BUGONAYGESHIG SCHOOL OJIBWE LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM.

These are some general points that parents should be aware of as they make a decision to enroll their child in our program.

 

WHAT IS IMMERSION?

Immersion teaching is a method of teaching that utilizes our own language to teach our children everything they will need to be successful people. The language is not the subject, it is the vehicle that we will use to teach. Learning the language is an added benefit. No English is spoken in the presence of our students. All written materials are in the Target Language, in our case, Ojibwemowin.

 

WHY IMMERSION?

Currently there are many Immersion Schools around the world. Some of them have taken languages that were on the brink of extinction and saved them. Ojibwemowin is listed as an endangered language. The average age of fluent speakers here on Leech Lake is 70.5.

Studies have shown that students in immersion schools in communities that struggle academically have dramatically improved and outscored students from non-immersion settings in all areas academically. Many students are enrolling at some of the top colleges in the U.S.

The benefits of self-esteem that come from knowing who you are as a native person are immeasurable. If you have a strong sense of self, you tend to make more healthy decisions in life.

In addition, our elders have been encouraging us for some time now to reclaim our language, reclaim our culture and the things that make us strong. The normal Ojibwe classroom setting has fallen far short of teaching our children our language and culture. In the present setting, we talk about the language and culture. In immersion we live the language and culture.

WHAT WILL WE TEACH?

We will adhere to state standards for any kindergarten, 1^st grade, and 2nd grade class and hopefully exceed them. Your child will be taught all the skills any regular elementary should learn. The only difference is, we will use our language and our grandpas and grandmas old methods as much as possible. Also, our focus will be from the Anishinaabe viewpoint. So when we teach about famous people, for instance, we won't start with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, we will start with Wenabozho and Flat Mouth. Yes, your children will learn to read English, but they will learn to read Ojibwemowin first. Yes, they will learn math, but we will teach it with more traditional methods.

Each lesson will be explored for cultural applications first, and then other lessons will be introduced. Things that we would normally do in life, we will use to teach children skills that all elementary age children learn.

WHERE WILL WE TEACH?

Presently, the Niigaane Program is housed behind the Bugonaygeshig Elementary School. The program enjoys all the services offered by the School. We hope to have a building of our own in the future.

 

WHEN WILL WE TEACH?

We will begin classes with the rest of the school and follow the school calendar for holidays and such. Class times will also coincide with the normal school day. We will have one extra day of a month to facilitate curriculum building.

 

WHO WILL BE TEACHING?

A Classroom Elder - An elder speaker of Ojibwemowin is responsible to insure proper speech and use of language in class, by staff and students. The Elder also works with the curriculum writer and the classroom teacher to write, review and approve all written materials and lessons insuring that they are dialect accurate and culturally sound.

Classroom teacher - Naabekwa.  Naabekwa helped design and implement the Niigaane Program and has been teaching in the Niigaane Classroom for the last 2 years. He is an advanced learner and has been teaching Ojibwemowin for 10 years. He has experience with head start all the way up to college level students.  He is responsible to insure lessons are delivered in a respectful manner. He assumes all normal classroom management responsibilities. Works with elder and curriculum developer in lesson planning. Communicates with parents as much as possible to fulfill the needs of student and parents, and insure that parents are learning along with their child.

 

WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED?

Program Director/Parent Coordinator - Oversees the program as a whole to insure we are moving in the right direction, develops relationships with outside programs to promote the growth of the program and best practices are being utilized, works with the parents through home visits, activity coordination, and any problem solving needed. They are the Oshkaabewis (messenger/helper) for the program.

Curriculum Developer - Works closely with Teacher and Elders developing curriculum and lesson plans that are dialectically and culturally accurate. The Curriculum Writer also develops measurement tools and insures that all state standards are met.

Community Elder - speaker from your community. The Community Elder will be a home resource when you need help at home. They can help with language, cultural questions, and whatever else they are comfortable with.

