About the Languages

In the Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest (KILN), we are diverse and we are also unified. To achieve unity, we honour dialect differences and diverse languages. We have conducted language learning sessions in many languages, For Anishinaabemowin, we have focused on Ojibwe and Algonquin dialects, and our materials use the Fiero double-vowel writing system. You can learn more about the writing system here.

We welcome people at all levels of fluency and at all levels of cultural knowledge.

For Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk), our speakers and learners mostly come from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, and we are excited to be able to include language, music, and cultural teachings from this community and other Haudenosaunee communities as well. In addition, we have done sessions in Mushkegowuk Cree, Plains Cree, Mi’kmaq, Michif, and Lakota, to name a few. We welcome suggestions for languages that are of interest to people in our community. We also understand that for many reasons, people are at different places on their learning journeys with respect to their Indigenous heritages or in learning to be settler allies, and we welcome people at all levels of fluency and at all levels of cultural knowledge.We understand that cultural knowledge differs from place to place and we honour teachings from across Turtle Island.