The Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest (KNCLN) is a local Friendship Centre and a member of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. KNCLN is guided by Indigenous volunteers and a diverse team of staff, and a practice rooted in traditions and worldviews that span generations.
What is now known as the city of Kingston has long been the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat. Indigenous Peoples, long before first contact with settlers and to this day, have acted on their commitments to care for and offer stewardship in relationships we inherently carry with the surrounding land and water and all of our relations.
The KNCLN was originally born by The Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest (KILN), a grassroots movement by a local Indigenous language lovers and learners. Their vision was to champion the urban resurgence of Indigenous languages by following the Kanyen’kehá:ka Kayanerenkó:wa, (Great Law of Peace), and the Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabe, and aimed to lift each other up through peace, strength, and a collective mind.
That vision they carried and work they undertook has been fundamental in Kingston and area, and the KNCLN continues, using that community-driven methodology and approach to increase awareness of and celebrate Indigenous languages, and create space, internally and by offering support to others to continue to build capacity and opportunities for language learners in the area.
Today we can continue to act on the vision of The Language Nest to provide support to other Indigenous-led community initiatives and in so, have created a space of openness, care and acceptance for all who wish to learn, connect and share.
Visit us at 218 Concession Street, Kingston where we invite you to attend our community events, language learning experiences, and the opportunity to build relationships with other Indigenous Peoples, who today, call this area home.