Film Review

Keeping Anishinaabe as a First Language

Monica Whitepigeon in Entertainment. Discussion »

What does a native sound like? So many times we, as a culture, have asked ourselves this question. Do we follow society's stereotypes? Do we follow what we've seen in movies? Are Indians really the slow-talking, broken-English, all-knowing sages that we've been led to believe?

"First Speakers: Restoring the Ojibwe Language" is an Emmy-winning documentary that explores the current strides individuals and communities are making to rejuvenate Ojibwe Anishinaabe speakers. Narrated by the acclaimed author Louise Erdrich, the film focuses on three different ways the Ojibwe have strived to reconnect and maintain their culture through speaking the language.

Author Louise Erdrich shares what learning the Ojibwe language can teach us.

The reoccurring theme throughout the film is that Ojibwe Anishinaabe is "not a language, it's a way of life." Individuals, like Anton Treur, make daily strides to incorporate their heritage into their lifestyles. Anton Treur is an Ojibwe native of Minnesota, a Princeton graduate, an author, and a professor who learned Anishinaabe later in life and now speaks fluently. He travels throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin to interview fluent elders, or first speakers, to transcribe their stories and lessons into fully Ojibwe written books.

In Minnesota and Wisconsin, other strives in preserving the culture include immersion schools like Niiganne and Waadookodaading. Both schools center around teaching children Ojibwe while learning the basics such as mathematics, science, reading, and writing. The schools teach kindergarten through fifth grade and have fluent Ojibwe elders to help teachers translate and create curriculums to best teach the children.

And finally, the small community of Ponemah, Minnesota consists entirely of Ojibwe natives with strong language speakers. It is a very proud community and completely owned by the tribe. Many of the citizens are elderly and stay true to cultural traditions, passing on the knowledge to the next generations.

It seems very appropriate for the film to end with such high praise of the elders. There is still much to be learned from them as long as the younger generation is willing to listen.

Here is the link to the "First Speakers: Restoring the Ojibwe Language" viewing and download page.

posted January 21, 2012 7:55 am est