Ian Campeau unlocking language wisdom

By Kelly Anne Smith

NORTH BAY— Wearing a Nipissing Warriors hockey jersey, Ian Campeau reads the 1641 Jesuit account of the Feast of the Dead on Frank’s Bay to a full Nipissing University theatre.

Calling his people exquisite, Campeau was amazed with his new knowledge.

“They (Jesuit’s) describe ballets and operas that the Nipissing People put on that were so elaborate with hundreds of people. They mention our music as being the most beautiful of all nature.”

Of Nipissing First Nation, Campeau is a co-founder of A Tribe Called Red. Known as DJ NDN, Campeau left the group to dedicate himself to Indigenous advocacy and activism. He says it has been a heavy journey of culture and language reclamation.

Earlier in the day, Campeau shared his new knowledge with Nipissing University students.

Campeau says his impact has been uplifting.

“I talk a lot about mental wellness, I talk a lot about racism and oppression in general. A lot of people are looking for answers. When I’m learning this culture and this language, it’s been answering these questions that people have.”

A man greeted Campeau saying he was impressed by him travelling all the way from Ottawa for his language class.

“You have passion for the subject. So much so that you take to the road.”

Travelling four hours one way from his home in Ottawa every Wednesday, Campeau arrives on Nipissing First Nation to receive a two-hour lesson in Anishinaabemowin from Blair Beaucage.

Ian Campeau adjusted the microphone and welcomed guests in Anishinaabemowin to his lecture.

Campeau says the government should reconcile by giving it back.

“For me, it means give it back. I understand what was taken from me for the first time in my life. I’m almost in my forties. Now I understand what was taken from me.”

Campeau says the government should put into whatever time, effort and resources it takes giving language back.

“This language was taken in a very, very violent way.  A lot of time, effort and resources went into me not knowing my language. The staff had to be hired for Residential Schools. Indian agents had to be hired. Policy had to be pushed. Funding had to go to these things,” explains Campeau. “Make my grand kids as proud of their heritage as you made my grandparents ashamed. This is what it means. This is reconciliation to me.”

Challenging us to learn the days of the week in Nbissing’s Anishinaabemowin, Campeaus says, “It will shatter your entire understanding of how time is kept.”

“Learning this little bit of language that I’ve been learning, has shattered everything I understand to it’s absolute foundation.”

He points in the direction of Lake Nipissing.

“Our history is tied to this lake for 13,000 years. Our language has been developed in a way of scientific observation. And all of our words hold how things work. And they have instructions and they’ll explain things in a way that English can’t, simply because they haven’t put in the observational time.”

“My language will explain how everything works around the great lakes in a way that no other language can,” notes Campeau. “Learning this language is extremely empowering to figure out like, what Nipissing means. There are four different definitions and they are all right. And they all mean something different but it will explain something of the place that people wouldn’t know otherwise.”

On stage, Campeau connects with good friend George Stroumboulopoulos via skype in California to brainstorm real change in Canada.

Up on the big screen, Stroumboulopoulos suggests a sit-in on parliament hill.

“Ottawa will listen if 100,000 people show up.”

They talk of getting money out of politics and lobbying government. Campeau agrees getting money out of politics is a major step.

“The whole measurement of wealth within our society right now isn’t meant to last.”

He envisions a politician that would actually change policy.

“Say in Toronto, on every roof, we are going to grow food. Everything that dosen’t get eaten, we are going to bring it downstairs and we give it away to everybody that’s hungry. That’s not a hard thing to do.”

Stroumboulopoulos does not see significant change unless an effective political group is in place in Ottawa.

“One prime minister with a majority government could enact significant change.”

Campeau talked of the Seven Fires Prophecy.

“This was prophesized. People of the light skin would steal the riches of this land to the point that our water runs poison and our fish would be unfit to eat.”

Stroumboulopoulos says we should stop using the term charity.

“It’s not charity, charitable and uncharitable. It’s just and unjust.”

Change is possible states Campeau.

“If we are talking about it and we get organized enough, I think we can get enough people in different parties to start making it work.”