Language Lessons

Language Program

Welcome to CKRZ’s language lessons, thank you to the Department of Canadian Heritage Aboriginal Peoples’ Program Aboriginal Languages Initiative in supporting CKRZ 100.3 FM Language Program with the transcription and recording of Ojibwe, Mohawk, Cayuga and Onondaga Languages.

I invite you to download the audio files for the language of your choice. Listen as you follow along with the print lessons available on the website

Our Speakers

Mohawk:

Mohawk Language Speaker – Jacob Doreen
My name is Tehahswathè:tha in Mohawk, it means “he brightens things; he makes things light”. I am 23 years old, my English name is Jacob Doreen . I have been studying Mohawk language for 4 years, and I have been working really hard to pick up the language. I can speak all in Mohawk to first language speakers but I still make lots of mistakes. For the rest of my life I will always be learning new words in Mohawk, and I am excited that the learning will never end. Anyone can learn the language it is just a matter of how much time you are willing to put into it but I promise every second of studying is worth it.

Cayuga:

Cayuga Language Speaker – Lottie Keye
Lottie considers herself blessed to have grown up in a traditional home where her parents were fluent speakers in the Cayuga, Mohawk and Onondaga languages.  With her origins deeply rooted in a staunch Hodinohsoni: home, she faithfully attended various ceremonies of the Longhouse people throughout the years.

In her younger years, Lottie worked as a Nurse at the Hamilton General, Lady Wellington hospital in Ohsweken and Windsor Lodge retirement home for over 20 years. She left nursing to pursue her dream of teaching native language and traditions to our young people so that our ceremonies in the longhouse could continue.  In 1986 she enrolled in Native as a Second Language at Western Ontario in London. She later acquired her Ontario Teacher’s Certificate at Nippissing University in 1991 and became the first immersion teacher at Six Nations to receive her certification.

Lottie’s career achievements in language preservation from 1985 to 2003 consist of;
First Cayuga language immersion teacher on Six Nations, Gaweni:yo Immersion school, and I.L Thomas Elementary School.

Retired Lottie continues to work as a Cayuga language, culture and traditional consultant and has been employed with the Gaweni:yo Language Preservation Project since 2003.

Lottie has also worked extensively with the Woodland Cultural Centre First Nations Language Department over the years. She worked tirelessly for 10 years with a small group of devoted, fluent and dedicated language speakers on the first ever Cayuga Language Dictionary. Lottie’s devotion to her language didn’t stop there, she worked with her brother Alfred Keye, who is also a language teacher and Faith keeper within the Longhouse. The two of them worked on translating the Gaihwiyo. Also known as the Code of Handsome Lake, a moral code for the Longhouse people.  This process took them over 2 years and challenged them many times.

Lottie has been involved with many organizations over the years and has served on the board of directors of the Six Nations Birthing Centre for over 15 years until the board dissolved in 2013.  She currently still serves on the board of Directors for Six Nations Polytechnic since 2007 and with the Sweetgrass First Nations Language Council since its’ original formation several years back.

Lottie’s dedication to the Cayuga Language honored by the following:

• Six Nations Elected Council – Community Treasures Award
• Sweetgrass First Nations Language Academy – Life time Achievement Award in Language
• Six Nations Polytechnic/ Mc Master University – Professor of Indigenous Knowledge
• Inspire Guiding the Journey- Inaugural Indigenous Educator Award for Life Time Achievement in Education – March 2013 Calgary, Alberta

Onondaga: 

Onondaga Language Speakers

Gawęnahwihse’ Onǫda’gega’

Gawęnahwihse’ Onǫda’gega’ is a new Adult Immersion program working to revitalize, protect and Use the Onondaga Language at Six Nations of the Grand River. Here in Six Nations we have less than eight first language speakers left of this beautiful language, and we at “GO” are very lucky to have one join us everyday. Betty Henry is from the Onondaga Nation and Wolf Clan and Onondaga is her first language. She is our elder in the class, and the students all love her and have the utmost respect for her. We are thankful for the students putting in so much time and effort to help this project for CKRZ. The translating was done by Betty Henry and Darla Isaacs.

The Students who assisted with our Language Project are:

Myka Burning
Minnetta McNaughton
Toni Johnson
Emily Longboat
Kaniethahawi Deer

Ojibwe:

Ojibway Language Speaker – James “Mawla” Shawana
I am a Anishinaabemowin teacher at Lloyd S King Elementary School at New Credit First Nations, Ontario Canada.  I am a father of four children and a grandfather to 12 grandchildren.  I am a musician, and enjoy singing songs in Anishinaabe.  I am also a traditional dancer and powwow singer.  I teach drumming and singing Anishinaabe words songs on the big drum.  Teaching Anishinaabemowin is what I enjoying doing, and hearing the new speaker’s speak is most rewarding.  Gchi Miigwetch.

CKRZ 100.3 FM acknowledges the financial support of Department of Canadian Heritage Aboriginal Peoples’ Program Aboriginal Languages Initiative.

We also wish to express our sincere appreciation for the contributions of the many language speakers who participated in the transcribing and voice recordings of our language series in four languages: Ojibwe, Mohawk, Cayuga, and Onondaga.