Young Adult Stories

Sounds of the Birchbark House

“Illustration copyright Louise Erdrich from The Birchbark House series.”

This page was created as a companion to the essay “Language Revitalization, Anishinaabemowin, and Erdrich’s The Birchbark House Series” which appears in the book Frontiers in American Children’s Literature. The aim of the essay is to encourage teachers to explore historical literature for young readers and to understand characters in the real context of their times. The following lesson was created to help teachers learn more about the language in Louise Erdrich’s four books in The Birchbark House series.

Ages: 4th grade and up

Goals:

  1. Students will learn about the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) language
  2. Students will hear and experience producing the sounds of the Anishinaabemowin

Objectives:

  1. Students will learn the sounds and location and current status of Anishinaabemowin.
  2. Students will hear and then produce the words found in the The Birchbark House series.

Materials Required: A copy of The Birchbark House (2024 edition). Note: These lessons can be used with any of the books.

Pre-Activities: Students should read and discuss the texts as assigned in class. Many Teacher’s Guides exist to guide research and discussion related to the plot, characters and history included in the books.

Language Related Activities

1. Listen to the following phrases

Birchbark House – 1

Gidiniwewidamomin maamwibimaadiziyang omaa akiing mii igo ezhi-gikenindizoyang gaye gikenimiyangidwa.
The sounds of our language as we live together on earth are the way we know ourselves and are known by others.

Aaniin i’iw biinji-ayi’iing ishkodeng?
What is that in the fire?

a. Talk about how Anishinaabemowin sounds. Which sounds are different than English? (zh, i’i, shk) Which sounds are not used? (r, n, f, v, l)
b. What do you like about your language? How many languages does your class know?
c. What words do you think have a beautiful sound? Why?

2. View a Language Map

Look at the map that shows where Anishinaabemowin is spoken today.

a. Find where each book takes place.
b. Look at the list of all the nations in Canada (https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/main/Search/SearchFN.aspx?lang=eng) and the list of all the nations in the United States (http://www.ncai.org/tribal-directory) and see if you can find one that is Anishinaabe, Ojibwe or Chippewa.
c. To learn more about endangered languages visit The Endangered Languages Project

3. Anishinaabe Words

Listen to and try to say the list of the words that are most commonly used in the stories about Omakayas. Note that each of the books were written in different years and the spelling rules vary for Anishinaabemowin so you may see slightly different spellings in your book. These are the spellings used by many Anishinaabe teachers today. These words are taken from the 2024 edition of The Birchbark House.

a. Which words do you remember from the books?
b. Which words would you use in your life today?

  • 1
    BBH-1 Aadizokaan Aadizokaan(ag) – a traditional teaching story
  • 2
    BBH-2 Aaniin Aaniin – greeting and word that prefaces a question
  • 3
    BBH-3 Aki Aki (ni) – the earth
  • 4
    BBH-4 Ambe Ambe – come along
  • 5
    BBH-5 Amik Amik(oog) – beaver(s)
  • 6
    BBH-6 Anishinaabe Anishinaabe(g) – an Ojibwe, Odawa or Potawatomi person or persons
  • 7
    BBH-7 Asemaa Asemaa(g) – sacred tobacco for offerings
  • 8
    BBH-8-Ashaageshinh Ashaageshinh(yag) – crayfish(es)
  • 9
    BBH-9 Biboon Biboon (vii) – winter
  • 10
    BBH-10 Bizaani-ayaa Bizaani-ayaa (vai) – to be quiet
  • 11
    BBH-11-Booni Booni’ (vta) – leave someone or something animate alone
  • 12
    BBH-12-Boonitoon Boonitoon (vti) – leave something alone
  • 13
    BBH-13-Boozhoo Boozhoo – greeting invoking the epic character Wenabozho, also known as Nanaboozhoo
  • 14
    BBH-14-Bwaan Bwaan(ag) – name for the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota and Nakota) people of the plains
  • 15
    BBH-15-Daga Daga – please
  • 16
    Dagwaagin (vii) – autumn
  • 17
    Dede – Daddy or father
  • 18
    BBH-18-Dikinaagan Dikinaagan(an) – cradleboard
  • 19
    BBH-19-Enh Enh or Eya – yes
  • 20
    BBH-20-Gaawiin Gaawiin – no
  • 21
    BBH-21-GaawiinOnjidaa Gaawiin onjidaa – sorry, literally it was not done on purpose
  • 22
    BBH-22-GayeNiin Gaye niin – also me, me too
  • 23
    BBH-23-Geget Geget – sure, I agree, certainly
  • 24
    BBH-24-Gego Gego – stop it, don’t (used with the pattern gego+verb+ke)
  • 25
    BBH-25-Gichi-mookomaan Gichi-mookomaan(ag) – American(s), literally “long-knives” from early descriptions of soldiers
  • 26
    BBH-26-Hay Hay’ – exclamation of sympathy or pity
  • 27
    BBH-27-Howah Howah – exclamation of approval or surprise
  • 28
    BBH-28-Inawemaagan Inawemaagan(ag) – relative(s), literally one(s) who share my sound or way of speaking, typically used with a possessive prefix as in “nindinawemaaganag” (my relatives), and sometimes additionally with an ending to indicate the past as in “nindinawemaaganidog” (my ancestors no longer with me)
  • 29
    BBH-29-Makak Makak(oon) – box(es)
  • 30
    BBH-30-Makizin Makizin(an) – shoe(s)
  • 31
    BBH-31-Makwa Makwa(ag) – bear(s)
  • 32
    BBH-32-Manidoo Manidoo(g) – non-human(s), spirit(s), elemental part(s) of the universe
  • 33
    BBH-33-Manidoominens Manidoominens(ag) – bead(s)
  • 34
    BBH-34-Mewinzha Mewinzha – a long time ago
  • 35
    BBH-35-Midewewin Midewewin (ni) – Anishinaabe Grand Medicine Society for healing and cultural preservation
  • 36
    BBH-36-Miigwech Miigwech – thanks
  • 37
    BBH-37-Miigwechiwi Miigwechiwi (vta) – to thank someone
  • 38
    BBH-38-Miigwechiwendan Miigwechiwendan (vti) – to be thankful for something
  • 39
    BBH-39-Minochige Minochige (vai) – to do good
  • 40
    BBH-40-Minopogwad Minopogwad (vii) – something in the “inanimate” class tastes good
  • 41
    BBH-41-Minopogozi Minopogozi (vai) – something in the “animate” class tastes good
  • 42
    BBH-42-Mishoomis Mishoomis(ag) – grandfather(s), always used with a possessive prefix as in “nimishoomis” (my grandfather), the term often begins an Ojibwe prayer as an ancient part of the universe is humbly addressed
  • 43
    BBH-43-Moniingwanekaaning-minis Moniingwanekaaning-minis (ni) – Island of the Flicker (Golden-breasted Woodpecker), located along the southwestern shore of Gichigami (Lake Superior) and one of the stopping places on the Anishinaabe migration trail.
  • 44
    BBH-44-Nanaboozhoo Nanaboozhoo – the epic character of “adizookanag” (traditional stories) also known as Wenabozho
  • 45
    BBH-45-Nashke Nashke – exclamation to call attention to something
  • 46
    BBH-46-Ndai N’dai(yag) or Niday(ag) – pet dog(s) or other beloved work animal(s)
  • 47
    BBH-47-Niibin Niibin (vii) – summer
  • 48
    BBH-48-Noonde-wiisini Noonde-wiisini (vai) – to be in need of nourishment
  • 49
    BBH-49-Odeimin Ode’imin(an) – strawberry(strawberries)
  • 50
    BBH-50-Ogimaakwe Ogimaakwe(wag) – lead woman, queen
  • 51
    BBH-51-Omakakiins Omakakiins – Little Frog, the main character in the book
  • 52
    BBH-52-Onaagan Onaagan(an) – bowl(s)
  • 53
    BBH-53-Ookomis Ookomis(ag) – grandmother(s), always used with a possessive prefix as in “nookomis” (my grandmother), often used in reference to the moon
  • 54
    BBH-54-Shiime Shiime(yag) – younger sibling(s), always used with a possessive prefix as in “nishiime” (my younger sibling)
  • 55
    BBH-55-Waabooz Waabooz(oog) – rabbit(s)
  • 56
    BBH-56-Waakaaigan Waakaa’igan(an) – house(s) with corners, first used for log cabins compared to traditional “wiigwaas” (birchbark) domes
  • 57
    BBH-57-Wenabozho Wenabozho – the epic character of “adizookanag” (traditional stories) also known as Nanaboozhoo
  • 58
    BBH-58-Wiindamaw Wiindamaw (vta) – to tell someone something, when the suffix “-ishin” is used it will mean “tell me”
  • 59
    BBH-59-Wiindigoo Wiindigoo(g) – evil non-human(s) often described as icy, greedy, cannibalistic, or all three
  • 60
    BBH-60-Wiisaakodewinini Wiisaakodewinini(wag) – mixed-ethnicity Anishinaabe person(s), literally “wiisaakode” (burnt wood)
  • 61
    BBH-61-Zhaaganaashimowin Zhaaganaashimowin (ni) – English language
  • 62
    BBH-62-Ziigwan Ziigwan (vii) – spring

