U of a Student Creates 3D Printed Resource to Help Teach Cree Language

Syllabics kit based on “Star Chart” helps Indigenous language learners connect with Cree culture. Kaia MacLeod, a master's student in library and information studies and an Indigenous intern with the U of A Library, created a 3D printed kit to give her fellow students a hands-on way to learn Cree syllabics. 

As one of the University of Alberta Library’s Indigenous interns, Kaia MacLeod wanted to use her role to help make the library a more welcoming space for Indigenous people. Knowing the U of A offers Cree language classes and is home to the Canadian Indigenous Language Learning and Literary Development Institute (CILLDI), she decided to 3D print a set of Cree syllabics for the library. MacLeod knew her older sister and fellow librarian, Lorisia MacLeod, had created 3D printed Cree syllabic files while working at NorQuest and had put those files up on Thingiverse, a design community for discovering, making and sharing 3D printable things. Most designs on the site are freely available under a Creative Commons licence, meaning anyone can use or adapt them.

READ MORE HERE