I was listening to the evening news on Friday, May 19 when the news anchor said that the Senate had proposed to make the English language the official language of this free country we call the United States of America. As a matter of fact, I just found out that the Senate passed the bill. I would like all the Indigenous nations of this continent to speak out against this action and be heard. Our languages have been here a lot longer than any language in our history. Most of the Indigenous people have lost their languages already because of assimilation into main stream society. I am wondering why the United States government has to do this. I have fought this battle once already at the county level. The Grand Traverse County tried to make the English language the official language of the county. I put a team together and we opposed it and won. We made them amend the resolution and now the resolution reads "the English language is the working language of the Grand Traverse commissioners in their acts and records".
I do not know how to find out any more information about this act; I hope someone can help me. I am offended by it because of the love I have for my language. I know that most of my Anishinaabe nation cannot speak their own language anymore and maybe they are not as concerned as I am. My prayer and hope is my nation will unite and be one on this issue. I know some may think that this is not an issue to get concerned about but our language is what sets us apart from main stream society and that is all right. Our language is where our culture is. Our language is the strength of our culture.
I know some may say that the government just wants to save money, that they do not want to print other languages publicly and possibly avoid funding to save and preserve Indigenous languages. I know some may say that this is because of the immigration issue that the government is facing at the moment. Some may say to keep quiet about that and it will go away. It may look like an immigration issue right now, but if you look at the whole picture, all of our languages are at stake on this issue.
Our grandfathers and grandmothers would be very concerned about this and would do something about it. I know that they would gather and discuss this issue in a good way. They would have ceremonies and ask our creator Gizhemanidoo for guidance. I am just a fluent language speaker who teaches our language and not a politician by no means. I am very concerned when someone that has a lot of political power wants to do this. I may be just one voice right now, but I think it is time that we unite together as Indigenous nations and put this issue away. We have every right to speak, write, read and publish our language and no one can write a law stating that we cannot do this.
Gbaatiintoonaanin Anishinaabe mandidookewinan miinawa Gizhemanidoo giimiigwanaa Anishinaabemowin wiinakaaziying manididookeying miinawa wiignoondiying. Maaba dash zhaaganaash gdakwejimakgwanaa kina kegoo debenidmang miinawa gaamiingooying. Maamawe dash naaniibwedaa nangwaa giinwe maanpii enjibaaying, kaawiin maanda gaabignaasiinaa wiizhiwebiziiying giiyaabe. Mii maanpii dibendaagwaziiying miinawa mii maanpii dibendaagwak Anishinaabemowin.
Ahaaw, miigwech
Pheasant is with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
