Hello Everyone!

I am an Ojibway from the Pic River First Nation. I've been working since 1974 in the Early Childhood Field and employed with the Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation. Our centre is called the Pic River Child & Family Learning Centre. Through the years I have gotten to know a lot of children as they came into the program and grown up to have their own children. It has been a wonderful experience, and I continue to learn new things every day. I graduated the ECE program in 1995 with Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario. I have also taken many other courses such as Highscope with Lampton College, Esso math, Active Parenting, Kids have Stress, Safe Food Handling, and many more.

My name is Esther Michano and I live in Pic River First Nation. I have been married for 30 years to Anthony Michano, also from Pic River. I am a mother of 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy. Although Pic River is where I get my family roots, I have only lived here for 34 years as I lived with my mother and 10 sibilings in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I started working for Pic River First Nation in 1975. In 1997 I earned my Early Childhood Education diploma from Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario. And I continue to further my education by taking additional course when they become available.

Over the years I have seen quite a few children come and go through the doors of the program. I began teaching in the program when it was located in the Old Recreation Hall, which gives you an idea of how long I have been with the program. I am currently the Infant room educator at the Pic River Children & Family Learning Centre and look forward to seeing new faces all the time.

 For the past 11 years Rosemary has been supporting the staff and the Day Care children in the acquisition of their language. Over the past few years, Rosemary has taken courses under the Lakehead University and a language immersion program through the Bay Mills College. Rosemary is currently enrolled in the Native Early Childhood Education which she expects to be completed in June 2009.

It has been challenging over the past years to see how receptive  our language is when she constantly speaks to both the children and staff. It is amazing how one can create an understanding of the language. It is Rosemary's belief that if the language is being promoted in all work and living sites of our life, one will grasp the ability of speaking the language.

Rosemary also bring to the program, legends which she has recieved from her up-bringing when she stayed with her grandparents prior to moving to Pic River.

Rosemary spends the morning with the Pic River Child & Family Learning Centre then moves over to the Pic River Elemenrary where she spends the afternoon speaking to Grades 1 to 4.

 Boozhoo!

My name is Thelma Nabigon and I'm from Pic River First Nation in Heron Bay, Ontario. I am mother of 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl who are already grown up and moved out on their own I also have 7 grandchilren and one more on the way.

I have been working for Pic River First Nation for 15 years in a number of different positions. At the moment I have been working with the children at the Pic River Children & Family Learning Centre for the past 7 years where I am a preschool educator. I am also the Ojibway Language teacher for the Junior & Senior Kindergarten class at Pic River Elementary School. I earned my Early Childhood Education diploma through Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario. I also hold a Native Language Immersion diploma from Bay Mills Community College.

I have lived in Pic River most of my life. And I am proud to say that I am an Ojibway woman. I am also proud to practice my culture and traditions as well as speak my native language as much as I can.

 Boozhoo!

Hi! I'm Lorrinda Norma Starr. I'm a single mother of three daughters. I have one daughter who is finished college and is currently working on her B.A. The second daughter is going to college in Thunder Bay taking the Advanced Human Resources Program. My youngest daughter is in high school currently in Grade 12. I have lived most of my life here in Pic River with my children. I choose to live and raise my children here because the community we live in is safe and secure. I have lived in many places but always wanted to come home. I'm glad I moved back! I have no regrets with doing that at all.

I went back to school and got my grade twelve. The first college I attended was Northern Colleger in Kirkland Lake and completed a First Nation Constable Course. I than started working at the daycare as a part time worker and then decided to get my Native Early Childhood Education diploma through Cambrian College out of the Thunder Bay campus. I worked at the daycare part time for 8 years and got hired on for full time employment after I graduated. I started as the Infant teacher and I'm now the Resource Teacher, I have taken many courses and training such as High Scope, Learning Language & Loving it, Invest in Kids home visits and Fair Start. I just finished the Learning Language & Loving it. This deals with speech and how to help children with using speech in a different situation with peers and group settings. To get them started and working with them on their speech. I will be taking the Resource Teacher Interventionist through Seneca College through online courses. I also work with the after-school group as well as throughout the summer.

 Boozhoo!

My name is Debbie Crosson; I'm the Family Outreach Worker for the Children & Family Learning Centre. I have been here since the move last August, and have been with the Head Start Program since May 2004. I really enjoy my position here; the families are fun to work with and I love doing activities that make people feel great about who they are.

I have graduated from the Native Mental Health Program with a diploma, and I graduated from the Native Early Childhood Program in June 2008.

I have five children whose age ranges from 13 to 23 and one son-in-law, as well as my wonderful husband Dale. I enjoy spending as much time with my family, we sit around the camp fire, play cards, tell stories and have a whale of a time.