‘It changed my life’: Friendship Centre offers online language courses

The Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre is offering three online Indigenous language courses this month, offering beginner instruction in Anishinaabemowin, Mohawk and Cayuga to local Indigenous residents and the wider public.

The courses are part of its Indigenous Language Revitalization Program, designed as entry points rather than paths to fluency, with instruction focused on core vocabulary, sounds and cultural foundations.

Anishinaabemowin classes are already underway on Thursday evenings and are taught by Ashley Nadon, the centre’s language coordinator, who has been teaching the language for three years.

“Everything starts with the language, because that’s where you learn our worldview, our customs, our traditions, our ceremonies,” Nadon told Fort Erie Radio. “Learning our languages is very fundamental to having a healthy Indigenous identity.”

The courses are open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners, with many non-Indigenous participants from education and community work seeking a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives.

“I’m always blown away by people who are non-Indigenous who decide to take on the language learning journey, because it’s not easy, and it shows the community that you really care about getting to know who we are,” said Nadon.

Feedback from past students has shown impacts beyond the classroom, according to Nadon, including families using the language at home and staff bringing words and phrases into daily programming at the centre.

“When I went back to school full-time to study my language, it changed my life,” said Nadon. “I am completely different from when I went in and came out.”

Beginner Mohawk classes started this week and are taught online by Tawny Bennett, a graduate of the Six Nations Polytechnic immersion program with a master’s degree in education.

Beginner Cayuga classes begin next week and are taught by Tanya Henry, a graduate of the same immersion program with several years of teaching experience.

Registration remains open for the Mohawk and Cayuga courses, and the centre is also planning in-person language activities, including a Mohawk games and bingo night on January 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the gym.

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