Wenesh ezhiwebag? (What's Happening) Archive

This is Motor City
Gaa kido Eminem. What Eminem said. Before there was America there were Anishinaabeg in Detroit. As a people always thinking about identity and place, we really enjoyed the message in the Chyrsler 200 video saying, "This is who we are. This is what we do.". Check out the video and our translations.

Culture Heals
On September 29th the University of Michigan sponsored a talk about cultural healing with Albino Garcia. Garcia, the Founder and Director of La Plazita Institute in Albuquerque discussed the ways young men and women assimilate into subcultures (like gangs) and addressed the use of traditional cultures to enable them to return and to awaken themselves. And of course, we added some Anishinaabemowin!

Noongwa e-Anishinaabemjig Gii Izhaad Saginaw
Noongwa e-Anishinaabemjig Went to Saginaw. The University of Michigan invites students from all backgrounds to learn Anishinaabe language and history. See more about our visit and listen to the students speaking Anishinaabemowin!

Winter Solstice
Noongwa e-Anishinaabemjig created and is sharing a community language lesson that will be a part of the Gda'shkitoomi Circles of Care's Winter Solstice Program at American Indian Health and Family Services of Southeastern Michigan, Inc.

Videos from the Minnesota Language and Culture Camp
Howard Kimewon and Margaret Noori attended the 2nd Annual Nagaajiwanaang Ojibwemowin Language Camp in Sawyer Minnesota last month and brought back many videos where cultural activities like Anishinaabe pottery, ricing tool making and drum making are narrated by Howard and other fluent speakers. Check out our YouTube channel to see them all!

Zingerman's Roadhouse features "aapchigwa minopogwad Chimookimanakiing miijim / really good American food"
and by American, they definitely sometimes mean Anishinaabeg. Noongwa e-Anishinaabemjig nkweshkodaadwaad iwedi nanagoodinong ji boochiwewaad miinwaa dibaajimowaad. Sometimes the Ann Arbor Anishinaabeg meet there to chat and tell stories. Nanagoodinong miijinaawaa gokosh wiiyaas! Sometimes they eat bacon!

Bootaaganan N'ga Dibaataanaanan
(Flour Grinding Mills I Will Talk About)
This year, to celebrate Winter Solstice, the Saginaw Chippewa Ziibiwing invited brothers Howard and Daniel Kimewon to share stories from their childhood on Manitoulin Island and demonstrate how dried corn is ground for cooking. To prepare for the celebration, Howard worked hard to build traditional flour mills, or "bootaganan." Learn more in our interactive gallery.

Nitaa Minikwe (Liking to Drink)
Last year a student struggled to overcome a problem and then wanted to think about that experience using Anishinaabemowin. In the end a lot was written, and the student has anonymously contributed the phrases he learned so that others can think about ways drinking can change a life and how healing can happen through language.

Anishinaabemowin Maajaamigad (The Anishinaabe Language Leaves)
A new book and audio CD by Howard Kimewon and Margaret Noori is now available. The book is a learning resource with three-line translations, a glossary, exercises and more. It tells the story of survivors of World War II returning to Manitoulin Island and honoring their fallen comrades with a memorial ice arena.

Zhaabwiitoonaa Anishinaabemowin (Program Aims to Preserve Ojibwe Language)
The Michigan Alumni Association recently ran an article about the University of Michigan Ojibwe Language program (in Ojibwe) with help from teachers Howard Kimewon and Margaret Noori.

Nitaa N'Minozwaananig Giigoonhyag
(We Cook Fish Well)
Recently Noongwa e-Anishinaabemjig helped Zingerman's Roadhouse of Ann Arbor travel to Walpole Island to learn how Anishinaabeg prepare walleye for their 2nd Annual Native American Dinner. Their adventure and the results have been translated into an interactive Anishinaabemowin experience. You can hear translations while looking at photos and review the tasty menu.

Wenesh ezhichigeyaang Michigan-Kinomaage-jig?
What are they doing the Michigan Teachers? Get updated on Anishinaabemowin happenings in Michigan and we hope to see you at Anishinaabemowin Teg from March 25-18.

Weweni wii Naakanigewag (They Will Make Careful Decisions)
On October 15, 2009, the University of Michigan Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest announced formation of a new advisory committee on culturally unidentifiable human remains. The group, which includes both native and nonnative scholars, will "bring their broad experience and scholarly perspectives to this sensitive and complex issue" Forrest said. Read More.

G'miigwechtoonaa, G'miigwechweaa'naa
(We give thanks for things, We give thanks to others)
We have found that one of the most common reasons to learn the language is a desire to give thanks using the language that has echoed in this place for centuries. Read a new prayer sent to us by Andy Chosa, translated by Howard Kimewon and transcribed by Margaret Noori.

Stewart Bennett Miinwaa Kyle Abitong Gii Ba Yaawag.
Stewart Bennett and Kyle Abitong were here. Fluent speaker, Stewart Bennett and his nephew Kyle Abitong came to visit the University of Michigan's Ojibwe Language Program on October 2nd to share a different dialect of Anishinaabemowin with students. Bkaan bangii nwewin gii biidoon.