Ojibwemowin Articles

GIDINWEWINAAN—OUR WAY OF SOUND Lessons

By Nazhike—Mille Lacs Band Member

You can read a collection of past month’s lessons here! Additionally, you can hear many words and sentences pronounced by native speakers at https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/

Ojibwe language is known as polysynthetic, denoting or relating to a language characterized by complex words consisting of several morphemes in which a single word may function as a whole sentence. A morpheme is nothing new to us. We use them regularly in English. For example, the word "incoming" has three morphemes; in, come, and -ing. All give their meaning to the word. Give it a try!

Wiishkoban = It is sweet. (wee shko bun)

Wiishkobizi = S/he is sweet. (wee shko biz zih)

Wiishkobaaboo = Maple sap. (wee shko bah boo)

Wiishkobaagamin = Sweet liquid. (wee shko bah gum min)

Wiishkobimaagozi = S/he smells sweet. (wee shko bim mah go zih)

Wiishkobimaagwad = It smells sweet. (wee shko bim mah gwud)

Wiishkobipogwad = It tastes sweet. (wee shko bip poh gwud)

Wiishkobipogozi = S/he tastes sweet. (wee shko bip poh go zih)

Gizhiibatoo = S/he runs fast. (gizh zhee buh too)

Gizhiidaabii’iwe = S/he drives fast. (gih zhee dah bee’ ih way)

Gizhiijiwan = It flows fast. (gih zhee jih wun)

Gizhiiyose = S/he walks fast. (gih zhee yo say)

Gizhiiyoode = S/he crawls fast. (gih zhee you day)

Gizhiiyaanimad = The wind blows fast. (gih zhee yah nim mud)

Gizhiigi = S/he grows fast. (gih zhee gih).

Lessons from Joe Sr: MAAJII-GIKENDANDAA GIDINWEWININAAN (LET'S START LEARNING OUR LANGUAGE)

GAA-TIBAAJIMOD (told by) JOE NAYQUONABE SR., WAABISHKINES

GAA-TIBAAJIMOTAWAAJIN (transcribed by) JAMES CLARK, OZAAWAANAKWAD

This month, I would like to tell people of an amazing opportunity that has been brought to my attention. After that last article that I wrote, which was about speaking at the dances, and for dishes, I was made aware of something called Rosetta Stone (RS). I will tell you a little of how my experience went. I could speak to where I could communicate, and understand the subjects at hand. Yet, I quickly saw that I needed to know more, and so I started learning by listening to people that talked. It’s almost like I went back to school. I participated in the RS language program along with several other Elders, and at times, I felt like I was a grade school kid while working with PhD level speakers. It was a great opportunity for me to learn more about my own language. It wasn’t all work; there was a lot of Native humor that happened while we worked, which made all the work seem like the good old days. A special thanks to the higher education people that knew how to develop such a program who could be trusted with such an important task. I can’t say for everyone, but this was a very special time in my life to be able to work and share time and language with the other Elders.

Now this program has started to come out so that people can both teach it and learn it. It is a great opportunity for those who have wanted to learn but were not able to in the past, partially because you can do it anywhere. It's important to note that there are people out there willing and able to assist should you find any difficulties.

Why use Rosetta Stone? Our ceremonies were given to us Ojibwemong, and thus we continue using Ojibwe during those times; some of these include while at funerals, namings, and various others that use the language. Early in my lifetime, a majority of people around me understood what was being said. Now, sadly, I am starting to see a massive shift the other way and not nearly as many people understand what is being said anymore. Personally, I would say we're getting close to 90 percent not understanding, but we will not give up.

Rosetta Stone is a way that we can slowly begin to change that percentage back to the way things used to be. I can remember when I worked for the Reservation Business Council (RBC). All those elected officials spoke the language. It just shows how times have changed and somewhere our language has fallen by the wayside. I remember going to some of the RBC meetings, and we’d converse little bits and pieces in Ojibwe. And again, at that time, the audience in attendance understood when we did not use English. A lot of the conversation between the elected officials was in the language both at work and outside work; it was good to hear those conversations going on from time to time.

Now, you must note that in our constitution, it does say that our Band’s official language is Ojibwe, yet 100 percent of Band members speak English. Should we thus alter our own constitution to reflect that? As mentioned at this past State of the Band (STOB), the very first STOB was not given in English, but in Ojibwe for those in attendance to understand. Regardless of if someone is giving a speech at STOB or sending someone home at a funeral, what is becoming common practice after said speech is finished? Translations.

In closing, countless hours were taken to develop Rosetta Stone by Mille Lacs Band members and speakers. Not only did the Band help support the program, but other Anishinaabeg came from other communities to assist and make sure this is available to not only Mille Lacs Band members but all Ojibwe people. We owe it not only to our ancestors, but to those that haven’t come yet. When those future generations come into the world, Rosetta Stone will make it possible that they will have a fighting chance to learn their identity, culture, and language.

Miigwech, mii go iw.