Ojibwemowin

Boozhoo!
That means "Hello" in Anishinaabemowin / Ojibwemowin, the native language of the Anishinaabe / Ojibwe people. You might be more familiar with hearing "Chippewa" which is an anglicized version of Ojibwe. At least 10,000 people on Turtle Island (aka North America) speak Anishinaabemowin, mostly in southern Canada. An estimated 50 elderly speakers live in the northern United States. There are roughly 331,000 Ojibwe living on Turtle Island.

Anishinaabemowin is an Algonquian language. Although there are several dialects of Anishinaabemowin, the main ones are: Western Ojibwe, Eastern Ojibwe, Northern Ojibwe, Southern Ojibwe, Southwestern Ojibwe, Ottawa, Potawatomi, and Algonquin. Fluent speakers of the various dialects can often understand each other, though there are clear distinctions between the dialects.

Weekly Language Table
Join our weekly mid-day language table every Tuesday at Wonderstate Coffee in Bayfield. 11:00 AM - Noon.
Join our weekly evening language table every Wednesday from 5:30-7:00 PM!
Join our Moccasin Game Night every Thursday from 5:00-8:00 PM!

Phrase of the Week
View all previous Phrases of the Week in the document center at the bottom of this page.






Ojibwemowin in Red Cliff
We offer language activities and classes for children and adults in an effort to preserve the language within our community. Our comprehensive Ojibwemodaa Endaaso Giizhik language plan includes various methods of language preservation, including free books and audio for community members, language lessons online, and in-person language workshops.

The Red Cliff Tribal Council passed Resolution 4.20.21E declaring efforts to revitalize Ojibwemowin.

The Red Cliff Band also offers a 3-year Ojibwemowin Teaching & Training program to create fluent speakers and teachers.

Books/Resources
If you are interested in learning more about the Ojibwe language, the following are good sources of information:

• Miskwaabikaang Ojibwemodaa Endaaso Giizhik - Red Cliff Language Plan
• A Dictionary of the Ojibway Language, Friedrich Baraga, Frederic Baraga, John D. Nichols, Freidrich Baraga
• A Concise Dictionary of Minnesota Ojibwe, by Earl Nyholm, John D. Nichols
• A Northern Land: Life with the Ojibwe, by Howard D. Paap
• Living Our Language: Ojibwe Tales and Oral Histories (Native Voices), by Anton Treuer (Translator)
• Ojibway Heritage, by Basil Johnston (Author)

Online Resources

• Ojibwe Language Kits for Families - Ojibwemotaadidaa Omaa Gidakiiminaang
• Ojibwemowin Zagaswe'idiwin - Ojibwe Language Society

• Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network (MIIN) (miinojibwe.org)
• Ojibwe Language Resources - GLIFWC
• University of Toronto Free Learning Tool
• Red Cliff Sugar Bush Anishinaabemowin
• Rosetta Stone Ojibwe

Document Center

The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.

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Categories always sorted by seq (sub-categories sorted within each category)
Documents sorted by SEQ in Descending Order within category

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Anishinaabemowin Phrases of the Week (Click Here!)91 documents

