Mi'kmaq Christmas concert on P.E.I. keeps kids connected to culture
Half the songs were in English, half were in Mi'kmaq language
You may have heard Here Comes Santa Claus more times that you cared to, but it's unlikely you've heard it sung in the Mi'kmaq language.
Wejkue t Santi Kla s — the translated version of the classic Christmas song — was just one of many Mi'kmaq songs performed recently by students from John J. Sark Memorial School on Lennox Island in P.E.I.
'Important to keep culture alive'
"This is the time our students get to show off their language through their songs," said school principal Barb Smith.
Half of the songs performed at this week's Christmas concert were in English, the other half were in Mi'kmaq.
Smith said most people on Lennox Island don't speak Mi'kmaq anymore, so it's important to the community to keep the culture alive.
"It can be a challenge. The language was lost through different reasons, our residential schooling — not being able to learn their language when they were at the residential school — but here we totally celebrate the Mi'kmaq language and we do what we can to promote it," she said.
One of the ways to do that is with the Mi'kmaq word wall. More than a dozen small posters, each with a printed Mi'kmaq word, line the school's main hallway.
"They are picking up words and it's basic vocabulary and that's what we're trying to promote," said Smith.
"Our staff is encouraged to use words from our Mi'kmaq word wall, to use the words as much as possible."
There are also evening classes available for adults, said Smith.
Children teaching parents
Smith added the Christmas concert helps keep the language alive.
"It shows the parents that we're practicing and our children are teaching their parents the words that they're learning at school, and I hope that they're taking it home to their parents to practice on them."
And the students enjoy learning through song.
"It's fun and I love doing it with my friends," said Grade 4 student Zachary Annand.
Annand said he can pronounce the words and can understand their meanings.
'Wli-nuelewin'
"I would still like to see the continuation of the language and maybe move a step forward and having conversational Mi'kmaq," said Smith.
For now, the students have one wish for everyone — Wli-nuelewin, or Merry Christmas.
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