Conservative MPP Ross Romano is taking weekly Anishinaabemowin lessons

Ross Romano, Sault Ste. Marie's rookie Conservative MPP, has hired Garden River's Barbara Nolan to teach him the Anishinaabemowin language.

Romano says he started studying under Nolan immediately after the May 31 provincial election.

Initially they met for lessons twice a week but the new MPP took much of the summer off to prepare for his new calling.

"My wife gave me a long to-do list," he tells SooToday.

"She said: 'Before you start in September, you need to get the following items done. So I took a holiday from work to go to work at home. The honey-do list had to get completed."

Nolan will be away this week but Romano's eager to get started again after his summer hiatus.

"We will be reconvening every Friday. Our first Friday session is set for Sept. 22."

"I want to try to figure out how to get two sessions. I feel I need that but I'm only here during the week on a Friday."

"We also do a little bit of a history lesson mixed in with that.... We'll just talk about cultural items, history of Ojibway people and Anishinaabe people."

"It's been very informative. I've gotten to know Barbara very well. I hope she's gotten to know me well. We share a little of our stories together."