Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre
449 Hill Street London, ON, Canada

Boozhoo, Shekoli, Koolamalsi, Hello! We are so excited to share with you all the updated branding for Nshwaasnangong! This branding represents the child care, the early years programs and the collaborative efforts of the Nshwaasnangong Family Centre! Nshwaasnangong will be a joyful place to honour, rekindle and express our diverse identities as Indigenous peoples, including Child Care for ages 0-6, culturally-relevant EarlyON programs, ceremonies, land-based learning, playgro...ups and connections to community supports. Our new Child Care and Family Centre is expected to open by Summer 2021! Miigwetch, Yaw^ko, Anushiik and Nya:weh to all of those who contributed to the development of the logo. Particular thanks to Moses Lunham for his design! #Nshwaasnangong #NshwaasnangongChildCareAndFamilyCentre #IndigenousChildCare #IndigenousFamilyCentre #UrbanIndigenous #WeAllShineHere #JourneyTogether #LdnOnt

Nshwaasnangong is the spirit name given to the centre in ceremony. It means place of the eighth star in Anishinaabemowin. The name, gifted to the centre in an Anishinaabe Naming Ceremony, references the original eighth star in the Big Dipper that fell to earth and became the Anishinaabe people. The name infers a great responsibility for caring and sharing the gifts of the sky world, including the culture, teachings and language, for children and families who attend the centre. If written phonetically in English, the name would roughly sound like: Ne-shwaas-nung-goong. #nshwaasnangong #NshwaasnangongChildCareAndFamilyCentre #IndigenousChildCare #IndigenousFamilyCentre #UrbanIndigenous #WeAllShineHere #JourneyTogether #LdnOnt

Come work with Nshwaasnangong as our Child Care Manager! We're looking for an experienced early childhood educator to help guide this new Indigenous-led centre in London. The posting has been extended until August 26, and full details are here: https://soahac.on.ca/family-centre/

We need your help! Here at Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre community input is very important to us! We have developed a survey in order to have as much community input as possible on the needs and wants of the community as we look at shaping the programs and activities that will be offered at Nshwaasnangong! To access the survey please visit our website (link in bio) and scroll down to the subsection we need your insights and click the fill out survey here link!... When you complete the survey, you will have the option to input your e-mail for a chance to win a $50.00 gift card! If you have more input about what your family needs in order for us to build a welcoming and inspiring space together at Nshwassnangong, our Community Animator Team is always looking for ways to engage with the community! If you wish to discuss further you can arrange a meeting in-person (socially distanced or when safe to do so) or over Zoom by emailing [email protected] and Mary or Riley will happily connect with you! #Nshwaasnangong #NshwaasnangongChildCareAndFamilyCentre #IndigenousChildCare #IndigenousFamilyCentre #UrbanIndigenous #WeAllShineHere #JourneyTogether #LdnOnt

The search is on for the Director of Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre! The Director will be a strategic and visionary individual who champions revitalization of language and culture, and land-based learning, and who welcomes local Indigenous families, leaders, helpers and allies to reimagine educating and caring for Indigenous communities in London and Middlesex County. The first year of this position will focus on opening Nshwaasnangong in December 2020. Please visit the SOAHAC website for the full employment posting: www.soahac.on.ca/jobs

Have you and your kids seen Raven's Quest? What a cool way to get to know other Indigenous kids from across Turtle Island!

We're really excited to have Andrea Landry speak at Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre's very first (virtual) event "Healthy Families/Healthy Communities" on December 9th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. There is limited availability - so if you are interested in attending please make sure you sign up via the Eventbrite link below using a valid email address as a Zoom link will be sent out closer to the event date. https://www.facebook.com/events/191104689286295/ Eventbrite Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/healthy-indigenous-familiesheal

At Nshwaasnangong we will be doing what we like to call #WordWednesday where we will be featuring different words in the language. Welcome to our first installment where we've chosen to feature 'star' #Nshwaasnangong #NshwaasnangongChildCareAndFamilyCentre #IndigenousChildCare #IndigenousFamilyCentre #UrbanIndigenous #WeAllShineHere #JourneyTogether #LdnOnt #WordWednesday

"In the back of my mind, I always thought you can't just let something go, because within the words is the deeper meaning of science, history, culture and religion"

Carol desccribes how the gifts of her grandson can be nurtured at Nshwaasnangong. What are the gifts of the children in your life? What kinds of environments and activities will nuture them?

