Anishinaabe Language & Culture Camp

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians invites you to the 15th Annual Anishinaabe Family Language/Culture Camp - July 25, 26, 27 2008

Click here to watch a slide show of the 2007 Language & Culture Camp (Flash video with audio).

Click here to read the testimonials from the 2007
Language Camp.

Check out a sample schedule of events from last year's very sucessful event.

Everywhere we go upon our homeland, we are now forced to speak in a language that is not our own. Everywhere we go, we read a language that is not our own. And hear a language that is not our own. I started Language Camp about 14 years ago, because I wanted to bring people together to enjoy Anishinaabemowin. To have an event where everyone could study Anishinaabemowin and to learn the language. People that attend this event come year after year, some come from as far away as California, Florida, Oklahoma and Ontario. Our Language Camp features presenters, entertainers, musicians, language teachers, spiritual teachers, dancers and singers. At this event our language – Anishinaabemowin - is first. You hear it, read it and you speak it. Many wonderful things have taken place at past Language Camps.

Click for another Language and Culture Camp video... (Windows media format)

Bindaakendan. Giishpin kegoo wiikwedweyin. Bignoonshin maage gdabiijibiimo.
kpheasant@lrboi.com - (231) 398-6892

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians invites you to the 15th Annual Anishinaabe Family Language/Culture Camp

Celebrating the unity of our language and culture. Bring your nation flag and a gift for the giveaway Meals are provided and there is no registration fee.

Aanii piish                                  Wenesh pii
Manistee Mi.                             July 25, 26, 27 2008

Some of the presentations are: Cultural teachings, language learning, pipe teachings, ceremonies, natural medicines, basket making, hide tanning, drum making. These presentations are for all ages, there is a children’s track for the whole weekend. This camp will take place at the corner of M22 and US 31 across from the Casino. There are showers on site and camping area.

Sponsored by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
of the Anishinaabe Nation

For more information please contact
Kenny Neganigwane Pheasant
kpheasant@lrboi.com
231-933-4406 or 231-590-1187
Or Terrie Raczkowski at 231-398-6891

Testimonials from participants of the 2007 Language Camp

• I feel like I am on Indian Cloud Nine which carries me through until the next language camp. Wonderful people, educational, spiritual and a mind expanding experience.
• I had a fabulous time. It was great to be around everyone speaking our native language and learning about our culture. Chi miigwech.
• Miigwech for providing my family with the opportunity to learn more about our language in a fun and good way. Thank your Ogema for funding this in an effort to preserve and reclaim our language.
• I’ve been to other Anishinabeg language camps; this was the best one I have ever attended.
• Great time. Looking forward to coming every year. Excellent family time we spent together. Thanks for everything.
• I had a really good enjoyable time. Friendly atmosphere, good music. Enjoyed the Anishinaabemowin being used in the presentations.
• Very well run camp. Enjoyed the how-to presentations. All of the workshops that I attended were exceptional.
• I only wish it was more than once a year.
• Look forward to it every year.
• I enjoyed the family community atmosphere. We look forward to next year. There was a good mix of classes, both language and culture. We enjoyed the hands-on workshops. The speakers this year were excellent.
• It was wonderful!! This was and awesome experience! Everyone so nice and friendly. Excellent classes. The food was great, the area and accommodations were beautiful and the whole experience was wonderful! I will be back!! Chi miigwech.
• I love language camp. I come every year I know this must be a lot of work for you all, but it would be nice if it were longer.
• I enjoyed every class I took. The presenters did a fantastic job. Keep up the good work. I’m thinking about next year already.
• My husband and I simply enjoy this language camp. Outstanding work, excellent food. There should be more language camp. Thanks for a great job.
• It was great and I learned a lot. I must commend the staff on the cleanliness of the facilities, plus the restrooms were always well stocked.
• Our beautiful language//each word has a deep meaning reflecting of the beauty, intelligence, and reverence for all things of the Anishinaabeg. Out language is intangible, untouchable, unseen and involves and opening of the heart with the realization that all things are interdependent. Aambe maajtaadaa wii-nishnaabemying. Our language contains all of the words we need to express the ideas and true feeling in our histories, our stories, our spirituality, our traditions and our values.
• Great week-end. I’m so pleased I came. Everything was very well organized.
• Excellent language camp. I plan on coming back next year again. I enjoyed it. The presenters were excellent.
• I am very pleased to  have the opportunity to attend anishinaabe language and culture camp this year. In the future if I’m able I’ll come back.
• I really enjoyed every minute of the camp. I really enjoyed visiting with all my friends.
• Extremely well done. Presenters knowledgeable. Great to be with my people.
• Everything went well and I enjoyed it immensely. Miigwech.
• I just love it here. Lots of people. Visit, meet new friends

