Womens Empowerment Students graduating

Empowering Anishinaabekweg at Seven Generations Education Institute: Azhemiinigoziwin Testimonials

The Azhemiinigoziwin (AZH) Program at Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) is a women’s empowerment program focusing on Anishinaabekweg revitalizing their inherent strength through education, Anishinaabemowin, cultural engagement, and other learning or skill development opportunities. Students are empowered to further their high school or post-secondary education or enter the workforce. During the program, Anishinaabekweg reclaim their self-esteem, self-confidence, and renew their Anishinaabe identities. Through collective learning, cultural connection, and community support, we aim to inspire confidence, resilience, and unity among Anishinaabe women, fostering a future where we lead with strength, honour, and cultural pride.

History and Purpose:

The AZH program was revamped in 2021 and was designed to assist adult Indigenous women in regaining their strength. To date, 66 women have graduated from the program at our Rainy Lake and Sioux Lookout campuses. Anishinaabe women have historically played central roles in their communities, serving as leaders, caregivers, educators, keepers of cultural knowledge, and carriers of water. In many cases, colonialism and systemic racism have diminished their voices and access to educational spaces. By creating an empowerment program, SGEI helps Anishinaabe women reconnect with their cultural heritage, reviving ancestral roles and traditional knowledge. This reconnection to their roots can foster a deep sense of pride, self-determination, and resilience. The key learning objectives of the AZH program are education, culture, language, wellness, life skills, and job preparation.

Program Components:

Gikino’amaadiwigamig (Education)

Azhemiinigoziwin students are encouraged and assisted in obtaining their secondary or working towards post-secondary education aspirations. Students also have various training opportunities throughout their cohort; including IDC30 Interdisciplinary Studies, safe food handling certificate, First Aid/CPR, financial wellness, Microsoft training and more.

Anishinaabe Bimaadiziwin (Anishinaabe Culture)

Integrating Anishinaabe culture into a women’s empowerment program is essential to ensure that the program is culturally relevant, respectful, and truly empowering. Students have various opportunities to engage in teachings with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, land-based activities and teachings, creating women’s hand drums, women’s and men’s teachings from an Indigenous perspective, beading, sewing and more.

A Traditional ribbon skirt
A completed Traditional ribbon skirt

Anishinaabemodaa (Anishinaabe Language)

Integrating Anishinaabemowin into a women’s empowerment program is a powerful way to strengthen cultural identity, deepen connections to the land and community and support the well-being of Anishinaabe women. Students engage in weekly learning sessions, acquire everyday language skills, build capacity for understanding Anishinaabemowin, and use language learning goals to increase comprehension and usage.

Mino Ayaawin (Wellness)

Integrating wellness into a women’s empowerment program is crucial, as it aligns with traditional Anishinaabe values of balance, harmony, health, and well-being. Wellness is not just the absence of illness, but a state of being. Students can participate in yoga and fitness, art therapy, sharing groups, positive affirmations, journalling, gratitude sheets, and more.

Ozhiitaa’aaji’anookit (Life skills/Job prep)

Integrating life skills and job preparation can provide the practical tools and support students need to succeed in both traditional and modern environments. Students gain the skills to navigate the workforce, pursue careers, and manage day-to-day life with confidence while learning resumé writing and interview techniques, cooking and healthy eating, and more.

Student Voices:

“The most valuable skill I learned during the Azhemiinigoziwin program was that being consistent pays off and I am smarter than I give myself credit for. I really enjoyed all the hands-on stuff we did throughout the year. Coming to this program has really helped me stay busy. I looked forward to coming every day and learned a lot. I have learned a lot of traditional teachings that have helped me reconnect with my culture, teachings I’ve never had the privilege to learn until being in the AZH program. I completed some of my PLAR and IDC30 and am now closer to being able to graduate. I now plan to finish high school. I highly recommend this program to any Anishinaabekweg and have already told some of my friends about it.”
– Haley Bruyere, Azhemiinigoziwin Graduate


“I really enjoyed learning about sewing, beading, and drumming. I also completed my IDC30, the sessions were very engaging. This program has given me confidence in speaking and my self-image. I also now have more confidence in my life path. I have started using fresh ingredients in my cooking because of the culinary skills we learned. I have started beading at home during my free time and gotten better at small problem solving. Since taking the AZH program I am now taking the necessary steps to graduate high school and get my driver’s license. I would recommend this program because you learn so much useful, important, and fun skills throughout.”
– Cadence H., Azhemiinigoziwin Graduate



“I feel like everything we did was engaging and interactive. This program has helped me gain my confidence back, I have learned a lot of life skills from fellow classmates and speakers. I learned a lot about culture, having patience, and learning from everyone that I have now applied to my daily life. I really enjoyed the new beading skills I learned. I have recommended this program to friends and family and am excited to see how friends enjoy the experience.”
– Tessa, Azhemiinigoziwin Graduate




“This program taught me to do more for myself and to be mindful of my mental health. The sessions were engaging and participating in this program has helped me a lot. I have been applying many skills I learned into my daily life. This program helped me to do my ECE when I thought I was going to just quit. It is a great program, you learn to do so much, and it brings out your creativity!”
– Cassidy, Azhemiinigoziwin Graduate



“I learned how to bead different ways and to enjoy and always be open to new experiences/opportunities. Every day was engaging and interactive, except when we had to stay in class, I like to be busy. This program has improved my confidence and self-perception. I am sober and not used to feeling and dealing with my emotions, which has been a struggle, but I am so thankful for this program and every girl I met. They all influenced me to be a better person.”
– Aaliyah Medicine, Azhemiinigoziwin Graduate


“My name is Bonnie, and before I joined the AZH program my life was a bore. I felt like I wasn’t doing anything productive. I chose the AZH program because I heard good things about it. I wanted to make positive changes in life. I learned a lot of good things and especially loved learning to bead. I feel this program has helped me grow in a lot of ways; emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. I was able to get recertified in some of my certificates I had. I’ve gained new skills with other teachings. My goal for the future is to obtain a job or career I would love such as front desk, or receptionist. My life has changed dramatically since I started the AZH program. I was more focused on positive things since I started.”
– Bonnie, Azhemiinigoziwin Graduate

“When signing up for the AZH program in the summer of 2024, I did not know what to expect, I thought I wasn’t going to get a call back. I didn’t think I would be able to attend because I was ill that whole summer while filling the application. I was sick and sore, but I put on my big girl pants and was motivated by my children to come and do this. My children love going to school and my youngest child said, ‘If I go to school, Mommy can too!’ My five-year-old is so smart, so I told her I will try my best. I felt like I was in a dark place, always feeling so depressed and coming to the AZH program was healing and gave me skills to learn how to cope. I made a lot of friends and met good role models. I am happy I stuck with it, and I feel so much better. I am in a better head space. Thank you, Seven Generations, the Azhemiinigoziwin program, Danielle, and staff for sticking by me. I will tell other women about this program. I am a much better person.”
– G. Angeconeb, Azhemiinigoziwin Graduate

Learn more about SGEI’s Azhemiinigoziwin Program

Want to learn more about SGEI’s Azhemiinigoziwin program? Check out the AZH page on our website at https://www.7generations.org/azhemiinigoziwin-program/ or each out to any program coordinator/instructor using the contact info below:

Jen Caul – Program Coordinator/Instructor (Rainy Lake)
jenniferc@7generations.org

Kyla Savage – Program Coordinator/Instructor (Rainy Lake)
kylas@7generations.org

Danielle Tavares – Program Coordinator/Instructor (Sioux Lookout)
daniellet@7generations.org