In land-based learning over the past three months, some exciting and informative units of study have been explored by students in Daycare and Biidaaban. Land-based Instructor, Michael Abitong, is largely responsible for planning and facilitating these (often) outdoor, hands-on learning opportunities that incorporate traditional practices and knowledge-sharing, and freely present Anishinaabemowin throughout.
Michael recently provided units of study on the amik/beaver, waabooz/rabbit, giigoonh/fish, adaawaagan/fur trade, and iskigamizigan/sugar bush. He includes the use of preserved animals, pelts, and printed tools to give students a fun, ‘real-life’, and interactive way of absorbing the teachings. Michael introduces students to practicing traditional methods with a hands-on approach, and shares knowledge on offering tobacco to Creator in appreciation of access to this learning. He uses Anishinaabemowin whenever possible with students, sharing stories from his own past to further bring a connection to Anishinaabe traditional practices .
Recently, Michael delivered a unit on ice-fishing with Daycare and Biidaaban, which was a huge hit! As you can imagine, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes preparation required, including collecting artifacts and creating captivating pictures/tools to engage the kids. We welcome Kara Abitong as a new Land-Based Assistant to provide support to Michael helping with some of these preparatory tasks, while job shadowing about the responsibilities of being an educator and what the position entails. Kara was instrumental in creating laminated images of the various local fish species, with a ‘hook’ or magnet attached, and some fishing rods (dowels with string and a receiver hook/magnet attached), to replicate ice-fishing in the classroom. Michael laid the fish out in a big circle on the classroom floor, demonstrating the habitat where each species lives, pointing out the difference in appearance from one species to another, and asking students in Anishinaabemowin if they knew the name of the fish in the language. Many shouted out the name excitedly! There were over 12 species on a display board and when the children hooked a fish, they would take it to the board and Kara would help them identify it, say the name of the species in both languages, and listen to the children express the unique characteristics they recognized in that fish. It took several attempts for the kids to ‘hook’ a fish; Michael furthered their learning by pointing out that fishing requires patience, and the importance of only taking what is needed from Mother Earth, acting as stewards of the land in the Anishinaabe way.
Daycare friends and the primary grades in Biidaaban enjoyed ice-fishing immensely and their demonstration of knowledge about Anishinaabemowin for various local fish species and the actions involved with ice-fishing was impressive and inspiring! This unit continues with the other grade levels throughout the month of March.
