'Reclaim your language': This librarian is helping kids pen letters to Santa in Anishinaabemowin

A librarian from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation is using the magic of Christmas to teach children their Indigenous language this holiday season. 

Anastasia Shawnoo has written up letters to Santa in the language of Anishinaabemowin, also called Ojibway, which students at Hillside School on the First Nation are using as inspiration draft their own letters to the North Pole. 

It's all part of her efforts to preserve and teach the language to the community's youth, and spread a little Christmas cheer.

"When you're a child, you really look forward to the gift of giving and receiving, just to see this whole process and the lights in their eyes is very heartwarming and complete," she said.

Each year, Kettle and Stony Point First Nation participates in Canada Post's campaign to deliver letters from kids to Santa. However, that wasn't possible this year due to the ongoing Canada Post strikes that began on Nov. 15.

That's part of what prompted Shawnoo to do things differently, and develop a program that would allow students to write letters to Santa in Anishinaabemowin.

She delivered a list of helpful Christmas phrases to students in Anishinaabemowin such as Ningii-maaminwaadiz, which translates to "I have been good" and Gidaa-biidamaw ina, meaning "Could you bring me?"

Using Anishinaabemowin in everyday conversation is important for the kids, said Bob Bressette, principal of Hillside School.

"Christmas is everywhere. The magic of Santa Claus is everywhere. It's a wonderful thing to have our kids be part of this project and be able to write their letter to Santa in their own language," he said. "So that's the magic of it all right there."

Bressette said he wasn't taught Anishinaabemowin while attending day school on the First Nation, and a lot of people don't even know or understand the effect its had on his generation. He's been learning his language alongside the children and staff at school, he said. 

"That's been an important piece for us to reclaim your language. If you can reclaim your language, you can reclaim your identity," Bressette said.  "Their little minds are sponging it up so quickly — and mine, I'm coming along there, same as the rest of the staff here," he said. "When we're all together learning this, it just makes that project that much more special."

Shawnoo found embedding herself in her own culture at Kettle and Stony Point and learning Anishinaabemowin was key to finding purpose in her life. 

"I learned who I was. I got my spirit name, and learning my true identity really helped me balance out who I truly am as Anishinaabekwe," she said.

She also learned she's part of the Warrior clan whose duty is to protect her family, the elders and the children of her community, Shawnoo said.