Anishinabek Nation
Session 6
ANISHINAABEMOWIN IS OUR FUTURE
Nation Councils
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SESSION MATERIALS
PRESENTERS BIOGRAPHIES
N'Mishomis Gordon Waindubence, Nation Councils
Donna Debassige, Nation Councils
Barbara Nolan, Commissioner on Language
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Donna Debassige
Nation Councils
Boozhoo Bebibdikwedaang dishnikaaz, Donna Debassige, Anishinaabe kwe, Gigoohn Dodem. I am from Mnidoo Mnising, (Manitoulin Island), and am a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. I am a mother of three adult children, Cheryl, Lynda and Ray, and grandmother to four grandsons, Devin, Seth, Joel and Drake.
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I am a former Spanish Residential School student. I obtained my BA undergraduate degree from Laurentian University in 2015.
I am retired from the United Chiefs & Councils of Manitoulin Tribal Council after 35 years of employment, ending 2009.
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An active member of:
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Elders Advisory Council-Indigenous Justice Division.
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Anishinabek Nation KweWuk Council, representing the Lake Huron Region.
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COO First Nations Womens’ Caucus, representing Anishinabek Nation.
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Manitoulin Anishinabek Research Review Committee.
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Chiefs of Ontario Data Governance Committee.
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I am a fluent speaker of my original language, Odawa, and attend ceremonies with the Rain Dance Lodge.
N'Mishomis Gordon Waindubence
Anishinabek Nation Head Getzit
N'Mishomis Gordon Waindubence is from Sheguiandah First Nation on Manitoulin Island. He is the Anishinabek Nation Head Getzit of the Getzidjig Advisory Council and works tirelessly for the benefit of the Anishinabek Nation and its citizens.
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N'Mishomis Waindubence provides a much-needed cultural element to the work of the Anishinabek Nation, and provides his support to Leadership at Grand Council and Special Chiefs Assemblies. He also provides Dodemaag (Clan) teachings to many member First Nations where they have long been forgotten, but are slowly being revived with his help to strengthen the Anishinabek Nation.
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N'Mishomis Waindubence is highly respected and is instrumental in guiding and supporting the goals and priorities of the Nation toward governance.
Barbara Nolan
Commissioner on Language
Barbara Nolan, formerly a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory now residing in Garden River First Nation, is grateful to have survived the attempts by Canada’s Indian residential schools system to take her Nishnaabe language from her.
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She has spent several decades working with a variety of organizations to revitalize Anishinaabemowin. She enjoys consulting with First Nations and Indigenous communities on effective development of language nests and immersion programs, as well as training Anishinaabemowin speakers in successful methods of immersion instruction.
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Her commitment and dedication to preserving and transferring Anishinaabemowin extend to the binoojii at the Garden River Child Care Centre where she offers part-time Anishinaabemowin immersion.
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Additionally, she carefully designed and produced the Nishnaabemdaa app, an Anishinaabemowin language app available for iOS and Android devices.