‘Your language is your identity’: What Barbara Nolan carried out of residential school

On Orange Shirt Day, Anishinaabemowin speaker reflects on language, survival

30 Sep 2026 • 8 min read

An elderly women speaks at a podium in front of a microphone

Barbara Nolan speaks at the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Assembly in 2026. (Anishinabek Nation/Facebook)

Ninah is an early-career reporter based in Toronto, currently focused on the Residential Schools database. She has previously worked as an associate producer at CBC Kids News and served as a social media manager for various organizations.

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‘Your language is your identity’: What Barbara Nolan carried out of residential school

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