Page 23 - Beausoleil First Nation

WORDS TO KNOW
noogbisan: stop
Anishinaabemowin
(a-nish-nabay-moe-in):
the name of the
Anishinaabe language

Language

Our people are mostly Anishinaabeg, with some Pottawatomi
background in some of the families. Regardless of their
background, Anishinaabemowin is the language spoken on
Christian Island by the Elders, and until the latter half of the
20th century, by almost everyone else. Now, the young people
in our community speak English as their main language and none
are fluent in Anishinaabemowin. This is because we spend most
of our lives in English-speaking settings. We use the English
language in our homes and in our schools.

Although Anishinaabemowin is used fluently mainly by people
who are 50 years of age or older, there are many young people
who want to ensure the language survives and are working
hard to learn it. Most young people learn Anishinaabemowin in
classroom settings, much like other students in Ontario learn
French. There are classes and lessons in Anishinaabemowin in
the child care centre. Many parents are re-learning the language
as well. Teachers from our community who speak our language
teach classes for all ages. Also, the local radio station regularly
airs Anishinaabemowin programs.

Anishinaabemowin is not yet the language you hear everywhere
in the community, except perhaps from the older people, but
there is a strong commitment from the community to bring
back the language, and many projects are underway to assist in
doing this.

Beausoleil First Nation 21

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