This week, we revisit how the box-office hit, Star Wars: A New Hope, returns to the big screen in one of Minnesota’s Indigenous languages.
Transcript:
Marie Rock: This is Minnesota Native News. I’m Marie Rock. This week we hear about how the box office hit Star Wars: A New Hope returns to the big screen in one of Minnesota’s indigenous languages. Deanna StandingCloud brings us the story.
Audio: (Star Wars Trailer Theme)
Deanna StandingCloud: The Star Wars films have become a symbolic part of everyday life, with the renowned characters, extensive media impact, abundant merchandise, and decades of a dedicated fan base from all walks of life. Now the Star Wars legacy we are all familiar with is getting a face lift from Anishinaabe language warriors. The same film since 1977, but in the Ojibwe language.
Carry Miller, an Associate Professor for the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, with family from St. Croix Ojibwe and Leech Lake Ojibwe Nations, served as the project manager for the audio production. She says this project connects the Ojibwe language to everyday life.
Carry Miller: So our kids watch Star Wars, and they play Star Wars, whether it’s with their action figures or their friends. And you know, when we bring language into that then they’ll bring language into that play. It’s both normalizing it, but it’s just making sure that it’s in the places and spaces where our children are.
Deanna StandingCloud: Efforts to revitalize the Ojibwe language in Minnesota continue, but it remains endangered. Accurate data about first language speakers are not current. Back in 2011 It was estimated that there were 678 first language speakers, predominantly over the age of 70. After the COVID 19 pandemic, the number of speakers has significantly declined. The Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network now projects only about 61st language Ojibwe speakers in the state of Minnesota. The Ojibwe dubbed film Star Wars: A New Hope aims to spark interest in new learners.
Audio: (Help Me Obi Wan Kenobi in Anishinaabemowin)
Dustin Morrow, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe citizen and voice actor for Obi Wan Kenobi, shares his passion as a linguistics graduate from the University of Minnesota.
Dustin Morrow: I’ve been learning the language, I would like to say it’s kind of like a lifelong endeavor. That’s where my heart is, that’s where my passion is, my language and culture is always where, where I felt more at home.
Deanna StandingCloud: Indigenous community members, including an intergenerational team, was award winning Ojibwe language impact leader in Canada. Patricia Ningwewance led the project. She is joined by her son, Maeengan Linklater, Director of Operations with the Dakota Ojibwe Tribal Council and her grandson, Aandeg Muldrew, who also holds his Masters in Linguistics and voices the character for Luke Skywalker. All played a prominent role in bringing the project to the big screen. Here is Carry Miller talking about Pat Ningwewance and her role in the film.
Carry Miller: You know, she has worked a lot of across a lot of different dialects herself. The Star Wars galaxy is full of people from many planets who have many dialects. We have different dialects.
Audio: (Ojibwe Language clip from Anangong Miigaading)
Deanna StandingCloud: Those working on this project are devoted to revitalizing the Ojibwe language for future generations. Dustin Morrow says this project is an innovative approach to restore the Ojibwe language and reignite a passion for learning.
Dustin Morrow: We rely on our elders and all these ones that came came before us, and all this intergenerational knowledge to carry us through and help us survive as Anishinaabe people in our language that just really feeds the fire for, like, rekindling what was kind of stolen from us. I mean, it’s definitely something that can, like, invigorate the curiosity of kids, and just not even kids, just like anybody.
Audio: (Trailer Clip: “…To bring the language back out into the world”
Deanna StandingCloud: For Minnesota Native News, I’m Deanna StandingCloud.
Marie Rock: Listen to Minnesota Native News online anytime at Minnesota native news dot org. You can also listen to us on demand on Apple podcasts, Spotify, PRX and Podchaser. Minnesota Native News is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota’s communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
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