I am thinking about listening...I was thinking about what Henry Nason tried to teach me. I remember that he gave me a gift that week. He gave me the Gresczyk, Clark Text Brian has given all of us to take a look at, and another earlier publication of that text I think. Over the past seven years I have thumbed through it once or mayble twice at best. If I had been listening to Henry, I could have had it at least partially memorized by now.
About a month ago I took a written Ojibwemowin exam. I scored much lower than I thought I would. I missed them because I did not read the questions thouroughly enough.
Today I am questioning my ability to listen...
With this being said I am somewhat reluctant to talk about what I am reading in our Ambe, Ojibwemodaa Endaayang. I am right there with my ears open when I hear that there are many many ways to say the same something in Ojibwemowin, but when I am reading the text, it is sounding a different way than what I am hearing from the speakers I have heard so far. I know this text is one that they use at the Bug School, but it is not what I am hearing from the elders. I don't think I am hearing "for the most part" but in suttle ways. Also when I used some of the sayings from our text my Ojibwemowin teacher kind of "scratches his head" for a second. But then knows what I mean. Bob Jordain is from Zhaagaashkwaazhiimong-Canada.