Ojibway Language Books for Children

Language, language, language! Who would’ve of thought that Language, a key
ingredient to any culture, would be a huge missing link? Well in our Anishinabe culture language is a major factor!I’m one of the examples of the generation that was silenced from our elders and they would never share the language with the youth. It wasn’t their fault nor am I placing blame on anyone but if we don’t act now, we will never be able to get our language back at full strength. Which is why I am so excited to graduate and finally put all my time and effort into my books. I’ve had so many good responses and positive feedback about my books and all of the ideas I want to create with them. The books range from birth to age five and consist of basic Ojibway language, example; doopawin(table), pabiwin(chair), and range in all different categories that include house hold items,numbers,clothing, and so on. I would also like to do these books in different types of materials that range from soft felts, cotton, and material thats safe for babies to chew on. I already have a brand name for my books and the collection is going to be called "Baby WayNa Books." I’m naming my books “Baby WayNa” because I believe we are all wayNa boozhus(Creator)children and all children reading these books will grow up trying to learn the anishinabe language and have a better understanding of their own cultural identity. This logo means that all children are faced in the path towards the future, and the road to knowledge is eternal, the path is never ending. I've completed four rough drafted books and I still am currently in the process of producing more books. Hopefully if these books start the process of being published within a few years,they will raise awareness about the lack of education when it comes to First Nations languages. The children benefit from the books but also do the parents when they are reading to their children and it becomes a double healing process that better educates ourselves in our own culture and not to be ashamed of who we are as anishinaabe people. I try to speak the language to my son everyday even if it only consists of a few words here and there but the fact that he can understand some words in Ojibwa already at aged 2 from reading my books makes me feel proud and it truly amazes me on how well he picks up the Ojibwa words more than he does English. This is the only way we are going to heal as first nations people and even if its only a small step towards a brighter future, eventually that step will turn into a milestone and begin the process of recovery.