Search
Seth is a former Chief Atahm School student who is currently enrolled in UBC’s Master of Arts in Educational Technology. He currently teaches in Chief Atahm School’s post-secondary partner institute, R Stselxméms r Secwépemc in the Adult Language Fluency Programs through NVIT and UBCO. Seth shares his knowledge of the language and culture to the program while incorporating many digital tools in his language work. Seth also works on our atahm.info and First Voices dictionaries and works with Secwépemc Elders on documenting and transcribing stories and narratives. Seth shares his passion for language in his home, with his four children and wife Willow.
Carleen is from the Quw’utsun territory, her traditional name is Stimaat. Her background includes community engagement and communications. By embracing cultural differences, Carleen has built strong ties with local organizations. She is skilled in seeking out opportunities for how to create streamlined and efficient operations. Carleen grew up in a family that builds traditional war canoes and engaged in canoe paddling, where healthy living and the use of traditional war canoes are ways of life.
Janice E. Billy is the grade 2/3 immersion teacher at Chief Atahm School and also teaches in the adult proficiency program. For over 20 years she has worked with all ages of language learners, from children to adults. She is a well-known TPRS presenter and has the ability to bring excitement to teaching language through storytelling while still using comprehensible input. Janice also teaches an intensive TPRS course at our TPRS Summer Institute.
Elaine Colgate has more than 30 years of experience as a school principal and executive coach. Driven by her commitment to instructional innovation and drawing from her knowledge on best practice in learning and literacy development she supports instruction within the school’s immersion program. In this capacity, Elaine assists teachers in refining their teaching practices and collaborates with the curriculum team to develop research-based literacy resources for the immersion program.
Candice is Secwépemc from St̓uxtéws. She began her language journey during the pandemic with taking online classes taught by two Elders from her community. Nine months later, she packed up her things in Vancouver to attend the adult immersion program at R Stselxméms r Secwépemc in Adams Lake. Candice works in the Chief Atahm language nest and is currently assisting in the development of a grammar resource for Secwepemctsín immersion teachers.
Callie Hill is Turtle Clan, Kanyen’kehà:ka, and is a lifetime resident of Kenhtè:ke. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre (TTO) since 2004 and has dedicated much of her professional life to revitalizing Kanyen’kéha for the benefit of her community and the Mohawk Nation. Callie has a Master of Education Degree in Indigenous Language Revitalization from the University of Victoria. She continues to be a learner of the Mohawk language. Callie will speak about the language revitalization that began over 30 years ago when a group of parents from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory came together to create ways to raise their children so they could learn and honour their language and culture. Through this goal many speakers have been born. This spirit of language awakening continues with the construction of their new Kenhtè:ke Language and Cultural Centre.
Aaron Leon is from Splatsin, Secwépemc Nation. He is the president of Tsm7akseltn Society. Aaron has a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in photography from Concordia University. He oversees AV and tech at the Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn Society. Aaron is currently attending UBC Okanagan in the Interdisciplinary Graduate program researching Secwépemc histories and stories as well as taking the Secwepemctsin Fluency Diploma Program offered by R Stselxméms r Secwépemc.
Robert Matthew is Secwépemc from Simpcw. He has a Teaching Certificate and a Masters of Education and over 40 years experience in teaching and administration, 15 years in the B.C. public schools system and 25 years at Chief Atahm School. His passion is oral history, traditional knowledge and mapping.
Dr. Kathryn Michel has worked extensively in the area of community language revitalization and Indigenous language immersion education. She is one of the founding parents of Chief Atahm School, a Secwépemc language immersion program in 1991 on the Adams Lake Reserve near Chase, BC. Kathryn holds a Doctorate in Education from UBC and a Master of Arts in Education degree from SFU. She has written, edited and published numerous language curriculum resources for use in Secwepemc immersion classrooms. In 2013, she developed the “First Nations Language Essentials” curriculum guides for use in language programs in First Nations Schools across BC. Currently she is lead instructor for R Stselxméms r Secwépemc Institute language programs through NVIT and UBCO.
Laura has a B.A. from TRU with a Major in Theatre and a Secwépemc Language Proficiency Diploma from R Stselxméms r Secwépemc. As Language Nest Coordinator, Laura creates an immersive language environment. She is also a playwright, known for her play “Echoes of the Homesick Heart”, created in partnership with Western Canada Theatre, that brings the nuances of language, identity, and community to light.
Lawrence Michel is a respected Elder, storyteller and language teacher from Cstélen, Secwépemc Nation. “Slé7e Larry” has shared his knowledge to many generations of students at Chief Atahm School. He has a vast knowledge of the land, cultural skills and technology. Lawrence is also a journeyman carpenter and has taught many of our young people the basic woodworking skills.
Stacey Michel is employed by Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) as the Nłeʔkepmx Dept. Head and Language instructor in their adult fluency program. For over 15 years she had worked at Chief Atahm School as the Nursery/Kindergarten Secwépemc language immersion teacher. She is a master teacher and has developed many creative ways to work on early literacy skills for language learners.
