Welcome Page

Boozhoo
Thank you for visiting Ojibwe Language and More. We hope you enjoy the site and learn a lot.

Our original intention was to create a place that our kids could go to learn and hear the language online. It's turned into a family project that we hope everyone interested in the language can come and learn something from it.

The Wagner family at the 2012 S-Lake powwow.
If you are new to this site, start with the first entry on the right of this page, under "Blog Archive" by clicking on 2009 and then January. You should start with the first post and then move forward to get the most from this.

There are clickable links on the various pages. Some of these links are to outside sources. To get the most out of each page, you should click on everything that is clickable. Some are Ojibwe language audio, and others are lessons.

At the end of each Ojibwe language lesson, there are games you can play with each word list. Click on those and have fun.

At the end of each week, there is a quiz and a test. We suggest you do not move on to the next week until you have mastered the previous week. They are just labeled "weeks." One "week" may take you a week, but you may be able to move through it quicker or it may it take longer.

This is still very much a project in progress.  The first two months are close to being completed and we've just adjusted them a little bit.  We've added more audio links, videos, games, and pictures.  Please be patient.  It's coming along. :) 


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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Blog Archive

• 2009 
  • January 
    • Week 1: Boozhoo and Welcome
    • Week 1: Pronunciation Guide for the Double Vowel S...
    • Week 1: Free Online Ojibwe Language Dictionary
    • Week 1: Anton Treuer on Tobacco and Language Learn...
    • Week 1: A Few Basic Words
    • Week 1: Match Game
    • Week 1: Speaking Every Day
    • Week 1 Quiz and Exam
    • Week 2 - More Basic Vocabulary
    • Week 2: Ojibwe Language Revitilization
    • Week 2 - The Elders Speak: Tobacco
    • Week 2 Ojibwe Jeopardy
    • Week 2: Quiz and Test
    • Week 3: Ojibwe Numbers
    • Week 3: Ojibwe Numbers 11-100
    • Week 3: Ojibwe Number Activities
    • Week 3: Keller Paap's Story
    • Week 3: Ojibwe Numbers Jeopardy
    • Week 3: Quiz and Test
    • Week 4: Introducing Yourself
    • Week 4: Nookwezigan
    • Week 4: First Month Ojibwe Jeopardy Review
    • Week 4: Quiz and Test
    • 
      
  • February 
    • Week 5 - More Words/phrases to Help Get Started
    • Week 5: The Elders Speak: Pointing with your Lips
    • Week 5: Quiz and Test
    • Week 6: Labeling the House - Bathroom
    • Week 6: Quiz and Test
    • Week 7: Labeling the House - Kitchen
    • Week 7: Quiz and Test
    • Week 8: Labeling the House - Living Room
    • Week 8: Quiz and Test
    • 
      
  • March
    • Week 9: Labeling the House - Bedroom
    • Week 9: Quiz and Test
    • Week 10: Feelings
    • Week 10: Personal Indicators - I am feeling a cert...
    • Week 10: Personal Indicators - You and You All
    • Week 10: We Are Feeling a Certain Way
    • Week 10: They Are Feeling a Certain Way
    • Week 10: Quiz and Test
    • Week 11: Everyday Actions and Tenses
    • Week 11: The Past and Future Tenses
    • Week 11: Personal Indicators and the Tenses
    • Week 12: More Actions and Negation
    • 
      
  • April
    • Week 13: More Actions and Commands
    • Week 14: More Actions and Don't
    • Week 15: Questions and Actions
    • Week 16: People and Pointers
    • 
      
  • May
    • Week 17: Relatives
    • Week 17: Your and His/Her Relatives
    • Week 18: Descriptions
    • Week 19: What Time is it?
    • Week 19: Ojibwe Clock Project
    • Week 20: Seasons and Weather
    • 
      
  • June
    • Week 21: Buildings
    • Week 21: Town Map
    • Week 22: Ojibwe Animals
    • Week 22: Bears Article
    • Week 22: Quiz and Test
    • Week 23: Ojibwe Birds
    • Week 24: Ojibwe Fish
    • Week 24: River Life and Fishing
    • 
      
