An outsider’s view on the importance of Anishinaabemowin

Today’s post comes from retired Quetico Provincial Park biologist Brian Jackson. 

Anishinaabemowin is the traditional name for the language of the Anishinaabeg or Ojibway people who have lived for centuries on the land now known as Quetico Provincial Park.

In recent years, Quetico has taken steps to incorporate more Anishinaabemowin into educational material for the park.

Examples include the “Animals of Quetico in Anishinaabemowin” brochure available from entry stations, or the new Anishinaabemowin/Ojibway lake names display we are working on that will go into the Dawson Trail Pavilion.

But why should learning more about Anishinaabemowin be important to non-Indigenous people like myself who know very little of this beautiful language?

Continue reading An outsider’s view on the importance of Anishinaabemowin

Speaking Anishinaabemowin

Today’s post comes from DJ Fife, a park warden at Petroglyphs Provincial ParkDJ takes every opportunity available to promote the preservation of Anishinaabemowin during programs at the park and in everyday life. DJ has taught Anishnaabemowin for several semesters at Georgian College in Barrie and during several other cultural events.

As a person of mixed ancestry, pursuing the expression of my identity has been an unending journey.

Continue reading Speaking Anishinaabemowin

The pronunciation and writing systems of Anishinaabemowin

Today’s post comes from DJ Fife, a park warden at Petroglyphs Provincial ParkDJ takes every opportunity available to promote the preservation of Anishinaabemowin during programs at the park and in everyday life. DJ has taught Anishnaabemowin for several semesters at Georgian College in Barrie and during several other cultural events.

To read the language, it is necessary to be aware of the writing systems used for Anishinaabemowin.

Various folk-writings have and continue to be used but the most widely used system of writing is the “Fiero” double-vowel system that is intended to be consistent and phonetic.

Below is a rough breakdown of the system.

Continue reading The pronunciation and writing systems of Anishinaabemowin