Sault Ste. Marie honours Wiikwemkoong woman for efforts preserving Anishnaabemowin
CBC
For five decades Barbara Nolan has put her life into preserving Anishnaabemowin, and she was recently recognized for her efforts by the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Nolan, who is originally from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, was given the city's medal of merit, its highest distinction given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the community.
"I was just taken aback by it and I just feel so honoured," said Nolan.
"Since 1972, I've been involved in language wherever, whenever and however."
LISTEN Barbara Nolan speaks with CBC Radio's Up North about her award:
When Nolan was five, she and her sisters were sent to residential school in Spanish, Ont. She said they went home during the summer and for Christmas, which helped keep her connected to the language and culture despite the school's attempts to assimilate her.
While working as a child and family counsellor for the school board in Sault Ste. Marie, she said children from Garden River First Nation would tell her they didn't like learning French because it wasn't their language.
She was approached by a principal who was wondering why the children were doing so poorly in the class and she shared what they had told her. Nolan was asked to develop a curriculum for Anishinaabemowin.
The curriculum was approved by the school board and Nolan began teaching until a certified language teacher was found.
Nolan currently works at the Garden River First Nation daycare, teaching children the language. Over the last five decades she's taught at universities in the United States and locally in the Algoma district.
Nolan was nominated for the medal of merit by Karen Bell, a police constable with the Anishinabek Police Service. Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano said a committee chooses the recipient by unanimous decision.
"We're learning the importance of culture and that's because of leaders like Barbara, who persevered, who celebrated, who frankly kept their culture alive, kept their language alive, celebrated it, shared it and taught it," Provenzano said.
Nolan's daughter Colleen said her mother is a humble person and continues to teach because of her love of passing along the language.
"I think a lot of times parents are taught to say that you appreciate or you value your kids and you're proud of them," she said.
