How do you say ‘fun’ in Cree? Games, activity tables give Forks visitors chance to learn Indigenous languages

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Peggy

A new initiative at The Forks is intended to give visitors a fun and interactive way to learn Indigenous languages this summer.

The Indigenous language program run by Winnipeg Trails has created a series of tables at the national historic site in Winnipeg, where throughout the summer, people can come to practise their Cree or Ojibway language skills — whether they’re new to the language or fluent speakers.

The program, launching this week, will run Wednesdays to Fridays at The Forks. Wednesdays will feature an immersion approach to learning Ojibway — meaning no English spoken — while beginner introductions to Cree or Ojibway will be offered Thursdays, and a game night on Fridays.

“It’s not always easy to learn in a classroom. You can get really bored as your professors [talk] on and on,” said Shyla Niemi, the Indigenous languages programs co-ordinator with the non-profit Winnipeg Trails.

“There’s a real bottleneck in Canada, where there’s not enough teachers with the Western credentials to teach the languages anymore,” while demand to learn the languages is “on the rise,” she said.

A flashcard and pictures. — Niemi shows off some of the illustrated flash cards available for people to use. (Justin Fraser/CBC )

The program includes a number of games on display in the Winnipeg Trails space at The Forks, like one called Boogidi, Ganabaj, which Niemi explained is like the party game Heads Up, where players try to guess a word on a card that’s on another player’s head.

There will also be flash cards with pictures and their corresponding Cree, Ojibway and English words, making them accessible to people who speak any of those languages as their first language, said Niemi.

The intent is to offer language learning sessions in a supportive and barrier-free environment, said Niemi, with the hope people who show up won’t leave without learning a new word or two.

“It’s also fun,” she said. “You can come play a game, you can check out the nature [at The Forks]. It’s a different environment, and I think people will respond to that.”

Winnipeg Trails executive director Anders Swanson said the organization hopes people from all different backgrounds will participate in the language tables.

“What a wonderful opportunity this is to be at The Forks and to hear Indigenous languages being spoken outside,” Swanson said.

Niemi agrees.

“I think it’s definitely important for us to see more of the language in the landscape, especially here at The Forks,” she said.

“The Forks has been an Indigenous meeting place for over 6,000 years, so we’re kind of honouring that history by gathering and learning language together.”

A woman shows off a calendar. — Niemi walks through an Ojibway calendar made for the Winnipeg Trails space at The Forks. (Gavin Axelrod/CBC)

On a personal level, she said working to improve her own language skills over the past year has been “life changing.”

“I didn’t grow up too much with Indigenous culture. My family lives really far away, my Indigenous family,” said Niemi.

“I started with nothing working here, and now I’m OK at it — but it’s also kind of changed my life goals, learning the language,” she said.

The time spent developing the project has been well spent, she said, and she looks forward to passing on things that have already been learned and picking up new skills along the way.

“It’s a lot more meaningful to me. I’d like to contribute in any way I can, and it’s made a big impact.”