Just so you know . . . .
Although I was born and raised on the White Earth Indian Reservation and my mother is a full blooded Anishinaabe, I did not have the opportunity to learn my culture or language as I grew up. Unfortunately, this is the same for many Anishinaabe today.
Going back to 1887 when land allotments first took place, my grandparents had not even yet been born. In fact, my great grandparents were just toddlers themselves. During this time, a full-blooded Indian was not allowed to sell their allotment because they were not considered competent. Indians were actually measured (facial features, forehead, cheekbones, etc.) to determine how much Indian blood they were. Only if it was determined they were a mixed blood could they sell their land allotment - a full blood was denied the right. By this time, alcohol was had already been introduced; intoxication helped land barrens gain more assets. Indian people did not even understand the concept of "owning" land since they had always been free to roam and lived a communal life.
The Indian termination era (1940's - 1960's) had a lasting impact on families. During that time, the government tried to "assimilate Indian people as individuals into mainstream American society." Families were broken apart when children were sent to boarding schools, the language and culture were lost as it was a punishable offense to be caught speaking Ojibwe or practicing traditional ceremonies. During this time, over 100 Tribes, bands, and Indian Nations were "dissolved" by federal law. However, the Anishinaabe have survived.
When the termination (or assimilation) times started, my mother was a toddler. My grandmother was 19 and my grandfather was 31 - by this time they had all been brainwashed to believe it was a "sin" to practice traditions and being "competent" was all that mattered. Families were poor, their existence relied upon food rations provided by the government. And by this time, they had all been subjected to leaving their lands (and ways of life) and forced to live on Reservations. They were "wards of the government" who were coaxed or coerced to abandon their traditional Tribal ways to be assimilated into mainstream America. This lasted until 1953 when the federal government (legally) decided to end Indian's status as wards of the government (my mother was 11, grandmother 32, and grandfather was 44 years old).
The use of alcohol grew among our people - it was a way to drown out the reality of life as they knew it. Children at the time (my mother) were taught not to speak their language or practice their culture as a protection measure. My ancestors were caught in the middle of giving up the only way of life they knew or giving up their families. Regardless of the efforts, many families were torn apart and children sent to boarding schools against their will. These acts all had devastating effects on tribal autonomy, culture and economic welfare of Indian people everywhere.
In 1958 the termination era legally ended - although it wasn't officially nullified for a few more years. It was not until 1968 (Indian Civil Rights Act) when Indian people were allowed (legally) to practice their traditional rights. By this time, my mother herself, had not had already lost her language and traditions.
Historical trauma is the lasting effect that Anishinaabe still deal with today. So many families have become stuck in the cycle of poverty, alcohol use and drug abuse - all a way to escape reality and somehow deal with trauma and grief. Many Anishinaabe are still lost today because of the governmental impacts of our ancestors. We have been conditioned to not understand "who" we are or where we came from. It was all taken away from us. I can't think of a family here who has not had to deal with alcohol, drug abuse, poverty, all the lasting effects historical trauma.
Historically, the Anishinaabe language was handed down orally, it was not written or preserved for us today. Throughout the years there have been various attempts at getting the language written, the result is a variety of dialects and methods; none of which are right or wrong. For consistency purposes, I have tried to put this information together utilizing the double vowel system.
Today I share with you just a bit of the history that brought us to where we are at. Because I do not profess to know the Anishinaabe language or our rich culture and history, I ask for help from those who know so much more than I. The information contained in these pages are from a variety of resources, thus you will notice the variances in verbiage.
Please feel free to send me additions or corrections and help us all to learn.