What is your inspiration as a learner of Secwepemctsín?

There were many things that inspired and motivated me. My son and my daughter, the memory of my mother and father, grandparents, great-grandparents, numerous other relatives, the elders and mentors at Chief Atahm Secwépemc Immersion School, and my four dogs kept me motivated.

Please share your greatest challenges during the program.

Finding time, focusing on tasks, and separating myself from the world when I was in high demand was the most challenging. To overcome these obstacles, I asked for extensions and I bugged my mentors a lot for help.

Do you have any advice for future Indigenous Languages students? 

Be kind to yourself. It will come right for you. Never surrender and don’t quit—find a way. You are the person for whom our ancestors prayed!

Who would you like to acknowledge for providing support? 

My son Alex Adams and my daughter Kiera Adams who both helped me ‘find a way, Dad!’. My mother, the late Mildred Adams, and my father, the late Lorne Adams, who supported me through everything in life and never gave up on me. 

My program instructor, Dr. Marianne Ignace, and the late Kye7e Mona Jules, who always made time for me and helped me find a solid path forward learning Secwepemctsín. 

The SFU INLL program cohort, who are all an incredibly talented powerhouse of a group of Indigenous language revitalizers and it was an honour to be in such a group.

The Cstélen (Adams Lake) language elders: Kye7e Lucy William, Kye7e Anne Michel, Sle7e Lawrence Michel, the late Sle7e Joe Michel, and Kye7e Verna Anthony. The Splatsin language elders: Kye7e Donna Antoine and Kye7e Marion Lee. The Neskonlith Band language elders: Dr. Janice Dick-Billy and Kye7e Flo Sampson. 

Chief Atahm Secwépemc Immersion School teachers and mentors, all of whom taught me Secwepemctsín unconditionally: Dr. Kathryn Matthew-Michel, Principal Rob Matthew, Janice Michel-Billy, Stacey (Bob) Michel, Ada Jules, Sarah Michel, Lisa Orton, Alisha Billy and Rhonda Camille.