WINNIPEG – The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Indigenous Peoples in their efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their languages, ensuring their vitality shines as brightly as the twin suns of Tatooine in a galaxy far, far away.
Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, attended the premiere of Anangong Miigaading, the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) version of Star Wars: A New Hope.
The project received a $300,000 investment from the Indigenous Languages Program, allocated to the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Inc. This funding has contributed to the translation of the Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading): A New Hope script into Anishinaabemowin and the creation of essential literacy materials. The financial support also helped facilitate the training of Anishinaabemowin voice actors, the direction and coaching for accurate and expressive language use, and the recording and mixing of the Anishinaabe overdub for the film.
The initiative not only brings a beloved classic to life in Anishinaabemowin but also provides unique opportunities for community members to engage with their language in a modern and exciting context. It fosters linguistic and cultural immersion, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the Anishinaabe language for future generations and across galaxies.
“Bringing Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading): A New Hope to life in Anishinaabemowin is a creative way to connect a beloved film with the richness of Anishinaabe language. This project not only celebrates and revitalizes the Anishinaabe language but also makes it accessible, relevant and contemporary. Initiatives such as this one help ensure that Indigenous languages thrive in today’s digital age.” – Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage