Sam Zimmerman is taking a class to re-learn his language, Ojibwemowin.
He laughs his efforts are making his ancestors' ears bleed, but if Sam's ancestors have been keeping track of him, chances are they're pretty proud.
Sam Zimmerman has come home to his community, his culture, and himself, in many ways.
After art school, Sam spent many years on the East Coast. Teaching art lead to going back to school to train for special education, and over the years, he went from being a teacher to a principal and eventually, to superintendent. In fact, it was a vacation from the demands of that position that reawakened something in him. Within eight months, on his way back to art - and to Minnesota, with his life - and the 40 paintings he'd produced in that time - loaded into a U-Haul.
He joins us this morning to talk about his latest project, which marries two of his favorite things: art and children.
Why the Bear Has A Short Tailby Giniwgiizhig and illustrated by Sam Zimmerman will be out next month, and it's published by Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing.
