UWinnipeg Dept of Indigenous Studies and Anishinaabe Projects

Rayna Daniels spent the summer working with the Indigenous Studies Department at the University of Winnipeg. Her primary role involved recording the Oral Immersion in Ojibwe 1 Guidebook entirely in Ojibwe, enabling Intermediate Ojibwe students to practice listening and pronunciation. She collaborated closely with Anishinaabemowin instructor Annie Boulanger to perfect her timing and dialect accuracy, deepening her own language fluency.

At the same time, Rayna launched an Anishinaabe cookbook project with Bloodvein First Nation, partnering with Elders, community members, and Chief Lisa Young. Over the coming year, she will gather oral histories, document stories tied to traditional dishes and learn hands-on cooking practices that connect each recipe to cultural teachings.

The placement strengthened her bond to Anishinaabe culture and boosted her confidence in sharing Ojibwe with others. As Rayna reflects, “Listening to Elders and speaking Ojibwe every other day showed me that language isn't just words—it’s the heartbeat of our people.