March 25th, 2015 Last Updated on: March 25th, 2015
Photo by Troye Fox
Just like any area in the United States, the languages of its original inhabitants is deeply embedded in places names such as cities, rivers and mountains. Take Anishinaabemowin for example: Lake Michigan (great sea), Chicago (land of the chigag, or skunk) and Wauwatosa (firefly). Professors at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee are now teaching the Native American language for full-credit and hope to make it a living language not just one of historical significance.
“One component of a living language is that it is not only spoken fluently, but also used creatively,” Assistant Professor of English Margaret Noodin says about ojibwe.net, the website she helped create with Anishinaabe Web architect Stacie Sheldon. There’s also a Facebook page where users chat about current events in English and Ojibwe. “It’s how kids communicate now. It’s little moments here and there that add up. If we don’t use the language creatively into the future, then all we’re doing is documenting a language that’s dying.”
In this video produced by UW-Milwaukee Media Team, UWM student Bryce Stevenson (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) talks about the importance of learning the Anishinaabe language.
To read more on the story, visit UWM News.
For more information on Ojibwe lessons, stories, songs and more, visit http://ojibwe.net/.
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They’ve had this as a language requirement choice at UW Madison for years.