The Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district has seen an increase in students who are speaking Island hul’q’umi’num’ from 10% a decade ago to 37% today, according to a report on BC adolescent health released earlier this year. Hul’q’umi’num’ is the main Indigenous language in the district, and Interim superintendent of Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools Laura Tait said that for several years, the district has been building its knowledge and delivery of hul’q’umi’num’ and has been working with partner groups to increase the number of hul’q’umi’num’ teachers. At this time, 17 schools have elders in residence and hul’q’umi’num’ language teachers, and the district has focused on making programs available to schools with a higher number of Indigenous students and schools closer to reserves. Students at some elementary schools are able to receive language instruction every week, while secondary students have hul’q’umi’num’ language courses as separate classes. Tait said that long term, the district would like to consider immersion or hul’q’umi’num’ taught as a second language at the elementary level.
