Shirley Cardinal

Shirley Cardinal is a Field Experience Coordinator at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education. In this role, she facilitates over 1,000 annual placements for teacher candidates, emphasizing the importance of building connections across the province. Shirley has 27 years of experience in education in northwest Saskatchewan. She spent 17 years as a middle and high school teacher and the past decade serving the Meadow Lake Tribal Council in various capacities, including language revitalization and curriculum coordination. In 2022, she earned her Master’s of Indigenous Languages Education Degree through the First Nations University at the University of Regina. As a fluent nēhiyawēwin (Cree) speaker, she’s passionate about revitalizing Indigenous languages and fostering confidence in second-language learners. Shirley, a nēhiyaw iskwēw, was born and raised on Waterhen Lake First Nation in Treaty Six territory, immersed in nēhiyawēwin. Today, her most cherished role is that of a devoted grandmother.