Boozhoo Kina!

Anishinaabemowin Teg gwii-mikoom sa kina ji bizhaayek maanda zhiseg sa 19th ensobiboon nkweshkodaadiwin maanpii Baawting Gchi-mookmaan-kiing.

Niizhwaak sa mdaaswi shi nswi sa gbinaajtoonaa miinwaa gdi-kendaana sa gaa-bininkiiwaat ni mewzha O’ogichitaak, maanda sa makwenmaayiing eko niizhwaak biboong pii gimaa Tecumseh’s gii-bimaadizid.

Niibna gii-nibo’wak mimiiggaaswaat dibishko maaba Tecumseh,Shawnee O’ogichitaa gii yaawi. Mii wa ga-bbaayaat maanpii nikiying a kiing.

Aabdek gewii ji makwenmayiing kina go O’ogichitaak miinwa ogimaak maanpii sa mshiig’kenh ominising, Anishinaabe sa gewiinwaa sa ga zhi bi naadmaagewaat sa dbishko sa Shingwaak, Ojibwa sa Kitegaanziibiing ga-binjibaat. Nasaab sa Pontiac, Assignack, Mooko’manish Michigan ga binijibaatpa. Gewii Ogimaa "Hole in the Day" Minnesta ga-binjibapa miinwa go giiyaabe niibnaa O’ogichitaak.

Gaawiin Canada daa-gii-tesnoonooba giishpin bwaa yaa’aapa sa gondak kina O’ogchitaak.

Nongo sa gbi-naajtoonna sa eko niizhwaak si biboon maanda sa gii miig’gating sa 1812. Kina go bipkan ga zhiweb’dakba mewzaa da’aanaa’aa sa Canada ntam bmaadzidjig, miinwa Gichimookmanking nooj go Anishinaabek. Gewiinwaa go British miinwa Gchimookmanaak go daa’aanaa’aa sa gewiinwaa sa gaa zhi-gnwaabdamawaat sa maanda gii mi miigading.

We welcome you all to the 19th Annual Anishinaabemowin Teg Conference at Kewadin Convention Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, March 27 to 31, 2013. Our theme is "Zaagtoodaa Tikamseying Neyaab: Let’s Love Our Crossing in Honour of Our Leader Tecumseh."

The 2013 theme celebrates and acknowledges the importance of history and role our warriors played in our past, especially as we remember the 200 year anniversary of Chief Tecumseh’s passing.

Many lives were lost in battle including our leader Tecumseh, a Shawnee who travelled north to Anishinaabe territories. We remember all the warriors and chiefs of Turtle Island, the Anishinaabek who made their mark in our history: Mookomanish originally from Michigan, Shingwaak of the Ojibways of Garden River, Pontiac, Assiginack, Chief Baginogiizhik "Hole in the Day" from Minnesota and many others. These ancestor-warriors are the reason we are here today.

As we remember the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812, it is important to honor the fact that Canada’s First Nations people, and the Native Americans of the United States had their own perspectives of this war.

As we come together at this 19th Annual Anishinaabemowin Teg conference, historian Alan Corbiere will delivers an opening keynote address focused on these leaders.

We have come a long way in restoring our language and taking time to learn about our the leaders of our past will bring pride to our people.

Esnaa bizhaak.

Martina Osawamick