Learn and Laugh Song

Learn and Laugh Song

This song came to me as I was walking through the forest, having just finished the first meeting of the pilot program Reclaiming Anishinaabemowin.

This program directly addresses the invisible blocks and trauma Indigenous people experience when trying to speak their language. It takes immense courage to step into this vulnerable, heavy work. While there are tears along the way, there is also deep cultural understanding, profound personal growth, and healing laughter. There is no need to be perfect.

This song is offered to lift peoples spirts when they are feeling down about learning the language. It comes with encouragement and joy, and is dedicated to the participants in the Reclaiming Anishinaabemowin pilot program, and to all language warriors currently struggling to reclaim their language. Anyone is welcome to sing it.

Chi-miigwech (many thanks) to Kate Binesigichidaakwe McDonald for her vision, persistence, and courage - not only in her personal language reclamation journey, but in envisioning, developing and coordinating this pilot program to clear the path for the rest of us.

Anishinaabemodaa! Anishinaabemodaa!        Let’s speak Anishinaabemowin! (x2)

Moojigatoodaa! Moojigatoodaa! Hey             Let’s have fun! (x2) Hey

Hey-ya hey-ya ho, hey-ya hey-ya ho (Vocables)

Hay-ya hey-ya ho, hay-ya hey-ya ho