GARDEN RIVER—For her commitment to education, in particular the Anishinabek language, Barbara Nolan, originally from Manitoulin Island, and who now lives on the Garden River First Nation, has been awarded a 2024 SooToday Community Builders Award for education.
“It was an unexpected award,” stated Ms. Nolan, in an interview last week. “I was chosen for an award in education after having been nominated for the award.”
Ms. Nolan who is known in her community as an Indigenous role model and an inspiration to many, said she had been selected for the award due to her “commitment and leadership in education. This was something the award presenters referred to, about my work in preserving our Anishinaabemowin language and my latest project launched in August of creating 10 animated children’s videos in Anishinabek language.”
“There are no (English) subtitles in the videos, they are in our language only,” said Ms. Nolan. “I’ve had that video project in my mind for many years. The videos are available on Amazon and YouTube. I have geared the videos to children and parents, but schools, nursing homes and libraries can use them. But mainly I did the videos for kids.”
“A lot of our language speakers are getting up in age, and the kids are our future generations,” said Ms. Nolan. “It is very important they learn our language.”
Ms. Nolan, a residential school survivor, has been working to develop and preserve the Anishinaabemowin language for many years. She has been teaching in the Sault area since 1972 and her goal has always been to educate others in meaningful ways that strengthen their cultural heritage.
Among her many accomplishments was writing the first Native as a second language curriculum in Canada, being a founding member of the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association and the first president and founding member of the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre. Ms. Nolan was recently being appointed as the Anishinabek Nation Anishinaabemowin commissioner where she advises the public on the importance of Anishinaabemowin protection, retention and revitalization of the language and initiatives.
The Education award (sponsored by Tenaris), “goes to a student, teacher, administrator or education advocate (i.e. parent) who has made a difference in the City of Sault Ste. Marie. It could be an extraordinary teacher who has changed the direction of students’ lives, an administrator who established a specialized program, or an advocate who helped implement lasting positive change in our local schools.”
SooToday celebrated the winners of the fourth annual Community Builders Awards on October 10. The awards program is designed to recognize outstanding groups and individuals who helps to make Sault Ste. Marie a better place to work, live and play.
In 2021, Ms. Nolan was awarded for her outstanding work as the recipient of the Sault Ste. Marie Medal of Merit, the highest honour the city bestows.
