Our research shows that the Anishinabe Enamiad (The Indian Who Prays) was a monthly journal devoted to the interests of Catholic “Indian Missions”. The 1910 excerpt shown here was published at the Holy Childhood Industrial School in Michigan, printed almost entirely in Anishinabemowin (Ojibwe language). Although these journals were of an informational nature and mostly geared to a specific readership, they also provided quite a bit of genealogical information; they are considered rare and offer an important historical view of earlier versions of our language(s).

A Note from Norman Dokis Jr., President

I love the idea that this journal represents the importance of recognizing our indigenous languages. Once, our languages were passed on verbally from generation to generation and successfully so. Many of our people, even today, can still say they have learned their language from their parents in their homes. 

This journal is written almost entirely in the Ojibwe language. Back in the late 1800s, religious groups started producing journals and books in indigenous languages to facilitate missionary goals. Almost all publications in indigenous languages were produced by clergy then.

We grappled with including this here because of concern that survivors might be triggered. But we felt that promoting and honouring our language has become very important, now that so many of our people are starving for knowledge of the language of their parents, families and ancestors. We feel, and hope you do too, that these written words in our language, no matter who wrote them, serve an honourable and necessary purpose of giving our youth and future generations tools to regain a vital source of their culture.