A Word on Our Nisidotam Language Project: The Sound Method of Turtle Mountain Ojibwe

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My name is Jessie Cree. I am currently collaborating with Shawono using a sound system taught to me by my father, Louis Cree. Together, Shawono and I have developed this sound method that enables you to speak the Chippewa (Ojibwe) language immediately using the Nisidotam method. When I was young, we didn't know any grammar rules, only sounds and how to hear them. There are very few sounds needed to speak the Chippewa language. I had to incorporate some additional sounds to speak: Oon ghee Cree, Kin nish tin new (Cree), Swampy Cree, Nah kah way Ojibwa, Canadian Plains Ojibwa, Minnesota Ojibwe, and Turtle Mountain Chippewa. At that time, there were no English grammar rules. It was only later that missionaries came and developed a written language for their work with the Chippewas. We are using Chuck Fiero's double vowel method. Chuck Fiero lived just a hundred yards away from my family as he was the pastor of our church. I have included enough sounds in my method to accommodate six different dialects of Ojibwe. This sound method was developed here in the Turtle Mountains and covers most of the variations of Turtle Mountain Ojibwe.

A word about the Ojibwa term for the Turtle Mountains. I remember the old people used to say "mee- kee-knock-kwahcheeng" in their reference to the Turtle Mountains. It was used to designate the Turtle Mountains a long time ago as it was not only one mountain but the lands of the big turtle. All neighboring Ojibways and other tribes recognized that name long time ago. I don't know how it is written in grammar, but Alixena Patnaude had written it right grammatically. They used to have the "k" sound and include it in the next word; it smoothened out the sound. Anyway, that's how the old people said it, so that's how I say it.

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Illustration: Mikinaakwajiwing Gichi-aya'aag ("Turtle Mountain Elders" ) ©2025 Zhaawano Giizhik