M’Chigeeng First Nation expands Ngwaaganak Program
By Kelly Crawford
M’CHIGEENG FIRST NATION— Lakeview School is expanding their Anishinaabemowin Immersion Program.
Ngwaaganak has expanded to another grade this year at Lakeview School. M’Chigeeng leadership is committed to the language as a key component to the success of students.
“The Ngwaaganak Program is a holistic approach to learning that benefits the learner and all their gifts,” says Ogimaa Kwe Linda Debassige. “We currently have 46 students in the program. The Ngwaaganak Program strives to include community in the development and execution of the program.”
Community outreach and participation will establish ongoing learning in the areas of language, culture, traditions and history. The program recognizes and celebrates the rich knowledge of Elders and community members. This team approach to language acquisition will benefit the school and M’Chigeeng First Nation as a whole.
“M’Chigeeng First Nation has had a commitment to language learning for many years. We are always trying to find creative ways to support language development. The Ngwaaganak Program will continue to be developed over time with feedback from Elders, community, parents, teachers, Indigenous scholars, and most importantly our students,” notes Ogimaa Kwe Debassige.
“Right across the country, language advocates working in education and training are deeply concerned about the rapid decline of languages in our communities. I’ve always contended that more effort needs to be directed toward creating fluent speakers. Education has to play an integral role moving forward given our history,” explained Stephanie Roy, President, Kenjgewin Teg. “Ojibwe immersion programs like Ngwaaganak here in M’Chigeeng serve as a leading catalyst of positive change with a primary purpose to revitalize our Indigenous languages, create fluent speakers and utilize community speakers.”
The immersion-based program was created as a need for students in M’Chigeeng who were previously enrolled in Mnidoo Mnising Anishinabek Kinoomaage (MMAK) Anishinaabemowin Immersion school and for a new model of current Lakeview School students. The name “Ngwaaganak” was selected by the group of students and means, ‘many rainbows’, which is reflection of the learners in the program.
“We know today, that going beyond a monolingual education mode is critically important for our Anishinabek nationhood. We can do it, we just have to have the confidence in ourselves to do so. The shaming of our languages and what it has done to our psyche is something that we have to overcome together. There is no shame in speaking two languages,” stated Roy.
The Ngwaaganak team is collectively working “to instill in our children Anishinaabe knowledge, culture, history and pride of our Anishinaabe language through a comprehensive immersion program at Lakeview School. The Ngwaaganak Family and all our relations in the greater community will foster Anishinaabemowin through a holistic approach to language acquisition in an immersion setting.”
Mii maanda ezhi debwendmaang. Ndo getnaamzimi will miingaazoowad wii mshkogaabiiwaad wii ni mnigaadesewad.
The program includes experiential learning, inquiry-based learning, holistic and integrated learning and the Regio Emilia approach. The educational instruction and assessment are grounded in Indigenous education pedagogy that is supported by Indigenous research by Indigenous scholars.
M’Chigeeng First Nation is centrally located on Manitoulin Island within the Great Lakes Region of Norther Ontario, the heart of the community is located within the bay surrounded by the North Channel of Lake Huron. The second largest First Nation on Manitoulin Island and home to the Anishinabek of the Three Fires Confederacy: Odawa, Ojibway and Pottawattomi Nations.