Muriel Sawyer

Muriel Sawyer
Died	2021
Occupation	language teacher

Muriel Sawyer was a language teacher and the founder of Nbisiing Secondary School.

In Anishinabek News

• Home community: Nipissing First Nation
• September 2014: She served as a mentor to Tory Fisher during his upbringing.
• December 2014: Muriel Sawyer assisted in the joint effort to name the Ziisbaakdonaapnewin E-naagdawenjgejig project.
• October 2015: She was elected to her first term on the Kinomaadswin Education Body board in 2015 to represent Regional Education Council #4.
• October 2015: She was elected to her first term as a representative for the fourth Regional Education Council. She serves on the board of the Kinomaadswin Education Body.
• June 2016: She welcomed Elizabeth Dowdeswell to Nipissing First Nation for a tour of the local secondary school. She stated that integrating traditional knowledge and language into the curriculum is essential for student success. She noted that Nbisiing Secondary School has helped over 300 graduates develop a strong sense of their Anishinaabe identity.
• June 2016: She stated that the Anishinabek Education System will improve relationships with existing education bodies. She expressed hope for a favourable vote on the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement after a long development process.
• June 2017: She served as the master of ceremonies for the Nbisiing Secondary School graduation on June 23, 2017. She spoke about the upcoming implementation of the Anishinabek Education System to increase local control over schooling. She is a member of the Nipissing First Nation Education Committee.
• October 2017: She began her career as a teacher in 1974 and retired from Nbisiing Secondary School in 2005. She serves as the Chair of the Nipissing First Nation Education Committee and was a board member for the Kinoomaadziwin Education Board. She is recognized as an Ojibwe language keeper in the book Treaty No. 9- Making the Agreement to Share the Land in Far Northern Ontario.
• October 2018: She expressed concerns regarding the health impacts and scientific evidence related to the legalization of cannabis. She called for extensive community engagement to ensure local perspectives are reflected in any new laws. She noted that any new regulations must align with the Gichi-Naaknigewin.
• January 2019: She is recognized as a fluent speaker of the Anishinaabemowin language.
• March 2019: She served as a translator for the Nishnaabemwin version of I Am Not a Number. She advocated for using the specific Nbisiing dialect to ensure the translation remained authentic to the community's heritage.
• October 2019: She was a guest speaker who shared community stories with students during the two-week intensive history program.
• October 2019: She welcomed delegates to the Kina-Gego-Naabadosin forum and emphasized the need for human collaboration and mutual education. She spoke about the importance of understanding interconnectedness to ensure future sustainability during dire environmental times.
• November 2019: She performed the unveiling of the new cenotaph during the 2019 Remembrance Day ceremony. She spoke in both Anishinaabemowin and English regarding the sacrifices made by volunteer soldiers.
• February 2020: She attended the solidarity gathering at Jocko Point in February 2020 to support the Wet'suwet'en cause.
• February 2021: She served as a long-time educator and leader who worked to preserve and revitalize Anishinaabemowin within her community. She played a foundational role in the implementation of the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement and the establishment of the Anishinabek Education System. She passed away in February 2021 following a battle with cancer. She was a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009.
• March 2021: The forum observed a minute of silence to honor her life and her work as a Language Keeper. She served as a leader and educator within Nipissing First Nation before her passing. The article refers to this person as deceased (no date of death is given).
• July 2021: She was a dedicated educator and language keeper for her community. The Lake Nipissing Beading Project is dedicated in her honour. The article refers to this person as deceased (no date of death is given).
• October 2021: She collaborated on the translation of I Am Not a Number into Anishinaabemowin.
• November 2021: She was honoured by the Nipissing University Student Union on October 7, 2021, with the naming of the Enji-Debaamjigeng boardroom. She co-created the Teacher of Indigenous Languages as a Second Language program at Nipissing University and was instrumental in establishing Nbisiing Secondary School. She passed away on February 6, 2021, after a career dedicated to the revitalization of Indigenous languages and culture.
• May 2023: She was a respected educator and language champion who encouraged Lorie Young to persist with her business goals. The article refers to this person as deceased (no date of death is given).
• December 2024: She provided the career roadmap for Falcon McLeod to become a professional Anishinaabemowin instructor. She is credited with guiding and mentoring students in the Nipissing district on their language journeys. The article refers to this person as deceased (no date of death is given).
• December 2025: She was a friend of Joan McLeod Shabogesic and was known by the nickname Yo-Yo. A tile in the Lake Nipissing Beading Project featuring a raven and a yo-yo was created for her. She frequently used the word 'caw' in Nishnaabemwin classes, which inspired the raven design on her tile. The article refers to this person as deceased (no date of death is given).