A grant awarded to the White Earth Early Childhood Program helped restore the use of the Ojibwe language in their classrooms and homes of young families.
The $7,500 grant – awarded by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation through funding provided by the state’s Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund – helped support the recording of children’s books read in Ojibwe and then uploaded onto the White Earth Nation’s YouTube channel.
In addition to providing the book that was read, complementary packets were produced through which the children and caregivers could follow along. There also was material on child development and activities on cultural teachings and identity.
Their YouTube webpage has had more than 250 hits for children’s books being read in the Ojibwe language for early learners and 400 hits for the children’s Ojibwe music.
Comments have been so positive that White Earth Nation is also incorporating the idea into other sources for further teaching of the language.
“This work was met with acceptance and appreciation, providing a much-needed resource for child care providers and others who wanted the Ojibwe language recorded as an early childhood resource,” said Missy Okeson, NMF Program Officer in the Child Care program. “Some providers said they had felt inadequate in teaching the language, but were so happy to see little ones all excited to say Ojibwe words they are learning or maybe already knew.
“The children’s educational growth through this experience is lifelong. Providers enjoyed it for themselves, too.”
