Oji-Cree language facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Severn Ojibwa
Anishininiimowin, ᐊᓂᔑᓂᓂᒧᐏᐣ
Native to	Canada
Region	Ontario, Manitoba
Native speakers	13,630  (2016 census)
Language family	Algic Algonquian Ojibwa-Potawatomi Ojibwe Severn-Algonquin Severn Ojibwa
Oji-Cree is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

The Severn Ojibwa or Oji-Cree language (ᐊᓂᐦᔑᓂᓃᒧᐏᐣ, Anishininiimowin) is a special way of speaking the Ojibwe language. It is used by the Oji-Cree people in northern Ontario and around Island Lake in Manitoba, Canada. This language belongs to the Algonquian language family.

People often call this language Oji-Cree in English. Experts who study languages usually call it Severn Ojibwa. Sometimes, speakers of Severn Ojibwa are also called Northern Ojibwa.

In their own language, Severn Ojibwa speakers use two main names for themselves. One is Anishinini, which means 'ordinary person'. The other is Anishinaabe, meaning 'ordinary man'. This name is used by many Ojibwa speakers.

The general word for the language itself in Severn Ojibwa is Anishininiimowin. This word comes from Anishinini (ordinary person) and means 'the language of the ordinary person'.

In the 2001 Canadian census, Anishininiimowin was one of only six Indigenous languages in Canada that grew in number of speakers.

How Severn Ojibwa Connects to Other Ojibwa Languages

Severn Ojibwa is often seen as a separate language. However, it is actually a dialect of the larger Ojibwe language family. A dialect is a different form of a language. Severn Ojibwa has its own unique features. It also has some words and grammar borrowed from the Cree language.

Experts have suggested that Ojibwe dialects can be grouped into three main types. Severn Ojibwa belongs to the northern group, along with Algonquin. Other dialects like Odawa and Chippewa are in the southern group. There is also a middle area where features from both northern and southern groups mix.

Severn Ojibwa, along with Algonquin and Odawa, has many distinct features. This suggests that these dialects developed somewhat separately from other Ojibwe forms. Even with these differences, they are all still part of the Ojibwe language family.

Cree Language Influence

The Cree language has had a big cultural impact on Severn Ojibwa speakers. In the late 1800s, Cree Anglican missionaries shared their faith with Severn Ojibwa people. For example, a Cree missionary named William Dick worked at Big Trout Lake for many years.

Even though their language is clearly Ojibwe, some people from northern Ojibwa groups preferred to be called Cree. This sometimes caused confusion for government officials. For instance, the Trout Lake, Deer Lake, and Caribou Lake groups were not always seen as different from their Cree-speaking neighbors.

Studies show that Cree influence on Severn Ojibwa grammar is actually quite small. The name 'Oji-Cree' can be misleading. It suggests a strong mix of both languages, but Severn Ojibwa is mostly Ojibwe in its structure.

Different Cree dialects have influenced Severn Ojibwa vocabulary. Some words in Severn Ojibwa seem to come from Plains Cree. This is interesting because Plains Cree speakers live far away. One idea is that the Cree Bible and other church materials, which are used widely, helped spread these words. The church language in many of these communities is Plains Cree, which is a different language.

Where Severn Ojibwa is Spoken

Many communities speak Severn Ojibwa. Research in the 1970s found small differences between groups. There is a Big Trout Lake subgroup and a Deer Lake area subgroup.

The Big Trout Lake area is divided into two smaller groups. The Western group lives near the Severn River. The Eastern group lives mostly near the Winisk River.

Big Trout Area Communities

• Western Big Trout (Severn River System)

* Bearskin Lake * Big Trout Lake * Muskrat Dam * Sachigo Lake

• Eastern Big Trout (Winisk River System)

* Angling Lake * Kasabonika * Kingfisher Lake * Webequie * Wunnumin Lake

Deer Lake Area Communities

• Deer Lake
• North Spirit Lake
• Sandy Lake

The Keewaywin community recently separated from Sandy Lake. Their dialect is the same as Sandy Lake.

Some communities on the edge of the main Severn Ojibwa area share some features. They also have features from other dialects. These are called transitional communities. They include Round Lake, Lansdowne House, Ogoki Post, Fort Hope, and Summer Beaver.

Island Lake, Manitoba

The Island Lake community in northern Manitoba includes several nearby settlements. These are Garden Hill, Red Sucker Lake, St. Theresa Point, and Wasagamack First Nation. Together, they are called Island Lake.

Like the Severn Ojibwa communities in Ontario, the people of Island Lake were sometimes thought to speak Cree by the Canadian government. They were not always seen as different from Cree speakers in other areas.

People from Island Lake and visitors have said that their speech has both Ojibwe and Cree features. A study in the 1970s found that "the speech of Island Lake is Ojibwa with an admixture of Cree." This means it is mostly Ojibwe with some Cree mixed in.

Information shows that Island Lake Ojibwe shares features with Severn Ojibwa. Speakers can understand Severn Ojibwa almost completely. However, they find it harder to understand other dialects like Berens River or Little Grand Rapids.

Family history records from 1909 show that about half of the families in Island Lake came from the Deer Lake-Favourable Lake area. About a quarter came from the Sandy Lake-Big Trout Lake areas of Ontario. Some people moved back and forth between these communities.

Vocabulary Examples

Here are some examples of words in Oji-Cree. They are shown in Oji-Cree syllabics and Roman letters. For comparison, you can also see the words in Swampy Cree and Northwestern Ojibwa.

See also

• Ojibwe dialects