Ojibwa classes rekindle culture in Winnipeg's inner city

Aimee Guiboche couldn't speak her own language as a child, so now she is learning Ojibwa through the University of Winnipeg's Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre.

"My mom and dad never spoke the language to me," Guiboche said. "It really angered me, because I couldn't speak it."

Guiboche is among the 1,700 people from Winnipeg's inner-city neighbourhoods who use the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre on Ellice Avenue every month. The centre offers everything from free use of computers to language classes, 

"It's our identity," instructor Jason Parenteau said. "Within the culture of our teachings it's all in the language."

Parenteau's classroom is often packed with people of all ages, including parents with babies in strollers.

He said teaching families helps with the learning process.

"It's different if they have their children with them, because the children actually help the older people remember too. As we get older, we don't learn so quickly," he said.

Sharing language nice 'to see and hear' 

Guiboche attends class with her 11-year-old daughter Angel. She wants to be able to share Ojibwa with her family.

'When we go grocery shopping I'll see younger children, five or six, and I'll admire them for being able to speak their language to their parents, whatever the language is, I really admire that," she said.

"But it's frustrating for me because I can't share that opportunity with my children."

Learning their own language is a rewarding experience, not only for the students, but for their teacher as well.

"After time they're understanding, they're responding in language, and they're creating their own expressions in the language, so it's a nice thing to hear and see," Parenteau said.

"When you know who you are, you feel better about yourself , and then you can do more. And that translates to many other things of life."

Tune in Tuesday Morning for Information Radio on 89.3 FM, as Marcy Markusa broadcasts live from the University of Winnipeg.