The Prince Albert Grand Council’s 15th annual First Nations language festival is underway at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Gymnasium today.

Roughly 70 students from three different schools made it to the city for the event.

Throughout the day, participants are taking part in a variety of competitions in singing, oratory skills and drama.

Event coordinator Ann Toutsaint-Gordon says the festival has made a deep impact on the lives of many children over the years.

Four Grade 12 students from Shoal Lake say they like the festival because it gets them thinking about the Cree language in both music and speech.

They also say it helps them feel included when others around them speak in Cree.

Other communities represented at the event include Southend and the Wahpeton Dakota First Nation.