Askî and Friends

These digital storybooks were developed as part of the Help Me Tell My Story early childhood oral language assessment. This holistic assessment is a program funded by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education in partnership with the school divisions and communities involved in the 2011 pilot program. The assessment is unique in many ways, and it is grounded in First Nations and Métis holistic perspectives on learning. All of the stories incorporate traditional beliefs and perspectives and are available in five languages: Cree, Dene, Michif, English and French.

The four storybooks focus on Askî, his three friends Nipi, Kon and Tate and their lives around the pond. The stories introduce Turtle Island and Mother Earth—two concepts that are central in the First Nations’ worldview. The stories were developed to be used in the classroom and in the home to help improve early childhood language skills.

* What’s inside

Large illustrations


Four stories about life at the pond


Stories designed for children aged 3 to 6


Read along option for each page, as well as for individual keywords


Read along option in five languages: Cree, Dene, Michif, English and French


First Nations and Métis content and ideas

* Features

Easy to use navigation in the app


Help screen to explain the app’s functions


Compatible with iPhone and iPad

This app is searchable using “Askî” or “Aski”

To learn more about the Help Me Tell My Story holistic assessment model, please visit http://www.saskatchewan.ca/holistic-assessment