Bizhikiins indizhinikaaz. Makwa indoodem. Jaachaabaaning indoonjii. Ingii-tazhi-nitaawig imaa Jaachaabaaning imaa Gaa-Zagaskwaajimekaag. Ingikinoo’amaage imaa Niigaane, ingikinoo’amawaag ingiw abinoojiinyag. Ajina ingii-wiidookaage imaa Waawaashkeshii-Ziibii ishpi-gikinoo’amaadiiwigamigong. Mii eta apane gii-ojibwemotawiwaad niimaamaa miinawaa nimaamaanaan. Mii wenji-nitaa-ojibwemoyaan. Mii apane gaa-wiiji’agwaa mii eta go ojibwemoyaang mii go geyaabi. Chi-apiitendaagwad iw gidiniwewininaan. Giwanitoomin, mii wenji-gikinoo’amaageyaan. Miziwe go indizhaa gikinoo’amaageyaan Ojibwemowin.

My clan is Makwa (bear), and I am an elder in my community. I grew up in the Cha-cha-bah-ning community on the Leech Lake Reservation. I am an Ojibwe language teacher at the Niigaane immersion school, and have helped at a weekly language table at the Deer River High School.

My language stays alive because I have a relative I grew up with and we both teach the language and speak only Ojibwe with each other.

Language is important because we are losing it. We must teach the language to the little ones. So one of the things I do is work with the teacher of the K-6 students.