Gookonaanig Endaawaad

Mii o’ow Gookonaanig Endaawaad imaa Nagaajiwanaang. Mii omaa mawadisidiwaad netaa-ojibwemojig, abinoojiiyensag biinish naano-biboonagiziwaad, ogitiziiman, miinawaa gaye enokiijig ji-nitaawigi’aawaad abinoojiiyensan ojibwemonid, ge ji-ombishkaamagak anishinaabemowin.

Gookonaanig Endaawaad (Grandmas' House) is a language nest for babies 0 to 5 years old. We are housed on the homelands of The Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, in north-eastern Minnesota. Gookonaanig Endaawaad brings together families of language learners, elders, and staff to raise first language speakers and revitalize Ojibwe language through a community and family centered approach.

Now accepting 3-5 year olds!
Gookonaanig Endaawaad Immersion Drop-off Program

Applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis until we fill our classroom with 10 children.
Children must be 3-5 years old and fully potty trained.

Important dates:

Open House- Tuesday, November 21st, 2023
First Day!- Monday, December 4th, 2023
Holiday Break- Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 to Monday, January 1st, 2024

At this time programming will run Mon-Thurs 9am-2pm and will run Monday December 4, 2023 to May 30, 2024.
Please let us know if you would like your child to start at a later date (for example after holiday break).

We will do as much as we can outdoors and will provide outdoor clothing for your child here on site. Lunch and snacks will also be provided.

Application to 3-5 Program (PDF)

Make sure all sections of the application are complete.
Fond du Lac Band/Ojibwe Preference
All backgrounds and language abilities welcome to apply!

Currently Gookonaanig Endaawaad is transitioning to a full in-person format. Families and staff meet four days a week for majority outdoor-based programming. Our staff has also been working with elder-first speakers to build curriculum and resources for our families to use at home including activities, vocabulary, recordings, and books. See below for the link to our At-Home Language Nest Curriculum Language Kits.

At-Home Language Kits

We are currently working to to create curriculum language kits and resources that can help to support parents at-home working to raise their babies in Anishinaabemowin. The purpose of these language kits are to provide language support for parents, while presenting season-appropriate activities to do with children. Please check out our first language kit below!

Nibi (Water) Kit

Aniibiishan (Leaves) Kit

Giizhoopizon (Dress Warmly!) Kit

Ziigwan (Spring) Kit

Gidoodeminaanig (Our Clans) Kit