Free Indigenous language learning offered all summer at The Forks

The spot wherever nan Assiniboine and Red rivers travel together has been a gathering spot for centuries, and a section statement wants Winnipeggers to travel to The Forks this summertime and study 1 of nan languages traditionally spoken successful nan area.

The Winnipeg Trails Association’s Indigenous connection learning squad is offering 3 sessions a week astatine The Forks, giving attendees a chance to study immoderate Cree (Inininow) and Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin) basics — unfastened to learners astatine each levels, and free of charge.

Mackenzie Anderson-Sasnella, a personnel of nan team, told 680 CJOB’s The Start that nan programme is astir “mainstreaming” nan languages among Winnipeggers of each backgrounds.

“We do that successful various ways, particularly pinch naming a batch of our section trails,” Anderson-Sasnella said.

“For this year, we were fixed nan opportunity … and we (thought), well, we person each this space, we mightiness arsenic good unfastened it up moreover much to nan nationalist and proceed those connection learning opportunities.”

Each convention offers different approaches, pinch Wednesdays being a afloat immersion — nary English — successful nan Ojibwe language, and Thursdays aimed astatine beginner Cree and Ojibwe speakers.

“These are much beginner-friendly,” Anderson-Sasnella said. “Anyone of immoderate age, immoderate level tin join.”

The Friday sessions are centred astir accepted games, arsenic good arsenic modern games pinch a linguistic twist, for illustration Ojibwe Scrabble.

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“As Indigenous connection learners, we find it difficult to practise what we are learning,” programme co-ordinator Shyla Niemi said.

“We needed a abstraction to practise, not conscionable pinch ourselves, but pinch different people.”

More accusation astir nan sessions is disposable connected nan Winnipeg Trails Association’s website.