Video

Chicago Ojibwa Language Classes Featured by PBS Station

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Native Brief: CHICAGO - There are some 3,000 Ojibwa tribal members living in Chicago. Of that number only five can speak their language fluently. In an effort to recover from the loss of language that has lasted decades even a couple of generations, there are efforts being made to teach today's Ojibwa youth the language.

Last month, Chicago based PBS station, WTTW, featured Georgina Roy, Ojibwa, who is the director of the Kateri Center of Chicago.

Georgina Roy - Ojibwa

"There is no reason for our youth to only speak English now. Years ago we were forbidden to speak of languages, but now we can do so freely," Roy said in an interview with the Native News Network two months ago.

The short WTTW video is an inspiration to those who want to recapture American Indian languages - beyond the Ojibwa - that in some cases are on the verge of oblivion.

posted August 22, 2011 9:00 pm edt