Secondary students across the province will soon be able to earn upper-level Indigenous language credits through virtual courses at the Near North District School Board.
Starting in January, the board will be the first to offer the e-learning courses to students at 56 boards in Ontario.
Officials say having the courses available virtually eliminates the issue of timetable conflicts, low enrolment, and potential course cancelation.
Teacher Falcon McLeod, whose Nishnaabe name is Nishnaabemwin Bemwidood (Keeper of the Language), has been learning Ojibwe since the age of five.
He says the turning point in his language education came when he attended his first immersion camp Ojibwemotaadidaa Omaa Gidakiiminaang in Cloquet, Minnesota.
“Ever since that experience, I have been slowly trying to emulate all those experiences in my home community of Nipissing First Nation and recreate several of those resources in the Nipissing dialect,” McLeod says. “These resources have ultimately become what I use to teach Ojibwe in my classes and plans for future materials.”
Sarah Spence, NNDSB Principal of Student Achievement and Well-Being, says the board recognizes the importance of Indigenous language revitalization and preservation, in fulfilling the Calls to Action related to language and in forwarding Truth and Reconciliation.
“The board is situated on the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory, specifically on the lands of seven Anishinaabe First Nations,” Spence says. “We are honoured to have exceptional language holders who can offer such calibre of language teachings to not only students in NNDSB, but across all of Ontario.”
Students from across the province that are interested in registering for the courses can do so through their school guidance departments.