Do you want to help grow a dynamic community place and be inspired by the gifts of children and families? Nshwaasnangong is building a team of kind, forward thinking community leaders and educators. Current job postings include Child Care Manager, Family Centre Manager and Operations Manager. Apply by Friday, August 7th! Full details here: https://soahac.on.ca/family-centre/... Please share

The search is on for the Director of Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre! The Director will be a strategic and visionary individual who champions revitalization of language and culture, and land-based learning, and who welcomes local Indigenous families, leaders, helpers and allies to reimagine educating and caring for Indigenous communities in London and Middlesex County. The first year of this position will focus on opening Nshwaasnangong in December 2020. Please visit the SOAHAC website for the full employment posting: www.soahac.on.ca/jobs

Have you and your kids seen Ravens Quest? What a cool way to get to know other Indigenous kids from across Turtle Island!

"In the back of my mind, I always thought you cant just let something go, because within the words is the deeper meaning of science, history, culture and religion"

Happy Holidays to all of the SOAHAC community! We are grateful to be of service to our clients and communities. Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and meaningful time of year.

SOAHAC CEO Brian Dokis had his shovel in the ground to let you know: Construction is starting at 449 Hill Street!!

Carol desccribes how the gifts of her grandson can be nurtured at Nshwaasnangong. What are the gifts of the children in your life? What kinds of environments and activities will nuture them?

Check out the AMAZING Anishinaabemowin language revitalization work happening at Enji Maajtaawaad, the Deshkaan Ziibiing Early Years program! Every time you get a survey and you ask what is most important to you, it always comes back: language and culture -- this is exactly what we are hearing from families too.

A group of community members and partners joined us to bless the land in a ceremony led by Healer Richard Assinewai (Animkii-Ankwad/Thunder Cloud) from Wikwemikong. Miigwetch/Yaw^ko/Anushiik to all who were able to join us and offer prayers for Nshwaasnangong and all the children and families. <3

It is Treaty Recognition Week ~

Over the summer and fall, our team has been out hearing from families about their vision for the Indigenous-led child care and family centre. Miigwetch/Yaw^ko/Anushiik/Thank you to everyone for sharing your input and being a part of the journey with us! Here is what Jolene from Oneida Nation of the Thames had to say.

Tomorrow at the Early Years Centre !

Are you interested in talking to families about this project and sharing their input with others to help plan for the Centre? Check out this job posting with the City of London! The Community Animator will work with others to support our collaborative and community-led planning process. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2019.

As physical construction of the building draws closer, Nshwaasnangong continues to take shape in our minds and hearts. Next week we will hold a Ceremony & Feast to bless the land, which has officially been transferred to SOAHAC for the construction to begin! All are welcome to join us. Please remember to bring your plate/cup/utensils and ladies wear your skirts. <3

Read about Nshwaasnangongs very special naming ceremony and the meaning behind the name!

Watch as the land is prepared for the construction of our new Child Care & Family Centre!

The land is ready for the construction phase to begin!

This beautiful land awaits construction the new building, and all of the Beings that it will welcome.

Oneida Language Beginner class begins August 5 2019 - see poster for contact info Keshia Belisle at [email protected] or Ron Hill at [email protected]

Please welcome Russell Green, Community Animator, and Naomi Wilson, contract Coordinator, who are working with our many partners to guide the development of the Child Care and Family Centre.

Since it began, the Indigenous-led Child Care and Family Centre project has been guided and supported by the Journey Together Indigenous Planning Committee, which includes representatives from local Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous parents and caregivers, and other planning partners. We held a planning retreat in November, 2018 to help guide continued planning and Centre development.

As demolition of the current building is set to begin, a few of us gathered to meet and cleanse the space in a good way.

Read about our exciting announcement in the London Free Press from November 2018. Plans are well underway as we look forward to the preparation of the site for building the Centre.