By Rayna Daniels, 1st year MDP student
Boozhoo, gakina awiyaa!
This summer, I worked with the Indigenous Studies Department at The University of Winnipeg. My main job was to record audio files for the Oral Immersion in Ojibwe 1 Guidebook, which is used by students in Intermediate Ojibwe classes. I recorded the whole manual in Ojibwe so that students can listen and learn the language more easily.
As an Anishinaabe woman learning my language, I was grateful for this opportunity. It helped me improve my Ojibwe reading, writing, and speaking skills. Learning a language is hard, but tools like audio recordings make it easier. I worked closely with Annie Boulanger, a long-time Ojibwe instructor, to make sure my pronunciation and timing were correct. I still need to learn more about my own dialect, but this was a great start.
I also began a new project that I will continue working on throughout the year: an Anishinaabe cookbook with Bloodvein First Nation. I’m excited to work with Elders, community members, and Chief Lisa Young. I will be interviewing Elders, hearing stories connected to recipes, and learning how to cook traditional Anishinaabe meals.
I really enjoyed my placement. It gave me a chance to grow and connect with my culture. Learning Ojibwe is something I will be working on for the rest of my life, and adventures such as these help me stay committed and inspired. This experience also gave me confidence to share Ojibwe with others. It felt good knowing my work could help future learners and reminded me how deeply language connects us to identity.
Chi-miigwech, mii i’iw!
No comments:
Post a Comment