Innu-aimun Kindergarten ready to launch in Sheshatshiu, Natuashish

Innu students heading into Kindergarten will now have the ability to be fully immersed in their own language, following years of work since Innu reclaimed jurisdiction over education in 2009. 

“There’s a lot of English everywhere, so we don’t need that,” said Francesca Snow, a retired teacher and the curriculum developer with Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education (MTIE). “They need to teach the kids their own language, or they will lose the language.”

Snow said she has enjoyed making the curriculum. “I focus on when I was teaching kindergarten,” she said, “and I want that teacher to know how to teach and how to set up the classroom in both languages.” 

Snow has prepared short sentences, picture vocabularies, workbooks and more in partnership with fellow curriculum developer Lori Hudson. “I have a lot of experiences, plus what I learned while I was teaching and when I was developing the curriculum. So that’s where I get my ideas,” Snow said. “So with this, I know what they need to know and expand their languages.” 

Parents in Sheshatshiu have the option of registering their children in Innu-aimun immersion, or in regular English classes. The school in Natuashish will only offer the Innu-aimun program. 

Registration opened May 5 for the 2025-2026 school year. Sheshatshiu Innu School Principal Greg Quilty said it’s important that parents register their children in advance so that the school can be prepared and have the classes organized in advance of the start of the school year. “It’s always nice for a student to walk in to a desk with their name on it, and all their school supplies laid out for them, and the teacher knowing their name,” Quilty said. 

Any children who will be five years old as of Dec. 31, 2025 are eligible to register for Kindergarten for this upcoming fall. 

Quilty said this is another large step for Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education’s dream of revitalizing the Innu-aimun language. The program follows the Newfoundland and Labrador Schools curriculum, but will also include a lot of Innu culture. “They’re still going to learn those important skills, but they’re going to be learning them with speaking in the Innu language,” he said. “And this is all being done to ensure that future generations are strong Innu-speaking people who contribute to their community.”

Seeing this program begin has been a lifelong goal for some elders who have dedicated their lives to Innu children and education, Quilty said, including Snow, Julianna Michel and the late Helen Hart. Snow said she is hopeful her contract will be renewed so she can begin on the curriculum for a Grade 1 Innu-aimun immersion program. She hopes to do up to Grade 3 so students could be fully immersed in their language during the pivotal years of development. 

Snow hopes to see more Innu becoming teachers in the future, as well, and developing more training courses to teach their own youth. “There’s not a lot of people who could do that kind of work,” she said.

Kindergarten registration for Sheshatshiu and Natuashish is open until the end of June.