• Ziigwan - It is spring
  document seq 92.00
• Zhegashkiigadaawangaag - Flat Sandy Area, Little Sand Bay
  document seq 91.00
• Mazinaabikiwebinigan - Computer
  document seq 90.00
• Biinjwebinigedaa! Let's Vote!
  document seq 89.00
• anishinaabe-wiishkobi-zhizhoo’igan - maple butter
  document seq 88.00
• How many trees did you tap?
  document seq 87.00
• Nindoombigamizige. I am sugaring off.
  document seq 86.00
• Bagonegiizhig - Hole in the Day
  document seq 85.00
• Niwii-shiiwaagamizige. I want to make maple syrup.
  document seq 84.00
• Thanking spirits before tapping trees, offering tobacco
  document seq 83.00
• mashkiki - medicine; strength of the earth
  document seq 82.00
• aadizookaan - a sacred story; traditional winter legend
  document seq 81.00
• asabikeshiinh-wanii’igan - a dreamcatcher; spider web
  document seq 80.00
• Ojibwemotaw. Speak Ojibwe to someone.
  document seq 79.00
• Wiidookaw. Help someone.
  document seq 78.00
• Aabita-biboon. It is New Year, It is midwinter.
  document seq 77.00
• Awegonen wiisiniyan? What are you eating?
  document seq 76.00
• Niibaa-anama’e-giizhigad. It is Christmas.
  document seq 75.00
• waawiye-bagaan - black walnut tree
  document seq 74.00
• You all will have your way lighted by the sun, the moon, and the stars.
  document seq 73.00
• Miigwech. Thank you.
  document seq 72.00
• Mizise - A turkey  Mizise-wiiyaas - Turkey meat
  document seq 71.00
• Mikwendan. Remember it.
  document seq 70.00
• Gikinoo’amaadiwag. They teach each other.
  document seq 69.00
• Apegish mino-dibishkaayan! I hope you have a good birthday!
  document seq 68.00
• Zezizekwaadan. Cook it (in grease).
  document seq 67.00
• Zhegashkiigadaawangaag Flat, sandy area (the traditional Ojibwe name for Little Sand Bay)
  document seq 66.00
• Gathering firewood and asking for help.
  document seq 65.00
• Dagwaagin. It is fall, autumn.
  document seq 64.00
• oshkinitaagewin - first successful animal kill ceremony
  document seq 63.00
• Giiyose. S/he hunts. S/he is hunting.
  document seq 62.00
• waawaashkeshi deer / white-tailed deer
  document seq 61.00
• Manoominike. S/he rices.
  document seq 60.00
• manoomin  wild rice
  document seq 59.00
• Naadin. Go get it.
  document seq 58.00
• Giishpin gikenjigeyan, gidaa-gikinoo’amaage. If you know things, you should teach.
  document seq 57.00
• Gidinawendimin. We are all related.
  document seq 56.00
• manidoo spirit
  document seq 55.00
• Gimiwan. It is raining. / rain.
  document seq 54.00
• nibi gaa-bimaaji'iwemegak the water that gives life
  document seq 53.00
• Biinjwebinigedaa! Let's Vote!
  document seq 52.00
• Niibin. It is summer.
  document seq 51.00
• Gizhawenimin. I love you.
  document seq 50.00
• Nindaniibiishaabooke. I am making tea.
  document seq 49.00
• Ode'imini Giizis June (Strawberry Moon)
  document seq 48.00
• zhiishiigimiiwanzh(iig) silver maple tree(s)
  document seq 47.00
• anishinaabe-wiishkobi-zhizhoo’igan - maple butter
  document seq 46.00
• bigiwizigan maple taffy
  document seq 45.00
• How many trees did you tap?
  document seq 44.00
• Gathering firewood and asking for help.
  document seq 43.00
• Aaniin ezhi-onjigaawaad? How are they running?
  document seq 42.00
• Niwii-Naadoobii. I want to gather sap.
  document seq 41.00
• Nindaashkiga'ise. I am splitting firewood.
  document seq 40.00
• Niwii-ozhiga'ige. I want to tap (trees).
  document seq 39.00
• ininaatig / aninaatig sugar maple tree; maple tree; 'man-tree' (literally)
  document seq 37.00
• Mino-de'e. His/her heart is in balance; S/he is kind; generous; compassionate.
  document seq 36.00
• Awibaa. Be tranquil.
  document seq 35.00
• Gisinaa. It is cold.
  document seq 34.00
• Ishkode - Fire Wendinigeng Ishkode - The origin of fire
  document seq 33.00
• Gichi-manidoo-giizis January
  document seq 32.00
• Aabita-biboon. It is New Year, It is midwinter.
  document seq 31.00
• Miinibaashkiminasiganibiito oyingwesijiganibakwezhigan - Blueberry Pie
  document seq 30.00
• Giga-waabamin. I shall see you (to one person).
  document seq 29.00
• Wiindaawasowin A naming ceremony
  document seq 28.00
• Weweni gibi-naazikoon gegoo ji-gagwejiminaan sa noongom. Gimiinin asemaa.
  document seq 27.00
• Mizise A turkey
  document seq 26.00
• Wabooz Rabbit
  document seq 25.00
• Ogichidaa, Ogichidaakwe Warrior, a veteran; a ceremonial headman or woman
  document seq 24.00
• Biinjwebinige. S/he votes. (Literally 's/he throws things in.)
  document seq 23.00
• Ayaabe Buck, male deer
  document seq 22.00
• Mino dibishkaan! Happy birthday!
  document seq 21.00
• oshkinitaagewin - first successful animal kill ceremony
  document seq 20.00
• waawaashkeshi deer / white-tailed deer
  document seq 19.00
• Dagwaagin. It is fall, autumn.
  document seq 18.00
• Mino-giizhigad. It is a good day.
  document seq 17.00
• Asemaake. S/he offers, works with tobacco.
  document seq 16.00
• Gizhewaadizi. S/he is kind, is generous.
  document seq 15.00
• Nibwaakaawin  Wisdom, intelligence
  document seq 14.00
• Gwayakwaadiziwin - Honesty
  document seq 13.00
• Debwewin  Truth
  document seq 12.00
• Zoongide'e.  S/he has a strong heart;  S/he is brave, courageous.
  document seq 11.00
• Dabasendizowin  Humility
  document seq 10.00
• Zaagi'idiwin Love
  document seq 9.00
• Manaaji'idiwin Respect
  document seq 8.00
• Awegonen wiisiniyan? What are you eating?
  document seq 7.00
• Aabita-niibin.  It is mid-summer;  It is the Fourth of July.
  document seq 6.00
• Niibin. It is summer.
  document seq 5.00
• Ode'imini Giizis June (Strawberry Moon)
  document seq 4.00
• No matter what dialect you speak, i or however you sound, the Creator  will always understand you when  you speak Ojibwemowin.
  document seq 3.00
• Boozhoo.  Hello/Greetings.  Aaniin. Hello/Hi.
  document seq 2.00
• Miigwech! - Thanks! Gimiigwechiwi'in.- 1 thank you.  (one person or being talking to one  other person or being)
  document seq 1.00