ʔayʔaǰuθəm (ayajuthem) Immersion

t̓išosəm ʔayʔajuθəm Immersion Program 2023

Our program is called qaymɩxʷqɛnəmšt [qay-mixw qeh-numsht]. This means we will all speak our language.  

Pilot program is available to all students with ʔayʔaǰuθəm speaking ancestry and parents are given the choice to opt in or have their child remain at their home school for the full day.

Our language team has been working diligently to bring this program to our chichuy and their families. We are honored to bring this program to our village. Our language team will be accompanied by at least 2 elders during class.

Academic curriculum will be taught at the school in the mornings so the focus in the afternoons will be understanding and fluency in the ʔayʔaǰuθəm language. This will be achieved through various language learning methodologies, but will include a focus on play-based, outdoor, community-focused, repetitive, movement and music rich learning opportunities with a focus on reclaiming language domains.

What is immersion?

Inside the learning area, we will be speaking ʔayʔajuθəm only. huks məmaɬaqɛnəm. No english. We are very committed to learning, planning, and supporting each other to make this possible. We are taking no english seriously for our chichuy. This will strictly be ORAL language immersion. There will be no focus on the writing system during our time in class.

Dorothy Louie, Karina Peters, and Koosen Pielle will be the lead teachers for 2 classes. Preschool, and a combined Kindergarten and Grade 1 class. There will be a maximum of 20 students in each. Both of our classes will share a meal together at lunch time. In addition to class time, our teachers and larger language team will be meeting on Monday’s and Friday’s to prepare language curriculum, and to keep practicing ʔayʔajuθəm together. 

Co-supported and administered by Tla'amin Nation Education Department and qathet School District.