Mino Dagwaagin - Happy Autumn! 🍂
Whether you call it autumn, fall, or dagwaagin, there is no denying this time of year is one of the most beautiful. Before our plant relatives begin their winter rest, they give us one more brilliantly colorful show with their yellow, orange, and red leaves. The forest is full of fiery colors which people travel and gather just to witness. After this last hurrah, we all know it is time to start preparing for winter. Mornings are crisp and everything starts to slow down. Much like spring, this is a transitional time. As the trees change form, we must also shift gears and focus on our inner growth as we transition into a more restful and quieter season. One great way to grow is to learn Anishinaabemowin, the Anishinaabe language. Try using some Anishinaabemowin from this month’s calendar while going on your fall color tour! It is important to see these words and hear them too, so please watch our video to help with your pronunciation of our calendar words by scanning the QR code on the calendar or visiting our Facebook page by searching “Bay Mills Language and Culture” or using this direct link: baymillslanguageculture.
Since 2013, September 30th has been observed as Orange Shirt Day (Zaawmingaande Bagwayaan Giizhigat) in Indian Country. It has also become known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, where it became a federal holiday in 2021. The origin of Orange Shirt Day came from events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada in May 2013 as part of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion. The events were created to commemorate the experiences of residential school survivors and honor the healing journey of survivors and their families. A spokesperson for the Reunion group, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, told the story of her first day at residential school as a 6-year-old, when the new orange shirt she was wearing, gifted to her by her grandmother, was taken from her. This is just one of the many examples of disconnection the children in residential schools (called boarding schools in the U.S.) experienced. Orange Shirt Day was created and modeled after these events as a day to bring discussions on the reality and lasting effects of residential/boarding schools to the global forefront. September 30th was chosen because it is the time of year when Native children were taken from their homes and placed into residential/boarding schools. Orange Shirt Day is a day to work toward reconciliation for survivors, to remember the children who were lost, and to create awareness of the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of residential/boarding schools. On September 30th, don’t forget to wear orange, participate in local Orange Shirt Day events, and most importantly, learn the history of residential/boarding schools and listen to survivors’ stories.
Gichi-apiitendaagoziwag akina binoojiiyag - Every Child Matters
To learn more about Orange Shirt Day and residential/boarding schools, please visit orangeshirtday.org.
Miigwech agindaasoyeg! Thank you all for reading! 🤓
Grey Shea - BMIC Cultural Language Educator
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You can find an image of the calendar on our Facebook page by searching Bay Mills Language and Culture. 😊
/ baymillslanguageculture
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Bay Mills' Anishinaabemowin Calendar Series
September 2024 Anishinaabemowin Calendar
Recorded September 6th, 2024
This video features Bay Mills Indian Community's Cultural Language Educator, Grey Shea.
16 сен 2024
