Developing a Model for an Experiential Grammar Teaching Resource for Hul'q'umi'num' Primary Immersion Teachers

This paper describes a collaborative project to develop lessons for teaching selected grammatical patterns of Hul'q'umi'num' (Coast Salish) to Junior Kindergarten immersion students using experiential teaching methods. The lessons are intended to serve as a model for future grammar resources to support teachers in a planned primary immersion program. The project followed an Indigenist paradigm using principles of Community-Based Language Research to support a research partnership with staff and Elders at S-hxixnu-tun Lelum Primary School at Stz'uminus First Nation on Vancouver Island, BC. Over a short series of workshops, the research team members worked together to determine ways to model key grammatical concepts to Junior Kindergarten students without teaching them overtly. Although the original intent was to develop one sample unit, the resulting lessons will likely be applicable throughout the primary program. The workshops also supported future immersion teachers to learn more about Hul'q'umi'num' grammar, and about how to develop and implement experiential language lessons. The project is an innovative example of building on the considerable existing strengths of S-hxixnu-tun Lelum's current second-language program by adapting previous teaching materials for the Junior Kindergarten immersion context. References Gerdts, D.B. (1997a). 'i'lhe' xwulmuxwqun: tu nucam'at pookw. (Let's Speak Our First Nations Language: Book One) (2nd ed.). Nanaimo, Canada: Chemainus, Nanaimo and Nanoose First Nations and School District 68. Gerdts, D. B. (n.d). Hul'q'umi'num' (Island Halkomelem) language materials. Retrieved from: http://www.sfu.ca/~gerdts/HulquminumLanguageMaterials.html Gerdts, D.B., Edwards, L., Ulrich, C.H. & Compton, B.D. (Eds.) (1997). Hul'q'umi'num' words. An English-to-Hul'q'umi'num' and Hul'q'umi'num'-to-English dictionary. Nanaimo, Canada: Chemainus, Nanaimo and Nanoose First Nations and School District 68. Hukari, T.E. (2004). Comparing alphabets - new alphabetical order. (Unpublished document). Coast Salish Language Revitalization CURA project, Victoria, Canada. Hukari, T.E., & Peter, R.M. (1995). The Cowichan dictionary of the Hul'q'umi'num' dialect of the Coast Salish people. Duncan, Canada: Cowichan Tribes. Hul'q'umi'num' Language and Culture Collective (2016). Ta'ulthun sqwal. Hul'q'umi'num' language academy. Retrieved from: http://sqwal.hwulmuhwqun.ca/learn/ Hul'q'umi'num' Treaty Group (2008). Tatul'ut tthu Hul'q'umi'num': Introduction to Hul'q'umi'num'. Retrieved from: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/salish/ Quw'utsun Syuw'entst Lelum (QSL) (2007). Quw'utsun Hul'q'umi'num' category dictionary. Duncan, Canada: Cowichan Tribes. Stz'uminus First Nation (2016b). The Stz'uminus Hul'q'umi'num Dictionary. Ladysmith, Canada: Stz'uminus First Natio