Contributed by Isadore Toulouse

Miigwech to all of the participants who came out to support Anishinaabemowin-Teg’s Fundraising Prize Bingo which was held this past Saturday October 15, at the Amikook Building in Wikwemikong. There were 48 people in attendance. The President of the organization (Martina Osawamick) thanked all the attendees before the start of the game.

Prizes were donated by the Board of Directors, Elders Senate and Youth Reps of Anishinaabemowin-Teg and other stuff was donated by Lillian Webkamigad, Bev Noakwegiizhig and a $20.00 cash donation from Tish Manitowabi. The manager of the Amikoog made sure there was free coffee served to everyone. Miigwech Rosemary Wemigwans for making sure our participants were well nourished with that coffee you continued to refill for our players.

The Anishinaabemowin-Teg organization works hard in promoting the language. This is evident yearly with the annual language conference in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan. A conference of this magnitude takes a great deal of time, energy, commitment and of course zhoonyaa (money). So the money raised will help offset some of the costs for the 2012 conference.

A special miigwech to the helpers for this event, Jacinta Manitowabi, Shirley Williams, Frank Odjig, Rosemarie Trudeau, Josephine Pelletier, Roselynda Francis, Isadore Toulouse, Martina Osawamick, Janis Fairbanks, Francis (Cotnee) Kaboni, and miigwech also to Gina Pangowish for advertising this bingo on FACEBOOK and Ron Yellowman for running back and forth getting the food ready.

Also a mention needs to be made of Bev Noakwegiizhig who prepared chili, fry bread and blanket-dogs that were sold as a fundraiser toward the Scholarship Fund.

That being said, during this Bingo, the caller "Cotnee" Francis Kaboni made sure she said the numbers in Anishinaabemowin. She told the participants, "If you do not know your numbers, ask the person sitting near you to help with the translations."

Miigwech Cotnee, for making this event an exciting and fun time that was had by all.

Another condition was that if you had a bingo, you had to yell "Nbakinaage," (Which means, I’m winning). There were a couple of people who yelled "Bingo" then right away switched to say "Nbakinaage" after a good-natured heckling from other participants.

Then the runners had to remember their numbers also. They had to yell back the numbers to the caller in Anishnaabemowin. As a teacher of Anishinaabemowin, I found this hard for me because I was put on the spot trying to remember my numbers, but it was all very fun.

Again, "Gchi-Miigwech" to the avid bingo players from Wikwemikong for your support that Saturday afternoon.

Keep a look out for the posters about the October Halloween Prize Bingo. This will be at the Arena on Sunday October 30th at the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve.