Presented in the Ojibwe language, these delightful short stories bring
to life the tales and traditions of the Ojibwe people while providing
essential tools for language-learning.
Ge-ni-aabadak Giniigaaniiminaang, which means "What We Shall Make Use
of in Our Future," is an Ojibwe-language collection of fictional short
stories told by elders from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. It is part of
a series of monolingual books produced with Aanjibimaadizing, a program
of the Mille Lacs Band that means "Changing Lives." Through the
Aanjibimaadizing Project, 15 first speakers teamed with linguists,
teachers, and Ojibwe language experts to create this new literature for
Ojibwe language learners. Conceived and written only in Ojibwe, the
stories reflect a rare authenticity as they transmit cultural values,
increase vocabulary, and reinforce identity; the stories are designed to
both entertain and educate. Ge-ni-aabadak Giniigaaniiminaang is
intended for younger readers of Ojibwe.