The Walpole Island Board of Education (BOE) is pleased to announce the new name of the Walpole Island Elementary School.
As of Friday, June 10th, 2016, the school will be known hence forward as ‘Bkejwanong Kinomaagewgamig’, which translates into English as ‘Bkejwanong School’.
The new name will be officially unveiled at the Walpole Island Elementary School Powwow on June 10th, 2016.
Last fall, school name submissions in Anishnaabemwin were requested from the Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN) community.
The list was narrowed down to two choices with input from both the WIFN BOE and the Bkejwanong Gii-gdo Ninwag (Bkejwanong Council).
The two final choices were offered to Walpole Island Elementary School students who voted for the unanimous choice.
The goal of the BOE was to choose a name reflective of Anishnaabeg culture and Anishnaabemwin language.
Efforts at indigenous language revitalization are increasing within the WIFN community and especially at the school.
This year marks the first all immersion Anishnaabemwin language JK classroom at the school.
“We are very excited about the new school name,” said Leela Thomas, BOE Chairperson.
“We invite the community to come to the Powwow on June 10 to celebrate this new milestone and reclamation of our
Anishnaabemwin language.”