  • July
    • Week 25: Ojibwe Bugs
    • Week 26: Occupations and Pointers
    • Week 27: Body Parts
    • Week 28: Places
    • 
      
  • August
    • Week 29: When?
    • Week 30: Food
    • Week 30: Nodinens' Story
    • Week 31: Drinks
    • Week 32: Baking and Eating
    • 
      
  • September
    • Week 33: Fruits and Vegetables
    • Week 33: Blueberry Time
    • Week 34: Clothing
    • Week 35: Particles
    • Week 35: Quiz and Test
    • Week 36: Days and Months
    • Week 36: Days of the Month
    • 
      
  • October
    • Week 37: Colors

Niijii Radio

Listen to Niijii Radio.

The Goals of Niijii radio are: 1. To be a resource of local, regional, and world news; 2. To bring educational information to our listeners in the form of locally created programming, other community station programming, and through airing nationally syndicated programs; 3. To assure that arts, history, and culture thrive in and throughout our listening community; 4. To bring a balanced voice to our community to foster the elements of justice.

Week 50 - The Elders Speak: Joe Chosa (Respect and Language)

Skabewis put this great video on YouTube with Joe Chosa talking about respect and the language.



We must always listen to our elders. This is very important. Listen to the elders and respect them.

MPR on the Ojibwe

A few years ago, Minnesota Public Radio did a GREAT feature on the Ojibwe people called Rekindling the Spirit: The Rebirth of American Indian Spirituality and it is in parts.

Please read it.

Rekindling the Spirit: The Rebirth of American Indian Spirituality - "They call the traditional life "walking the Red Road. "They believe old ways are bringing new hope to Indian Country."

Part 1: The Spirits Spoke to Him - "Bob Shimek believes the tobacco smoke carries prayers to the Great Spirit. The sage purifies his body and soul. Shimek fans the burning embers with an eagle feather. He cups the smoke in his hands and pulls it toward his face and body. The ceremony is called smudging. He offers a prayer in Ojibwe, and translates."

Part 2: The Seventh Fire - "The Ojibwe believe each plant has its own soul. A culture that believes plants have souls would not purposely destroy them. Plants are sacred beings. Each has an important purpose in creation."

Part 3: Christianizing the Indians - "Years of repression caused many Indian people to lose touch with traditional ways. Worship was illegal for generations of Indians."

Part 4: One Church, Two Traditions - "Acceptance and tolerance are part of Indian culture. But there are rifts among Christians and traditional Native people on Red Lake."

Part 5: Where Tradition Thrives - "The spirits might gift someone with a medicine, they might gift someone with a song. They might gift someone with, you know, the right to give names, and give them a whole bunch of Indian names to give to different people."

Part 6: Ceremony and Symbolism - "Ceremonies are the most visible part of American Indian spirituality. But there's much more to walking the Red Road than the occasional ceremony. Anishinaabe people say their spiritual beliefs influence everything they do, every decision they make."

Part 7: The Healing Spirit - "I can teach you about herbs and I can teach you a lot of different things. But what I do in that room over there, I can't teach you," says Sandman. "It has to come from a different place. Call it the spirit realm, dreams, God, the Creator, it has to come from him. To sit here and say I fully understand it -- I don't."

Part 8: Returning to the Red Road - "Some spiritual leaders call the resurgence a silent revolution. Indian people are quietly turning to the ways of their ancestors. Tribal elder Frank Dickinson is a believer in the prophecy of the seven fires. It foretold a rebirth of the Anishinaabe people. Dickinson says young people are the hope for a better future."

The Jewelry on American Culture - "Many American Indians are reclaiming their native spirituality. They are following traditional beliefs and ceremonies. Some of those ceremonies were illegal for generations of Indians. They were done in secret and carefully protected. Today, many American Indians fear their faith is once again under assault -- this time from people who want to buy spirituality."

Preserving the Language - "For more than a century, the Ojibwe language has been under assault. Generations of American Indians were forced into government or church-run boarding schools, where their native language and culture were forbidden. Today, only a few can speak Ojibwe fluently. But there are growing efforts to revive the language. Some say preserving it is essential to keeping the culture alive. The language is also a vital link to the old spiritual ways."

"Language and Meaning' Online Interview with David Treuer

I would like you to listen to a show about Ojibwe Language on Minnesota Public Radio called 'Language and Meaning' with David Treuer (52 min).

"Language is a carrier of human identity. It is a vehicle by which we understand and express our very sense of self. Novelist and translator David Treuer is helping to compile the first practical grammar of the Ojibwe language. He describes an unfolding experience of how language forms what makes us human. Some memories and realities, he has found, can only be carried forward in time by Ojibwe." -- MPR

Ojibwe Audio

Hearing Ojibwemowin spoken is very important. I encourage you to check out Ojibwe audio from different sources daily.

There are some interesting projects on Youtube by some amazing individuals who dedicate some of their time to providing words each day.

These individuals should be applauded for their efforts.

Anishinaabemowin does a word almost every day.



ndninla is informative and hilarious. :)

Patricia M. Ningewance

Here's an important lesson from an elder.

Patricia Ningewance wrote in 'Talking Gookom's Language,' "There are also words in the language that refer to how Anishinaabe people should behave towards each other and outsiders. There's the notion of leaving each person their personal space. In the old days, people had to live in close quarters. It was thought that as long as there was enough space on the floor (inside the wigwam or tepee) to fit sleeping figures, there was sufficient room in one's home. A home, after all, was precious shelter from the hostile weather. So in living closely together, it was considered rude or strange to look too frequently or too long at someone. The expression was, "Ginibaazaab!" Keep your eyes to yourself. Another was to not talk to someone too long or too often. "Gego nibaazomaaken!" you were told. "Don't bother him/her with your talking." These rules of behaviour gave us some social insulation."

Ojibwe Music/Singers

Contemporary
Keith Secola:
NDN Kars, 4r Ancestors, Frybread

Jody Thomas Gaskin:
Powwow Princess, Powwow Blues, Part of Being Anishinaabe

Country
Crystal Shawanda:
You Can Let Go, Dawn of a New Day, Beautiful Day, Baby You're Back

Rap
Wab Kinew:
Heroes

Flute
Frank Montano - Montano in Red Cliff

Big Drum
Little Otter Singers:
Side Step Jingle at Honor The Earth Pow wow

Whitefish Bay Singers:
Jingle Dress, Flag Song, Grand Entry, Crow Hop, Howa

Whitefish Bay Singers @ Manito-Ahbee Pow Wow: Jingle Dress


Hand Drum:

Pipestone Singers:
Crazy Luv Life, Cuzzins

The Ojibwe Migration Story

Are you keeping up?

Today I would like you to check out the Ojibwe Migration Story.

They talk about how the Ojibwe people were told to go to the place where food grows on water.

Do you know what that is?

YES! It's Wild Rice.

Manoomin - Wild Rice

Here's another word for you today:

Manoominike - S/he is wild ricing.

Week 37: Colors

Ojibwe Colors

Traditionally, these are the words used for the Ojibwe colors:

miskozi(wag) - S/he is red
makadewizi(wag) - S/he is black
ozhaawashkozi(wag) - S/he is blue, green
waabishkizi(wag) - S/he is white
ozaawizi(wag) - S/he is brown, yellow, orange

miskwaa(wan) - It is red
makadewaa(wan) - It is black
ozhaawashkwaa(wan) - It is blue, green
waabishkaa(wan) - It is white
ozaawaa(wan) - It is brown, yellow, orange


As you can see, there can be more than one color per word.  Recently, schools have begun to search for words to separate the colors.  The colors presented here are the colors used at some schools.  These may vary from school to school as some of them are new inventions.  These are the color words we want you to use:

miskozi(wag) - S/he is red.
makadewizi(wag) - S/he is black.
ozhaawashkozi(wag) - S/he is blue.
aniibiishkozi(wag) - S/he is green.
waabishkizi(wag) - S/he is white
ozaawizi(wag) - S/he is yellow.
miskozaawizi(wag) - S/he is orange.
makadewizaawizi(wag) - S/he is brown.
gegaamakadewizi(wag) - S/he is gray.
oginaanzo(wag) - S/he is pink.
miiningozi(wag) - S/he is purple.

miskwaa(wan) - It is red.
makadewaa(wan) - It is black.
ozhaawashkwaa(wan) - It is blue.
aniibiishkaande(wan) - It is green.
waabishkaa(wan) - It is white
ozaawaa(wan) - It is yellow.
miskozaawaa(wan) - It is orange.
makadewizaawaa(wan) - It is brown.
gegaamakade(wan) - It is gray.
oginiiwaande(wan) - It is pink.
miininganaande(wan) - It is purple.

