We are a charitable social enterprise offering excellent outdoor learning training, tools and resources, with 100% of proceeds supporting outdoor learning non-profit initiatives.
Mi’kmaw is the langauge of the Mi’kmaq. Reclaiming Mi’kmaw language is an act of liberation for Indigenous people and allyship of community peace for non-Indigenous people. This course is open to everyone – Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. If you are a non-Indigenous language learner, we invite you to review these reflections on what it means to be a non-Indigenous learner in an Indigenous language learning course.
Savvy Simon is the Mother of Waseteg & Nakoa, the granddaughter of Sarah Simon o’, a residential school survivor (her biggest language inspiration), Motivational Speaker, Workshop Host, Medicine Woman, Birth Doula, & joy to be around! Reserve: Elsipogtog First Nation, NB residing in Halifax NS. Mi’kmaq Tribe.
Awarded Top 40 Female Change Makers in Canada, a TedX speaker, and a fancy shawl dancer of the Vancouver Olympics. She is the creator of the #SpeakMikmaq Language revolution for the Mi’kmaq tribe. Her language videos & works are in curriculums of universities, high schools, colleges & textbooks. Recently featured in the book “amazing l’nu’k” for helping to keep the Mi’kmaw language alive. Her sessions are a warm, welcoming sacred space for all ages & walks of life.
View a video of Savvy presenting on TEDxHalifax.
My method of teaching is a powerful act of nurturing patience, consistency, and vibrant interaction. My philosophy is rooted in the understanding that language is more than words—it is the soul of a people, a bridge to our ancestors, and the key to cultural survival. As a Mi’kmaw language educator and mentor, I am committed to creating learning spaces where the Mi’kmaw language can flourish, students feel empowered, and cultural traditions are honoured.
My mission is to create a nurturing, inclusive space where learners feel confidently embrace growth and support each other in preserving the Mi’kmaw language. I integrate cultural protocols such as smudging, storytelling, talking circles, music, dance, and humour. By prioritizing Indigenous teaching practices, language learning becomes both a sacred and fun learning experience. Aware of the emotional challenges many Indigenous learners face, I guide students with compassion, teaching that every word spoken is a win and every lesson a step toward reclaiming what was lost. I also address language bullying and internalized shame, empowering students to speak proudly, knowing every effort is celebrated with kindness and encouragement.
My teaching approach embraces interactive and experiential learning through oral storytelling, real-world conversations, immersive activities, and community engagement. Using Francis/Smith orthography, familiarity in every Mi’kmaw Regional Dialectal Variations, phonetic spellings, songs, and cultural expressions, I encourage students to experience language as part of their daily lives. I blend traditional teachings with modern tools like #SpeakMikmaq to make the language accessible to both Elders and future generations. By combining oral tradition, written language, cultural dance, Mi’kmaq humour and digital engagement, I preserve Mi’kmaw language while adapting it to modern day.
Teaching Mi’kmaq is more than just my profession—it is my life’s purpose and my cultural responsibility. I teach so that future generations will never know a world where our language is not spoken. I teach so that our stories will continue, our songs will be sung, and our people will remain strong in who they are.
In my classroom, every student becomes a language carrier, representing various ethnicities, united in fulfilling an ancestral vision to make Mi’kmaw a main language and remove its endangered status. I believe that anyone who embraces Mi’kmaq culture enriches their life. With each new speaker, we reclaim more than words—we reclaim our spirit, our stories, and our sovereignty.
The high vibrational essence of the ancient Mi’kmaw language infuses students with energy, leaving them feeling more lively and uplifted. Grab your tea and let’s have fun!
Course fees go towards supporting our charity in covering the course costs, including ensuring that we compensate the course instructors adequately, and that we can continue to offer learning opportunities like these.
We have developed a strong relationship with the authors of the new bilingual version of Walking Together (English / Mi’kmaw) from the bestselling and award-winning introduction to Etuaptmumk—the gift of multiple perspectives also known as Two-Eyed Seeing— which celebrates the Mi’kmaw language and our connections to nature. While not a ‘required text’ for this course we wanted to let you know that this is now available to pre-order through our charitable social enterprise, and copies will be shipped out in early September.
Indigenous languages carry connections to lands, ancestors, traditions, and contain ecological knowledge crucial for sustainable living, medicinal practices, and traditional storytelling, enriching our collective wisdom. By supporting Indigenous language revitalization efforts, we not only preserve linguistic diversity but also uphold Indigenous Peoples’ fundamental rights to their languages and cultures.
Our intention being not to offer a second language program where participants achieve fluency, but rather to provide a spark—an introduction that inspires and encourages further engagement with the language and broader revitalization efforts. We aim to create a welcoming space where learners can begin their journey, build connections, and develop a foundation for future learning opportunities.
Non-Indigenous participants can take steps towards reconciliation by participating in language courses like these as a way to uplift language revitalization and deepen their own understanding of local place. We just ask that you review these reflections on what it means to be a non-Indigenous learner in an Indigenous language learning course.
