Background Information
What are some regions that the Anishinaabe inhabit?
- Northern ON
- Lake ON + Erie
- Northeast Coast (Canada+U.S)
- Southern Plains of Saskatchewan
- Lake Superior
etc.
Why is language important?
- Relates to culture + identity
What historical Act of 1876 contributed to the loss of Anishinaabe culture?
- Indian Act, 1876
What environmental crisis is affecting Anishinaabe culture?
- Climate change
What is the name of the "guiding principles" that they follow/live by?
- Seven Grandfather Teachings
What is the traditional language of the Anishinaabe people?
- Anishinaabemowin
What was the institution that colonizers established to attempt to eradicate Anishinaabe culture?
- Residential Schools
What is a negative impact of the increased water temperatures?
- Waterborne diseases
- Traditional fishing practices impacted; aquatic ecosystem disruptions (reproduction of fish altered)
- Water levels+quality
What symbol represents the Grandfather Teaching Respect?
- Buffalo
Who (what cultural entity) is believed to have created the traditional language?
- Nanaboozhoo
What were some things that the government declared illegal in order to eliminate Anishinaabe culture?
- Ceremonies+Dances (eg. Powwow, Sun Dance)
- Cultural Gatherings/Festivities
What was a mentioned proposed solution to the issue?
- Funding for Indigenous-led research+approach to climate crisis
- Incorporate Indigenous+Western knowledge/sciences to better understand the crisis and find ways to resolve it
What can the "Right Way" of living be interpreted as?
- Balance
- Harmony; peace
- Respect + vale all creatures+Earth
- Seven Grandfather Teachings
What are some revitalization efforts for this endangered language and a challenge in accomplishing this?
- Immersion programs; classes; technological resources; linguistic programs
- Insufficient material/resources for teaching language
What did the government (during the relevant historical time period) retain control over in regards to Indigenous peoples?
- Land, cultural practices, communities
How does the cyclical changes/imbalanced ecosystems affect the Anishinaabe people?
- Difficult to hypothesize when/where to find traditional foods + medicines (plants)
What is one translation of the word "Anishinaabe"?
- “Beings Made Out of Nothing”
- “Spontaneous Beings”
- “Second Man”
- “The Men or People Who Live upon the Earth in the Right Way”
Unlike other languages, the traditional language doesn't categorize words based on masculine or feminine, rather they utilize what two classifications?
- Animate/Inanimate
In 1951, what revision did the government make in order to somewhat decrease the discrimination towards Indigenous people?
- Revoke ban on cultural practices (in revision to Indian Act)
This did not effectively diminish the discrimination.
What is the contrasting belief of the Anishinaabe and colonizers in regards to the environment?
- Colonizers establish dominance; take only for benefits
- Anishinaabe value reciprocity+respect (give back, express gratitude)