Our virtual puppet show called – Bizindaage – is a funny story about how to listen to ourselves and others.
The Gaganoozh (have conversation) app was created to help Indigenous people practice and share our Indigenous language journey in a fun way. Using hand gestures to become virtual puppeteers, our users create shareable content that celebrates their language and culture.
Here is a young Aanishinaabe student playing with our app.
https://youtu.be/T_VsgHIRRME
The application has three character options and offers three storytelling experiences:
Freestyle: Allows users to operate one puppet and see themselves on the screen https://youtu.be/GQvMfgo0qN0
Background and Foreground: Allows users to add objects and backgrounds to the screen to create a more vivid story. https://youtu.be/o9E7A20f9SY
Story view: Adds a scroll slider at the bottom of the screen which can be used to read a story and hear how the Aanishinabemowin words are pronounced. https://youtu.be/UnsE4UtbGoE
All videos created on Gaganooh can be shared with family and friends via email and social media.
“We wanted to create something that would inspire Indigenous people of all ages to embrace the traditions of our ancestors in a modern way,” says Chad Solomon, the designer of Gaganoozh the app and a proud member of Henvey Inlet First Nation in Ontario, Canada. “Our objective is to give language carriers and enthusiasts the tools to make Aanishinabemowin and other Indigenous languages more fun for the seventh generation.” Chad is one of the two creators (Chad Solomon/ Christopher Meyer) behind the Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws, a beloved graphic novel series that features Indigenous characters and stories. https://rabbit-and-bear-paws.myshopify.com/collections/graphic-novels/products/adventures-of-rabbit-and-bear-paws-sugar-bush
The app was created with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Michigan University, Ontario Arts Council, FNCCEC and the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Fund from Canada Heritage.
Gaganoozh is now available on iPhones, iPads, and all Android devices.
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fgp.gaganoozh
Apple App store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/gaganoozh/id1562833750