4. Verbs

Verbs and action are important in the Anishinaabe language. Listen to and try to say some of the Anishinaabe verbs.

Birchbark House – 3

niibin summer
ziigwan spring
biboon winter
dagwagin fall
mino-ayaa to be feeling good
giiwe go home
zhawenim to bless someone, to love someone
waabam to see someone

a. Some of the words are a sentence all by themselves.
Niibin. It is summer.
Ziigwan. It is spring.

How would you say: “It is winter.”
How would you say: “It is fall.”

b. Some of the words need only a little more to be a sentence.

Ni + mino-ayaa = I am feeling good. Nimino-ayaa.
Gi + mino-ayaa = You are feeling good. Nimino-ayaa.

How would you say: “I am going home.””
How would you say: “You are going home.””

c. Some words need both prefixes in front and suffixes in back to be a sentence.

Gi + zhawenim + in = I love you. Gizhawenimin.
Ni + waabam + aa = I see him/her. Niwaabamaa. (Note: There is no “he” or “she”)

How would you say: “I see you.”
How would you say: “I love him/her.”

5. Different Ideas

It is important to think about the ways we all do things differently. Many languages have a word for an idea represented by the English word “God.” Here are a few of the different ways to think about this in Anishinaabemowin:

Gizhemanidoo – Creator or Energy Spirit

Notice the way “gizhe” appears in this word and other words including:

  • “gizhaate” (warm weather)
  • “gizhaatabii” (to work quickly)
  • “gizhaadizi” (to be kind or generous)
  • “gizhaazh” (to guard someone)

What do you see as common in these words? How would you draw these ideas? Or sing about them?

Gichimanidoo – Greatest Spirit

“Gichi” is often used in many ways to say something is big, important or special. (Look where “gichi” appears in this examples and circle the “gichi.”)

Ingii-gichiniim miidash gichi-bakadeyaan.
I did dance hard then I ate a lot.

Chidibenjiged – All Belonging One

The words related to this word are:

  • dibendaagwad – it belongs
  • dibenjige – to be in charge
  • dibendan – to own something
  • dibenim – to control someone
  • dibendaagozi – to be a member of a group

Make a small drawing representing each word, maybe a picture of someone you know doing these things. Can you connect your drawings to other people’s drawings? Can you mix them up and tell stories connecting your drawings to each other or connecting your drawings to other people’s drawings?

A simple prayer might begin by saying: Gimiigwechwigo Gizhemanidoo (We all thank you, Creator)

Do you or your family have a word for God? How many different words can the people in your classroom right now list?

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