AnishinaabemowinMashkawendamang

Dr. Anton Treuer

Bemidji State University

All you people who study Indians, study that!

Giboozhoo’ininim

• Wiinzowin

• Doodem

• Ishkonigan

• Giishpin wii-anishinaabewiyang nawaj…

Language Imbeds Meanings

• Niiyawe’enh (My Namesake)• Niiyaw (My Body)• Gichi-aya’aa (Elder) • Mindimooyenh (Female Elder)• Ode’imin (Strawberry)• Oodena (Village)• Dewe’igan (Drum)• Doodem (Clan)• Giboodiyegwaazonag (Pants)• Mazinaatesijigan (Television)

Pierre Trudeau & Rene Levesque

• If you no longer speak your language and no longer practice your culture, then you have no right to demand aboriginal rights from us, because you are assimilated with the ruling class.

First Ministers of Canada Conference, 1983

Obama’s Criteria for Tribal Recognition by United Nations• Living Language

• Living Identifiable Culture

• Sovereign Landbase

Ojibwe Fluency in MN & WI

Importance of Language

• Identity (Blood, Place, Culture, LANGUAGE)• Culture• Ceremony• Sovereignty• History• Literature• Economy• Health

Community Struggle

• Violence

• Health

• Education

• Economic Opportunity

• Drug & Alcohol Abuse

Community Solution

• Maori

• Hawaii

• Blackfeet, Crow, Mohawk

• Waadookodaading

• Niigaane

Resistance

• English Only Laws• Lack of Awareness, Involvement, Commitment• Valuing Otherness – Colonized Minds

(Tobacco, Food, Alcohol, Poverty, Indian Time)

• Cultural Disconnection• Funding• Need for Resources

Resource Tool Box

• Get Informed on Your Resources (Speakers & Materials)

• Get Informed About What Does Work (Immersion, Grammar, Standard Ortho)

• Don’t Re-invent the Wheel (Acquire Everything That’s Already Here, Clearing House)

• COMMIT – Just Do It — the fire within

What Can I Do?

• Self Education – Language & Culture• Advocacy – Language & Culture Awareness &

Program Building• Teach - Immersion• Culture Based Social Work• Culture Based Treatment• Funding Initiatives• Vote• Parent

You can do it, whatever it is, in the language.

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