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Students, teacher highlight Dakota and Ojibwe language instruction in Osseo schools
Summary
Students and an Ojibwe instructor described intergenerational language tables, recent credit-bearing classes in high schools, and the cultural importance of Dakota and Ojibwe language teaching for more than 550 American Indian students in the district.
The board meeting included a presentation on indigenous-language programming in the district in which students and Ojibwe instructor Brad Hagan described classroom practices, cultural context, and recent program milestones.
Ethan Neardales and other students explained that the district offers Dakota and Ojibwe language tables and that, beginning last year, the district added credit-bearing language classes at each high school. Ethan said those classes attract a broad mix of students and emphasized the role of elders, parents and teachers in rebuilding language and culture. "We like to think of English as a foreign language, when we think about ours," Ethan said.
Brad Hagan (Bradley Hagen in some remarks) said he is the Ojibwe language teacher and thanked district leaders for support; student speakers described course formats, individualized instruction and field trips tied to cultural learning. The board and superintendent thanked presenters and noted the program’s role in cultural continuity and student engagement.
