Garden River First Nation resident captures Sault Ste. Marie Medal of Merit
By Sam Laskaris
GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION – Barbara Nolan admittedly does not receive too many calls on her cell phone, so that’s why the 74-year-old Garden River First Nation resident was surprised her phone was ringing recently while she was out shopping with her daughter.
It was even more of a surprise when she saw that it was Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano on the other end.
The mayor was calling Nolan to congratulate her on being selected as the 2021 recipient of the Sault Ste. Marie Medal of Merit.
The city annually awards the medal to an individual or group who have achieved excellence in a cultural, academic or athletic field and has made an outstanding contribution to the community over several years.
A five-person committee, including the mayor, reviews the nomination applications and chooses the eventual winner.
“I never thought people would be nominating me,” said Nolan, who was recognized for her five decades of service locally towards the advancement of the Anishinaabemowin language.
Nolan was nominated by Karen Bell, a police constable with the Anishinabek Police Service.
Nolan has an inkling why her work is being recognized now.
“I think it’s that the Truth and Reconciliation comes into play of making people aware of our history,” she said.
Nolan was born in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. She moved to Garden River First Nation when she met her husband Tom in 1970.
A couple of years later, she started teaching her language classes.
“I did that because the students were not happy taking French,” she said. “They wanted to do something in their own language.”
And 50 years later, Nolan continues to teach Anishinaabemowin classes.
She teaches youngsters at the Garden River First Nation daycare. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, she’s taught those lessons remotely, a fact she doesn’t mind since she wants to remain safe and the youngsters she’s teaching would not have been vaccinated.
She also leads virtual classes through the Good Learning Anywhere program, based in Sioux Lookout.
Nolan also recently completed teaching a 10-week non-academic credit Ojibwe language course offered through the Native American Cultural Center at Yale University, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.
It was the second time she had taught a course at the Connecticut university. And she’s been invited back to teach another class at the U.S. school this spring.
Nolan also teaches language classes at various Michigan schools. Though she used to travel to teach those classes, she now teaches those remotely due to the current pandemic.
Nolan plans to continue teaching for as long as possible.
“That’s my passion,” she said. “It’s a lifelong passion. I’ll do it as long as I can.”
Provenzano believes Nolan is a deserving recipient of her accolade.
“The Medal of Merit is a fitting recognition of Barbara’s great leadership and significant contributions to our community,” he said.
Provenzano added Nolan provides a valuable service.
“Elders and Knowledge Keepers have invaluable knowledge, skills, and wisdom based in Indigenous history, tradition, culture, language and ceremony,” he said. “Barbara has inspired hundreds of Indigenous people to regain their language and celebrate their traditions, and she has shared her language with and taught many non-Indigenous people. We need to collectively study Indigenous history and culture so that we can learn from it, celebrate it and respect it. Barbara is helping us make significant progress in this regard and I am grateful for her continued efforts.”
Nolan was also appointed the Anishinabek Nation Language Commissioner in December of 2020 and maintains that role. Her duties include advising the Nation’s leadership and the public on the importance of Anishinaabemowin protection, retention, revitalization initiatives, and its use.