Nshwaasnangong

Nshwaasnangong is a place where our young ones, and future generations, thrive. Here, we rekindle our languages, honour the teachings of our ancestors, and live in balance with Mother Earth. In this way, we learn to walk with humility and respect for all of creation. 

Wherever you are on your journey - we see you, we hear you, we believe in you, and we invite you to join the Nshwaasnangong family. Please join us for child care and our child, youth and family culturally relevant EarlyON programming.

Our Principles & Values

  • We are all interconnected, from the water to the stars

  • Our teachings vary across nations and speakers

  • Love for all our relations

  • We all carry gifts that elders and knowledge keepers can help mentor

  • We have responsibilities to our ancestors and future generations

  • We are the original peoples of Turtle Island with rights to self-determination

  • Mother Earth offers us cycles and rhythms to follow

Physical: creation and community
Mental: wonder and possibilities
Emotion: kindness and compassion
Spirit: honour and rekindling

Our History

Nshwaasnangong is the spirit name given to the centre in ceremony. It means “place of the eighth star” in Anishinaabemowin. The name, gifted to the centre in an Anishinaabe Naming Ceremony, references the original eighth star in the Big Dipper that fell to earth and became the Anishinaabe people. The name infers a great responsibility for caring and sharing the gifts of the sky world, including the culture, teachings and language, for children and families who attend the centre.

This project first began through the Journey Together Indigenous Planning committee, established in partnership with the City of London as a local response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The building of Nshwaasnangong has been made possible by the collaboration of many community partners, with funding from the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada and the City of London.


What it Means to be Indigenous-Led

Nshwaasnangong is the first Indigenous-led Child Care and Family Centre in London and is part of London’s system of Family Centres. The centre’s activities are rooted in culture and language, including opportunities to learn about Indigenous ways of knowing, identity, and family teachings. The programs offered here grow from the needs, gifts and visions of the local Indigenous community.

Journey Together

Formed in 2016 with support from the City of London and SOAHAC, the Journey Together Indigenous Planning Committee included representatives from local Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous parents and caregivers, agency partners, and community members.  They worked with the local community and stakeholders to put forth a proposal for a child care and family centre in London, which was accepted in 2018. 

The committee identified gaps in services for Indigenous children and families that the centre would strive to cover:  culturally relevant early years programs, based in Spirit and Languages; a culturally safe space for families that was accessible and that they could trust; and a need for Indigenous-led child care connected to great child and family programming.


Nshwaasnangong’s commitment to providing a safe and caring place where Indigenous languages and cultures will be revitalized and supported aims to close these gaps.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This project has been guided and supported by the Journey Together Indigenous Planning Committee, which includes representatives from local Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous parents and caregivers, and other planning partners. The funding opportunity for this project came from the Province of Ontario, and is supported by the City of London.

  • Nshwaasnangong is a spirit name given to the centre in ceremony. It means “place of the eighth star” in Anishinaabemowin. If written phonetically in English, the name would roughly look like: Ne-shwaas-nung-goong.

  • Nshwaasnangong is located at 449 Hill Street, in the SoHo neighbourhood of London, on the site of the former St. John French Immersion School.

  • This is a new Indigenous-led Child Care and Family Centre in London and is part of London’s system of Family Centres. Nshwaasnangong’s activities will be rooted in culture and language, including opportunities to learn about Indigenous ways of knowing, identity, and family teachings. The programs offered here will grow from the needs, gifts and visions of the local Indigenous community.

  • While Nshwaasnangong’s child care is only for First Nations - status and non-status; Metis and Inuit children, the Family Centre welcomes non-Indigenous families into the space for programming.