Minogiizhgad, Turtle Clan, is Anishinaabe from Bkejwanong Territory also known as the Walpole Island First Nation…located within the heart of the Great Lakes. Minogiizhgad has an extensive background learning his ancestral language Anishinaabemowin as a second language. He helped develop language revitalization initiatives in his community as a member of the ‘Anishinaabe Language Advisory Group (ALAG). As a member of ALAG’s ‘Language Planning Task Force’ he helped develop an ‘Anishinaabemowin Language Declaration’ endorsed by Chief and Council in 2008. In 2010, he was a student of a 4-year Anishnaabe language immersion program he co-developed for his community. In partnership with the University of Ottawa the immersion program called “Maatookiidaa Anishinaabewin – Let’s share Our Anishinaabe Ways of Life”. Today, Minogiizhgad is the Immersion Coordinator of the immersion school called ‘Anishinaabeg Kinomaagewgamig’ that currently runs from jr. kindergarten to grade 5.
