| Summary: | The thesis explores the possibilities for immersion in a First Nation small
community whose language survival hinges on the action by the 5% fluent
speakers. Curriculum planning is needed at a time when First Nations do not
have the resources or experience in teaching their language as a second language
and very limited experience with curriculum development and school
administration. The author is familiar with the deep emotional desire for
effective language programs but the communities cannot find an effective means
for truly successful results.
The occasional Native teacher searches for methods by learning linguistic
strategies or modeling literate classroom lessons. Community leaders face
surmounting obstacles while elders pass away with each crucial decade.
These obstacles and constraints are not only due to social ills but also to
the attempt at developing curriculum with models which do not origninate with
the community, the culture, or the language itself. The thesis therefore attempts
to find avenues for blending learning strategies of an oral culture and
recognizing and validating the culture which embraces the cultural background
to the language.
The avenues for language revitalization involve ethnographic research
which is seen as practical to the community if these are steps toward cultural
development. The social issues level is considered as Native language speakers
are often adversely effected due to schooling in residential schools.
The thesis then concludes the specific needs for the Ditidaht context as
concerns community process, as traditional protocol, and as the nature of an
effective curriculum (received in generalized concepts from the community
interviews).
Other First Nation Community strategies are reviewed from many nations
throughout Canada and the United States. The Canadian French immersion
experience provides a preview into immersion evolution. The research is found
necessary for any First Nation community in search of the crucial need for
effective second-language curriculum focus. === Education, Faculty of === Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of === Graduate
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