About – kiyokētan – let's visit

kiyokētan, which means “let’s visit” in the nêhiyawêwin (Cree) language, brings together for the first time Indigenous and non-Indigenous language professionals from across Canada with the collective goal to create greater awareness about, revitalize and strengthen, and ethically and respectfully incorporate Indigenous languages within the larger context of multilingual education.

Our initial gathering was a three-day event at the Dakota Dunes Resort located on Whitecap Dakota First Nation from September 26–29, 2023.

The primary goal of the gathering was relationship-building, with two main objectives in mind: to build a network of emerging and established scholars and practitioners to create a space of mentorship and solidarity to support Indigenous Language Revitalization work within colonial and minority language education programs; and to move toward a position paper articulating practice-based guiding principles for future collaboration and generation of educational resources based on a pluralist orientation to language learning, teaching and use.

Initial event schedule

September 26 Tuesday	5:00 pm Sign in for gathering 5:30 pm Welcome and featured talk 7:00 pm Buffet dinner
September 27 Wednesday morning	7:00 am Breakfast and visiting 8:00 am Smudge and opening circle 10:00 am Break 10:15 am Panel presentations
September 27 Wednesday afternoon	12:30 pm Buffet lunch and visiting 1:30 pm Indigenous senior scholars sharing 2:15 pm Indigenous student responses 3:00 pm Break 3:15 pm Small group discussion and witnessing 4:15 pm Smudge and sharing circle
September 27 Wednesday evening	5:30 pm Break 6:30 pm Buffet dinner and visiting 7:30 pm Activity: nature walk and art
September 28 Thursday	7:00 am Breakfast 9:00 am Shuttle pick up 9:30 am Visit to St. Frances Cree Bilingual School in Saskatoon (optional)

Featured guest speaker

Willie Ermine

Willie Ermine is from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan where he lives with his family. Willie is an Emeritus Professor with the First Nations University of Canada. He works as the Traditional Health lead in his own community in health and healing. Throughout his career, Willie has worked extensively with First Nation Elders in his community and for his academic work. He has lectured in areas of humanities, Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Education, Indigenous Philosophy, and research methods. Willie has published numerous academic articles including widely read papers on indigenous ethics and land-based learning. He has presented at various venues nationally and internationally on the nature of indigenous thought and knowledge.

Dakota Dunes Resort

Photo Credit: Dakota Dunes Resort

Dakota Dunes Resort is located on the historical Whitecap Dakota First Nation lands at the heights of the South Saskatchewan River Valley Basin. It is nestled within a beautiful river setting and surrounded by gently rolling natural sand dunes and offers full-service accommodation and convention space.

(Source: Google Maps) Dakota Dunes Resort is situated about 30 kilometers south of Saskatoon. Click here to get directions in Google Maps.

The chosen location highlights the importance of personal interactions and connections with the land/spaces where visiting takes place and Saskatchewan offers a central location for participants traveling from Eastern, Western and Northern regions of the country.