How Culture has Responded

Language Revitalization

A main challenge which the Ojibwa people face in the modern day, is the disruption and disappearance of their language. In the past the Ojibwa people had been assimilated into a European-like culture which had led to the change in their language, as they had adopted English or French rather than speaking their own native language. It has become a main concern for the Ojibwa people as they have nearly 35,000 people left that can speak the language from its total 220,000 in both Canada and US. The amount of fluent speakers in Canada are around 25,000 meanwhile US only has around 9,000 left that can speak the language.

Dr. Anton Treuer had stated that there are nearly 1,000 Ojibwe people who can speak the language fluently. Canada having thousands of speakers, is seeming to come into the same situation of language disappearance. This had led Dr. Anton Treuer to try his best in the approach to preserve the language. Resulting in Immersion Schools, which is helping people Indian or non - Indian learn the language. The Minnesota Legislature had recognized the issue as well and had written a legislature for the revitalization of American Indian Languages. It has provided funding and developed programs to teach the Ojibwe language to students and to create fluent speakers at both the kindergarten through grade 12 level, and at the postsecondary level.

Cultural Preservation

The need for cultural preservation is increasing in the current day world. As technology and globalization gradually keeps increasing the individual and collective identities of people start to deplete. Globalization in the past had led to various new ideas being shared amongst one another. Some having acculturated one another's things have been impacted in the current day world. Most of the Ojibwe people are now blended into the society, and as a result their cultural identity continues to drain. The media mainly considers to marginalize the Ojibwe people who preserve their cultural identity, because of not following the modern trends of the globe. Homogenization of trends around the world have been gradually increasing, which also becomes a factor in having to preserve one's cultural identity such as the Ojibwa. The Ojibwa Cultural Foundation, had stated that “There are few master practitioners of the traditional art forms left in our communities. Those who remain, keep the aesthetic and functionality of their craft strong.” This also means that cultural revitalization is a must for keeping the cultural identity of the Ojibwa people strong, and not letting it be taken over by a homogenizing society.

Laws Made to Help Ojibwe People

Laws of Canada

Many various laws have been made to help ensure First Nation’s people benefitting the Ojibwe as well. These laws were made to deal with issues of comprehensive and specific land and property compensation claims, treaty claims, aboriginal self-government, claims to renewable and nonrenewable natural resources, government relations, and economic development. In 1763 the Royal Proclamation, also known as the Magna Carta was made to ensure the end of First Nation’s peoples abuse at the time. However that was not the case and the abuse had continued. After 1870 a treaty process was implemented which had given the title to the lands of the First Nation’s, and a glimmer of hope was seen, but yet the promise of reserve lands was in a number of instances not fulfilled. Until recently the Constitution Act of 1982 was set in place in section 35 of Canadian Laws, which had made the court to properly give justice to the First Nation’s and terms of proper rights and establishments.

Laws of US

There had been various laws set in the United States to ensure the Aboriginal people who live there were given freedom of equality. The Ojibwe people constituting a northern portion of US, were also part of the law. The American Indian Law was set in place to recognize Aboriginal groups. The Indian Civil Rights Act was also set to make Aboriginal people of US ensured to safety and the freedom of rights they were supposed to have. Ojibwe people have also been affected by these laws, which helps to give them freedom of control over their lives which ends up allowing them to revitalize their identities and culture.