Our View: 'Star Wars' in Ojibwe is a memorable experience

Pine Knot News accountant Janis Fairbanks is also the chairwoman of the Fond du Lac Reservation Language Advisory Board. So who better to ask about community feedback on the showing in Cloquet and Duluth of "Star Wars: A New Hope" in Ojibwe the past week?

Janis says it's part of her life's mission to "support the survival of the Ojibwe language."

She had been to the Premiere Theaters showings three times by mid-week and was planning to go again before the run ended

Thursday.

"I can't get enough," she said. "It is like visiting an old friend from 47 years ago who has now learned to speak Ojibwe."

She said her biggest takeaway from seeing a mainstream movie translated and spoken in Ojibwe was, indeed, "a 'new hope' that our Ojibwe language will survive."

When the droid C-3PO said, "Boozhoo, sir," to Han Solo, Janis was "struck by the thought: That's how it should be. A simple hello, delivered with respect, is a start toward creating an environment of cooperative interaction among a diverse population."

She said the only thing that would have made the scene stronger is if Han Solo had returned the greeting.

"When a language survives, despite a history of deliberate attempts to obliterate it, the people whose heritage and history is embedded in that language survive with a renewed sense of pride in who they are," Janis said. "If we Ojibwe Anishinaabeg are looking forward to continued survival as a people, it is imperative that our Ojibwe language survive for future generations."

Janis noted an online comment about the film from Sarah Agaton-Howes, who wrote, "I mean, every NDN (a rez term for "indian") in the world was there. Seeing our language in this dramatic and conversational way cracked something open in me and I absolutely loved it."

Janis followed comments from other moviegoers on social media.

"Seeing and hearing our language on the big screen tonight with my family and a bunch of our community was a really moving experience," wrote Allie Tibbetts. "I am so grateful to all those doing language work and giving these experiences to us, especially our children."

"I was crying," wrote Deanna Rae StandingCloud.

"Even though I only understood a handful of words, it was surreal listening to one of my favorite movies in Ojibwe," wrote Charissa Blue.

No, no one had "Star Wars" in Ojibwe on any bingo card, but we will certainly take it. And now that the door is open, there is clamoring for more films to be translated into Ojibwe.

In short, the film runs here were an extraordinarily moving treat, one many will remember for a long time. We hope it also inspires language learning for more people.

Janis said it will be ideal if more potential Ojibwe speakers feel "cracked open by the beauty of the Ojibwe language. Movies like "Anangong Miigaading" ("Star Wars") are a fun way to further the language preservation efforts."