Welcome to the Ojibwe People's Dictionary by the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

What is the Ojibwe People's Dictionary?
The Ojibwe People's Dictionary is a searchable, talking Ojibwe-English dictionary.

What does the Ojibwe People's Dictionary have?
The Ojibwe People's Dictionary has audio recordings from Ojibwe speakers, detailed Ojibwe language entries, beautiful cultural items, photographs, and excerpts from relevant historical documents.

The Ojibwe language is the heritage language of how many people?
The Ojibwe language is the heritage language of more than 200,000 people living in the United States and Canada.

Where is Ojibwe Country?
Ojibwe Country extends from Quebec, across Ontario and Manitoba to Saskatchewan in Canada, and from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota in the United States.

Is Ojibwe a single standardized language?
No, Ojibwe is a chain of linked local varieties.

How many dialects is Ojibwe grouped into?
Ojibwe is grouped into nearly a dozen dialects.

How do the dialects of Ojibwe differ from one another?
The dialects of Ojibwe differ from one another in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

Are the differences between non-adjacent dialects strong?
Yes, the differences between non-adjacent dialects is often strong enough to impede understanding between their speakers.

What are the three things that speakers of Ojibwe consider their language to be?
Speakers of Ojibwe consider their language to be precise, descriptive, and visual.

Is Ojibwe an endangered language?
Yes, Ojibwe is an endangered language.

What did the US government establish in 1879?
In 1879, the US government established off-reservation federal boarding schools.

What was the purpose of the off-reservation federal boarding schools?
The purpose of the off-reservation boarding schools was to re-educate Indian children and youth in the English language and American ways of life.

Who do scholars and linguists tell us about language diversity?
Scholars and linguists tell us that language diversity is as important to the world and our systems of knowledge as biological diversity.

What wisdom can the Ojibwe language explain?
The Ojibwe language can explain why we must respect the Earth and take responsibility for caring for the land, water, and its resources.

What is the purpose of the Ojibwe People's Dictionary?
The purpose of the Ojibwe People's Dictionary is to support language education and encourage new speakers among the present generation.