Language Preservation
Jul 13, 2026

New Ojibwe magazine expands language through modern hobbies

First issue introduces Ojibwe vocabulary for skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing


July 13, 2026

A new monolingual magazine published entirely in the Ojibwe language is introducing vocabulary for contemporary activities such as skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing, according to reporting from MPR News. The publication, Asab, was created by Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians citizen Nick Bimose Reo, who teaches Indigenous studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Reo said the annual magazine works with first-language speakers and hobbyists to develop Ojibwe words for activities that have limited existing vocabulary.

The first issue includes essays, poems and a glossary of skateboarding terms translated into Ojibwe ,according to the MPR News reporting. The project partnered with organizations including the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's Language Program and the Midwest Indigenous Immersion Network. Contributors from Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada submitted work exploring modern hobbies through the Ojibwe language, with future editions planning to focus on additional topics.

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