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Dawaa: The Space Between celebrates in poetry the tensions and beauty between the two ancestral languages of the author: Ojibwe and English.
As a First Nations woman, Tareyn Johnson grew up without knowing the language of her ancestors. Her grandparents attended residential school, and neither they, nor her mother carried the language. Left with a deep longing desire to embrace Anishnaabemowin (Ojibwe) language, she began her learning journey as an adult.
As her understanding grew, words began to form visually in her mind. As a result, twenty-six poems—two for each of the Thirteen Moons—grouped seasonally, beautifully juxtapose Ojibwe and English to express Johnson’s feeling of existing between two languages.
This collection of poems—not intended as a didactic or language teaching tool—examines the unique experience of walking between two worlds, speaking and learning two languages, and relating the two ways of knowing in a liminal space… the space between.
nanda-gikendan—seek to know it, seek to learn it.
Front Cover Art Description
Preface: A Poetic Exploration of the Spaces Between Anishnaabemowin and English
Language Notes
Spring / Minookami
Snowcrust Moon / Onaabadin Giizis (March)
Crow Moon / Aandeg Giizis (March)
Maple Sugaring Moon / Iskigamizige Giizis (April)
Suckerfish Moon / Namebin Giizis (April)
Flower Blossom Moon / Waawaaskone Giizis (May)
Budding Moon / Zaagibagaa Giizis (May)
Summer / Niibin
Heart Seed Moon / Ode’imin Giizis (June)
Picking Strawberries Moon / Ode’iminikewi Giizis (June)
Blueberry Moon / Miin Giizis (July)
Half Summer Moon / Aapitai-Niibino Giizis (July)
Good Seed Moon / Manoomin Giizis (August)
Raspberry Moon / Miskomin Giizis (August)
Autumn / Dagwaagi
Leaves Turning Colours Moon / Waagaabagaa Giizis (September)
Wild Ricing Moon / Manoominike Giizis (September)
Moon of Falling Leaves / Binaakwe Giizis (October)
Harvest Moon / Bawa’am Giizis (October)
Frozen Moon / Gashkadino Giizis (November)
Freezing Over Moon / Mashka’odin Giizis (November)
Winter / Biboon
Little Spirit Moon / Manidoo Giizisoons (December)
Winter Moon / Bibooni Giizis (December)
Great Spirit Moon / Manidoo Giizis (January)
New Winter Moon / Oshki-Biboon Giizis (January)
Bear Moon / Makwa Giizis (February)
Crust on the Snow Moon / Onaabani Giizis (February)
Thirteenth Moon
Forgotten Moon / Bwaanendang Giizis
Broken Snowshoe Moon / Bookwaagame Giizis
Art Descriptions
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Thirteenth Moon
Biography