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Anishinaabemowin CD-ROM Press Release
Manistee Michigan, 3/10/04
New CD-ROM Aimed at Preserving and Sharing Anishinaabemowin
Native American language expert and teacher Kenny Neganigwane Pheasant
recently released an interactive CD-ROM aimed at preserving and sharing the
language of the Anishinaabe nation, Anishinaabemowin. The user-friendly
program, which offers beginning, intermediate, advanced and conversational
levels of instruction, is appropriate for all age levels.
Anishinaabemowin, the language of the Anishinaabe nation, is one of the
oldest and most historically important Native American languages in North
America, but is in danger of becoming extinct if it is not taught to a new
generation. In earlier times, the language was passed on orally from a
tribe’s elders to its younger members, but in more recent times, this
practice has fallen victim to outside influences.
Kenny Neganigwane Pheasant grew up on the Wikwemikong Reservation in South
Bay, Ontario, Canada speaking Anishinaabemowin. As an adult, Kenny’s love of
his native language has only intensified, and he has devoted his life to
teaching it to others from the elementary to the college level. A few years
ago, he applied for and received a grant from the Administration for Native
Americans (ANA) to fund equipment and programs that would allow him to share
his expertise with a greater number of people. Among other things, that
grant made it possible for him to produce this new, interactive Anishinaabe
language CD-ROM.
A host of other talented people were also involved in the project, among
them well-known Native American flutist and composer Charlie Wayne Watson,
whose hauntingly beautiful music underscores the visual elements of the
CD-ROM; artist Zoey Wood-Salomon, whose traditional woodland style painting
graces both the CD-ROM cover and elements of the program itself; Robert
Hughes, an animator with credits that include work with Nickelodeon and Fox
TV, who used special animation techniques to enhance the learning program;
and Jim Sundberg of the award-winning multimedia firm JS Interactive, who
was in charge of design, programming and photography.
The CD-ROM, titled simply “Anishinaabemowin,” is priced at $39 US / $50 CAN.
Combining colorful graphics, videos, music and games, all wrapped up in a
user-friendly navigation package, it offers a lively way for people of any
age to learn more about the language, history and culture of the Anishinaabe
nation. Language instruction is included for beginning, intermediate,
advanced and conversational levels.
For more information or to order copies of the “Anishinaabemowin” CD-ROM,
please call (231) 933-4406 or (231) 398-9378, or e-mail Pheasant9@aol.com .
You can also get more information about our language online at
www.Anishinaabemowin.org .
Anishinaabemowin Testimonials 2004
At my son’s Head Start class, they do Odawa and Ojibway language four days a
week for about 45 minutes each day. I was at a loss that he was not taking
an interest in learning his native language. It was one of the reasons I
filled out the card to get the CD-ROM. Since the day I received it and
loaded it in my computer, I started sitting down with him and playing the
CD-ROM. In less than a week, his teachers contacted me from Head Start and
talked about how excited Ryan was about the daily Odawa/Ojibway class. He
was taking an active interest in the class and I was thrilled. It was your
CD-ROM and how it grabbed his attention. Thank you and LRBOI for the insight
to do this project. It is money well spent!
Robert J. Memberto, LRBOI Member #0509
***********************************************************************Aanii,
The language CD has been an inspiration to our family that there is still
hope for our people to bring our language back and keep passing it to our
children. It has been something our family has enjoyed and we spend good
time together learning.
Megwetch Kenny and all whom has taken part in this exceptional gift.
Monica Cabot, LRBOI Member
***********************************************************************
My grandma and I have so much fun together learning the language on the
CD-ROM. It is so colorful and the animation is so cute. We enjoyed playing
the bingo and concentration game. We just laugh and laugh when we make
mistakes. It is cool to learn more about ourselves and our culture.
Zoey Wood-Salomon (my Nokomis)
Trisha Linklater, 10 yrs. old
Sault Ste. Marie
***********************************************************************
I find the CD-ROM is really user friendly. It is pleasing to the eye. The
animation is fantastic and the sound is very clear. I believe everyone of
all ages would have fun using this CD-ROM. I could spend hours learning and
have fun at the same time. I could use one of these for my class.
Ethel Peltier, Nursery School Teacher
Wikwemikong
***********************************************************************
This interactive program was a wonderful resource to accompany our third
grade study of local Native American history. The program gave us some
history and background of the Anishinaabe culture and brought up some good
dialog about the importance of the native language. Immediately the students
were drawn to the program through the native music, the colorful graphics,
and the friendly guide, Little Fox. The students and I found this program
easy to navigate through by using the medicine wheel graphic. While there
are four levels of language lessons and activities, the third graders worked
with the beginning level. The spelling, illustration, and accompanying voice
made pronunciation clear and learning fun. Within the beginning level,
students also enjoyed playing the concentration game. As a teacher, I
appreciated the videos in the program as resources for teaching this unit of
study. It appears that every detail was thought of in developing this
program. It is extremely user friendly and a good resource for those looking
for another way to teach a unit on Michigan’s Native Americans.
Kim Ranger
3rd Grade Teacher
Mill Creek Elementary
Williamsburg, Michigan
This unique CD combines the talents of a Native American linguist, artist,
and musician to celebrate and preserve the Anishinaabemowin language and
culture. Both adults and children will enjoy the clever interactive games
and informative videos. The program is well organized and very easy to use.
It establishes a benchmark for the instruction of Native American languages.
Janet Bauder Thornburg, Ph.D.
***********************************************************************
It’s really fun and has lots of information. Plus mini-movies that teach you
about the culture.
Laurel Thornburg
Age 9, third grade
***********************************************************************
"Anishinaabemowin" is a wonderfully fascinating and useful CD. It's not
often that any program can be instructive and entertaining AND aesthetically
satisfying in the same package. Using basic words and linguistic structures,
the program leads the viewer into an understanding of the world and
world-view of those who spoke the language as their native tongue. The video
segments are well done and serve as a valuable orientation to the language
and rich culture of the tribe. Frankly I was not aware of the tribe and had
certainly never heard the language, but I found myself drawn in and wanting
to know more. As interesting as it was to an outsider, I know it must be a
real treasure for the younger generation of tribal members who want to
understand and preserve their heritage.
David Taylor
Director, Educational Assessment & Technology
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
***********************************************************************
My fourth grade students truly enjoyed
using this Anishinaabemowin interactive CD. It came to us at the same
time we were studying Michigan native Americans. My class used it in
small groups on my laptop computer to research for their reports. They
were able to use many parts of the CD for their reports and presentations.
I would hear such things as "wow", "cool" or "that is awesome" from my
students as they navigated through the wide variety of offerings to view and
learn. The background music was very engaging and set the mood for the
curriculum. All in all it was a wonderful surprise and addition to our
study of the native peoples of Michigan.
Jane Rademacher
Fourth Grade Teacher / Gifted - Talented Coordinator
Hopkins Elementary School
Hopkins, Michigan
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