Grant supports bilingual education (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Grant supports bilingual education

The Daily Press
Last Updated: Thursday, March 24th, 2005 09:14:25 AM
http://www.ashlandwi.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=4&story_id=196768

The Red Cliff Art of Knowledge (gikendaasowin) Project has received a
grant from the Apostle Islands Area Community Fund to print and
distribute an illustrated bilingual storybook to promote Ojibwa
language fluency and awareness.

A local artist will illustrate the story, using a comic book format. The
publication will be distributed to local schools with lesson plans and
will also be available to residents and visitors to the region. Brian
Goodwin, language and culture consultant, will oversee the project.

The Red Cliff Language and Culture Committee has been working to find
ways to make the Ojibwe language more visible in Red Cliff and the
surrounding communities.

In a recent survey it was determined there are less than five elders who
are fluent "first language" Ojibwa speakers. The committee researched
approaches that other indigenous nations have employed to establish
language fluency.

The Art of Knowledge Project was submitted as a grant request to the
Apostle Islands Area Community Fund under its Human Rights Fund
guidelines. The grant of $3,000 will support printing and distribution
of the storybook, which will be available later this year.

"We are pleased to be able to support this project," according to Nancy
Sandstom, chairman of the Apostle Islands Area Community Fund Advisory
Board. "This innovative and creative approach has the potential to
reach a broad audience."

This is the first grant made from the Human Rights Fund.
The Apostle Islands Area Community Fund encourages private giving for
the public good. With contributions large and small from many
individuals, families and businesses, its 11-member advisory board is
working to establish a permanent endowment to address the changing
charitable needs of the Bayfield - Madeline Island - Red Cliff region.

The Apostle Islands Area Community Fund is one of three affiliate funds
of the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation. The Duluth-Superior
Area Community Foundation manages over 180 different funds, each with
its own charitable purpose. Since its inception in 1983, the Foundation
has distributed more than $20 million in grants and scholarships.

For information on applying for a grant from the Apostle Islands Area
Community Fund or to learn about ways to contribute to the Fund,
contact Lois Albrecht at the AIACF office by email aiacf at centurytel.net
or phone 715-779-7021.