The following Ojibwemowin is the speech I read when I was in Washington D.C. It was done at the Reflecting Pool near the Capital Building on Dec. 19, 2012. I thought it was so important I am sharing it now.
"Use it or lose it" I have heard about our language, so I am including my Ojibwemowin reaction to the apology made by the U.S. Government to Indians.
It is too bad the apology was buried in a defense appropriations bill. Dr. Rick Gresczyk gave me the Ojibwemowin words to say. I introduced myself in our language and translated what I said into English. I did not translate the reaction I had to the apology.
I have decided to include the English translation of the speech I made. Any mistakes made in Ojibwe or English are mine alone. I would like to thank Dr. Gresczyk for his able assistance. I couldn't have done this without him.
Nishwaasimidanaak ingodwaak midaaswi ashi niswi
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1. Ingiw bekaanizijig, ingiw meyagizijig,
Those who are different, those who are strange
2. Ingiw gichi-mookomaanag
Those long knives
3. Ingiw enaakonigejig omaa Washtanong
Those who are law makers here in Washington
4. Ingiw gaa-piindigegozijig
Those who have moved into
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5. omaa Anishinaabewakiing
Here in Indian Country
6. Owii-kaagiizo mawaan gakina
They intend to apologize to all
7. Anishinaaben miziwe
Indians everywhere
8. Omaa minising endaanijin
Who dwell on this island
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9. Gaa-pi-izhiwebizinid
What has happened to them
10 Gaa-kiiwa nimawaad
Who have been lied to
11. Gaa-nisaawaad
Who have been killed
12. Gaa-maji-doodawaad
Who have been treated badly
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13. Gaa-iniga'aawaad
Who have been injured
14. Miiinawaa owii-miigwechiwenimaawaan
And they want to thank them
15. Miinawaa odapiitenimaawaan anishiaaben
And respect them the Indian people
16. Ogikendaanaawaan ono
They know these things
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17. Miinawaa ikidowag ono
And say these things
18. Anishinaabeg gichi-mewinzha go
The Indians who, a very long time
19. Gaa-asinjig omaa o'o minising
Ago were put here, on this island
20 ogii-tibendaanaawaa o'o aki
They owned this land
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21. Ogii-manaajitoonaawaa o'o aki
They respected this land
22. Weweni ogii-kanawendaanaawaa o'o aki
They took care of this land carefully
23. Miinawaa ogii-kizhaadaanaawaa
And they defended this land
24. Apegish Gichi-ogimaa, Obama, makade giiniw,
I hope the President, Obama, Black Eagle,
25. dazhindang o'o
Talks about this:
26. O'o gaa-izhi-maji-doodawinjig
How mistreated
27. Anishinaabeg ji-ni-noojimomagak
The Indians were, in order
28. O'o Anishinaabewaki
That this Indian country heals
29. Onizhishin o'o maajitaang
It's good that there's a start
30. Ji-wiidanokiimandiyang
That we can work together
31. Miinawaa ji-wiidookodaadiyang
And help each other
32. Ji-onishishi tooyang
To make good
33. Gibimaadiziwinaanin
Our lives
34 miinawaa gidakiiminaan
And our lands
35. Anishaa sa go ganabaj
Maybe this is all in vain
36. Mii zhigwa ishkwaa-mawadishiweng
Now visiting is over
37. Azhe-giiweg, giinawaa
Go back home, you all
Mii iw.
The views expressed in this column belong to the writer alone. They are not meant to represent this newspaper, the Reservation, Fonjalackers or Caroline Laurent. Comments and bingo packs can be sent to FDL Follies, PO Box 16, Sawyer, MN 55780-0016, jimnorthrupfdl@gmail.com ; Facebook but not Twitter.
