 | Our Language: Let's do something |
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If we were to provide a DVD of basic Anishinaabemowin, how to introduce ourselves, say greetings, talk about the weather and how are we doing today for example, to every Treaty #3 member household, do you think people would start speaking the language? Would they start greeting each other in the language? Asking how are you? Would they want to learn more, and soon become fluent? |
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I am dearly wishing for someone to post messages and open some discussions... |
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Boozhoo! One of the obstacles that I came accross teaching the language was parental involvement. How do we teach our anishinaabe parents or parents that take the language in the school. On the other hand in my community, I know that the older generation (30 and older) can speak fluently. When it comes to speaking to their children at home, there first language is English. How can we suggest or send the message "if you can speak it use it!" And the importance of the language, this is just my view; we need to involve everyone from the leadership to the administrators of the schools, organizations, band offices and everyone involved with the teaching of the language. |
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THis is exactly the kind of issue we can take up sometime and brainstorm about what to do. Maybe at some of the gatherings we have, we can discuss this topic. It is a good one. why do you think the people want to speak to their children in English? |
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Boozhoo, we have a program down here in Toronto that seems to be helpful in not only getting families involved, but keeping people interested in learning the language. the first thing we did was put together a booklet of everyday conversations. it's divided into questions and answers. the themes are: basic introductions, getting to know one another, gossip, pick-up lines (very funny) and feast vocabulary. so we have moved away from simple nouns into complete sentences. next, we hold monthly socials where an activity was developed to get people only speaking Ojibwe for 2 hours using the vocab sheets. because the vocab is based on every day conversations, it's easy to get people to chat. but we wanted to do something fun to get people moving around visiting with one another so we are using the "speed-dating" concept where you have table numbers and you visit for 5 minutes at each table and then move to the next table. afterwards we have a feast. it's amazing to hear people who might have never used the language actully talking Ojibwe and laughing for 2 hours. and it's amazing to see how much of the grammar they pick up after the exercise. so that's what we are doing. the hope is to build a long-term community of Ojibwe language learners, who empower one another to use the language. it's our second year and we have almost 50 regular participants. my hope is to do more outreach, and more community-based activities in the language. we also do a yearly theatre presentation to promote the language and we have developed a few computer games. so that's what's going on here...we are trying to move away from the classroom setting and use the language in the every day. we are trying to create role models out in the community who are committed to using the language. when these role models come around, people stop speaking english and switch to Ojibwe. its great to see, it gives me hope and keeps me interested in the language. mi'iwe, miikwec, Maya |
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Hi Maya! Thank you so much for sharing what you are doing in the south. Are you able to share the booklet so others might try your approach? Rawnda who is with our research team is planning a similar project focussing on her immediate family. Rawnda, this would be a great project to discuss in your proposal. Do you, Maya, think it would be all right for Rawnda to make reference to your program inher study? Is there anything written up onyour model? Glad you joined us. We are just starting up our blog and hope that many people will be interested. Ethel |
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boozhoo, i just sent you an email with all the files. i also uploaded them into my profile. if you know of any community who wants to host one of these, they can contact me and i'll walk them through the process. Rawnda can reference this program. and if any of you are in Toronto next week we are having a new year anishinaabemowin social on January 6 at 5 pm. at First Nations House 563 spadina ave 3rd floor miikwec, Maya |
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BOOZHOO!! Wow, I'm impressed. It sounds just great!! I so happy to hear that the information and booklets could be available to those interested. I am so very interested and wondering if you could email me the booklets to: darlenebob@hotmail.com darlingdollie@yahoo.ca Meegwetch. Darlene Bob |
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I agree that parents need more support in the home. Even if they are fluent and speak the language at home, the kids need to see examples of the language at school and in the community so they will realize it is important. There should be more opportunities in the school to share the language - not just in a separate language class. |
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I think its a good idea to start wit, language is a culturally important issue. A positive vibe is set up when one hears his or her language. I think an effort like this will promote language learning for sure but we can not check or evaluate their progress or the extent to which they have learned the language through this approach. Personally I think a language is learned in a better way if one use it more and more on daily basis and with the one who has proper knowledge of the same. kiran |
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Culture and language are linked together naturally, unconsciously, and closely in daily social lives. Ethel, I think you need to first examine if these households are mantaining and promoting Anishinaabe culture. A basic DVD might inspire a want to learn more but it is extremely important and necessary to involve cultural context in language learning; to help learners see that no culture is "better" than another. As a reflection to my experiences, I feel that it is beneficial to immerse yourself in the culture and language that you are trying to learn. It is very motivating to learn a language because it is needed to survive. As Celia Haig-Brown notes in her article, A pedagogy of the land, that “knowledge is created and recreated in social interaction.” Are there any workshops or programs out there designed to live off the land while practicing Anishinaabe language? |
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Having a DVD using the Ojibway language adopting every day type conversation and topics would be an excellent way for people to start using the language. Having a varity of DVD's using the Anishaabee language as a resource for people to learn, relearn would be excellent. As it is right now, usually people you know who speaks and understands rhw language greeting each other in the language and other topics are brought up and discussed. |
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Boozhoo Ethel, i have been in contact with Mary Hermes from University of Minnesota in Duluth over there. they are putting together interactive DVD's of the language. you can see a sample at http://ojibwemovies.com/ it looks amazing. they are coming out in the summer. it has grammar sections, vocab learning sections and immersion conversations. its a good tool to have ini peoples homes...but creating pride, interest and excitement in the language so that people actually use the DVD's is a whole other story. |
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Boozhoo Maya. Yes, it looks amazing. A great software idea. I want to have a closer look at what is being offered and see if local people can custom design these conversations/vids for their own interest topics. If so, I wonder how user friendly it is. Thanks for sharing this. I want to meet Mary Hermes. (And you too!) |
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Waaciye, well, we now have a new website to go with our language program down here in Toronto. most of our resources are from the north though since our teacher is from KI, and i'm from T-Bay. it's http://ciimaan.org Ciimaan is an Anishinaabemowin leadership program that runs through the Centre for Aboriginal Initiatives here at the university of Toronto. I've been working on developing the program from some time, and it's great to see the youth learn Ojibwe and gain confidence as leaders. kiminopitokaakonaawaa nitashikewininak |