Chippewa Language
Chippewa, or Southwestern Ojibwe, is a dialect of the Ojibwe language. It is spoken by communities from Michigan through North Dakota in the United States. In the 1800s, it was a language of wider communication among Ojibwe communities in nearby parts of Canada as well. Chippewa is written in an alphabetic system using Latin letters, and is known to its speakers as Anishinaabemowin ("the Anishinaabe language") or Ojibwemowin ("the Ojibwe language"). The New Testament, Psalms and Pentateuch were translated into Chippewa.
History of Translation
The four Gospels were translated by Frederick A. O’Meara from the Anglican Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG). They were printed in Toronto for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) in 1850. Frederick A. O’Meara then completed the New Testament which was published by SPCK in 1854.
Psalms 1856
The Psalms were translated by Frederick A. O’Meara. They were entitled: Oodahnuhmëahwine nuhguiimoowinun owh David: Ojibwag anwawaud azheühnekenootahbeëgahdagin. They were printed in Toronto for the Upper Canada Bible Society (now the Canadian Bible Society) in 1856.
Pentateuch 1861
The Books of Moses known as the Pentateuch were translated by F.A. O’Meara, with the help of Peter Jacobs, an Indigenous missionary. It was entitled: Ewh kechetwah-muzzeneëgun: Nahnun muzzeneëgunun Moses kahoozhebeühmoowahjin keähnekuhnootuhbeëgahdag anwawaud egewh ahnishnahbag Ojibwag anindiig. It was published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) in 1861.
Revised New Testament 1874
In 1874 the New Testament was revised by Frederick A. O’Meara. It was entitled: Oowahweendahmahgawin owh tabanemenung Jesus Christ, keähnekuhnootuhbeëgahdag anwamand egewh Ahneshemahbag Ojibwaganindjog. Keënahkoonegawaud kuhya ketebahahmahgawaud egewh mahyahmahwejegajig Society for promoting Christian knowledge, ewede London anduhzhetahwaud. It was published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) in 1874.
Digital Edition
The New Testament, Pentateuch and Psalms were combined into one project for convenience, using the revised New Testament from 1874. These Chippewa Scriptures were digitised for the Canadian Bible Society with the help of MissionAssist in 2024.
