by Sharon Culbertson, Librarian/ISS Supervisor, LSK

How many of you remember the good old fashioned workbook? I remember using workbooks when I was a child. It was a nice way of reinforcing the work that was taught in class. It was also a way for the teachers to make sure that the child understood what was being taught.

And how many of you remember doing worksheets in Mi’kmaw? I don’t. I never was fortunate enough to do so… but thanks to our Mi’kmaq Language/Culture Instructor, Mrs. Becky Julian and Mrs. Karen Francis, Mi’kmaq Language Support, staff and students at LSK are now able to do so. These two ladies aided in the creation of “L’nuey Klusuaqn Wi’katikn”. This teaching resource was the vision of Ms. Velvet Paul, who not only facilitated the creation of the workbook, but was solely responsible for obtaining the proper funds to make it a reality.

Velvet felt that there weren’t enough resources to help our students learn, and maintain, our Mi’kmaq heritage, especially our language. As an education student herself (she is currently working on her Bachelor of Education degree), she realized that there was only one way to ensure that this happened, and that was to create the workbook. After a great deal of work and consultations, the final copy of the workbook is now available.

L’nuey Klusuaqn Wi’katikn features worksheets for our alphabet, vowels, numbers, colours, time, shapes, word searches, etc. It is beautifully done and indeed an inspirational stepping stone to the preservation of our language. The workbook has been well received throughout the Mi’kmaq community. Velvet would love to see it part of our educational curriculum.

In addition, Velvet would like to thank Becky and Karen, along with Kji-Keptin Antle Denny, Keptin Reg Maloney, Blaire Gould (Mi’kmaq Language Specialist), the Government of Canada Aboriginal Language Initiative, and Carol Busby (Eastern Woodland Print Communications).

And I would like to thank Velvet for taking her vision that one step further. We are all proud of your endeavours here at LSK.

Tags: Becky Julian, Blaire Gould, Carol Busby, Eastern Woodland Print Communications, EWPC, Government of Canada Aboriginal Language Initiative, indian brook, Karen Francis, Keptin Reg Maloney, Kji-Keptin Antle Denny, L’nuey Klusuaqn Wi’katikn, LSK, Millbrook, Sharon Culbertson, Velvet Paul