Language and Culture in Early Education

[SPEAKING IN HER LANGUAGE] We are investing in our culture and our language with our children. [SPEAKING IN HER LANGUAGE] The core of this curriculum that we will be creating and working on is centered around our traditional values, and all of our activities will be looking at through Indigenous lenses. This then gives our children exposure to educational opportunities but also it creates in them a sense of pride and understanding of who we are. [Speaking in Tlingit] Hayu Khatungii Kudi is our language nest, and it is an immersion classroom for children ages 3 to 5. [Speaking in Tlingit] Teaching early ed is always a hard job, no matter what language you're doing it in.

Good night, Ish. Our children, they're sponges at this age. They just grab onto the language. [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] I think when we bring our kids into the language, it creates a form of healing, not just for the children and for their families, but for the community. For them to be able to see our kids speaking our language.

When you're teaching in the Haida language or in the Tlingit language, you are actually teaching from the worldview of our ancestors. Cow. Cow. Ee des pla. Ee des pla.

We want our children to look at the world from our perspective, not from a Western perspective.

It's our job to educate our kids. Nobody loves our children more than us. Nobody is more invested in their lives than we are. Hastu itika ke di sakin kati hayadki. Let it be that our children are the seeds left in their remains, meaning they are our future.

Our children are our future.

You are you, ha! You are you, ha! Ah, hey, hey!