Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth
Winner- 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award for English-Language NonfictionMembers of Eli Baxter’s generation are the last of the hunting and gathering societies living on Turtle Island. They are also among the last fluent speakers of the Anishinaabay language known as Anishinaabaymowin.Aki-wayn-zih is a story about the land and its spiritual relationship with the Anishinaabayg, from the beginning of their life on Miss-koh-tay-sih Minis (Turtle Island) to the present day. Baxter writes about Anishinaabay life before European contact, his childhood memories of trapping, hunting, and fishing with his family on traditional lands in Treaty 9 territory, and his personal experience surviving the residential school system. Examining how Anishinaabay Kih-kayn-daa-soh-win (knowledge) is an elemental concept embedded in the Anishinaabay language, Aki-wayn-zih explores history, science, math, education, philosophy, law, and spiritual teachings, outlining the cultural significance of language to Anishinaabay identity. Recounting traditional Ojibway legends in their original language, fables in which moral virtues double as survival techniques, and detailed guidelines for expertly trapping or ensnaring animals, Baxter reveals how the residential school system shaped him as an individual, transformed his family, and forever disrupted his reserve community and those like it.Through spiritual teachings, historical accounts, and autobiographical anecdotes, Aki-wayn-zih offers a new form of storytelling from the Anishinaabay point of view.
"1139031379"
Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth
Winner- 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award for English-Language NonfictionMembers of Eli Baxter’s generation are the last of the hunting and gathering societies living on Turtle Island. They are also among the last fluent speakers of the Anishinaabay language known as Anishinaabaymowin.Aki-wayn-zih is a story about the land and its spiritual relationship with the Anishinaabayg, from the beginning of their life on Miss-koh-tay-sih Minis (Turtle Island) to the present day. Baxter writes about Anishinaabay life before European contact, his childhood memories of trapping, hunting, and fishing with his family on traditional lands in Treaty 9 territory, and his personal experience surviving the residential school system. Examining how Anishinaabay Kih-kayn-daa-soh-win (knowledge) is an elemental concept embedded in the Anishinaabay language, Aki-wayn-zih explores history, science, math, education, philosophy, law, and spiritual teachings, outlining the cultural significance of language to Anishinaabay identity. Recounting traditional Ojibway legends in their original language, fables in which moral virtues double as survival techniques, and detailed guidelines for expertly trapping or ensnaring animals, Baxter reveals how the residential school system shaped him as an individual, transformed his family, and forever disrupted his reserve community and those like it.Through spiritual teachings, historical accounts, and autobiographical anecdotes, Aki-wayn-zih offers a new form of storytelling from the Anishinaabay point of view.
27.95 In Stock
Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth

Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth

Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth

Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth

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Overview

Winner- 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award for English-Language NonfictionMembers of Eli Baxter’s generation are the last of the hunting and gathering societies living on Turtle Island. They are also among the last fluent speakers of the Anishinaabay language known as Anishinaabaymowin.Aki-wayn-zih is a story about the land and its spiritual relationship with the Anishinaabayg, from the beginning of their life on Miss-koh-tay-sih Minis (Turtle Island) to the present day. Baxter writes about Anishinaabay life before European contact, his childhood memories of trapping, hunting, and fishing with his family on traditional lands in Treaty 9 territory, and his personal experience surviving the residential school system. Examining how Anishinaabay Kih-kayn-daa-soh-win (knowledge) is an elemental concept embedded in the Anishinaabay language, Aki-wayn-zih explores history, science, math, education, philosophy, law, and spiritual teachings, outlining the cultural significance of language to Anishinaabay identity. Recounting traditional Ojibway legends in their original language, fables in which moral virtues double as survival techniques, and detailed guidelines for expertly trapping or ensnaring animals, Baxter reveals how the residential school system shaped him as an individual, transformed his family, and forever disrupted his reserve community and those like it.Through spiritual teachings, historical accounts, and autobiographical anecdotes, Aki-wayn-zih offers a new form of storytelling from the Anishinaabay point of view.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780228008071
Publisher: McGill-Queens University Press
Publication date: 09/15/2021
Series: McGill-Queen's Indigenous and Northern Studies , #102
Pages: 176
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Eli Baxter is a fluent Ojibway speaker, a survivor of the residential school system, a knowledge keeper, and a certified Ontario teacher who is married and has two grown children.

Table of Contents

Figures xiii

Prologue 3

Part 1 Anishinaabay Kih-kayn-daa-soh-win (Anishinaabay Knowledge) 5

1 Introduction 7

2 O-way nih-ta-tih-bah-chi-moh-win-naan (Our story) 10

3 Pih-mah-tis-sih-win (The stages of life) 18

4 Nih-taa-wih-gih-win noo-pih-meeng (Born in the bush) 26

Part 2 Ish-poh too-kin-nih-goh-yung (Before contact) 33

5 An-dah-way-jih-gay-win pih-maa-tis-sih-win (Hunting and gathering society) 36

6 Kih-chi Zii-bii (Albany River) 42

7 Nin-gee-pah-maa-zha-gay-min (We walk along the shore) 46

8 Zhoo-kih-pohn (It begins to snow) 55

9 Paa-tih-goh-seeng (Spring camp) 71

10 Moonz-oog (Moose) 81

11 Shaa-gun-naa-shee-shug (People who don't tell the truth) 88

12 Geen-na-wind kih-bih-gee-way-min (We return home) 95

13 Nee-bin (Summer) 100

Part 3 Residential school 109

14 Mee-na-waa giga-waabamin (I'll see you again) 111

15 Queen Elizabeth mah-mung-gih-zit (Queen Elizabeth big feet) 119

16 O-daa-min-noh-taa (Let's play) 123

17 Elvis Kih-chi Zii-bii (Elvis of Albany River) 128

18 Nin-gee shoosh-kwa-tay-min (We skated) 132

19 Osh-kih-zaa-gee-win (Young love) 139

20 Nih-gee-way (I'm going home) 144

Epilogue 147

Acknowledgments 151

Index 153

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