Bear Island - day four
This day went by in a whirlwind! AND felt like we achieved 3 days of productivity! GO TEAM!
The day started with John Turner coming to talk about the Anishinaabemowin language and etymology. It is so different than English and can’t be compared. One Anishinaabemowin ‘word’ is actually made up of many ‘words’ to describe this new ‘word’…for instance:
MINOBIMAADIZIWIN
(and forgive me if my notes are incorrect)
MIN = postitivity, seeds
BI = soul
MAA /AA = tied to place
DIZ = beginning, umbilical cord, ancestors!
ZI = alive
WIN = has a body
so all in all (as you interpret it backwards) MINOBIMAADIZIWIN means ‘the good life” or “living in a good way“!
The language helps you consider what constitutes well being. The actual language INFORMS!
We also learned that so many western governmental concepts come from the Anishinaabe and Iroquois. Too bad we still don’t learn this in school…confederacy, also the structure of government: federal, provincial, municipal, familial where concepts used since time immemorial.
John also translated: I’m Ready Grandma for Sophie’s film into:
NIGIIZHIITAA KOOKOOMIS
AND shared a cool podcast to check out: Anishinaabemowin Word Parts
Then Patsy Turner shared some fun language games and got everyone to consider what they value. For instance, how do you value your cel phone?… you use it, you have it with you always, you put $ into it, you practice with it….
AND so consider putting this same VALUE into your LANGUAGE!
Challenge: Five words a day! Try using them in your daily sentences!
Then we went around the room and wrote down words we all know. And then Patsy went through words and pronunciation and everyone got certain words translated that they might use for their films.
We also recorded these presentations in their entirety!!
After lunch there was filming with Huxley and Luke and Tristan and Isaiah and Gabe. Huxley threw a rough cut together and it was amazing! It is currently at 12 minutes and it has beautiful and poignant moments that tug at your heartstrings and use humour and pathos. They have a couple more scenes to film tomorrow.
Vincent created amazing backgrounds that transition from green and lush to burnt and grey. As well some incredible felt flames using an invention Vincent created to hold the flames up. A cute clay wizard oversaw this animation!
Sophie and Khloe and Lisa and Casey, Cheyanne and Josie went to film the final scenes with grandma near the old graveyard. It was an emotional scene for Sophia to act out - missing her grandmother and feeling regret. Casey ran sound and Kloe ran camera. Lake water acted as tears and the wind added drama. As well as we filmed Grandma showing up as a spirit in order to suggest that grandma can be in your heart forever.
They also filmed the transition from the younger Khloe character to the older Sophia character. Three more scenes tomorrow. Check out the detailed shot list - so helpful to make a film!
Good work everyone.
So much to reflect upon during our swim in Temagami Lake near Linda’s Wigwam!