Some games to play using the Ojibwe Colors List:
Flashcards, Study Stack, Study Table, Matching, Crossword, Word Scramble, Bug Match, Hungry Bug

Week 36: Days of the Month

Aaniin endaso-gonagizid a’aw giizis?
What day of the month is it?

Bezhigo-gonagizi - It's the first of the month.
niizho-gonagizi - It's the second of the month.
niso-gonagizi - It's the third of the month.
niiyo-gonagizi - It's the fourth of the month.
naano-gonagizi - It's the fifth of the month.
ningodwaaso-gonagizi - It's the sixth of the month.
niizhwaaso-gonagizi - It's the seventh of the month.
nishwaaso-gonagizi - It's the eighth of the month.
zhaangaso-gonagizi - It's the ninth of the month.
midaaso-gonagizi - It's the tenth of the month.
ashi-bezhigo-gonagizi - It's the eleventh of the month.
ashi-niizho-gonagizi - It's the twelfth of the month.
ashi-niso-gonagizi - It's the thirteenth of the month.
ashi-niiyo-gonagizi - It's the fourteenth of the month.
ashi-naano-gonagizi - It's the fifteenth of the month.
ashi-ningodwaaso-gonagizi - It's the sixteenth of the month.
ashi-niizhwaaso-gonagizi - It's the seventeenth of the month.
ashi-nishwaaso-gonagizi - It's the eighteenth of the month.
ashi-zhaangaso-gonagizi - It's the nineteenth of the month.
niizhtana daso-gonagizi - It's the twentieth of the month.
niizhtana ashi-bezhigo-gonagizi - It's the twenty first of the month.
niizhtana ashi-niizho-gonagizi - It's the twenty second of the month.
niizhtana ashi-niso-gonagizi - It's the twenty third of the month.
niizhtana ashi-niiyo-gonagizi - It's the twenty fourth of the month.
niizhtana ashi-naano-gonagizi - It's the twenty fifth of the month.
niizhtana ashi-ningodwaaso-gonagizi - It's the twenty sixth of the month.
niizhtana ashi-niizhwaaso-gonagizi - It's the twenty seventh of the month.
niizhtana ashi-nishwaaso-gonagizi - It's the twenty eighth of the month.
niizhtana ashi-zhaangaso-gonagizi - It's the twenty ninth of the month.
nisimidana daso-gonagizi - It's the thirtieth of the month.
nisimidana ashi-bezhigo-gonagizi - It's the thirty first of the month.

Week 36: Days and Months

Days and Months

            The days of the week and months of the year vary from reserve to reserve.  We have decided to use the same words for days and months as used by the University of Minnesota, MCTC, and the Ojibwe Language Society that puts out those calendars that are very popular.  For the exact terms of your reserve or area, please contact a fluent speaker of that area.

Days of the Week
Aaniin ezhi-giizhigak noongom? - What day is it today?

Sunday - Anama’e-giizhigad (Praying day)
Monday - Nitam-anokii-giizhigad (The first day of work)
Tuesday - Niizho-giizhigad (The second day)
Wednesday - Aabitoose (The middle of the week)                    
Thursday - Niiyo-giizhigad (The fourth day)                      
Friday - Naano-giizhigad (The fifth day)
Saturday - Giziibiigisaginige-giizhigad (Floor Scrubbing day)

Months of the Year

Aaniin ezhinikaazod noongom giizis? - What month is it now?

