About Our Program

The Métis/Michif Cultural Program at Westmount School transmits knowledge of Métis/Michif culture, traditions, and language to students in Prekindergarten - Grade 8. Learning takes place through a co-teaching model, where a Métis cultural teacher works collaboratively with classroom teachers to integrate language, content, and perspectives into the curriculum.

Learning for All Grades

All students, from Prekindergarten to Grade 8, experience Métis/Michif culture throughout the school day and in all curricular areas.

Learning is focused around four priorities:

• Enriching learning in multiple subjects with a Métis/Michif perspective.
• Building culturally relevant leadership skills.
• Transferring knowledge between generations.
• Participating in experiential learning opportunities.

Program highlights include:

• Participating in the first Métis/Michif Cultural program in Saskatchewan, many Métis/Michif cultural celebrations (e.g. All Kings Day/Métis New Year, Louis Riel Day) and Kishkaytaytaahk, an annual celebration of learning in June that hosts Grade 4 students from 20 different Saskatoon Public Schools.
• An opportunity to join the Lii Pchi Daanseur di la Prayrii, a performance jigging group.
• Receiving Michif language instruction.

Prekindergarten and Kindergarten

Westmount School is home to Mii Taant leur Plaas ("Auntie's Place") Michif Early Learning program for Prekindergarten and Kindergarten students. Classes follow a full-day, every day schedule. Delivered at Westmount School, this program teaches language and culture through play, exploration, storytelling and song.

Prekindergarten is for ages 3 and 4; Kindergarten is for children age 5.

To learn more about the program, click here.

Program Supports

The Métis/Michif Cultural Program is made possible with the generosity and commitment of members from Métis/Michif communities in Saskatoon, including Lii Pleu Vyeu ("the old peoples"), Métis Nation—Saskatchewan (MN-S), Central Urban Métis Federation Incorporated (CUMFI), Gabriel Dumont Local 11, Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), and Saskatoon Public Schools' First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education Unit. These partnerships are essential to the success of the program.

Catchment Area and Transportation

The program is exclusively offered at Westmount School but is open to Métis/Michif students from across the city. Busing is provided anywhere in the city to students attending the Michif Prekindergarten and Kindergarten programs.

Register

To register at Westmount School, click here.