A partnership between the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) and area First Nation communities is incorporating the use of Indigenous language into classrooms with help from learning apps.
The Anishinaabemowin language app was released in January after about two years of development.
Superintendent of Education Eryn Smit said they worked with a third-party app developer on the software component, but all of the content was created by working with local language experts from area First Nation communities.
Smit said the app has been incorporated into Indigenous language programs at the elementary and secondary school levels. He said there are currently eight schools within the LKDSB offering Anishinaabemowin (or Ojibwe) as a second language and two schools offer Lenape.
The Lenape language app is currently being developed and is expected to roll out in September for schools in the Ridgetown area, as well as community members at Delaware Nation.
"Each app has 30 units of instructions. Each unit covers its own theme. So there's one about maple syrup making, introducing yourself, or learning numbers, for example," Smit said. "There are audio examples, there are writing examples, there are reading tasks. You can record your voice and have the system read it back to you as well, listen to fluent language speakers through the pronunciation guide, and complete self-assessments as well."
He highlighted the unique partnership between the school board and area First Nation communities, through the Indigenous liaison committee.
"It's really a responsive process, listening to feedback from First Nations about how we can contribute to Indigenous language revitalization and then partnering with them through content development and funding," Smit said. "[The app is] available totally free of charge."
Smit said as far as they know, this is the first app of its kind in Ontario.
"Locally developed, designed for use of Indigenous language teachers and students in those classes. We're going to make it available to all LKDSB students to use as well," he said. "The next step, we're really excited about, is to roll it out in four First Nation communities in our area so that all of their community members have access to learning their own language as well."
Those communities include Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Delaware Nation, Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, and Walpole Island First Nation.
Indigenous Lead Dallas Sinopole and Elementary Indigenous Language Teacher Jessie Plain recently provided a presentation during a board meeting, where students conversed in Anishinaabemowin.
“This is not just language. It is customs, it is culture, it is identity,” said Sinopole in a media release. “When students know their identity, they soar in all areas. This is Student Success.”
National Indigenous Languages Day was recently observed in Canada on March 31.
