Ojibwe language immersion camp to begin June 24

SAWYER - Everyone is invited to attend the free Second Annual Nagaajiwanaang (Fond du Lac) Ambe, Ojibwemodaa Immersion Language Camp set for Thursday, June 24, to Sunday, June 27, at the Kiwenz Campground (formerly known as Molstad's Campground) in Sawyer, Minn.

This four-day language immersion camp is for anyone who is interested in preserving the Ojibwe language. It is for any level of speaker and even non-Ojibwe speakers who want to learn more.

There will be daily traditional activities such as: birch bark basket making with Jim Northrup, hand drum making with Randy Gresczyk, making cedar ricing knockers and ricing poles with Charlie "Tuna" Nahgahnub, pottery with Carrie Estey, flute making with Frank Montano, making bannock on a stick with Nancy Jones, waaginogan building, and much more. Some of these events have a cap on how many people can participate so it will be on a first come, first served sign-in basis.

Ojibwe fluent speakers include Dan Jones, Gordy Jourdain, Rick Gresczyk, Nancy Jones, Dorothy Sam, Brenda Moose and Sonny Greensky who will be help lead some of these traditional activities and will hold conversations in Ojibwemowin and help teach the language to the attendees.

Each day there will be meals provided. Participants should bring their own non-disposable dinnerware (trying to help Mother Earth a little bit by not throwing things away).

Families sponsoring the meals are: Thursday's lunch - Vaino family, Thursday's dinner - Northrup family, Friday's breakfast - Immersion Camp, Friday's lunch - Ellis family, Friday's dinner - Brookston Community Center, Saturday's breakfast - Immersion Camp, Saturday's lunch - Howes family, Saturday's dinner - Sawyer Community Center, Sunday's breakfast - Immersion Camp and Sunday's lunch - Cloquet Community Center. If your family would like to co-sponsor one of these meals, contact Jim or Pat Northrup at 218-878-0245.

This camp is free and open to all people of all backgrounds and speaking levels.

For questions or to make a monetary donation, contact Northrups.