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July 12, 2022 - Decolonizing Education: The Inspiring Example of Aiyana Twigg: As an Indigenous led language revitalization effort, the work of Ktunaxa youth Aiyana Twigg would be considered an example of “Stage Five” in Morcom, Freeman & Davis’ (Morcom et al, 2018.) definitions of models of Indigenous education; this is an example of the process of decolonization of education in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation (part of the area served by my employer, School District 8 - Kootenay Lake). Twigg's work through her mentorship with Elders, as well as her studies at the University of British Columbia, shows how Ktunaxa Language revitalization & decolonization is engaging local youth, as well as helping to revitalize the language and culture of the Ktunaxa. Ktunaxa is a language isolate, related to no other known language. Twigg notes the urgency in her project, reflecting that there are fewer than 20 fluent Ktunaxa speakers left (Cawson, 2022) Twigg, from the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it, (Tobacco Plains Band) is helping develop the Ktunaxa dictionary through her studies, and this May won the Lieutenant Governor’s medal for her work towards Ktunaxa language and culture revitalization. (Cawson, 2022). The Ktunaxa First Voices website (2022) is also part of the Ktunaxa language revitalization efforts.
Twigg promotes her work on her Instagram page "ktunaxapride" and also has a website where she promotes Ktunaxa Pride in culture and language. While using traditional stories, listening, modelling & experiential learning, Twigg is also incorporating social media and other information technologies to engage the community in the vital work of saving the Ktunaxa language. Her Youtube video "Don't Be Afraid to Speak Indigenous Languages" has inspired me to move through my fear about learning Ktunaxa, and get started. Importantly, Twigg's work is Indigenous led, involves collaboration with Elders and community, and involves a process of lifelong learning, engaging people of all ages. Aiyanna Twigg's work is undoubtedly a strong example of decolonizing education.
References
Cawson, Chadd (June 2022) Ktunaxa Student and Future Leader Wins
Lieutenant-Governor's Award Columbia Valley Pioneer
https://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/ktunaxa-student-and-future-leader-
wins-lieutenant-governors-medal-award/
Ktunaxa First Voices (2022) Ktunaxa Home Page. First People’s Cultural
Council.https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/Workspaces/Data/Ktunaxa/
McLauchlan, Phillip (2022) Tobacco Plains Youth Honoured for Creating a
Home Away from Home for Indigenous Students Indiginews
https://indiginews.com/vancouver-island/tobacco-plains-youth-aiyana-
honoured-for-positive-impact-ubc
Morcom, L.Freeman, K. & Davis, J. (2018). Rising Like the Thunderbird: The
Reclamation of Indigenous Teacher Education. In Christou (Ed.), The
curriculum history of Canadian teacher education (pp. 23–40). Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group.
Twigg, Aiyana (2022) Ktunaxa Pride Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ktunaxapride/?hl=en
Twigg, Aiyana (2022) Ktunaxa Pride Linktr.ee https://linktr.ee/ktunaxapride
Twigg, Aiyana (2018) "PSA Don't be afraid to speak Indigenous Languages - A
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