Learn the Word of the Week

As part of the 5 Year Plan for the Revitalization of the Ojibwe Language on the Grand Portage Reservation, we will be featuring a new Ojibwe word every week. We encourage you to use this word in your workday and hopefully outside of work as well. Check back periodically for new words.

These recordings are provided by Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

 

 

Week of 3/4/2024: Maajitaadaa! (Let’s get started!)

 

• Maajitaadaa!

  
  

  How to say " Let’s get started!" in Ojibwemowin

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Date created:

  03/05/2024

  Audio Transcript

  mah-ji-tah-dah

 

Week of 3/11/2024: waaban (it is dawn)

 

• Waaban

  
  

  How to say "it is dawn" in Ojibwemowin. Adding g to the end of this word (waabang) modifies it to mean “when it dawn,” which is how we say tomorrow. Waabang – Tomorrow

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Date created:

  03/11/2024

  Audio Transcript

  wah-buhn

 

Week of 3/18/2024: gisinaa (it is cold weather)

 

• Gisinaa

  
  

  How to say "it is cold weather" in Ojibwemowin.

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Date created:

  03/18/2024

  Audio Transcript

  gi-si-naah

 

Week of 3/25/2024: biiwan (it is a blizzard)

 

• Biiwan

  
  

  How to say "it is a blizzard" in Ojibemowin.

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Date created:

  03/25/2024

  Audio Transcript

  BEE-wun

 

Week of 4/1/2024: wawiyazh-giizhigad (it is trick day – April Fool’s Day)

 

• Wawiyazh-giizhigad

  
  

  How to say "It is trick day (April Fool’s Day)" in Ojibwemowin.

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

  Date created:

  04/01/2024

  Audio Transcript

  wuh-we-yush gi-zhee-gud

 

Week of 4/8/2024: awan (it is foggy)

 

• Awan

  
  

  How to say "it is foggy" in Ojibwemowin.

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Date created:

  04/09/2024

  Audio Transcript

  uh-wun

 

Week of 4/15/2024: ziigwan (it is spring)

 

• Ziigwan

  
  

  How to say "it is spring" in Ojibwemowin.

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Date created:

  04/15/2024

  Audio Transcript

  zeeg-wun

 

Week of 4/22/2024: aamiwag (they are spawning)

 

• Aamiwag

  
  

  How to say "they are spawning" in Ojibwemowin.

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Date created:

  04/22/2024

  Audio Transcript

  ah-mayh-wuhg