Continuing in their efforts to support Indigenous reconciliation in Manitoba, the provincial government has earmarked $25,000 in sponsorship funding for the world premiere of the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) version of Star Wars: A New Hope.
The film, titled Anangong Miigaading in Anishinaabemowin, premiered on August 8 at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg.
“It’s exciting to know that Anishinaabemowin is one of the six million forms of communication C-3PO is fluent in,” says Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. “My hope is that this initiative inspires other creators to produce content in First Nations, Métis and Inuit languages that support the preservation of Indigenous languages.”
The dubbed Anishinaabemowin version of the 1977 film was created in partnership with Disney/Lucasfilm. The voiceover work was done in Winnipeg and the final mix was completed at director George Lucas’s Skywalker Sound in California.
Also partnering in the film’s creation are the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, the University of Manitoba (UM), and APTN, a Winnipeg-based company and the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world.
The making of Anangong Miigaading required collaboration with multigenerational Anishinaabemowin speakers to serve as both advisors and performers.
The film has since debuted in limited release in other select markets.
The provincial grant was designated towards associated costs to host the Winnipeg movie premiere.
“Having the language featured in a Star Wars movie will go a long way in building pride, awareness and knowledge of the language across our communities as well as help our youth see our languages as part of an exciting future,” says Cary Miller, associate professor of Indigenous studies at the UM and project manager for Star Wars Anangong Miigaading. “This is the first proof of concept—not the last.”
Walt Disney Studios Canada is collaborating with exhibitors in Winnipeg to offer free movie screenings. The film will make its debut on Disney+ and APTN at a later date.
