Become a Member
Membership in Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest is available to individuals interested in furthering KNCLN purposes and who have applied for and been accepted into membership by the board.
About Us
“If you take care of the language, the language will take care of you.”
— Patricia Ningewance Nadeau
The Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest (KILN) started in the grassroots by a local group of Indigenous language lovers and learners. Our vision is to champion the urban resurgence of Indigenous languages through following the Kanyen’kehá:ka Kayanerenkó:wa (Great Law of Peace) and the Anishinaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings, we aim to lift each other up through peace, strength, and a collective mind, and continue to support other Indigenous-led community initiatives as well as create a space of openness and acceptance for all who wish to learn. At our building located at 610 Montreal Street, Kingston – situated on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe peoples – we invite you to attend our community workshops and language learning sessions.
Knowledge Sharing and Storytelling – The Heart of Dibajimowin
The Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest invites you to engage in language revitalization with Dibajimowin: Urban Indigenous Languages Revitalization Project. The centerpiece of this website is a collection of thirty digital stories about culture and language made by community members. Each personal story shares insights into the barriers to language learning and cultural connection as well as the many ways we are resilient and relentless. For each story, we pulled out key themes to create new language learning resources such as vocabulary lessons, creative activities and cultural teachings. We have sorted the stories in different ways: by digital story, by language and by cultural teachings. Explore and Enjoy!
Our Supporters
We thank and acknowledge funding support from the City of Kingston; Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres; the Ontario Trillium Foundation; The Canadian Institute of Health Research; the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle; the Canadian Red Cross; the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area; the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington; and Kingston Community Credit Union.
Our Community Partners
We thank our close community partners: Kahwá:tsire Indigenous-Led Child & Family Programs, Loving Spoonful Kingston, Walking the Path of Peace Together Hwy 15 Indigenous Food Sovereignty Garden, Queen’s University, Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na, and Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team (FLA OHT). A special thanks to Community Story Strategies for leading our language activity gathering workshops.
