Younger students at two Thunder Bay elementary schools will soon be able to learn Ojibwe, but at least one parent says efforts to teach First Nations languages should go further.

This fall, grade 6 students at Algonquin and Ecole Gron Morgan elementary schools will be included in the Lakehead Public School Board’s native language pilot program. Previously, students could enroll in grade 7.

For Nicole McKay — whose daughter is a student in the program — learning Ojibwe is as important as learning French.

"It should be mandatory," McKay said. "If they're going to be doing that for one language they should be doing that for another language — especially the First Nations language because it's part of the history of this place."

She said the program is important for students like her daughter -- and expanding it is a step in the right direction.

"It's helping with that connection to who she is," McKay said. "She's a First Nations person and language is really important."

Currently, native language classes are offered at three Lakehead Public elementary schools and four high schools. In September, there will be more course sections offered at all Lakehead Public high schools.

Hoping to see program grow

Lakehead District School Board's Sherri Pharand says the First Nations language program continues to grow. (CBC)

Sherri Lynne Pharand, superintendent of education for the Lakehead school board, considers the pilot program to be a "really good news story."

"It's really expanded by student interest in the program," she said. "They're doing lots of different activities. The program encompasses listening, reading, speaking and writing."

From the school board’s perspective, Pharand said she hopes native language teaching will move from a pilot project to a regular program at the elementary school level. It is no longer a pilot program at Lakehead’s four high schools.

McKay said students of all ages and races should learn a First Nations language. "If they had it much earlier, like from the time they started school, just imagine how fluent they would be speaking," she said.

Pharand said she hopes to see the program grow in the future. "All kids are welcome to and do participate in the native language programs," she said.