Get to know us

University nuxełhot’įne thaaɂehots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills, guided by its core principles of cultural revitalization and re-establishing education for our communities to thrive in, has had a language component since its repatriation to the seven indigenous communities it serves in 1971.

Since then, it has grown from a small language class to a department with four different programs, providing students with Bachelor's and master's degrees and includes an archival and resource department that ensures our Languages are set and secure for future generations.

The Language Department continues to honour University nuxełhot’įne thaaɂehots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills core principles by creating a community of both Dene and Nehiyaw language speakers for our students to join, supporting our students through the world of post-secondary education and providing a uniquely indigenous education experience. Students can expect to experience ceremony, traditional practices and land-based education during their time with us, all while contributing to Language revitalization.

Dr. Jessie Sylvestre hails from ejeredeséche Buffalo River Dene Nation, Treaty 10 Territory, Dillon, Saskatchewan. Jessie is the Dene Language Team Lead at University nuxełhot’įne thaaɁehots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills. Jessie’s passion is in language revitalization, and she loves spending time on the land, which is both a personal refuge and a way to bring back the denesų łiné language through specific land-based teachings.

Dr. Marilyn Shirt is from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation and has been the Team Lead for the Language program at University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills (UnBQ) since 2009. In that time, she has led the development of a Bachelor of Arts in Nehiyaw, a Bachelor of Arts in Dene, a Master's in Indigenous Languages, a two-year Indigenous Digital Media program and increased the Language department’s capacity to develop resources and establish an archiving department. Marilyn’s commitment to the revitalization of the Nehyaw language stems from her desire to ensure that her descendants have a language community to return to.

Ross Krekoski was born and raised in the Lake Land area in Treaty 6 territory. Ross holds a PhD from the University of Toronto. His research interests include Indigenous Language Revitalization and language documentation. Ross joined the language department in 2017 with the desire to give back to his extended community while coming home to his own family. Ross passes on his academic knowledge of linguistics to our master's students, giving them the skills to go forth and teach at a post-secondary level.

Our Indigenous Language Faculty

Tina Wellman sakâw nêhiyaw iskwêw and holds an MA in Indigenous Languages and is an ipkdoc Candidate. Tina is the nehiyawewin Team Lead at University nuxełhot’įne thaaɁehots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills. In addition to this, Tina also provides support to the Indigenous Resource department. The department develops resources for both Denesųłinẻ and nêhiyawêwin

Miranda McGilvery is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. She joined University nuhelot’ine thaiyots’i nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills in 2023 as Data Collections Manager to assist in creating and learning about Archiving within First Nations Communities. She now works as an Administrative Assistant for the Language Department. During her time at UnBQ, Miranda has assisted in launching the Miromaa Database to 6 of the 7 governing Nations of UnBQ. Miranda's commitment to the preservation and conservation of the nehiyaw language through the use of Miromaa now ensures the current and future generations (including her own children and grandchildren) will have access to the nehiyaw language.