Babaa-ayaang Chigami-ziibing Ojibwe Place Names Event
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Babaa-ayaang Chigami-ziibing ‘Going About the St. Louis River’ Ojibwe Place Names event on March 10. Over 50 people gathered to learn more about Chigami-ziibing, the St. Louis River, and some of the important Anishinaabe stories she holds.
A big miigwech (thank you) to Naawakwe William Howes III, the Gegaanzikiged (Ojibwemowin Project Manager) at Gegaanzongejig Ji-Aabadak Ojibwemowin (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Language & Culture Program). Naawakwe has been an incredible partner throughout the past few years, helping add Ojibwemowin (Ojibwe language) to the National Water Trail map, sharing Ojibwe perspectives in our recent video ‘Gichigami-ziibi: Homeland of the Anishinaabe’, and presenting at various SLRA events. He is whole-heartedly dedicated to revitalizing the Ojibwe language and we are grateful for his time and passion to share his experiences and expertise with the wider community.
As Naawakwe shared, Ojibwe people have lived on the St. Louis River since ‘the beginning of time’. This was, is, and always will be homeland to the Anishinaabe, and revitalizing the language and place names along the river (and beyond) are imperative to Anishinaabe culture, identity, and sovereignty. Ojibwe needs to be recognized and spoken in order for its survival, and we as an organization are committed to supporting its revitalization.
Language shapes our perspectives and philosophies, and the Ojibwe language is tied to this land and water. When we use this language, we can better connect and feel a sense of place.
Here are a few additional resources:
Onigamiinsing Dibaajimowinan-Duluth's Stories Website: Created by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and shares the deep history and continuing presence of Native people within the Duluth area.
Fond du Lac Gegaanzongejig Ji-Aabadak Ojibwemowin Website (FDL Language & Culture Program)
St. Louis River Estuary Ojibwe Place Names handout - produced by FDL Language & Culture Program
If you enjoyed the event and would like to support the St. Louis River Alliance please consider becoming a member. We are also accepting Water Trail Map sponsors, if you'd like to support the trail you can learn more and sign up here.
This event was made possible through generous financial support from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), in partnership with the City of Duluth.
