A Year In Review

November 25th 2024

By: Nimkii Brad Howie

Why Did I start Manoomin Learning?

As an Anishinaabe I unfortunately didn't get to grow up in my culture and when I did learn about my culture in school what I learned was just simply untrue. Growing up in Ontario, I recall being taught that Indigenous people were hunter-gatherers and that they were less technologically advanced than Europeans. However, I have come to learn that my people, and all Indigenous people of Turtle Island (North America) were profoundly advanced.  They had remarkable: cultures, languages, democracies, governments, medicine, science, metallurgy, architecture, engineering, mathematics and so so so much more.  

One of my main goals with my business is spreading and speaking the truth about Indigenous people and conquering the misinformation that is out there about Indigenous people.  I not only talk about Indigenous people of the past and their amazing STEM and ways of knowing, but I also emphasize how these methods are still practiced today and how they can inspire a healthier, greener, and more sustainable future for all beings—not just humans.

I also started Manoomin Learning because in the past five years or so the Ontario curriculum has changed drastically, and many courses now have curriculum expectations for Indigenous ways of knowing and science. While this is a positive step forward, the necessary resources and training for educators to confidently teach this content are often lacking. Manoomin learning is the bridge that provides help to fill the gap between the curriculum and the teaching.

Success In our First Year

In my first year of operating Manoomin Learning as a full-time business I have delivered 53 programs for all kinds of organizations. I have worked with School boards, Post-secondary institutions, Indigenous organizations, and conservation and environmental organizations. Through this work, I have had the privilege of teaching over 2,000 students and more than 300 professionals from fields ranging from education to conservation. I have also hired 3 people to help me with the operations of Manoomin Learning!

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