October 10, 2024 (Cornwall, ON) – Grade 3 and 4 students at Viscount Alexander Elementary School explored the value of language in cultural preservation and the ongoing efforts towards reconciliation.
During Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 30, students were introduced to the book Stolen Words, which tells the story of how Indigenous peoples lost their languages during the time of residential schools. The story sparked a discussion on how the class could contribute to “finding” those lost words.
Each student was then assigned a Mohawk word to explore, translated it into English and created a poster that featured their word along with a drawing. Each student was then assigned a Mohawk word to explore. Students translated their words into English and created a poster that featured their word along with a drawing that described it. The hands-on activity helped students connect with the Mohawk language and culture in a personal way.
The highlight of the learning experience was a visit from Ryan Jacobs, a member of the UCDSB’s Indigenous Learning Team. Jacobs taught the students some Mohawk grammar rules, shared new words and spoke about his own experiences reconnecting with the Mohawk language.
Captivated by his lesson, many in the class continued practicing the words they had just learned throughout the remainder of the day.