Speaking Each Other’s Language

This case study describes a collaboration between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Experimental Lakes Area and First Nations communities in Ontario, Canada, to communicate the risks of mercury poisoning in freshwater fish through an animated video translated into the Ojibwe language.

• First Nations people in Canada face a high risk of mercury poisoning, also known as Minamata disease, from eating contaminated freshwater fish. This condition can cause a variety of severe health issues, including organ damage, muscle weakness or paralysis, hair loss, depression, and death.
• The IISD Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario, Canada, conducted whole-ecosystem experiments for over 50 years, including the intentional introduction of small amounts of mercury into a freshwater lake to track its accumulation in the food web. The research found that mercury levels in fish increased when mercury was added and decreased once the additions stopped.
• To make scientific findings accessible to First Nations communities, the IISD developed a six-minute animated video translated into Ojibwe. The project involved collaboration with language experts and members of the Nigigoonsiminikaaning (Red Gut) and Couchiching First Nations. Because the Ojibwe language lacked an existing term for mercury, the team created the neologism “Biiwaabikowaabo gaa-waawaageshkaag,” meaning “liquid metal that shines.”
• The project aimed to support both scientific communication and the preservation of the Ojibwe language, which is described as "dying out." Future plans include integrating the research into Canadian school curricula through a free lesson plan featuring transcripts and neologisms for Ojibwe language learners and teachers.

APA

Yunus,, D. (2021). Speaking Each Other’s Language. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/speaking-each-others-language

Chicago

Yunus,, Dilber. Speaking Each Other’s Language. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/speaking-each-others-language.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yunus, |first1=Dilber |title=Speaking Each Other’s Language |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=19 January 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/speaking-each-others-language |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yunus2021speaking, author = {Yunus,, Dilber}, title = {{Speaking Each Other’s Language}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/speaking-each-others-language}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }