By Dr. Arlene Bigby, Early Childhood Education and Education Instructor, ANC
2024-2027 Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education Grant Program
Native language integration and revitalization has always been an integral part of Aaniiih Nakoda College’s (ANC) focus. Faculty continue to find ways to improve their efforts in how to do so and provide support for all students, including those in the Early Childhood Education program.
Braydon Fitzpatrick is the American Indian Studies Instructor/Advisor at ANC.
Braydon Fitzpatrick, an enrolled member of the Aaniiih tribe and affiliated with the Nakoda and Blackfeet tribes, is the American Indian Studies Instructor/Advisor at ANC Braydon teaches American Indian Studies (AIS) courses, supports the work of the White Clay Immersion School at ANC by providing language and culture information, and helps administer the American Indian College Fund’s Native Arts Grant on campus. The Native Arts grant supports Native artists while educating the community about artists and their work. Since Braydon became the AIS Instructor, three students graduated from his program and four students are on track to graduate with the Aaniiih/Nakoda Language (ANL) associate’s degree. This is a new degree program that was implemented within the last two years at ANC. The Early Childhood Curriculum and Environment EDEC 230 class is a required course for this degree. The class has sparked students interest in teaching young children.
Kristie Runs Above is the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Education and Youth Development Coordinator at ANC. She is an enrolled Aaniiih and affiliated with the Nakoda, Northern Cheyenne, and Lakota tribes. Kristie gathers her resources by visiting elders and immerses herself in the cultural aspects of ‘traditional ways of knowing’ and shares with local classrooms about the medicinal plants used traditionally. She supports ANC staff and presents to classes on campus. Kristi was by the local Early Head Start/Head Start to support them in integrating Aaniih and Nakoda into their classrooms. She recently provided a presentation on language integration to the EDEC 230 class.
Kristie Runs Above is the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Education and Youth Development Coordinator at ANC.
Belinda Horn, one of the early childhood students in this class shared, “I liked learning the Nakoda phrases for good morning, aba waste, and good night, hahebi waste.” Belinda also learned how to translate Traveling Woman into Nakoda, “Omani Wiya.” Belinda’s grandfather gave her her name. Kristi gave students access to the online lessons she developed on integrating Aaniiih and Nakoda into early childhood classrooms.
Dr. Amber Harris is the Director of Library Services at ANC. Her library and its services are available to students, staff, and community members. She has worked to build a collection of books related to the language, history, and culture of Nakoda and Aaniiih people, as well as expanding their database access. Dr. Harris owns books written and translated by local people, including the late Minerva Allen. Minerva was a poet, educator, elder, and member of the Assiniboine tribe who advocated for Native American education.
The Early Childhood Education program donated materials purchased through the Ihduwiyayapi: Advancing Indigenous Early Childhood Education program to ANC’s library to add to this collection. Included are alphabet posters, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten language curriculum and children’s storybooks in both Aaniiih and Nakoda, and many other items.
Early childhood students met Dr. Harris as part of their classes to share the resources that are available in the library. The Children’s Literature (LIT 282) course students are currently hosting monthly Head Start story time sessions in ANC’s library. Kassi Buckles, an early childhood student in this course read the story “Fifteen Animals” in English and Nakoda to 4-5-year-olds and began teaching the children to pronounce numbers wazi (one) and nuba (two). Kassi expressed that it is even more important to embrace her language and culture so her people can be strong and face challenges ahead.
Dr. Amber Harris is the Director of Library Services at ANC.
ANC faculty is committed to integrating language into daily life on campus. Students in all programs are encouraged to use both Nakoda and Aaniiih language in lessons. Faculty are expected to take classes in AIS/ANL as well. They have asked that information and lessons be developed so new staff will understand the importance of embracing the language and culture of the communities ANC serves. New displays around campus features Aaniiih and Nakoda words and phrases is evidence of this commitment and the revitalization of Native languages at ANC.
Early childhood students know that every faculty member at ANC supports their efforts in integrating Aaniiih and Nakoda into early childhood curriculum and are available as resources to support with their process.
