Welcome

Staff at Grand Portage Early Childhood Center, Gichi Onigamiing Izhi-gikinoo’amaagoziwag Wemaajiigijig (Grand Portage Where-They-Are-Taught The-Ones-Beginning-To-Grow) started this page as a classroom resource to ensure the language would be heard by the children as they grow.

Here is how to say “Gichi Onigamiing Izhi-gikinoo’amaagoziwag Wemaajiigijig.”
Headstart Phrase

Basics

Basics

Boozhoo! – Hello!
Miigwech! – Thanks!
Giga-waabamin! – I shall see you! (Goodbye)
Eya’ (females)/En’ (males) – Yes
Gaawiin – No
Giinitam – Your turn
Giminochige! – You’re doing good! (Good job!)
Gego! – Don’t!
Bekaa! – Wait!
Wewiib! – Hurry!

Commands

Command words are used to give directions. We can modify them to tell one person or a group of two or more people to do something. We can also say let’s do it together. For example, “Namadabin!” (you sit down), “Namadabig!” (yous sit down) and “Namadabidaa!” (let’s sit down).

Babies-Commands

English	One	Two or More	All Together (Let’s)
Read/Count	Agindaason	Agindaasog	Agindaasodaa
Pay attention to it	Babaamendan	Babaamendamok	Babaamendandaa
Be quiet	Bizaan-ayaan	Bizaan-ayaag	Bizaan-ayaadaa
Come here	Bi-izhaan	Bi-izhaag	Bi-izhaadaa
Listen	Bizindan	Bizindamok	Bizindandaa
Walk	Bimosen	Bimoseg	Bimosedaa
Offer asemaa	Biindaakoojigen	Biindaakoojigeg	Biindaakoojigedaa
Come in	Biindigen	Biindigeg	Biindigedaa
Quit it	Boonitoon	Boonitooyok	Boonitoodaa
Sit down	Namadabin	Namadabig	Namadabidaa

Weather

We can ask our classroom about the weather by saying:
Aaniin ezhiwebak agwajiing? What’s it doing outside?

Here are some weather terms:

Babies-Weather

1. It is cloudy – Ningwaanakwad
2. It is cold – Gisinaa (the weather is cold not I am cold)
3. It is cool – Daki-ayaa
4. It is foggy – Awan
5. It is a nice day – Mino-giizhigad
6. It is raining – Gimiwan
7. It is snowing – Zoogipon (the action not snow on the ground)
8. It is sunny – Waaseyaa
9. It is warm – Aabawaa (the weather is warm not I am warm)
10. It is windy – Noodin

Feelings

We can ask each other how we feel by saying:
Aaniin ezhi-ayaayan? How are you?

Babies-Feelings

English	Are you______?	Yes, I am ______.	No, I’m not ______.
Happy	Giminwendam ina?	Niminwendam	Gaawiin niminwendanziin
Angry/Mad	Ginishkaadiz ina?	Ninishkaadiz	Gaawiin ninishkaadizisii
Sad/Lonely	Gigashkendam ina?	Ningashkendam	Gaawiin ningashkendanziin
Good	Gimino-ayaa ina?	Nimino-ayaa	Gaawiin nimino-ayaasii
Hungry	Gibakade ina?	Nibakade	Gaawiin nibakadesii
Tired	Gidayekoz ina?	Nindayekoz	Gaawiin nindayekozisii
Hurt/In pain	Giwiisigine ina?	Niwiisagine	Gaawiin niwiisiginesii
Cold	Gigiikaj ina?	Ningiikaj	Gaawiin ningiikajisii
Hot	Gigizhiz ina?	Ningizhiz	Gaawiin ningizhizisii
Sick	Gidaakoz ina?	Nindaakoz	Gaawiin nindaakozisii