Blackfoot Language Revitalization Program Launches in Calgary Schools

Six Calgary public schools will begin offering Blackfoot language instruction in January as part of a new revitalization program developed in partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Calgary Board of Education.

Preserving a Living Language

The Blackfoot language, spoken by the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani nations, is classified as severely endangered by UNESCO, with fewer than 3,000 fluent speakers remaining. The school program aims to create a new generation of speakers while introducing all students to Blackfoot culture and worldview.

“Language carries our identity, our history, and our way of understanding the world,” said Elder Duane Mistaken Chief, who will serve as a cultural advisor to the program. “When a language dies, an entire way of thinking dies with it.”

How It Works

Students in kindergarten through Grade 3 at participating schools will receive 30 minutes of daily Blackfoot instruction, taught by certified Blackfoot-speaking educators and supported by Elders. The curriculum was developed over two years in consultation with Blackfoot communities and integrates land-based learning, storytelling, and song.

Broader Reconciliation

CBE superintendent Christopher Usih said the program responds directly to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action regarding Indigenous language preservation and education.

“Reconciliation isn’t just a word — it requires action. This program is one concrete step toward honouring our commitments to Indigenous communities,” Usih said.

Funding comes from a combination of federal heritage grants, provincial education funding, and private donations. If the pilot succeeds, the CBE plans to expand to 15 schools by 2025.