(Ottawa, ON) – April 19, 2023 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is pleased to announce the release of episode 18 with Cree language teacher Kaitlin Arcand. Kaitlin is from Alexander First Nation. Kaitlin embodies the spirit of community. Kaitlin shares of her world travels and the way it has informed the connection to her learning and teaching journey. This is an in-depth conversation you won’t want to miss!

Kaitlin is gracious in her sharing of the process of teaching the Cree language and building a cohesive language curriculum for her community. Through her language journey, Kaitlin says how not being able to find people to speak Cree with initially, made her journey to uncovering deeper aspects of the language harder. Kaitlin shares how the Cree language curriculum that existed for school students, resulted in differing styles and dialects of the language being taught, rather than what the Elders and parents in the community were speaking. As a result, they have developed a Cree language and culture group to bridge this gap. Kaitlin shares how she is bound by promises to her community, to draw resources exclusively from speakers inside of their First Nation, to ensure that the language is being preserved with relevance to their community in mind.  Of revitalization she shares: “This is the perfect time for all Indigenous Peoples to integrate their native languages in their communities. It’s important to keep the languages and cultures alive for future generations. They also help us understand where we are going and where we come from. Thank you!”

Voices from the Land is an Indigenous Languages Revitalization Project funded by Canadian Heritage. Over the course of the winter months of 2022, host Gordon Spence spoke with Indigenous language teachers, adult learners and parents and caretakers of children learning their Indigenous language. From Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe); to Nehiyaw (Cree); the Michif language; Kanien’kéha (Mohawk); Onʌyoteˀa·ká (Oneida); and Dȁn k’e (Southern Tutchone), language learners, teachers and parents across Turtle Island share their insights and experiences. The goal of these 21 interviews was to gain a sense of the barriers and successes to learning one’s own language. We invite you to hear their voices and learn from their truth, as the languages have taught them about so much.

The LHF is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 22 years. LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and impacts on 7 generations of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) children, their families and communities from attending Residential and Day Schools and the subsequent Sixties Scoop. By fostering empathy and understanding, LHF encourages people to address discrimination and injustice and contributes to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of Indigenous Peoples.

The LHF has more than 25 educational exhibitions that promote awareness of Indigenous history that are free to borrow and is working on making exhibitions available online. LHF also has curricula for K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, and Podcasts all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, etc. in order to offer solutions on how to be an ally. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding so as to eliminate racism against Indigenous Peoples. 

For media inquiries:
Teresa Edwards, B.A. JD.
Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel
Legacy of Hope Foundation
Phone: 613-237-4806 Ext. 303 info@legacyofhope.ca