The reason that some of us work on our language is that without it our ceremonies will become meaningless. Throughout our lives those of us who are fluent and lived the language heard our elders admonishing us Ð Do not lose our language. Without it we cease to be BodwŽwadmi.
If we lose our language, we will have done to ourselves what the government failed to do for centuries Ð to eradicate our language and our way of life as the Creator meant for us. Our religion has endured because of our language. Our ceremonies are dependent on the use of our language. Today our young people are confused and have no identity because they do not know our language.
So it is for this reason that we work on our language Ð to bring real BodwŽwadmi pride back to our people; a pride that is not based on another culture's values. Ð Jim Thunder, Sr.