Sydney (she/her) is a citizen of the Métis Nation. She has a diverse professional background including program coordination, language planning, Silent Speaker programming, community engagement, research consultation, and collections management & repatriation. In her role at FPCC, Sydney supports communities that are developing strategic language plans. She is deeply passionate about language and cultural revitalization work.
Lisa Orton (Cstélen – Adams Lake) is the Secwepemc Immersion Program Coordinator at Chief Atahm School. She has contributed to the school in various roles, including curriculum development, teaching community language classes, post-secondary education, and an immersion classroom teaching assistant. Lisa enjoys exploring Secwepemc plant names and uses and traditional harvedting activities on the land.
Catherine is a Secwépemc/syilx artist from Bonaparte who is a gifted seamstress, interdisciplinary artist, writer, poet and arts educator. She works as an Instructor for Traditional Arts at the En’owkin Centre in Penticton BC and is a Cultural Worker and Arts Facilitator. She has been learning and working with wetlands plants and is active in cultural revitalization of Interior Salish weaving traditions and basket making.
Denise (Tsilkst) Sellars (Xats̓úll – Soda Creek) is a Language Resource Assistant at the Chief Atahm School, where she works alongside teachers and staff to ensure the children get a well rounded education based in the Secwepemc language . She holds a Secwepemc Language Proficiency Diploma from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Secwepemc Language Fluency at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO).
Spyu7ellp-t̓e-Sqélecw. is a proud Secwepemc knowledge keeper, musician, and advocate for Indigenous rights. He is deeply connected to his culture and traditions, he uses music as a way to share stories, inspire people, and strengthen community ties. His passion for music spans multiple instruments and styles, blending traditional sounds with contemporary influences. He believes in empowering the next generation to embrace their voices and creativity.
Robyn Tardif (Kenpésq̓t, Secwépemc Nation) holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Alberta University of the Arts specializing in Glass and a Secwépemc Language Proficiency Diploma from R Stselxméms r Secwépemc. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Secwépemc Language Fluency through Stselxmems/UBCO. She is dedicated to integrating artistic expression through various mediums, including glass, textiles, jewellery, and drawing with language revitalization.
Rainbow Cady works as a language teacher in Chief Atahm School’s preschool immersion classroom. Rainbow has completed Simon Fraser University Language Proficiency Diploma in Secwepemctsín for Eastern Dialect. She is currently enrolled in Year Three Secwepemc Fluency Courses through UBCO. She brings a passion for learning language and a love of working with children into her teaching.
Charli Fortier is the Language Manager for Simpcw. As the Language Manager, Charli has taught the Simpcw Language and Culture Staff credited courses through Simon Fraser University and is the main instructor the Simpcw cohort for the Language Proficiency Certificate in Secwepemctsín. She works closely with Elders within the Secwépemc Nation to elicit, translate and transcribe the language.
Matthew is a former student of Chief Atahm School who has gone on to expand his language through working with his mother in the Mentor-Apprenticeship Program (MAP). He is currently a student in the Simon Fraser University Language Proficiency Certificate in Secwepemctsín for Eastern Dialect.
Ada Jules is a proud Secwepemc educator from Adams Lake Band. She holds a Secwepemc Language Immersion Proficiency Diploma and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria. A former student of Chief Atahm School, Ada now teaches Grade 4 immersion at Chief Atahm, where she is dedicated to fostering language revitalization and cultural learning.
Allie is a former student at Chief Atahm School and worked for many years as a teaching assistant. Currently Allie is an instructor for Simon Fraser University Language Proficiency Certificate in Secwepemctsín for Eastern Dialect, a joint project between Neskonlith Band and Wumec r Cqweqwelutn-kt Community Society.
Jada has completed her Secwepemctsín Proficiency Diploma through Simon Fraser University and is currently enrolled in Year Three of the Secwepemc Language Fluency Program at UBCO. Jada is an accomplished language student who is always willing to share her knowledge to young and old alike. Jada works at Chief Atahm School as an educational assistant in primary immersion.
Kanerahtokwas, Yakoniáhton (Turtle Clan), Kanyen’kehà:ka, originally from Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, is a First Language speaker in Kanyenkéha. She has been residing in Kenhteke Territory since January 2020, teaching children (ages 3 to 11) and mentoring young adults, to revitalize Kanyenkéha language. Kanerahtokwas has obtained 2 college diplomas and continues to learn about teaching outdoors, encompassing Mother Earth’s natural resources and teaching in the language. She has also been mentoring young adults enrolled in a 2 year full-immersion program. She also teaches culture with the use of the Ohenton Karihwatekwen (Words before all else), that are cited daily at the Kawenna’ónwe school.
Helping families raise amazing children in our beautiful Secwepemc language and culture. Call today for a tour or to talk about what our program can offer you and your family.