Page 25 - Alderville First Nation
P. 25
Language Warrior:
Acknowledging Melody Crowe
a Champion
Melody currently operates Aandeg
Productions, a business that offers material
for people who want to develop their
Anishinaabemowin language skills or learn
more about Anishinaabe culture. Aandeg
Productions created an Ojibway Language
Learning kit for Alderville members only. In
2012, about 100 of our community members
participated in a project where they came
together to speak Anishinaabemowin. From
this project, a promotional short video was
created to introduce the Ojibway Language
Learning DVD, which is part of a learning kit.
Melody has too many accomplishments and
t has been difficult to keep the language awards to list. Among her greatest honours
strong, but there are some people in our are twice receiving an Eagle feather. She
community who are working to become received her first feather in 1991 from Nora
Ifluent speakers of Anishinaabemowin. One (Bothwell) Sawyer who was Chief at the
such member is Melody Crowe. time. The second feather was presented to
her in 2011 from Jacqueline Crowe Gorveatt.
Melody has spent more than 25 years teaching
Feathers are considered gifts from the Creator,
the Ojibway language and culture to children,
and Eagle feathers are the most special of all.
youth, adults, and Elders. Aside from running
Other awards Melody has received include
regular community language classes for
the Honouring our People Award from the
Alderville members and their families, Melody
Ogemawahj Tribal Council, and a Lifetime
is often called on to assist schools and other
Achievement Award for her work in the
organizations learn more about the history,
Preservation of Language and Culture from
traditions, and current issues of the Alderville
the Union of Ontario Indians (now known as
First Nation and the Anishinabek Nation.
Anishinabek Nation).
Alderville First Nation 23
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