Ojibwemowin: Giga-iskigamizigemin

Noongom gigii-tazhindaamin: today we talked about:

"Ondaanimad" (ohn-daahn-ih-mud), the wind comes from a certain direction;

"Ganabaj wii-kimiwan", it might rain, maybe it will rain;

"Giga-iskigamizigemin (Gih-guh-is-kihg-uh-miz-ih-gay-min): We're going to boil down the sap!

"Jiikendaamoog" (ji-kayn-duh-moog): they're excited, happy

"Woohoo! Gijiikendaamin ji-izhaayang idi imaa iskigamiziganing!" We're really excited to head out to sugar camp!

Ojibwemowin: Onaabani-giizis

"Ani-ziigwan!" It's getting to be Spring.
"Ningizo wa-aw goon." The snow is melting.

There are many names for snow and ways to describe it:
"Zhakaagonaga": mushy snow or slush.
"Onaabanad". the snow has a crust on it.
That's why the month of March is named "Onaabani-giizis"

Ojibwemowin: Mizhakwad, Aadaanimad

It is cold outside today - "gissa namaagad agwajing", the sky is clear - "mizhakwad" (mih-zhuh-kwud), and the wind will change directions - "aandaanimad" (aahn-daahn-i-mud), come out of South and warm us up a little - "wiiniiabawaa".

Ojibwemowin: Giikinjigwemishin

It's Valentine's Day! Also known as "Noondendami-giizhigad" (flirting day). In addition to "Ojiiminish" (give me a kiss), why not "Giikinjigweminish" (give me a hug, hold me).

Hear the Ojibwemowin weather forecast and learn a useful phrase every week on KAXE's Morning Show (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:35)

Ojibwemowin: Noondendami-giizhigad (Ojiimishin!)

We pause in our pursuit of learning weather related phrases and words to get ready for Noondendami-giizhigad, literally "the flirting days", also known as Valentine's Day. On Noondendami-giizhigad you might say, and at some time you probably should say, to your sweetheart: Ojiimishin, "give me a kiss".

Ojibwemowin: Gissa namaagad agwajing

The last week of January and the first week of February are often the coldest days of winter. Our phrase for this week - "Gissa namaagad agwajing" - is just right for the season. Gissa namaagad agwajing: It's cold outside.

"Gichi-noo-din" is another phrase we've used in previous programs and applies this week too. Gichi-noo-din: "it's windy".

And, another phrase we used a lot this week, "bii-wan" (be-one): blowing snow.
It didn't snow a lot, but it sure blew hard.

So, Gissa namaagad agwajing... gichi-noo-din... and bii-wan.

The host of Ojibwemowin, Saagajiwe, teaches at Nigaane ("one who leads"), the language immersion program at the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School near Cass Lake.

Ojibwemowin is heard Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:35.

Ganabaj Wii-zoogipon

The Ojibwemowin weather phrases for us this weekend are:

"Ningwakwad"

it's cloudy

"Ganabaj wii-zoogipan"

it might snow

Leslie Harper (Saagajiwe) used this phrase in her Ojibwemowin weather forecast this week.
"Aaniin" is a very useful word. It's often used as a greeting around Leech Lake, but can also ask what, how, why or where depending on the context.

"Aaniin ezhiwebak agwajiing noongom?"

What's the weather today?

"Ningwakwad. Ganabaj wii-zoogipon"

It's cloudy. It might snow.

Our language lessons will continue Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:35 on 91.7 KAXE's Morning Show.

Ojibwemowin: Gichi-noo-din!

We've made some new friends on the morning show. Leslie Harper and Adrian Liberty are teachers at the Nigaane Bug-O-Nay Ge Shig Language Immersion School between Cass lake and Bena. They are eager to bring the language and culture of the Aniishinaabe to the airwaves. For those of us who don't speak Ojibwe, they will give us some insights into the language and teach us a few words and phrases. We'll post the language lessons on our web site. Look for audio highlights at the bottom of KAXE's web site.

Last Monday (12/10) and Thursday (12/13) on the morning show, Leslie (Saagajiwe) did our weather forecast in Ojibwe and gave us a brief lesson in Ojibwemowin. Thursday it was very windy, and the phrase for the day was "gichi-noo-din" - it's windy.

We are looking forward to more visits with Leslie and some of the students and elders in the Nigaane program. In addition, we are working with some of the faculty at Leech Lake Tribal College to do other features related to the language and culture of the Aniishinaabe.