language, it was considered disrespecting. It was sad to see my relatives coming home from the Residential school, not able to speak in our language anymore. Wasn’t easy communicating with them like we used to.

I was raised by elders, my father’s aunt and uncle. We learned firsthand how to use our language in our everyday activities. We were immersed in land-based teaching. My favourite was making wooden baskets from scratch. I heard a lot of Mi’kmaq language while looking and doing different things.

Ida has been working with the Mi’kmaq immersion program since its inception. Photo credit: Courtesy of Ida Johnson Denny

In my teens, I was able to speak English, but only used as a tool. I continued to speak in Mi’kmaq and so did my friends.

Becoming a mother, I was interested in education and was aware of the challenges my people were facing understanding in a second language. My oldest daughter was about to start school, and had a limited understanding of English. At that time, I was appointed to be on the first Eskasoni School board. I heard of other first nation communities losing their mother tongue. How they wished that they could bring it back.

At that time, I decided that I could do something about that before our community ends up like them. I furthered my education at the University of New Brunswick and majored in Native Studies. After I graduated and had worked at our school, there was still no sign of having an immersion program after all the plans. About almost 20 years after being on the school board, I noticed a certification program offered at St Thomas on Immersion Pedagogy. I went and asked if I can take this program and I was allowed. Along with two of the other teachers. This was always my dream, to teacher our students in Mi’kmaq.

In 1999, Eskasoni had its first Mi’kmaq Immersion Program starting with just the kindergarten program. Curriculum wasn’t that hard to develop for the little ones. I developed songs and followed the provincial curriculum. Our school already had a language program but I found it wasn’t enough. The immersion program showed the community how important our language is to our people. Siawa’sik–Lnuey meant our language and culture will live on.

Of the five daughters I have, I noticed the youngest ones preferring more English. I often ask them, why do they need to speak English so much when we all understand Mi’kmaq. They blame their peers and the fast world where it’s everywhere. All of my daughters work in our community and speaking Mi’kmaq has been an asset. Bringing the Immersion program took a long time for my own daughter to take part in. I’m very pleased that my three grandchildren are in the program today, and I believe the rest of them will follow.