Learning Ojibwe Language — There’s an App for That

ACTORS WHO APPEAR IN THE SOFTWARE: Seated: Bette Sam, Shirley Boyd, Baabiitaw Boyd. Standing: Amanda Nickaboine, William Premo, Brad Harrington, Niiyo Gonzalez, Shiime Fahrlander, Jada Grap, Byron Ninham, Joe Nayquonabe, Chato Gonzalez, Aatawe Fahrlander, and Wendy Merrill.

By VIVIAN LaMOORE, INAAJIMOWIN EDITOR

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has partnered with Rosetta Stone to create a language-learning platform for Ojibwe Language to empower the Mille Lacs Band community, to maintain the Mille Lacs Band identity, and to help Band members and others be successful in the learning process.

“The cornerstone of any culture or community is its language — it is how oral histories are passed down, knowledge is shared, and bonds are formed. As part of our commitment to strengthening and supporting Indigenous communities, the Biden-Harris administration is resolute in its efforts to ensuring Native languages are preserved and protected,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, according to a recent press release from the Department of Interior.

While the effort to encourage indigenous language programs on the federal level is a significant step forward, the Mille Lacs Band has been addressing the need to preserve and protect Ojibwemowin on the Mille Lacs Reservation for several years. With the help of technology advancements, the new Rosetta Stone Ojibwe Language Learning System that launched early this year is providing opportunities for anyone at any level to learn the Ojibwe language.

The Ojibwe language is spoken in a several dialects. The Mille Lacs sound includes speakers from different communities with variations of the Southwestern Ojibwe Dialect. The late Amik (Larry Smallwood) once said, “Namanj igo ge-inwegwen a’aw waa-nitaa-ojibwemod, booch igo da-nisidotaagod iniw manidoon.” His message translates to, "whatever dialect you learn or however you learn to speak Ojibwe, the creator will always understand you, no matter how you sound." There is no single dialect that is considered the most prestigious or most prominent. Typically, second language learners from many Ojibwe communities study multiple dialects to exercise their capability of understanding Ojibwe and build their fluency.

The Mille Lacs dialect of Ojibwe is considered an endangered language. In 2019, approximately 25 Elders were identified as fluent speakers at Mille Lacs. Today, that number has decreased to approximately 19. Four fluent speakers recently passed away, leaving very few Ojibwe speakers. Today Ojibwe is mainly spoken by Elders over the age of 70. Even when not considering the continuing pandemic, COVID-19 disproportionately affects Indigenous communities, as well as the elderly – the number of first language speakers is expected to decline significantly in the next five years.

The Rosetta Stone Ojibwe Language Learning System offers six levels of learning. While other tribal nations have also developed similar learning systems, the Mille Lacs Band is the only tribal nation to commit to developing that many levels.

This system is designed to allow for learning at your own pace and help you improve your pronunciation using exclusive speech recognition technology. An easy-to-use system combines videos, photos, and community members voices. Most importantly, Mille Lacs Band Elders have been involved from the beginning, from the selection of the vocabulary to the recording of the audio. It was initially released to Mille Lacs Band members on January 1, 2022 and released to the public March 1, 2022. As of August 28, 2022, four days shy of six months since the release, 3,159 licenses have been assigned with other licenses that have been purchased that have yet to be assigned by the purchasing organization. Of those assigned licenses, 16 percent have been licensed by Mille Lacs Band members, 78 percent have been issued to other tribal affiliates, and six percent are assigned to non-tribal members.

More Statistics:

• The 35-44 age group is the largest, but only slightly.

• The average age of users is 39.7. • The top age is 86 years old.

• Over 15,090 hours have been spent learning Ojibwe with this system.

• $215,915 in revenue has been brought in, which mostly covers administrative costs.

• Over 44 jobs have been created related to this project.

• These licenses have been purchased by people from 103 tribes throughout the United States and Canada.

• It is being used in 28 schools.

Testimonials

Band member Valerie Harrington-Wind received her free license soon after they became available to Band members. She said, “For years I have been trying to learn our Ojibwe language and it has been very difficult for me to learn and understand. I have tried many other ways to learn the language. I learned in high school. I took a couple college Anishinaabe classes. I joined storytelling and language at the Cultural grounds. I joined Ojibwe language-learning tables. I joined a weekly language learning through work. I thought this would be another way to learn. This program is a great opportunity not only for tribal members but for anyone wanting to learn. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn through this program.”

She added that she knew very little Ojibwe prior to starting the program. "I want to learn our Ojibwe language so I can understand speakers at ceremonies. I want to understand what is lost in translating from Ojibwe to English. I hear some Elders share that there are some things spoken in ceremony that is hard to translate to English. I am very hopeful to one day understand the Elders and pass on the learning to my children and grandchildren,” Valerie said.

As for the ease of the program, Valerie said in her opinion it was easy but it takes time, effort, and commitment. "I completed the first lesson with my granddaughter listening; it was amazing to hear her speak. I think she can learn it easier than me.”

She added that she would most definitely recommend the program to everyone.

Tyson Williams is a member of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in Ontario, Canada. He is the first person to finish the entire first level. He said, “I decided to purchase the Ojibwe Rosetta Stone language learning license because I needed another way to keep learning the language. I have been practicing for years and looking for language tools that would be effective for other learners. The Ojibwe Rosetta Stone language license was both easy and difficult. There was a good mix to keep you engaged but enough difficult lessons to make it challenging. I was able to get through the first level by doing a unit at a time. With language it’s easy to get in a rhythm, but it’s just as easy to fall out. You have to keep working at it or some of the difficult lessons don’t stick.

"In my First Nation we are losing our first language speakers. Most are over the age of 60. There are roughly 17 on reserve and a hand full of members that I’m aware of close to the community who speak fluently.

"As a learner from Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, I would recommend the program to others. It’s a very effective learning tool if you are able to recognize dialect differences. There’s so much in this program that is the same how I hear people speak here. But you can only learn if you keep on trying. And it’s our responsibility to try and learn the language.”