Nothing lost in translation in author Munsch's work

Page 8

When popular Canadian children's author Robert Munsch gave Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology permission to translate seven of his unpublished stories and three of his published ones into Ojibway, he made a lot of new young friends.

At least one thousand children, from Grade 4 down, came to the college for the launch of the first Ojibway translation of Mmm, Cookies! or Mmm, Pkewzhgaanhsak! in the Ojibway language.

Two more of Munsch's previously published stories are already translated into Ojibway. They are Kina Gegoo Gmaandookiinaa (We Share Everything) and Aandle Geshwisnini (Andrew's Loose Tooth). After those are printed, the college will have the unpublished stories translated and published as soon as funds are available.

Only 100 copies of the Ojibway language book were available from the printer the day Munsch was in Sault Ste. Marie, but he stayed in the college gymnasium until he met every person who wanted him to autograph a book, whether it was the new Ojibway version, its English counterpart,or one of his earlier children's classics brought from home that have built his reputation as one of Canada's best-loved children's writers.

"We were so pleased with Mr. Munsch. He was so generous, giving us the permission to do this and the fact that he actually came down to the college (at his own expense) to help us launch the book," said Sault College's Ojibway Language Initiatives Co-ordinator Carolyn Hepburn.

Mmm, Pkewzhgaanhsak! was an instant hit with the little ones, their parents and the educators who will use the book as a tool to encourage Ojibway literacy. Hepburn reported at the end of June they had sold 300 of 2,000 copies printed since they released the book April 28. That figure is considered very respectable in a narrow niche market. The book sells for $11.

"The response has been absolutely amazing," said Hepburn. "We've been getting calls from Quebec, Manitoba, across Ontario."

The word has been getting around quickly via e-mail, word-of-mouth and as a result of CBC Radio interviews in Sudbury and Thunder Bay.

The college was responsible for finding an illustrator. Both the translator of Mmm, Pkewzhgaanhsak!, Elder Josephine Pelletier, and the editor, Shirley Williams, hail from Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation. Donna LeBlanc assisted Pelletier with translation. The college used the services of a local printer.

The Union of Ontario Indians contributed $5,000 toward the cost of publishing Mmm, Pkewzhgaanhsak!. "To get a thousand copies of the book done, it cost $10,000," said Hepburn. Sault college picked up the tab.

But that kind of publishing expense is beyond what the college can afford. They will look elsewhere for money to publish more of Munsch's stories in Ojibway. "Even working in partnerships with other organizations or First Nations-whoever is interested," said Hepburn. They have applied for funding from the Canada Arts Council.

Hepburn said the first project was expensive because "Our main concern was we really wanted a really nice quality end product. We didn't want photocopies... My feeling was, our kids who are learning the language deserve just as much quality resources as somebody who is taking Portuguese or Spanish or French."

Many of the seven unpublished stories feature animals and mesh well with Native cultural themes, Hepburn said, adding that Munsch has encouraged them to use Native-themed illustrations.

Hepburn hopes the Ministry of Education will give permission for the books to be used in all schools that teach the Ojibway language.