--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I moved to Minnesota, I found there…" description: "\"When I moved to Minnesota, I found there was a thriving and determined movement, a grassroots movement, to revitalize the Ojibwe language. And I've nev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/louise-erdrich-1271_age_when-i-moved-to-minnesota-i-found-there_1068030.jpg" --- # When I moved to Minnesota, I found there was a thriving… ![“When I moved to Minnesota, I found there was a thriving and determined movement, a grassroots movement, to revitalize the Ojibwe language. And I've never come to be a competent speaker. I have to say that right now. But even learning the amount of Ojibwe that one can at my age is a life-altering…” quote by Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/louise-erdrich-1271_age_when-i-moved-to-minnesota-i-found-there_1068030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/louise-erdrich-1271_age_when-i-moved-to-minnesota-i-found-there_1068030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/louise-erdrich-1271_age_when-i-moved-to-minnesota-i-found-there_1068030.jpg) > “When I moved to Minnesota, I found there was a thriving and determined movement, a grassroots movement, to revitalize the Ojibwe language. And I've never come to be a competent speaker. I have to say that right now. But even learning the amount of Ojibwe that one can at my age is a life-altering experience.” [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning a heritage language later in life can be transformative, despite limited proficiency. **In simple terms:** Adult language learning reshapes identity. Key Takeaway Embrace lifelong language learning. Themes culture identity language revitalization age personal growth Mood reflective inspirational Type cultural personal When to use this quote - community classes - family language use - personal study - cultural events Key Concepts linguistic anthropology heritage preservation neuroplasticity Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to learn a new language? - How does language shape your sense of self? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow and resources scarce. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Grassroots Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grassroots-movement-553776/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Ojibwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-ojibwe-2645514/) [Movement Grassroots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement-grassroots-2645517/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Ojibwe Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ojibwe-language-2645516/) [Revitalize Ojibwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revitalize-ojibwe-2645515/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) ## Related quotes > [We need to reshape the movement as one of grassroots activists, and not 'professional activists' who populate the seemingly endless number of national animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-need-to-reshape-the-movement-as-one-of-grassroots-activists-and/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We need a grassroots movement and government policies and programs to change the food landscape and the built environment to give our children a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/we-need-a-grassroots-movement-and-government-policies-and-programs-to/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [If we're going to be successful in taking on the billionaire class, we need a strong national grassroots movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-we-re-going-to-be-successful-in-taking-on-the-billionaire-class-we/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Our Revolution has been the keeper of the flame doing the vital work of building a grassroots movement that leverages the people's agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/our-revolution-has-been-the-keeper-of-the-flame-doing-the-vital-work/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [We're the end of the baby boomers, and we participated in many social changes. Who would of thought, for example, when the AIDS epidemic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/we-re-the-end-of-the-baby-boomers-and-we-participated-in-many-social/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [No matter what the issues are, it has to be handled at the grassroots. When you take part in something, even though that movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/no-matter-what-the-issues-are-it-has-to-be-handled-at-the-grassroots/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Well you know I'm very supportive of what the Tea Party is trying to do. They're very concerned with spending, the deficit, the bailouts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boozman/well-you-know-i-m-very-supportive-of-what-the-tea-party-is-trying-to/) [John Boozman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boozman/) > [If you understand the Black Lives Matter movement, there's no central leadership of the movement. This is an organic, grassroots movement all around America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/if-you-understand-the-black-lives-matter-movement-there-s-no-central/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [It's essential that we build a grassroots movement and we say to Trump to the president-elect, stop, you can't go over this line again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrod-brown/it-s-essential-that-we-build-a-grassroots-movement-and-we-say-to/) [Sherrod Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrod-brown/) > [Anytime there's an actual grassroots movement that isn't funded by people trying to create a grassroots movement, I find that interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/anytime-there-s-an-actual-grassroots-movement-that-isn-t-funded-by/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [I mean, people who say that the Tea Party isn't a grassroots movement, I think, are incorrect. I think in some respects, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/i-mean-people-who-say-that-the-tea-party-isn-t-a-grassroots-movement/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [ \[Fighting Climate Change\] is important for every single person on the planet, which is why it has to be the greatest grassroots movement of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/fighting-climate-change-is-important-for-every-single-person-on-the/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. We want to create a grassroots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-want-to-create-never-mind-the-leaders-or-the-bishops-or-chief/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) ## More by Louise Erdrich > [Can you stop your mother from singing to you? Who would do such a thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/can-you-stop-your-mother-from-singing-to-you-who-would-do-such-a-thing/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“Emotions unreel in her like spools of cotton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/emotions-unreel-in-her-like-spools-of-cotton/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“Other freshmen were already moving into their dormitory rooms when we arrived, with their parents helping haul. I saw boxes of paperbacks, stereo equipment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/other-freshmen-were-already-moving-into-their-dormitory-rooms-when-we/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [My father is my biggest literary influence. Recently, I've been looking through his letters. He was in the National Guard when I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/my-father-is-my-biggest-literary-influence-recently-i-ve-been-looking/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [What is this life but the sound of an appalling love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/what-is-this-life-but-the-sound-of-an-appalling-love/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Looking at the shape of the world, I see how we're in a time where women are the subject of hatred, fear, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/looking-at-the-shape-of-the-world-i-see-how-we-re-in-a-time-where/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [She had always been a reader… but now she was obsessed. Since her discovery of the book hoard downstairs from her job, she’d been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/she-had-always-been-a-reader-but-now-she-was-obsessed-since-her/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Time was rushing around me like water around a big wet rock. The only difference is, I was not so durable as stones. Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/time-was-rushing-around-me-like-water-around-a-big-wet-rock-the-only/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [The greatest wisdom doesn't know itself. The richest plan is not to have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/the-greatest-wisdom-doesn-t-know-itself-the-richest-plan-is-not-to/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“Delphine began to read with a mad attention when she wanted to talk to Clarisse. She saw that in her life there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/delphine-began-to-read-with-a-mad-attention-when-she-wanted-to-talk/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [But if there was embellishment, it only had to do with the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/but-if-there-was-embellishment-it-only-had-to-do-with-the-facts/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Things which do not grow and change are dead things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/things-which-do-not-grow-and-change-are-dead-things/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I have to write. I have to be an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/i-have-to-write-i-have-to-be-an-artist/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“The Creator made us for each other. Me here. Zelia there. Space was put between us by human error. But our hearts listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/the-creator-made-us-for-each-other-me-here-zelia-there-space-was-put/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [So many things in the world have happened before. But it's like they never did. Every new thing that happens to a person, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/so-many-things-in-the-world-have-happened-before-but-it-s-like-they/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) [Explore all 262 Louise Erdrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I moved to Minnesota, I found there was a thriving and determined movement, a grassroots movement, to revitalize the Ojibwe language. And I've never come to be a competent speaker. I have to say that right now. 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