Anishinaabe Language & Culture Camp
Sample schedule from 2007

Friday July 27	(Click here for a printable agenda)
	Presenter	Presentation Title	Tent #
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Opening		Ndinimikaagoom	1
9:15	Martina Osawamick	How flowers came to be	1
	Alan Corbiere	Our clans	2
	Cynthia Bell	Learning to sing	3
	Michael Cywink	Arts of Manitoulin	4
	Carla McFall	Games you can play at home	5*
10:45	Helen Roy	Seeing, doing & speaking	1
	James Shawana	Adwegankedaa- Let’s make a drum	2
	Verna Hardwick	Our culture	3
	Doris Boissoneau	Verb bingo	4
	Carrie Leaureaux	Bracelet making & games	5*
12:00		Lunch	1
1:15	Rosella Kinoshameg	Health & healing through plants & herbs	1
	Leon Valliere	Strategies for learning Anishinaabemowin	2
	Bea Shawanda	Baabaapme- we are going to laugh hard	3
	Pat Osawamick	Our future depends on new learners	4
	Sammie Dyal	Hands on activity (45 limit)	5*
2:45	Cynthia Bell	Creating a group song	1
	Dan Bissell	Identifying & harvesting wiingash	2
	Michael Cywink	Hands on painting	3
	Steve Antione	The importance of the drum & songs	4
	Barbara Peltier	Let’s make shakers	5*
4:00	Kenit Neganigwane	Anishinaabe bingo	1
	Jeremiah & Kalisha	Anishinaabe baseball/football
5:00		Dinner	1
7:00		Welcome address	1
		Talent show	1
9:00	Helen & David	Entertainment	1
Saturday July 28
	Presenter	Presentation title	Tent #
8:00		Breakfast
9:15	Doris Boissoneau	Seven grandfathers teachings	1
	Pat Osawamick	Learning the art of beadwork	2
	Verna Hardwick	Our hand drum grandmother	3
	Leon Valliere	Organizing & presenting parts of speech	4
	Sammie Dyal	Hands on activity (45 limit)	5*
10:45	Rosella Kinoshameg	Health & healing through plants & herbs	1
	Bea Shawanda	Baabaapme- we are going laugh hard	2
	Isadore Toulouse	Resources available & how to use them	3
	Steve Antoine	Making of the drum & sticks	4
	Carrie Leaureaux	Nbakanaage	5*
12:00		Lunch	1
1:15	Martina Osawamick	The importance of feasting	1
	Alan Corbiere	The great wampum belt of 1764	2
	Helen Roy	Hearing, understanding & knowing	3
	James Shawana	Adewegankedaa-Let’s make a drum	4
	Carla McFall	Games you can play at home	5*
2:45	Leon Valliere	Strategies for learning anishinaabemowin	1
	Pat Osawamick	Learning the art of beadwork	2
	Verna Hardwick	Our culture	3
	Michael Cywink	Hands on painting	4
	Carrie Leaureaux	Bracelet making & games	5*
4:00	Kenit Neganigwane	Anishinaabe bingo	1
	Jeremiah & Kalisha	Anshinaabe baseball/football
5:00		Dinner	1
7:00		Jiingtamok
9:00	Helen & David	Entertainment	1
Sunday July 29
	Presenter	Presentation title	Tent #
8:00		Breakfast
9:15	Bea Shawanda	Moving from girlhood to womanhood	1
	Martina Osawamick	How flowers came to be	2
	Alan Corbiere	Our clans	3
	James Shawana	Adwegankedaa-Let’s make a drum	4
	Sammie Dyal	Nbakanaage-singular “giin” command form	5*
10:45	Isadore Toulouse	Anishinaaabemtooshin etaa	1
	Rosella Kinoshameg	Walk in balance	2
	Doris Boissoneau	Verb bingo	3
	Cynthia Bell	Learning to sing	4
	Carla McFall	Games you can play at home	5*
12:00		Lunch	1
1:00		Giveaway
	Miigwech gaabizhaayik
	Bipskaabiik ngopeboongaak miinawa, gaabaabaabiigoom

Some presentations are: Cultural teachings, language learning, pipe teachings, natural medicines, drum making, hoop dancing, flute playing, basket making, hide tanning and games. These presentations and workshops are for all ages. We politely ask that English be the second language used at this camp. These presentations will be in both English and Anishinaabemowin. First come, first serve for the camping area. This great event will take place at the corner of M22 and US 31 across from the Casino. There are showers on site. Bring your Nation flag and we will display it to show the unity of our language and culture. We encourage every family to bring a gift for the giveaway.

Sponsored by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
of the Anishinaabe Nation

For more information please contact
Kenny Neganigwane Pheasant
kpheasant@lrboi.com
231-933-4406 or 231-590-1187
Or Terrie Raczkowski at 231-398-6891

Click here to watch a slide show of the 2007 Language & Culture Camp (Flash video with audio).