Parents & Family - Work together in helping our student to speak Ojibwe as much as possible at home. Putting home kit to good use, attending parent gatherings, helping with lesson development, even coming into classroom with children from time to time.

Child - Our children are responsible to be children and learn in their own way, the beauty of learning.

 

HOW WILL WE TEACH?

Lessons will be delivered in Ojibwemowin only. There will be no English allowed in the presence of our students. (Anyone visiting the class must adhere strictly to this policy! We have one office in the building where English will be permitted.)

This class does not look like, or function like a typical classroom, no desks or classroom type tables, only furniture that we would find in our own homes. We will use hands on activities and be outside as much as possible. We want to stay away from the "sit at your desk"  teaching style.

HOW WILL NON-OJIBWE SPEAKING PARENTS UNDERSTAND AND LEARN WITH OUR KIDS?

Parents of Niigaane students are required to attend weekly gatherings where you will be taught the same lessons that your child is learning. These classes will begin before the school year begins to give you all a head start (no pun intended!!).

In addition to weekly classes, each home will receive a home kit  that will contain labels for most common household objects, a common phrase sheet for each room in the house, and a coinciding tape to help with pronunciation. You will also be taught to read the written language. Elders will be identified in each community that can give additional support.

 

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PARENTS?

Parents of Niigaane students are expected to:

• Understand that we will follow as close as possible, the original teachings of the Anishinaabe. This will include daily tobacco and making appropriate offerings as needed. We will not preach or try to indoctrinate anyone in spiritual matters, but we must all understand that tobacco is part of our daily routine, and present in many situations.

• Make a commitment to our language, culture and children through this program. This is not a fad, it will take years of hard work by all of us to help our children learn and achieve to their potential. We will have our ups and downs.  If we work together and don't give up, our children will too.

• Attend all weekly gatherings for parents, and show periodic improvement. These gatherings will include lessons that will coincide with what your child is learning, so you can all practice together at home. You will also learn how to read the written language so you can easily use the home kit.

• Volunteer 8 hrs/month in helping with the program development. (Because this program is so new, there is very little readymade curriculum available. We have to make everything that we will use in the classroom. We will need your help cutting and pasting translations into reading books, inputting lessons on a computer, gathering physical resources (like sticks to build wigwams, birch bark for basket making, etc.)

• Use as much Ojibwemowin at home as possible. If we see each other in town, speak Ojibwe!! Use the home kits!! (Be active learners, ask questions, and don't wait to be taught!!

•  Provide us with any feedback (positive and negative!) that will help us meet the needs of families and students.

• Sign an understanding and agreement form. We must all enter this program with a good understanding of the program.

 

WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS?

Fill out and submit application form. This packet will also give you more of an idea what you are applying for. This application is to be considered for enrollment, it is not a sure thing. There may be additional things you need to gather before your interview. (Anishinaabe name for child, research your clan if unknown, etc.

• Attend interview with selection team. No, don't worry, it will be conducted in English! This interview is to determine the kind of commitment you can make to this endeavor. We will be selecting 8 families to enter our program. We have to ensure that these families understand and have the kind of commitment it takes to be successful in this program.

What we are looking for in the interviews is:

-         a commitment to Anishinaabe language and culture

-         a commitment to volunteer time and attend parent classes

-         a commitment by parents to learn language

-         a commitment to keep the child in the community and program

-         a commitment to ACTIVELY support your child.

 

THE CHALLENGE

We understand that this program requires high commitment to who we are as Anishinaabe people. We believe that this is one of the few ways that can truly put our knowledge and skills in its rightful place, at the forefront of our children's learning experience. We believe in our elders knowledge and the fact that it is applicable to today's challenges. We believe in our children's ability to learn and achieve to levels limited only by their dreams.

If you can wholeheartedly agree with this statement, we would gladly welcome you to join us in this challenge.

Further questions call Saagajiiwe or Rochelle Johnson at the Bugonaygeshig School at 1-800-265-5576 / 218-665-3000.