Wolastoqey immersion school set to open this fall in Fredericton

A Wolastoqey language immersion school is gearing up to open its doorsthis fall in Fredericton.

The KehkiminWolastoqeylanguage immersion school was granteda one-year leaseearlier this weekfor Killarney Park by Fredericton city council.

The school will start by focusing on kindergarten to Grade 4 curriculum with plans to expand over time.

The school will operate out of the ground floor of Killarney Lodge and will pay the city $1 to rent the facility. The school will alsohave access to the surrounding groundsfor land-based education.

"Our language is rooted in the land and it's the only place you're going to find this language," said Lisa Perley-Dutcher,chair of the board of directors forthe Kehkimin Wolastoqey language immersion school.

Shesaidthe lease allows them to open theirdoors this fall but after thefirst year,the school will relocate to a nearby house.The city and the school have a four-year agreement for the house and rent for the term will be $1.

But that houseis in need of serious repairs soPerley-Dutcher saidthey're running a fundraising campaign topay for renovations.

The City of Fredericton has said it will pay to replace theroof of the houseandrepair a crack in the foundation, but the school will be responsible for all other repairs and is responsible for paying for the utilities.

"We are committed to seeking out and acting upon opportunities that support truth and reconciliation actions with the Wolastoqey Nation and to helping with the preservation of their language," said Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogersin a newsrelease.

Perley-Dutcher isfrom Neqotkuk, Tobique First Nation, and was forced to attend the Tobique Indian Day School, where she was strapped for speaking Wolastoqey. She said she held on toall the pieces of the language that she could and eventually committed to learning more.

After a 30-year career as a nurse,Perley-Dutcher took a two-year intensive Wolastoqeycourseat St. Thomas Universityin Fredericton and knew then that she wanted to see a immersion school for her nation.

"As a health intervention, I'm going to help bring the language back," said Perley-Dutcher.

Ron Tremblay, Wolastoqgrand council chief, saidthe city of Fredericton was instrumental in lifting the school off the ground. Tremblay is also on the board of directors for the immersion school.

Hesaid although theschool came together quickly, other language warriors have been calling for early language immersion education for years.

He's worked in language education for 36 years and worked with Perley-Dutcher to help develop curriculum. They pulled from language success stories of other nations likethe Maori, the Mohawk, Mi'kmaq and the Hawaiians. Tremblay said,like theirmodels, they will also try to create language nests.

"The only way you can preserve the language is if the whole family can learn it together," said Tremblay.

The school will serve the three surroundingWolastoqiyik communitiesSt.Mary's, Oromocto, and Kingsclearand any families living in the city.