Kenjgewin Teg - Anishinaabe Odziiwin - FAQ'S

Q: What is the purpose of the Anishinabe Odziiwin program/passport?
A: Kenjgewin Teg  has created this tool to record and validate your personal learning journey while you are a student or staff member. We believe that honouring our Anishinabek language and culture is an important part of our education and training programs at our Anishinabe place of learning.  We believe helping you along with your personal learning journey is a part of helping you find your special gifts.   By recording your efforts in your passport, we hope that it helps you learn more about yourself, learn who you are, and most importantly - who you are meant to be in this world!

Q: Who does the Anishinabe Odziiwin (AO) program apply to?  What if I’m not a First Nation student? Is it mandatory?
A: The Anishinabe Odziiwin program is organizational wide – it applies to all staff and students.   Because learning more about yourself and finding your gifts is universal amongst all Nations, we encourage all staff and students to participate in AO regardless of their ancestry – it is all still learning.   As a student, to be recognized with AO distinction, you must demonstrate and record a minimum of hours of language and cultural development each fiscal year.  Similarly, staff achievements in AO are noted and recognized within Kenjgewin Teg's employee performance appraisal system each year.

Q: Are there different requirements for staff, full time and part time students?
A: Yes, the number of minimum hours will vary.  For full time staff and full time students, the minimum number of hours that must be demonstrated and recorded in your passport in one year is 24 hours.  For part time students and part time staff, the minimum number is 12 hours each year.  For staff, the year runs from Apr 1 – Mar 31; for students, the year typically runs from Sept 1 – Jun 30th.

Q: How do I know where I am on the Ojibwe language part of the passport?
A: One of our fluent Anishinabe language holders at Kenjgewin Teg will give you a short interview where you will be asked to share what you know in the Ojibwe language.  We call it the “Oral Proficiency Interview” or OPI.  Ask your program leader or instructor on how to get this step done early in the school year.   Near the end of the school year, to measure your personal progress, the OPI can be done again – you will be amazed at how much you’ve grown!

Q: What if the content in my course has cultural teachings and language already built in as part of my course – do I include these on my passport?
A: There are two separate tables for students to record classroom learning and personal learning for the years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.  And for staff, there is only one table per year to record your learning. We have worked with our Kenjgewin Teg Secondary School, College and University partners to ensure our  programs has at least a minimum of 10% culturally relevant content in your formal program of study.  There is a table to record these types of classroom activities together. The minimum of 24 hours (or 12 hours for part time students) is expected to be outside of your regular program/classroom course content,  and should be record in your “Personal Learning Journey” table.   These are 24 hours in your personal efforts over and above your program/course content. 

To help staff and students achieve the minimum 24 (or 12) hours, Kenjgewin Teg will host different learning opportunities throughout the year.   You will see a calendar of events that you can choose from and participate in – this can be with your class as a whole or an event that is hosted before or after class/work time.   

Q: What if I do other things on my own time, should I include these activities on my passport too?
A: Absolutely!  Your own initiative is what superbly demonstrates your “AO” learning outside the classroom.  Your Odziiwin passport is not meant just for Kenjgewin Teg cultural and language learning activities – but for all the things you are doing in your own and surrounding communities for your own ‘mino bmaadziwin’.

Q: What are some good examples of learning that I could include on my passport to show any  ‘extra stuff’ that I do on my own time or with Kenjgewin Teg?
A: As examples, activities you might record on your passport could be: 

* Full moon ceremony in Sheshegwaning  – 3 hours, January 23, 2017
* Ojibwe Language Classes at Anishinaabe Gamig  - 6 Weeks for 1 hour per week = 6 hours, Sept. 1 – October 18, 2017
* Sunrise ceremony in my community – 2 hrs, May 18, 2017
* KTEI Fall Teach In – “Mother Earth Needs Help” – 4 hours, October 11, 2017
* Sweat Lodge  with Elder J. Eshkawkogan at KTEI, 4 hours, Nov  2, 2017
* Sweat Lodge fire keeper, with Elder G. Waindubence – 3 hours, Feb 25, 2017
* Fall Harvest – 3 Hours, September 25, 2017

Don’t forget! Remember to get your passports signed by the individuals leading or coordinating the cultural/language activities whenever possible. 

Q: What happens to my passport at the end of the school year or when my program is finished?
A: You will hand in your completed AO Passport back to the Coordinator of your program.  They will then hand it in to the Vice Principal on or before June 21 each year; the Vice Principal will track and determine your hours completed and determine your AO notations of distinction for graduation.  If you have recorded your minimum number of hours, you will receive special recognition at the graduate ceremony – a graduate with Anishinabe Odziiwin distinction.   

Q: Is there a pass/fail mark with my passport?
A: Your passport is not marked or graded as a pass or fail.  Your personal interests and learning activities are yours alone, and we are proud of your efforts.  We are only looking for and tabulating the amount of hours you have documented.  

Q: Who do I ask if I have questions about whether an activity I did should be added to my passport or not?
A: You can ask any department manager, vice principal or the executive director.  They can help clarify if activities are suitable to add to your passport.   Don’t be shy to ask!