Pic River Elder Teaches About Ojibway Culture At Margaret Twomey Public School

Written by Diane Michano-Richmond on 23 December 2012

Pic River First Nation Elder Diane Michano-Richmond (centre) with her new friends, the Grade 3 class from Margaret Twomey Public School. Submitted photo.

MARATHON, ON – Thursday December 6th Pic River First Nations Elder Diane Michano-Richmond visited Grade 3 students at Margaret Twomey Public School to teach them about Ojibway culture and language.

Mrs. Michano-Richmond touched on a variety of topics during her visit including teaching the students Ojibway, sharing some important First Nations stories and singing with the students. The students were very eager to learn the language and had fun singing the songs accompanied by actions. They learned to sing an Ojibway song which, to facilitate learning, is sung to the tune of the popular English children’s song “If You’re Happy and You Know It”. Among those words they learned in Ojibway, the First Nations language spoken by the majority of First Nations people in our region, through the song were “bappi” (laugh), “mawi” (cry), and “niibawi” (stand).

Students asked Mrs. Michano-Richmond many great questions, naturally curious about how things may be different from their own culture or family traditions, among their queries were:

How does a person ask for a spirit name?
What are some of the medicines that the native people use and what for?
What is a pow wow?
Whate are some of the different types of regalia worn by the dancers at Pow Wows?
What are the 7 Sacred Teachings?

Mrs. Michano-Richmond elaborated on the latter, discussing the 7 Sacred Teachings with the students and looking forward to having the discussion be ongoing.

The Pic River Elder was very impressed with the interest shown by studens and their questions “The students were attentive and so respectful, I am very much looking forward to working with them again”. Michano-Richmond will be returning to visit the Margaret Twomey Public School students in January when she will teach the students who to make their own dreamcathers.

MORE INFO

If you are a teacher or principal who believes your students could benefit from learning about First Nations culture, language or arts with a visit from Diane Michano-Richmond, call us at 807-826-4745 and we will provide her contact information.
Learn more about the Ojibway of the Pic River First Nation
Visit Margaret Twomey Public School online
Learn more about public education in Northwestern Ontario