I Secretly Learned the World’s Rarest Language Then Met Tribal Elders

There are currently less than 10 elders on Walpole Island (aka Bkejwanong) who still fluently speak their dialect of the Ojibwe language known as nishinaabemowin. I spent a month secretly learning their language and then visited the community and met with tribal elders and people around town. None of them had any idea that I had been learning one of the rarest dialects of one of the world’s rarest languages, and we had a great time!

0:00 Introduction
0:47 Morning ceremony
1:45 Visiting the school
2:24 Ordering coffee in Ojibwe
5:27 Visiting local food shop
6:07 Meeting the elders
10:14 Trying Ojibwe food for the first time

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[Maeyoulove]

I'm Ojibwe and one time a year ago I saw your videos and I thought to myself "It would be cool to see this guy come to Canada and try Ojibwe" I thought it would NEVER happen! This makes me so happy to see you on the land and immerse in our culture. I appreciate you so much for this!

[baileybrewer]

This is the first time I’ve ever felt like you visibly struggled with a language. You’re extremely committed to your practice and being respectful to indigenous cultures. Respect to you sir!

[nish.]

As an Ojibway man, I am jealous of your ability to learn the language so easily. I was stripped of my language at a very young age due to residential school and the foster-care system. You've videos are awesome... been following your path for a while. So many people don't realize their language is a huge part of who they are. If I remember correctly you learned the Navajo language too? Amazing!! Spread the positivity!! :D

[ZEVA]

As a Native American myself, this video was very emotional for me. It shows many people that us Natives still exist and follow our practices to this day. As well as we are just normal people.

[majicktek]

I LOVE how you don't just learn the language and try to shock people but you also immerse yourself in their culture which in turn gives you more linguistic knowledge

[trevor]

No way this is my hometown language finally some recognition. Miigwech brother!!! Our language is becoming so scarce and for you to bring it to light is something else! Our language is so beautiful and descriptive but so hard to learn. I've been learning for years and still learn everyday, and you come and make conversation with elders with less than a years practice. You are insanely intelligent

[VannBighorse]

I was formally the director of the Osage Language Department now I'm a Cabinet Secretary for the Osage Nation. Culture, Language, and Education are part of my cabinet. I was very impressed with your ability to converse in Ojibwe language! I have watched many of your videos traveling all over the world learning and speaking back in their particular languages. I would really like to visit with you about language preservation.

[derekd]

As a Canadian this made me emotional. Canada has been so horrible to the natives. Hearing about her experience in residential schools is heartbreaking.

[mataharii]

Hearing her speak about the residential school broke my heart. It feels so long ago in those photos, but it was so recent. Thank you for raising awareness for this culture!

[Gikendasso]

NO
FRICKEN
WAY


I am Ojibwe, living in Minnesota. It also happens to be my birthday today. 😊

I haven’t even watched the video yet. I saw the title and wondered what adventure you were taking next. YouTube gave me a preview with captions and I saw “OJIBWE.” And literally yelled “OH MY GOD!!”

When I was a little girl, my mom would take us to visit her grandma, my great grandma Sybil and all she spoke was Ojibwe. I can understand it but have a hard time speaking it and I’ve been on my own journey to change that! ♥️


Gigawaabamin-menawaa

[darrell]

the rarer the language spoken, the more positive impact it has. the fact that you endeavour to learn their ways of living and history speak volumes. Helping to prevent the language becoming extinct. great job, Xiaoma. 👍👍

[kevy]

That is heartbreaking to hear how as kids they were mistreated and others died, only for speaking their own language. Thank you for highlighting this beautiful language, people and culture.

[JohnnySundahl]

This was really emotional for me. As an Ojibwe in Minneapolis, I was brought by my father to hear the Elders tell our tales as a child, completely in Ojibwe I still tell these stories to my son, though I can only stumble through a few of the words now. The stories are what is important, but the language is what tied us all to each other. Thank you so much for this. It's far more important than you might realize.

[promptlyjoebrown]

I really appreciate Xiaoma pointing out when he's mispronounced something and confused people. One of the most stressful parts of learning a new language is the fear of making mistakes, but you always show us that people appreciate it when you try and are almost always kind and patient with new language learners.

[JacobHarvietheSinger]

This video got me crying. Growing up as a person with an indigenous background feels like being invisible. Seeing the smudging ceremony and the care he put into respecting this often ignored and misunderstood culture was very powerful, and I thank you for using your platform to bring attention to a corner of the world that most people don't even realize is there.

[willismc]

Hey I'm Ojibwe from the area! My grandmother was a fluent speaker as well before she passed away 26 years ago. She used to teach me words all the time, unfortunately I only can remember a few of them. Some of my family will still mix in a few words with our English. This was such an amazing video to see, miigwetch!!!

[noahmatthews-cremomb]

As a First Nation of Canada(Mikmaq) I am so proud you selected a North American indigenous language to learn! Paqsitpi wela’lin! Thank you so much!

[UsDiYoNa]

Ay, Eastern Band Cherokee here 👋🏽 usually I don’t appreciate the virtue signaling “good” that outsiders try to come and film, but *this* actually means something. It breathes life into dying culture, and *that* I appreciate.

[selkarogers]

I am super impressed by this guy's ability to learn this much Ojibwe this quickly. When I was little I understood it and spoke it but when my immediate family moved away from the family and friends speaking it to me all day every day I totally lost it and I have only been able to retain a few words and phrases over the years. It's hard to learn when it's not being spoken around you and when it's not being taught. Canada should look at how Ireland has preserved Gaelic as it was on the brink of extinction a couple generations ago and now pretty much everyone in Ireland speaks it now, even if just minimally.

[WeirdMeansSupernatural]

I am a Tlingit woman trying to learn my language from an app. I am so grateful to you for showing the native peoples struggles. Thank you for this. Bless you. Gunalchéesh