Ojibwe Language Preservation

The Red Lake Economic Development and Planning Department is partnering with other departments on various Ojibwe Language Preservation initiatives. Among those are the following:

Red Lake Immersion School Initiative

We are in the planning phase of this program. For school year 2013-2014, we will be collaborating with the Red Lake Nation College, the Red Lake Head Start, and the Red Lake School District to develop an immersion school program with a projected open date of school year 2014-2015. This program will begin with one three-year-old head start classroom, and grow by adding one classroom each year of operation. Curriculum will be developed for this program that is unique to Red Lake dialect and culture.

Summer and Family Camps

The Economic Development and Planning Department partnered with Chemical Health in August 2013 to hold an Ojibwe Language and Culture Camp. This event was a success serving more than 30 children and family members. Activities included the following: cultural teachings, Ojibwe language lessons, canoeing, lacrosse, moccasin game, indigenous food demonstration, nature walks, among many more. This camp will be an annual event occurring at least once a year.

Ojibwe Language Revitalization Summit

The Economic Development and Planning Department is spearheading an initiative to complete a collaborative plan to move forward with Ojibwe language revitalization in Red Lake. This plan will be carried out in the following ways: utilizing past work completed on language revitalization, incorporating current work being completed on language revitalization, and involving all interested community members. This Ojibwe Language Revitalization Summit will be held during the late fall/early winter of 2013.