On National Indigenous Languages Day, the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) is marking an important milestone in its ongoing commitment to Indigenous language revitalization and reconciliation while also looking ahead to the next phase of this work.
At a recent Board meeting, Trustees were offered a glimpse into the future of Indigenous language learning in LKDSB classrooms through a presentation by Indigenous Lead Dallas Sinopole and Elementary Indigenous Language Teacher Jessie Plain. Trustees watched students move beyond isolated vocabulary into full sentences and authentic conversation in Anishinaabemowin, supported by a new digital language-learning app that was formally released in January 2026.
The presentation also previewed progress toward the Lenape language app, which is currently in development and scheduled to launch in September 2026, reflecting LKDSB's phased and deliberate approach to community-led language revitalization.
Trustees engaged in an energetic discussion about the potential for expansion and cross-curricular application, recognizing the significance of hearing Indigenous languages spoken confidently and authentically by students across the district. Student Trustee Bressette captured this momentum, noting, "It would be great to see this used in subjects like Math and Science having the language fully immersed into all areas of study."
The Anishinaabemowin app represents a major milestone for the Board, which has long committed to providing culturally relevant and responsive educational services for all students, including those of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis ancestry. This work is grounded in meaningful, long-standing relationships with LKDSB's four First Nation partners: Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Eelunaapeewi Lahkeewiit (Delaware Nation), Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, and Walpole Island First Nation.
These partnerships guide and shape programming priorities through ongoing dialogue and regular consultation at the Indigenous Liaison Committee. By developing resources collaboratively, LKDSB works to ensure that community values, student needs, and language revitalization goals remain at the centre of decision-making.
National Indigenous Languages Day underscores the urgency and importance of this work. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action, along with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), affirm the inherent right of Indigenous peoples to speak, learn, and pass on their languages. LKDSB views its role not as symbolic, but as an essential responsibility tied directly to reconciliation and student success.
"This is not just language. It is customs, it is culture, it is identity," said Dallas Sinopole. "When students know their identity, they soar in all areas. This is Student Success."
The Anishinaabemowin app contains 30 fully developed instructional units designed to build proficiency over time. Each unit includes a topic introduction, vocabulary practice with authentic audio exemplars, listening and reading comprehension tasks, writing activities, and a summative review to support assessment.
To ensure linguistic accuracy and cultural integrity, LKDSB worked directly with Anishinaabe language speakers from local First Nation communities and within the Board to develop content and record all audio components. The result is a learning tool rooted not only in pedagogy, but in community voice and lived knowledge.
Following its January launch, initial access and training were provided to elementary and secondary Indigenous language teachers and members of the Indigenous Education Department. Training was delivered directly by the app developer to support effective classroom implementation and long-term sustainability. The app is now being used in Anishinaabemowin as a Second Language classrooms across the district, taught by OCT-qualified teachers and open to all students.
As Sinopole emphasized during the presentation, "Everyone should know Anishinaabemowin. There is no benefit to gatekeeping a language. This is for all."
Development of the Lenape language app continues in close collaboration with Eelunaapeewi Lahkeewiit (Delaware Nation), with a launch planned for September 2026. Once released, it will mirror the instructional depth and community-informed design of the Anishinaabemowin app, expanding access to Lenape language learning for students across LKDSB.
This work aligns closely with the Board's long-term planning commitments. Through the Board Action Plan for Indigenous Education, LKDSB allocates annual funding to support Indigenous language revitalization. The 2024-2025 Operational Plan committed to developing comprehensive resources to support Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin) and Lenape language learning over a three-year period work that continues in the 2025-2026 Operational Plan. The release of the Anishinaabemowin app, and the upcoming launch of the Lenape app, represent significant progress toward these shared objectives.
Trustees expressed strong enthusiasm not only for the digital resources themselves, but for what they represent: strengthened partnerships, meaningful reconciliation, and a shared belief that Indigenous languages belong within the everyday learning experiences of all students. On National Indigenous Languages Day, LKDSB's approach stands as a model rooted in respect, relationship, and a collective responsibility to ensure that these languages continue to thrive for generations to come.
