Artful Evening: BODEWADMI NDAW Screening and Potawatomi Language Workshop

Join us for a screening of local filmmaker Davis Henderson’s newly-released film, BODEWADMI NDAW. This documentary is focused on the efforts of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi to revitalize their rapidly disappearing language, Bodéwadmimwen. Following the screening and a Q&A with Henderson, Holden Day will lead a beginner’s language workshop. Join us to learn key words and phrases in Bodéwadmimwen!

Workshop instructor Holden Day shares:

“Bozho, Nagas nde neshnabé noswen anaké Holden Day ė-zhnekangoyan. Mshiké o ndodém. Bodéwadmi ndaw. Pegegneniyek nde-béndagwes. Wzawkik nde-wchbya neshjé ngom odewpi Zikemzo nde-da. Nish-mnedok miné trans ndaw. Zhak pon nde-ndo-gkédan ode gdezheshmowmenan.

Hello, my Neshnabé name is Nagas, or I am called Holden Day. I am Turtle Clan. I am Potawatomi, enrolled with the Pokagon Band. I am from Wzawkik (“Benton Harbor, MI”) but am currently living in Zikemzo (“Kalamazoo, MI”). I am two-spirit and trans. I have been learning our language for nine years.”

Davis Henderson (He/They) is a filmmaker, voice actor, and storyteller. He is also a citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (also known to the community as the Gun Lake Tribe). Kalamazoo born and based, they wish to share stories about the land that we gather on that are not written in history books.
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