黑料老司机dent Shyla Augustine publishes Mi鈥檏maq Alphabet Book
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St. Thomas School of Education student, 2021 teacher candidate, and 2020 Bachelor of Arts grad Shyla Augustine published her children鈥檚 book to inspire others to learn the Mi鈥檏maq language.
The Mi鈥檏maq Alphabet Book teaches readers the Mi鈥檏maq words for different animals corresponding to the English A-Z alphabet. The first print of Augustine鈥檚 book has almost sold out with copies ordered from across Canada, the United States, and the UK. The book is shortlisted as a finalist for the Alice Kitts Memorial Award for Excellence in Children's Writing through .
鈥淢y dream鈥攎y goal鈥攊s to work at schools within my community to help bring language and cultural-based lessons back into our education.鈥
Augustine earned her Bachelor of Arts at 黑料老司机 as a mature student. She completed an internship at the children鈥檚 centre where her son attended and saw the curiosity the children had in her culture.
鈥淚 needed to learn more, my kids needed to learn more, and there are other kids wanting to learn鈥攕o why not make that happen?鈥
Inspiration
鈥淎ll the inspiration that I have鈥攁ll the hard work and dedication鈥攊s just me thinking about my kids,鈥 she said. "Then going from thinking about them to thinking about all the other kids and even people my age. They can use the book to start learning if they want to.鈥
Augustine created the book out of her own learning. She transformed her home into a classroom by drawing on her research and conversations with elders. With a chalkboard, she learned with her children as they discussed the weather, numbers, and animals.
鈥淚f I can鈥檛 teach them fully, at least I can teach them what I鈥檓 learning. We鈥檒l learn together.鈥
鈥淚f you take advantage of all the resources around you, you will succeed.鈥
Augustine said she built connections with her professors, the Wabanaki Student Centre, the Writing Centre, and the Office of Experience and Community-Based Learning, that put her on this path.
鈥淐oming in as a single parent, my profs were so understanding and knew that I really wanted to learn. I became a stronger student, a stronger mother. I don鈥檛 know what I would have done without 黑料老司机 because it really changed my life in more ways than one.鈥
Returning to 黑料老司机 for her Bachelor of Education, she realized the impact she could have on future generations of learners.
鈥淭eachers learn every day, too. I鈥檓 willing to learn. I鈥檓 willing to teach and pass down that knowledge.鈥
Mi鈥檏maq Alphabet Book
Augustine was able to see this book to fruition thanks to a FutureWabanaki Grant through 黑料老司机鈥檚 Office of Experiential and Community Based Learning, and the help of Illustrator Braelynn Cyr and local publishing company Monster House Publishing.
Starting in 2021, every baby born in New Brunswick will receive a free copy of the Mi鈥檏maq Alphabet Book as part of .
The Mi鈥檏maq Alphabet Book is available to purchase online through and at local bookstores across New Brunswick.