Elementary students across the Rainy River District have put their Indigenous language skills to the test.

Area school participated at the recent Gagwe-gikendamaawiziwin, hosted annually by Seven Generations Education Institute.

Translated it means “trying to seek knowledge“, or Quest for Knowledge.

The event requires students to take part in various team-based language activities.

Robert Horton, an instructor for the Anishinaabemowin revitalization program at Seven Generations, says it is a fun competition with each station aimed to bring out different skill sets.

“Our first one is very close to Win, Lose, or Draw, the game show. We have a Jeopardy station. We have creating new words for the Anishinaabemowin lexicon. We have using technology as a way to transmit the language back to the communities. And finally, we have cultural expression through art, but presented in Anishinaabemowin,” says Horton.

Seven Gens first started the competition twenty years ago.

Horton says one of the goals is to preserve the language and encourage more people to speak it.

“Because we have sort of a dwindling number of first language speakers in our communities. We have elders. We have current language learners that serve as judges, and really encouraging these students that are coming up in these grades for Gagwe-gikendamaawiziwin each year.”

Horton credits the work of teachers for the knowledge illustrated by the students at the event.

Donald Young School in Emo was this year’s winner in the senior division with J.W. Walker coming in second and Crossroads School placing third.

Robert Moore School won the junior division followed by Donald Young in second and St. Mary School finishing third.

Robert Moore School, first place junior division winners, April 26, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting

Donald Young School, second place junior division winners, April 26, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting

St. Mary School, third place junior division winners, April 26, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting

Donald Young School, first place senior division winners, April 26, 2024. Supplied photo

J.W. Walker School, second place senior division winners, April 26, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting

Crossroads School, third place senior division winners, April 26, 2024. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting