Georgian College

24 GEORGIANVIEW 2021 SPRING INDIGENOUS CONNECTION There was a time when Kevin Ritchie wasn't as comfortable in his own skin as he is now. Right into his 20s, he knew nothing of the traditions and teachings of the Anishinaabe people of Chippewas of Rama First Nation where his father was born. "The language wasn't part of my life until my mid-20s. I didn't have any exposure to it really at all," he says. "That's because my father, who is Anishinaabe, was removed from his home at birth and placed into the care of the Crown. Any remote chance of me learning the language or even of him learning his language died that day. That whole side of my family are fluent first speakers. Anishinaabemowin is their mother tongue, but I never got the chance." The past policies of the government and systemic displacement of Indigenous babies in the past not only affected the children who were taken and their parents, it also affects future generations, including Kevin. Although Kevin's father was raised in a loving family, his adoptive parents disregarded the fact that he was Indigenous. Because of that, he grew up with a disdain for his darker skin and his people. When Kevin enrolled in Georgian College's Anishnaabemowin and Program Development program in 2017, it opened up a new world. "Once in the program, my enthusiasm increased exponentially when I found out who the instructors were," he says. "In the Anishnaabemowin language field, some of the most prominent, well-known, accomplished second-language learners were teaching at Georgian when I was there. I felt safe and comfortable in the program. And, it felt like what I was supposed be doing at the time." Spending a lot of time with the Elders in Rama and learning about his people's stories, legends and traditions engaged him further. Kevin now teaches part time in the program and is also a student at Algoma University, taking the Bachelor of Anishinaabemowin program. His friend's five-year-old son also benefits from math lessons with Kevin, taught in their Anishnaabemowin language. Kevin's father has also experienced a change in his perceptions. "I think (my dad) is very proud of what I'm doing, now, but when I first started the journey of wanting to learn the language to better understand myself as an Anishinaabe person, the world view of the Anishinaabe, and what it means to be Anishinaabe nowadays, my father was a little skeptical about it all," notes Kevin. "Since I started this journey, trying to figure out who I am, he's really seen the progress I've made and the good that's come of it, and he himself, has become very engaged in his culture. So, I think that's very vindicating for him." LANGUAGE OPENS UP NEW WORLD Kevin Ritchie, class of 2019

• Cover