About

Thank you for taking the time to explore my website and welcome to Anishinaabemon (Speak Ojibwe). My name is Gordon Paquette and I am a fluent speaker of Anishinaabemowin with over 8 years of teaching experience at a variety of levels. I have enjoyed developing my skills and strategies while working with children in the early years, with youth at the elementary school levels, post-secondary students in University courses, and with adult learners in First Nation communities. I will provide you with the highest level of professional guidance while teaching you how to speak Anishinaabemowin while at the same time maintaining authenticity to my Ojibwe methodology, artistic style, and ways of being.

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I respect the variety of ways that people learn and accommodate my teaching methods to fit your particular learning needs and am also able to accommodate each person within a group dynamic.  I promote good health and believe in empowering our indigenous youth, creating safe spaces, and want to continue my journey of sparking an interest and sense of pride in our language.

My journey with Anishinaabemowin has been lifelong. I was born and raised in an Ojibwe speaking community near Thunder Bay Ontario, and attained my knowledge through the natural process of first-language acquisition within my immediate family. I have strong intuition about the proper way of expressing thoughts and feelings in the Ojibwe language which is a distinct advantage when I am teaching Ojibwe as a second-language. Often times people who are learning from a grammatical and academic point of view will benefit from my intuitive sense of how best to express their mechanical understanding of the language structure. I am able to share with you the natural language as I acquired it traditionally on the land in a remote and traditional hunting and gathering-based community and family.

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I am pleased to offer you online, in-person, individual, and group lessons ranging from absolute beginner levels all the way to mid-advanced levels of Anishinaabemowin conversational practice and interactions. I also provide quality translation services. My personal guarantee is that I will partner with you to provide you with the support, knowledge, awareness, and skills to improve on your skill level while practicing and speaking the eloquent, wise, and often humorous language of our Anishinaabe ancestors.

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Gord has been a pivotal person in my Anishinaabemowin language development.

Jason W.

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Gordon has provided a safe space for me to ask questions and learn how to speak Ojibwe.

Carrie P.​

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Miigwech gii naadamowishiyin Gordon! You are a great teacher! Thank you for making me feel motivated and to enjoy learning our language.

Margaret S.

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Mr. Paquette is very good at what he does because of his skills and attitude. He is kind, caring and compassionate. He wants his students to be successful and does whatever he can to support them in their learning. I do hope to have the pleasure of working with him again.

Dan G.