‘Wenesh Niin’: Laying the foundation of the Spirit Within
‘Wenesh Niin’: Laying the foundation of the Spirit Within
3 December 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm, AEDT, Online
Summary
NOWPlay is proud to present “Wenesh Niin: Who Am I?”, a comprehensive teacher’s resource designed to assist educators in understanding and supporting a child’s journey. Created by educators Yvette and Jacinta Manitowabi, this resource blends Anishinaabe teachings with the Ontario Curriculum to revitalize Anishinaabemowin language and culture while nurturing students’ identities. Through holistic, land-based learning approach, it encourages educators to create meaningful environments that connect language, writing, and community.
In this presentation, we will highlight some of the activities that are presented in this resource.
Speakers
Anishinaabe Kwe from Wikwemikong First Nation and a part of the Bear Clan, Jacinta is currently teaching in a partial Immersion kindergarten classroom. She started out as an Early Childhood Educator and later worked at becoming a teacher. Jacinta’s love of Anishinaabemowin and Land Based Learning supports the action research she does with the Northern Oral Language and Writing (NOW Play) through OISE.
Yvette Manitowabi is from the Three Fire Confederacy, Ojibway, Odawa, Potawatomi Nation, of Wikwemikong ON. Canada, land of the Robinson Huron Treaty Territory. She is a Anishinaabe Kew, Nokomis (Grandmother), Knowledge Keeper, and Teacher giving back to her community. She was instrumental in bringing Local Developed courses to their High School. She has taught in a Section 19 classroom, Primary, Jr Level and Play Base Kindergarten. Level-up classroom. Her journey continues with her focus on giving students a strong sense of identity, revitalize their ancestral language and connection to Creator. Presently working as Research Assistant NOW Play, OISE, University of Toronto
Recording
The Oral Language and Writing through Play: An Australian Regional Project (Phase 1)
The Oral Language and Writing through Play: An Australian Regional Project (Phase 1) was a Monash University research project conducted by Associate Professor Janet Scull and Associate Professor Anne Keary.
The International project partner was NOW Play – Northern Oral Language and Writing through Play: A Partnership Supporting Indigenous Children’s Language, Cultural Knowledge, and Writing. This International project is led by Professor Shelley Stagg-Peterson (University of Toronto, Canada). Further information can be found at: https://now-play.org/
The aim of the Australian project was to develop partnerships with teachers, early childhood educators and Indigenous communities in a regional area of Victoria, to support young children’s Indigenous language and cultural learning and their overall language and literacy. In Phase 1 of the project, Jessica Pollard, an early childhood educator and Tim Clark a regional Koorie Engagement Support Officer worked together to grow children’s knowledge of Indigenous languages and cultural practices. The children learned about these practices through reading picture storybooks and play based learning activities.
Picture Storybook – Awesome Emu, Gregg Dreise (author & illustrator), Magabala Books
Picture Storybook – Awesome Emu, Gregg Dreise (author & illustrator), Magabala Books
The text Awesome Emu was read to the children to build a shared understanding of the animals in the story, and the animals’ names were introduced in Gamilaraay language. The children engaged in language learning and cultural awareness activities with attention to sustainability. They represented their understanding of the story through their drawings.
Picture Storybook – My Lost Mob, Venetia Tyson, Magabala Books
Picture Storybook – My Lost Mob, Venetia Tyson, Magabala Books
When engaging with the text My Mob, the Koorie Engagement Support Officer explained what ‘mob’ means in his culture. Following on from concepts introduced in the book, the early childhood educator talked with the children about numbers, patterns and directions. The children drew animal tracks in sand trays and painted with ochre.
Picture Storybook – Our Mob, Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton (authors) Seantelle Walsh (illustrator), Ford Street Publishing
Picture Storybook – Our Mob, Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton (authors) Seantelle Walsh (illustrator), Ford Street Publishing
The picture book Our Mob proudly celebrates aboriginal culture through the sharing of stories from across Australia. Children shared their recollections of different cultural practises depicted in the book after having it read to them many times. They located the lands of children in the book using the Indigenous Map of Australia. The Koorie Engagement Support Officer introduced the children to bark painting and then they experimented with using both ochre and paint.
