Page 31

Canadian Native languages are being lost because parents neglect to teach their children.

Sheila Keizie, a Cree language teacher at Anzac, regrets that her two daughters did not learn to speak their mother tongue. They both speak English and the youngest can understand Cree but can't speak it. Ironically, she's learning to speak French.

Keizie grew up in an environment where Cree was a necessity. It's now hardly found in modern society.

"You hardly meet anyone now, who will speak to you in Cree," she said.

Page 31

Canadian Native languages are being lost because parents neglect to teach their children.

Sheila Keizie, a Cree language teacher at Anzac, regrets that her two daughters did not learn to speak their mother tongue. They both speak English and the youngest can understand Cree but can't speak it. Ironically, she's learning to speak French.

Keizie grew up in an environment where Cree was a necessity. It's now hardly found in modern society.

"You hardly meet anyone now, who will speak to you in Cree," she said.

Page 31

Canadian Native languages are being lost because parents neglect to teach their children.

Sheila Keizie, a Cree language teacher at Anzac, regrets that her two daughters did not learn to speak their mother tongue. They both speak English and the youngest can understand Cree but can't speak it. Ironically, she's learning to speak French.

Keizie grew up in an environment where Cree was a necessity. It's now hardly found in modern society.

"You hardly meet anyone now, who will speak to you in Cree," she said.

Page 30

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere of Kay Louttit's kitchen draws a few people each weekday lunch hour when it comes alive with small talk and gossip.

Transients, civil servants or needy people often dine at the Nistawoyou Friendship Center "restaurant", which offers a $3 lunch or a free dinner if you have no cash.

Louttit, known as "Cookie" to the staff, has prepared meals and catered for the center for over four years. She has lived in Fort McMurray all her life.

Page 30

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere of Kay Louttit's kitchen draws a few people each weekday lunch hour when it comes alive with small talk and gossip.

Transients, civil servants or needy people often dine at the Nistawoyou Friendship Center "restaurant", which offers a $3 lunch or a free dinner if you have no cash.

Louttit, known as "Cookie" to the staff, has prepared meals and catered for the center for over four years. She has lived in Fort McMurray all her life.

Page 30

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere of Kay Louttit's kitchen draws a few people each weekday lunch hour when it comes alive with small talk and gossip.

Transients, civil servants or needy people often dine at the Nistawoyou Friendship Center "restaurant", which offers a $3 lunch or a free dinner if you have no cash.

Louttit, known as "Cookie" to the staff, has prepared meals and catered for the center for over four years. She has lived in Fort McMurray all her life.

Page 30

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere of Kay Louttit's kitchen draws a few people each weekday lunch hour when it comes alive with small talk and gossip.

Transients, civil servants or needy people often dine at the Nistawoyou Friendship Center "restaurant", which offers a $3 lunch or a free dinner if you have no cash.

Louttit, known as "Cookie" to the staff, has prepared meals and catered for the center for over four years. She has lived in Fort McMurray all her life.

Page 28

The recent disintegration of Native culture has left youth reeling without direction in a non-Native world so a Cree teacher at Fort MacKay School is doing his part to help children take pride in their heritage.

"I firmly believe Indian people have lost their identity and the only real way of teaching Native kids is teaching something they can identify with as an Indian person," said Dale Awasis.

"The young look at me and they see the dance and the song, and they say, 'Wow, can we learn the songs, can we learn how to dance?"

Page 28

The recent disintegration of Native culture has left youth reeling without direction in a non-Native world so a Cree teacher at Fort MacKay School is doing his part to help children take pride in their heritage.

"I firmly believe Indian people have lost their identity and the only real way of teaching Native kids is teaching something they can identify with as an Indian person," said Dale Awasis.

"The young look at me and they see the dance and the song, and they say, 'Wow, can we learn the songs, can we learn how to dance?"

Page 28

The recent disintegration of Native culture has left youth reeling without direction in a non-Native world so a Cree teacher at Fort MacKay School is doing his part to help children take pride in their heritage.

"I firmly believe Indian people have lost their identity and the only real way of teaching Native kids is teaching something they can identify with as an Indian person," said Dale Awasis.

"The young look at me and they see the dance and the song, and they say, 'Wow, can we learn the songs, can we learn how to dance?"