Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

Jim and Pat Northrup, Founders of the Ojibwe Language Camp, getting ready to hand out the prize money envelops to the top finishers.

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

Sawyer, Minnesota resident Sarah Agaton Howes (Fond du Lac Ojibwe) teaching Duluth resident Yolanda Boyd (Mille Lacs Ojibwe) how to make moccasins.

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

Fluent Ojibwemowin Speaker Gordon "Gordy" Jourdain (Lac la Croix Ojibwe) taught the young ones how to play moccasin game.

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

Arne Vainio, M.D., (Mille Lacs Ojibwe) conducted Mad Science experiments with the campers on June 24 – 25.

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

Canoe Races were one of the highlights on June 25. Here, Tanysia Matuzak and Aaron Northrup are racing to the finish. There were 25 teams total and there was prize money given out to the top 5 teams that placed.

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

June 24's events included ricing team canoe races. The partner with the ricing pole had to stand while their partner sat and rowed with ricing knockers. There was a total of 15 teams. Here, Jim Northrup, III poles as his canoe partner rows.

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

Theresa Morrison, Bois Forte Ojibwe, works on her quillwork on birch bark.

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Ojibwe Language Camp Reconnects Families

By:

ICTMN Staff

July 16, 2011

More than 500 people gathered at the Kiwenz Campground in Sawyer, Minnesota, for the 3^rd Annual Nagaajiwanaang Ambe, Ojibweodaa Immersion Camp from June 23 – 26. Leaders of sessions during the four-day Ojibwe language camp also taught traditional arts and crafts and use of traditional tools.

Not exactly traditional, but highly popular with the children were the Mad Science demonstrations by Dr. Arne Vainio.

“This was a beautiful and cultural time for families to really reconnect with each other, learn Ojibwemowin and experience the Ojibwe culture,” according to one organizer, Ivy Vainio.

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