Students in Bracebridge now have the opportunity to earn high school credits by learning Kanien’kéha, the Mohawk language, as part of a new initiative from the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
The program is currently available at Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and Gravenhurst High School. The school board announced the new credit option on March 31, 2026, to coincide with National Indigenous Languages Day.
Mohawk language teacher Richard Hay, known as Kaniehtaké:ron, is leading the courses. The instruction is designed to provide students with authentic perspectives while connecting the language to community knowledge and heritage.
This initiative is part of the school board’s broader effort to respond to the 94 Calls to Action from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. By offering these courses, the board aims to honour Indigenous identities and cultures within the classroom.
Finding qualified teachers and securing stable funding are often cited as significant hurdles for such programs across the province. Data from People for Education shows that during the 2022-2023 school year, only 20 percent of secondary schools in Ontario offered Indigenous language programs.
Local families interested in learning more about the Mohawk language credit are encouraged to contact their nearest secondary school for information on course availability and enrollment.
