In Grades 4-8, your child has a choice to take Ojibwe or French language learning. Students will continue on to learn a second language in high school by attaining the compulsory grade 9 language credit in French or Ojibwe. Students can choose to continue to learn Ojibwe in grades 10-12.
Enrolling your child in Anishinaabemowin will ensure your child will be given opportunities to learn about and celebrate Indigenous culture through land-based learning opportunities, local Elders and knowledge keepers, and participation in ongoing community events.
The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) offers a comprehensive Native as a Second Language (NSL) program across its schools, aiming to preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages while providing students with valuable second language skills. NSL is offered in Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe, or Oji-Cree, to grades 4-12.
From grades 4-8, students take 40 minutes of Ojibwe a day. At the high school level, students in Sioux Lookout take LNL (Oji-Cree), while Dryden, Kenora, and Red Lake offer LNO (Ojibwe) as an option to fulfill the grade 9 language requirement.
KPDSB's NSL program is designed to immerse students in Indigenous languages, fostering language proficiency and cultural understanding. The curriculum is structured to accommodate various proficiency levels, ensuring that students can progress from basic vocabulary and phrases to more complex language structures.
The NSL program emphasizes developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in the language. Cultural components are integrated throughout, allowing students to explore the traditions and history of Indigenous peoples and the language. This approach enhances language skills and deepens students' appreciation of Indigenous cultures and traditions.
At Keewatin Patricia District School Board (KPDSB), we envision a future where every student has the opportunity to engage deeply with Indigenous languages, fostering cultural pride, unity, and understanding. By integrating Native as a Second Language (NSL) programming board-wide, we honor the rich culture and wisdom of Indigenous communities, empowering students to connect with their roots and ensure that Indigenous languages thrive for future generations.
By embedding community culture, language, and land into all NSL programming board-wide, we honor and celebrate the deep-rooted traditions of Indigenous peoples. This approach ensures that students not only learn the language but also gain a profound understanding of the culture. Through this holistic learning, we nurture respect for Indigenous ways of knowing, strengthen community ties, and foster students that actively contribute to the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages.
WIIDOOKODAADIDAA JI-ANIGIKENDAMANG AWE GAA-INWEYAANG
Let’s help one another to learn our language.
Please reach out to jennifer.winter@kpdsb if you have any questions.