January - Gichi-manidoo-giizis (Great Spirit Moon)
February - Namebini-giizis (Suckerfish Moon)                                
March - Onaabani-giizis (Hard Crust on the Snow Moon)
April - Iskigamizige-giizis (Maple Sap Boiling Moon)                        
May - Zaagibagaa-giizis (Budding Moon)                        
June - Ode'imini-giizis (Strawberry Moon)
July - Aabita-niibino-giizis (Midsummer Moon)
August - Manoominike-giizis (Wild Ricing Moon)
September - Waatebagaa-giizis (Leaves Changing Colors Moon)
October - Binaakwi-giizis (Falling Leaves Moon)                                
November - Gashkadino-giizis (Freezing Moon)                      
December - Manidoo-giizisoons (Little Spirit Moon)

Week 35: Quiz and Test

Take the Basic Words Quiz and the Basic Words Test.

Week 35: Particles

Particles

bangii - little, a little bit, few
aapiji - very, quite
gegaa - nearly, almost
weweni - properly, carefully, correctly
apane - all the time
eshkam - gradually
gakina - all, every
nashke - look, behold
gego - don't
gegoo - something
wewiib - hurry
ambe - come on
ganabaj - maybe
anooj - various, all kinds
enigok - with effort, harder
bakaan - different
ajina - a little while
onzaam - too much, excessively
geget - really, sure
niibowa - many, much

The Anishinaabe Hangout crew did a show on particles:


Some games to play using the Particles List:
Flashcards, Study Stack, Study Table, Matching, Crossword, Word Scramble, Hungry Bug, Bug Match

Week 34: Clothing

Biizikiigan(an) - item of clothing

babagiwayaan(an) - shirt
giboodiyegwaazon(ag) - pants
gijipizon(an) - belt
makizin(an) - shoe
azhigan(an) - sock
babiinzikawaagan(an) - coat
majigoode(yan) - dress
minjikaawan(ag) - glove, mitten
wiiwakwaan(an) - hat
didibininjiibizon(an) - ring
oshkiinzhigokaanan - eye glasses
naabishebizon(an) - earring
aasodoodooshimebizon(an) - bra

biizikonaye - S/he is getting dressed.
giizikonaye - S/he is undressing.
aanzikonaye - S/he is changing clothes.

Week 33: Blueberry Time

We want you to read Paul Buffalo's story about picking blueberries.

Week 33: Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruit
miin(an) - blueberry
mishiimin(ag) - apple
wewaagijiizid(-) - banana
ode’imin(an) - strawberries
miskomin(ag) - Raspberry
zhoomin(ag) - grape
wezaawiminagizid(jig) - orange

Vegetables
mandaamin(ag) - corn
zhigaagawanzh(iig) - onion
anijiimin(an) - pea
gichi-ogin(iig) - tomato
opin(iig) - potato
okaadaak(oon) - carrot

Chi-mii-gwech to Jason Jones for posting videos of his gramma Nancy Jones on YouTube. Here she talks about food that was eaten in the bush:

Week 32: Baking and Eating

Baking and Eating

Gibozige - S/he is baking things.
Bakwezhiganikewinini(wag) - baker

ombisijigaans - baking powder
ombizigan - baking soda
doodooshaaboo-bimide(-) - butter
bakwezhigaans(ag) - cookie, cracker
zhiiwitaagan(-) - salt
bimide(-) - grease
ziinzibaakwad(-) - sugar
bakwezhigan(ag) - bread
bibine-bakwezhigan(ag) - flour
wiishkobi-bakwezhigan(ag) - cake, sweet roll, pastry

gidaanawe - S/he is eating it all up.
minopogwad - It tastes good.
maazhipogwad - It tastes bad.
minomaagwad - it smells good.
maazhimaagwad - It smells bad.

Week 31: Drinks

Drinks and Table Conversation

nibi(-) - water
aniibiish(-) - tea
waashkobaagamig(in) - pop
makademashkikiwaaboo(-) - coffee
doodooshaaboo(-) - milk
mishiiminaaboo(-) - apple juice

Awegonen menikweyan? - What are you drinking?
__________ niminikwen. - I am drinking __________.

Awegonen waa-minikweyan? - What do you want to drink?
__________ niwii-minikwen. - I want to drink __________.

Awegonen gaa-minikweyan? - What did you drink?
__________ ningii-minikwen. - I drank __________.