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How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

camp
vi
camp
gabeshi vai s/he camps, sets up camp

campsite
n
campsite
gabeshiwin ni a campsite, a camp

can
n
can
biiwaabikoons ni
  1. wire
  2. a can, a tin
  3. a telephone

canned goods
gibaakobijigan ni canned goods

gas can
waasigani-bimide-biiwaabik ni [BL] an oil drum; a gas tank, a gas can, a jerry can

waazakonenjiganaaboowakik na a gas tank, a gas can, a jerry can

can
[able]
vi
can
daa- pv tns modal preverb of possibility, necessity, or obligation: can, could, should, would, might, must

can
[preserve food]
vt
can
gibaakobidoon vti2
  1. pull it shut (as something stick- or wood-like)
  2. can it

Paired with: gibaakobizh vta

gibaakobizh vta can h/; pull h/ shut

Paired with: gibaakobidoon vti2

can opener
n
can opener
baakaabikizhigan ni [BL] a can opener

baakaakozhigan ni a can opener

can't do it
adv
can't do it
gaawesaa pc disc impossible!, no way!, can't be done!

Canada
place
Canada
zhaaganaashiiwaki ni Canada

Canada goose
n
Canada goose
nika na a goose

[
Canada goose
; 
Branta canadensis
]

Canada jay
n
Canada jay
gwiingwiishi na a Canada jay

[
grey jay, Canada jay, whisky jack
; 
Perisoreus canadensis
]

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary is developed and maintained by:
Nora Livesay, Editor
John D. Nichols, Founder and Linguistic Editor

with support and collaboration from the University of Minnesota's Department of American Indian Studies and University Libraries.

Additional Resources

Many of the words in the Ojibwe People's Dictionary have related resources. Click through to the full dictionary entry to hear audio recordings, see images, read documents and watch videos. Here's a key to resource icons.

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Speakers & Regions Key

Individual speakers and speakers from different regions use different words when speaking. Each audio recording is marked with the initials of the Ojibwe speaker. Click on a speaker's initials to go to the speaker's bio page. If an Ojibwe word is particular to a certain region, it will be marked with a region code. Click on the region code to go to the Regions page.