Audio

Negwaakwaan

Grand Portage National Monument

Transcript

negwaakwaan, ne-gwaa-kwaan, negwaakwaan 

Description

How to say "tap" in Ojibwemowin.

As the temperatures more consistently get above freezing, maple sap begins to run. Historically, taps were made out of small trees that the pith can be easily hollowed out and removed, such as elderberry (bibigwewanashk) or sumac. Today, most folks use metal taps which can be reused year after year. Although still very functional, one disadvantage is that wood taps are porous and suck up a small amount of moisture and aren’t quite as durable.

Credit

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

Date Created

03/31/2026

Copyright and Usage Info