Anishinaabemowin Language Activities
Learn Words
Animals in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn animal words in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
Biindigen!
Learn vocabulary: Learn hello, welcom, and animal words in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
Nature Words in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn nature words in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
‘My’ Family Words in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn ‘my’ family words in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
‘Your’ Family Words in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn ‘your’ family words in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
‘His/her’ Family Words in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn ‘his/her’ family words in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
Clothing Words in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn clothing words in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
Friendship Words in Ojibway
Learn a phrase: Learn these friendship words and phrases in Anishnaabemowin. You can practice and share them with a special friend.
Kitchen Tour
Learn vocabulary: Learn kitchen words in Anishnaabemowin with this fun vocabulary lesson.
To Dance in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn the verb ‘to dance’ in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
To Sing in Ojibway
Learn vocabulary: Learn the verb ‘to sing’ in Anishnaabemowin with this vocabulary lesson.
Count to 3 in Ojibway
Learning Strategy 1: Start small, and then add numbers as you grow more comfortable.
Count to 5 in Ojibway
Learning Strategy 2: Watch Count to 3 and Count to 5 and say the numbers out loud with the kids.
Count to 10 in Ojibway
Learning Strategy 3: Sing the Count to 10 song when you brush your own teeth, or with your kids.
Re-watch Jennifer’s digital story to practise counting in Cree, Mohawk and Algonquin as well!
Loving Words and Phrases in Ojibway
Learn phrases: Practice these loving words and phrases in Anishnaabemowin. You can incorporate into your daily life with friends and family.
Learn Phrases
“What is this called?”
Advanced conversation: Here is an important phrase to have at the ready: ‘What is this called?’ When you are working on conversing, this phrase goes a long way to help you stay in the language! Join language nest members on their kitchen tour.
“Do you take care of yourself?”
Advanced conversation:
Giganawenimin Song
Creative Activity:
Affirmations in Ojibway
Learn phrases: Practice these affirmations in Anishnaabemowin. Say one to yourself or someone you love every day.
Introducing Yourself in Ojibway
Learn phrases: Learn these conversational introduction phrases in Anishnaabemowin. You can practice these into your daily life with friends and family.
“What is your name?” in Ojibway
Phrases from Armand’s Story
Learn a phrase: Learn about the phrase spoken by the ancestor in Armand’s story. Practice the words and then your fluency in saying the entire phrase.
Phrases from Osinikwe’s Story
Practice phrases: In this activity, Lynda practices phrases from Osinikwe’s digital story. We encourage you to explore all the digital stories and practice phrases from them as a way to learn the language.
Duck Duck Goose in Ojibway
Creative Activity: Grab a group of friends and play Duck, Duck, Goose in Anishnaabemowin!
“Critical consciousness/decolonization”
Learn a Phrase: Learn how to say “critical consciousness/decolonization” in Anishnaabemowin.
Songs and Creative Activities
Niimidaa! (Gangnam Style)
Creative Activity: Memorizing verb tenses can be so boring! Why not make it fun by putting it to music? We learn how to conjugate the verb To Dance with some Gangnam style moves from the language nest kids.
Binojii Shark
Creative Activity: A great language learning strategy is to insert single words into your favourite songs. Baby Shark is a favourite with 5 and unders. And it is a great way to learn family words as they go through baby shark, mommy shark and so on.
I Spy…
Creative Activity: Add nature words in Indigenous languages when you play I Spy!
Another variation: Make the colours in your Indigenous language instead!
Nimiigwetch Song (Grateful Song)
Creative Activity: Learn an Anishnaabe song by language nest members about gratitude.
Strong Woman Song
Creative Activity: Learn the Strong Woman song with members of the Kingston Indigenous language nest.
Seven Directions Song
Creative Activity: Language Nest members share the Seven Directions song. Notice how the singers move to face each direction. Practice singing with the video, and be sure to move to honour each direction.
gizaagi’in (skinamarinky do)
Kids Dressup Activity
Creative Activity: Play dress-up with your kids (and your grown-up friends too!) to practice different clothing vocabulary. Put on your favourite song and do a fashion show!
Miigwetch Montage
Learn a word: There are 12 Indigenous language groups in Canada, made up of more than 65 distinct languages and dialects, including many sign languages. In this montage of language nest members, we learn how to say thank-you in many Indigenous languages. Which words are from the traditional territory you currently live on? Which words are connected to your family? Which ones do you want to learn?