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Photo by Jennifer Dale
KUDOS — Above, Wanda Perron (standing), this year's recipient of
the Frank Victor Hugo Memorial Award from the Nishnaabemwin Language
Instructor Institute, shows her plaque off to Institute Instructor Doris
Boissoneau and Institute Coordinator Kathy LeBlanc (L-R). The award
was presented by Boissoneau and Perron's son, BMIC Treasurer Ken Perron
(R). Perron is the first Bay Mills member to receive the award.
By Selina Vert
Though Wanda Perron remembers listening to women speaking the Ojibwe
language when she was a child, she never had the opportunity to learn
until the last few years. Now, she has been recognized as the 2002 recipient
of the Frank Victor Hugo Memorial Award. The award is given annually
to one student from the Nishnaabemwin Language Instructor Institute
for outstanding achievements with the Ojibwe language.
Established in 1998, the award has been given out four times. However,
this is the first year a Bay Mills member has won. The award honors
Frank Hugo (1909-1993) who was committed to preserving the Ojibwe language.
This year's Hugo award ceremony was held March 29 at the Sault Tribe
Conference Center during the Anishinabe Language Conference banquet.
Perron received her award from the Institute's Lead Instructor Doris
Boissoneau and her son, Bay Mills Treasurer Ken Perron. Frank Hugo's
widow, Lise Hugo, also attended.
Wanda Perron's interest in the language came from a love for history.
"Language and history go hand in hand." she said.
She is on staff as a historian in the Bay Mills History Department
and said that learning the Ojibwe language has helped her a lot because
words tell a story and names describe a person's life.
Born to Agnes LeBlanc and William Carrick in 1948, the Bay Mills native
was delivered at home by medicine-woman Ellen Marshall. She grew up
with eight brothers and five sisters and can trace her lineage back
to Gchijiidobam, a Crane chief from the late 1500s. Perron has 11 children
who hear her speak Ojibwe at home and are picking up some of it.
The award winner began taking Ojibwe classes in 1998 from Ted Holappa,
the first Hugo recipient who inspired Perron to enroll in the Institute.
Perron said that, when it comes to the arduous task of learning one
of the most difficult languages in the world, "don't get frustrated
because you're always learning more." She said the words are "puzzle
pieces [that] click into place . . . you start building on it."
This is Perron's second year enrolled in the language institute. She
describes her experience there as intense and well-rounded. She said
"you have more than just words" because culture and history is also
taught. The goal of the institute is to produce qualified teachers of
the Ojibwe language. Perron and Bay Mills member Becky Munz teach the
language to youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Bay Mills. She said that
when you teach, you have to use what you know yet are constantly learning
new things.
"It's important for young people to get into the language early so
they can learn and perfect it," said Perron, who began her education
late in life.
She said it's good that there are teachers who are willing and able
to teach the language now. The language was taken from the people when
young children were taken from their homes and placed in boarding schools
where they were forbidden to speak it. When those children grew to adulthood
and had children of their own, they tried to protect them by not teaching
them the language they themselves were punished for speaking.
Perron is glad that more and more people are interested in learning
the language. She feels that anyone who wants to learn should be able
to. It's good that the tribe supports those interested in learning,
she added.
Because Perron knows the Frank Hugo family and went to school with
his oldest daughter, Charlotte, she is "very proud and honored to get
this award." She said she has always respected the Hugos, so it means
a lot to her to be chosen for this distinction.
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