Staff
Students in Ojibwe classes from across the district will be gathering tomorrow (April 30) for the annual Gagwegakendamaawiziwin competition, which this year is being hosted by Nigigoosiminikaaning First Nation.
Now in its 10th year, Gagwegakendamaawiziwin (Ojibwe for “we will seek knowledge” and formerly known as “Quest for Knowledge”) will see students participating in day-long, team-based activities that emphasize the Ojibwe language, culture, and learning.
“The importance of it is basically just to revitalize the language, and to have students participate and have all the schools showcase their talents,” said Brian Smith, Anishinaabe language co-ordinator for the Seven Generations Education Institute, which organizes the annual event.
Six schools—St. Francis, Robert Moore, JW. Walker, Our Lady of the Way, Mine Centre, and Lac La Croix—will be participating this year, each with a junior team made up of six Grade 5 and 6 students and a senior team made up of six Grade 7 and 8 students.
Throughout the day, teams will take part in various language and science-based games, collecting points along the way.
Activities include a version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” a scavenger hunt, and “Build It” (where they have to build something and other students have to identify it), as well as a quiz game similar to “Reach for the Top.”
Teams also will be showcasing their own cheers.
Students draw a variety of important things from an event like this, Smith noted.
“One being the history of the aboriginal people, the Ojibwe people,” he explained. “For example, our culture, traditions, and our customs and protocols of the Ojibwe people, the history of the treaties, the history of the communities, the names of the communities.”
The day also helps students recognize who they are and where they come from as an aboriginal person, Smith added.
It’s an event that grew out of just the one “Reach for the Top” styled quiz first held a decade ago.
“This is our big 10th year anniversary,” said Smith.
“It eventually is going to change some more,” he added, noting that over the 10 years, they’ve changed games that weren’t working and brought in new ones for the students.
“It keeps improving each year,” Smith enthused. “At this time I’m envisioning a better one for next year already.”
