The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and
Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, takes part in the
premiere of the Anishinaabemowin version of Star Wars
(Anangong Miigaading): A New Hope
WINNIPEG, MB, Aug. 8, 2024
/CNW/ - The Government of Canada
is committed to supporting Indigenous Peoples in their efforts to
reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their languages,
ensuring their vitality shines as brightly as the twin suns of
Tatooine in a galaxy far, far away.
Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs
and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, attended
the premiere of Anangong Miigaading, the Anishinaabemowin
(Ojibwe) version of Star Wars: A New Hope.
The project received a $300,000
investment from the Indigenous Languages Program, allocated to the
Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Inc. This funding has
contributed to the translation of the Star Wars (Anangong
Miigaading): A New Hope script into Anishinaabemowin and the
creation of essential literacy materials. The financial support
also helped facilitate the training of Anishinaabemowin voice
actors, the direction and coaching for accurate and expressive
language use, and the recording and mixing of the Anishinaabe
overdub for the film.
The initiative not only brings a beloved classic to life
in Anishinaabemowin but also provides unique opportunities for
community members to engage with their language in a modern and
exciting context. It fosters linguistic and cultural immersion,
contributing to the preservation and promotion of the Anishinaabe
language for future generations and across galaxies.
Quotes
"Bringing Star Wars (Anangong
Miigaading): A New Hope to life in
Anishinaabemowin is a creative way to connect a beloved film with
the richness of Anishinaabe language. This project not only
celebrates and revitalizes the Anishinaabe language but also makes
it accessible, relevant and contemporary. Initiatives such as this
one help ensure that Indigenous languages thrive in today's digital
age."
—The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian
Heritage
"Attending the premiere of the Anishinaabemowin version of
Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading): A
New Hope has been an incredibly inspiring experience. By
adapting such an iconic film into Anishinaabemowin, we are not only
honouring the language but also inspiring a new generation to
engage with and cherish their cultural heritage."
— The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs
and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor
"Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading): A New Hope serves as a
platform of hope and inspiration towards the revitalization of the
Anishinaabe language in all Anishinabek communities. Our people
have gone through great struggle and genocide, and yet – we are
still here. Moving forward, we need to acknowledge the trauma by
naming it, and to create strong Anishinaabe communities that enable
the renewal of the Anishinaabe language, and also provide
opportunities for healthy Anishinaabe families to flourish for the
next seven generations and forever."
— Maeengan Linklater, Dakota Ojibway Tribal
Council
Quick Facts
Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading): A New Hope
will be featured on APTN and APTN Languages on October 13. Starting on August 10, the film will debut in limited release
in Winnipeg and other select
locations.
In 2023–24, Canadian Heritage worked with Indigenous
partners on implementing new jointly developed funding models that
provide greater Indigenous control over funding for Indigenous
languages, long-term funding agreements, and better responsiveness
to the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit and Metis. This is
consistent with the Indigenous Languages Act, which states
that Indigenous Peoples are best positioned to lead the
reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of their
languages.
The Indigenous Languages Act received
Royal Assent on June 21, 2019. The
Government of Canada is working
collaboratively with Indigenous Peoples to fully implement the
Indigenous Languages Act.
Associated Links
Indigenous Languages Act
Indigenous Languages
International Decade of Indigenous Languages
SOURCE Canadian Heritage