Anishinaabemowin Language Keeper

ANISHINAABEMOWIN LANGUAGE KEEPER(LANGUAGE SPEAKER ROLE)FULL-TIME – PERMANENT The Anishinaabemowin Language Keeper is an essential role in the Winnipeg School Division, ensuring that Anishinaabemowin is not only taught, but lived, heard, and experienced throughout the school community. This role centers on sharing language through relationships, land-based experiences, and everyday interactions with students and staff. Working alongside classroom teachers, the Language Keeper supports the integration of Anishinaabemowin across the school day, creating immersive, student-centered environments where the language can flourish. This position is about more than instruction—it is about keeping the language alive, strengthening cultural connections, and supporting its growth for future generations. This position is open to fluent Anishinaabemowin speakers, including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community language speakers. A Bachelor of Education is not required. Candidates with lived experience, cultural knowledge, and language fluency are strongly encouraged to apply. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:Collaborate with Classroom Teachers• Work alongside classroom teachers to bring Anishinaabemowin into daily learning experiences.• Support and guide the use of language in authentic, meaningful ways throughout the school day.Model and Facilitate Language Use• Use Anishinaabemowin consistently in interactions with students and staff.• Support natural language acquisition through listening, speaking, and shared experience.Whole-School Integration• Embed Anishinaabemowin across indoor and outdoor environments, including land-based learning opportunities.• Collaborate with specialists (e.g., music, physical education, outdoor education) to ensure language is present in a variety of contexts.Community Engagement• Participate in student-led conferences, school events, and community gatherings.• Support families in engaging with Anishinaabemowin and help strengthen cultural and linguistic connections, while honouring dialectical diversity.Active, Participatory Learning• Support learning experiences where students actively hear, speak, share, and reflect.• Encourage student voice and participation through interactive and relationship-based approaches.Language Sharing Practices• Share language without reliance on English translation using gestures, visuals, objects, storytelling, songs, and land-based experiences.• Support the use of language from songs and stories in everyday conversation. Qualifications:• Fluency in Anishinaabemowin (speaking and understanding)• Knowledge of Anishinaabe culture, teachings, and ways of knowing• Experience sharing language in community, family, or learning environments (formal teaching experience is an asset but not required)• Ability to build strong, respectful relationships with students, staff, families, and community• Willingness to collaborate within a school setting• Passion for Ancestral Language Revitalization and supporting youth in learning Anishinaabemowin Equivalencies:• Lived experience as a fluent speaker, Language Keeper, Elder, or Knowledge Keeper will be considered in place of formal educational credentials. Support and Working ConditionsThe Winnipeg School Division is committed to supporting Language Keepers in this role. Successful candidates will receive onboarding and ongoing support, including collaboration with certified teachers and school staff to ensure a positive and successful experience in the school environment.CompensationThis is a 12-month position within the Professional Technical Group (PTG) of the Winnipeg School Division, which includes comprehensive benefits. Salary Range: $70,736.02 – $84,594.81 Salary is based on experience and role classification and is not dependent on holding a teaching degree.How to apply:Click the button "Apply Online" and log into your account. First time users will be required to create a profile to apply.We thank all interested individuals, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.Employment is subject to a clear Child Abuse Registry check and Police Information CheckWinnipeg School Division has an Employment Equity policy which strives for the removal of barriers to the hiring, advancement, full inclusion, and fair representation of women, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, persons living with a disability and racialized people at all levels within the organization. In support of achieving a diversified workforce, preference will be given to qualified candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the Employment Equity groups.Winnipeg School Division will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants disabled by barriers during the interview and assessment process, upon request. About Winnipeg School DivisionWSD is one of Manitoba’s largest employers with over 6,000 full and part-time employees in 83 locations including 78 schools, two administrative buildings, a training centre, a facilities maintenance office, and a school bus depot.At WSD, every employee plays a vital role in helping students thrive. Together, we are guided by a shared purpose of creating learning environments rooted in equity, inclusion, and belonging. Serving nearly 32,000 students from diverse communities across Winnipeg, WSD is driven by the values of joy, love, and rigour.