Anishinabemowin instructor proud, hopeful as she helps pass language to next generation in Interlake
CBC
Lillian Traverse from Pinaymootang First Nation has been speaking Anishinabemowin most of her life, but there was a time in her youth when she nearly lost touch with her first language, as she was being teased by other kids for speaking it.
Now, she teaches Anishinabemowin, also known as Ojibway, in the Lakeshore School Division and is helping secure the future of the language for generations to come.
"It's dying out, but to bring it back and to keep it going is something that is amazing," Traverse said ahead of a lesson at Ashern Early Years School.
Traverse got started in the division last fall and is at the school five days a week. Her teachings also include introductions to beading and soapstone carving.
"It's very interesting and exciting; the students are very engaged," said Karen Carmichael, principal of Ashern Early Years School.
WATCH | Lillian Traverse teaches kids Anishinabemowin through bingo in Ashern:
Carmichael said half of the students in the school are First Nation or Métis.
"By doing this it brings a connection to their past language, their past culture, their heritage," she said. "We have a very diverse school population.... It's wonderful to have this community where we're getting to learn each other's knowledges."
On this day, Grade 4 students are learning how to count to 10 by playing a game of bingo.
Classmates applaud Charles Ammann after he confidently counts from one to 10 in Anishinabemowin. He's still trying to get the hang of how to pronounce seven and eight — niizhwaaswi and n'shwaaswi, respectively — because they "sound the same for me."
"My favourite part about this is we're learning it while we're having fun," he said, adding he doesn't have anyone in his life who speaks Anishinabemowin.
His classmate Roman Traverse won a round of bingo by completing his card with the word naanan — the number five in Anishinabemowin.
In previous sessions, they've learned animal names.
"Ma'iingan is wolf ... makwa is a bear and mashkode-bizhiki is buffalo," said Roman.
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