Kwi Awt Stelmexw.com [email protected] PO Box 57145 East Hastings Vancouver, BC, V5K 5G6 PROGRAM GUIDELINES 2017-2018 Adult Immersion Program Follow these four steps to apply to the 2017-2018 Adult Immersion Program Step 1 Read the Program Guidelines for information about the purpose of the program, who should apply, program timeline, application assessment process and criteria, and other details. Step 2 Read the Important Information section. If you still have questions about the program or the application process, contact Kwi Awt Stelmexw as indicated below. Step 3 Study for and complete the Oral Admissions Exam (see Appendix B). Step 4 Complete all sections of the attached application form. Be sure to use the Checklist (Part E of the form) to confirm that you have completed all relevant sections of the form and have included all required support material. The purpose of Kwi Awt Stelmexw is to strengthen all aspects of Squamish heritage, language, culture, and art, and we welcome applications from all people, although priority selection will be given to applicants with Squamish ancestry. Deadline: Monday, February 13th, 2017 at 12:00pm. Your completed application form and all required support material must be received electronically or in-hand by the Department of First Nations Studies at Simon Fraser University by Monday, February 13th, 2017, at 12:00pm SFU Contact: Main Program Contact: Lorraine Yam, Khelsilem First Nations Studies Academic Advisor Programming Director [email protected] [email protected] 778-782-5595 778-987-8809 Department of First Nations Studies Kwi Awt Stelmexw www.sfu.ca/fns/community PO Box 57145 East Hastings Street Simon Fraser University Vancouver, B.C., V5K 5G6 8888 University Drive, Saywell Hall 9091 Burnaby, British Columbia Canada V5A 1S6 1 Kwi Awt Stelmexw.com [email protected] PO Box 57145 East Hastings Vancouver, BC, V5K 5G6 Mandate of Kwi Awt Stelmexw is a registered non-profit based in Vancouver, British Organization Columbia. Kwi Awt Stelmexw is governed by registered members who bi- annually elect a volunteer Board of Directors who implement the organization’s vision and purpose. Kwi Awt Stelmexw is a community- based organization of the Squamish Peoples whose purpose is to “strengthen all aspects of Squamish heritage, language, culture, and art”. Program Description The Temstl’i7 ta Snichim Program is a two-year Squamish language immersion program for adults. It is taught by one instructors for 30 hours/week, and typically operates over four university term (two term per year - September to December, and January to April). Participants of the program will complete 960 contact hours of language instruction each year, primarily taught exclusively in the Squamish Language. The program, in partnership with Simon Fraser University’s First Nations Language Centre and the Department of Linguistics*, offers students a First Nations Language Proficiency Certificate from the university after completing four term of the program (Year 1 and Year 2). Temstl’i7 ta Snichim occurs annually with new cohorts of Year 1 students admitted each year. Currently, applications are only open for Year 1 programming, with plans to launch the Year 2 program in 2019- 2020. *subject to funding. 2 Kwi Awt Stelmexw.com [email protected] PO Box 57145 East Hastings Vancouver, BC, V5K 5G6 Program Objectives The long-term objective of the Temstl’i7 ta Snichim Program is to contribute to the successful revitalization of the Squamish Language by providing participants with the opportunity to become fluent speakers with the ability to pass the language on to future generations. The objectives for Year 1 of the program are: ● Increase proficiency and fluency in the Squamish Language among participants, from complete beginner to high intermediate levels. ● Provide participants with a deeper understanding of, and connection to, Squamish culture and heritage through the language. ● Provide participants with an opportunity to begin or continue post-secondary education and receive an accredited Certificate. ● Demonstrate the effectiveness of specific immersion methods in the revitalization of threatened languages, sharing evidence and lessons learned with others engaged in Indigenous language education. Specific language objectives for Year 1 include that participants will be able to: ● Converse with fluent speakers on several subjects involving common situations and events (for example, describing family and friends, physical appearance, community, mental state, aches and pains, location, age, children, marital situation, personal possessions, and the weather) ● Describe people and objects, where and how they are located, their ownership, colour, and number. ● Talk about all these situations in the past, present, and future. ● Name common local, regional, and world place names. ● Reach an advanced-low to advanced-high level on the ACTFL proficiency scale. 3 Kwi Awt Stelmexw.com [email protected] PO Box 57145 East Hastings Vancouver, BC, V5K 5G6 Eligibility (Note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will be selected for the 2017-2018 adult immersion program. We encourage those who are not selected for the current year to apply again in following years.) It is strongly recommended that potential applicants speak to the Programming Director to confirm their eligibility before submitting their application. Eligibility Requirements Applicants to this program must be Indigenous or parenting (or potentially parenting) children with Indigenous ancestry. Priority will be given to those with Squamish ancestry. Applicants do not need to be members of the Squamish Nation to apply. Kwi Awt Stelmexw defines Indigenous peoples as the original peoples, or descendants of the original peoples, of North America and elsewhere who have been impacted by settler-colonial conquest and empire. This can include status or non-status Indians. Priority will be given to those under the age of 40, although exceptions will be made in special circumstances. Applicants must show a commitment to the Squamish language. The applicant must show that they understand the objectives of the program, and are willing to commit to full-time language study for the full duration of the program. Students apply directly to Simon Fraser University, and their participation will be subject to SFU’s admission requirements. Ineligible applicants ● Those with incomplete applications. ● Non-Indigenous applicants who are not currently parenting, or going to be parenting, children with Indigenous ancestry (particularly Coast Salish ancestry). 4 Kwi Awt Stelmexw.com [email protected] PO Box 57145 East Hastings Vancouver, BC, V5K 5G6 Funding For First Nations students to receive monthly living allowances from their Nation while participating in the program, they must often be registered in a full-time program at a recognized university. This program will be a full-time program with four courses per semester, and accredited through Simon Fraser University. Students chosen to be in the adult immersion program will be registered as full-time students with Simon Fraser University. Many First Nations have post-secondary funding programs that provide living allowances and tuition fees to full-time students. It is highly recommended that applicants contact the Education Coordinator for Post-Secondary Students at their First Nation or First Nation organization about funding requirements, policies, and deadlines. Participants of the program will be required to have the tuition fees covered by their First Nation, or pay the fees themselves. Funding application deadlines for each First Nation will vary. There are also many scholarships that selected students may be eligible to apply for through their First Nation or other entities. Kwi Awt Stelmexw is also creating its own scholarship fund to support students who are unable to pay the tuition fees. More details to be released in the coming months. 5 Kwi Awt Stelmexw.com [email protected] PO Box 57145 East Hastings Vancouver, BC, V5K 5G6 Assessment of Assessment process Applications The 2017-2018 Adult Immersion Program offered by Kwi Awt Stelmexw will admit a maximum of 16 participants. Those interested in participating in the program are required to submit an application including all required supporting material directly to the Department of First Nations Studies at SFU. Each application will be reviewed by SFU, as well as the designated program staff at Kwi Awt Stelmexw and two special advisors with backgrounds and experience in teaching the Squamish language. All assessment panel recommendations are final. The application submission deadline is February 13th, 2017 a 12:00pm and the assessment panel will make a final decision by March 13th, 2017. Assessment process Decisions will be based on the general merit of the application, compared with that of all other eligible applications in this competition. The panel will base its application review on the assessment criteria listed below: ● Highly motivated. ● Displays passion for the program objectives. ● Demonstrates commitment and determination. ● Includes a vision/plan for future language use. The information you submit through your application and supporting documents will be used to make the assessment. Priorities After the applications have been assessed as described above, the assessment panel will list applications recommended in priority order. Where there are applications of equal merit,