NAS takes 1st, 2nd at Annual Quiz Bowl

Thirteen registered teams traveled from all parts of Northern Minnesota — from as far as International Falls — to attend the annual Neyaashiing* Quiz Bowl held on April 20. The event was a huge success, and Nay Ah Shing home teams took first and second place, followed by Fond du Lac in third.

Biidaana LeAnn Benjamin of the Nay Ah Shing Ojibwe Language and Culture Program offered her congratulations to all students and their coaches, and chi-miigwech to individuals and departments for donating items to the Annual Quiz Bowl 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place sling bags:

– Naomi and her Girls for all the sweet goodies; 

– Public Health – various items, and so much more; 

– Scholarships – cups, pens; 

– Secretary-Treasurer Carolyn Beaulieau – Mille Lacs 
Band mini flags; 

– Wewinabi – toothbrushes. 


“Most of all, chi-miigwech to judges Lorena Panji Gahbow and Joycelyn Shingobe and to moderator Byron Ninham,” said Biidaana. “We hope to have more successful years to come!”

What is quiz bowl?

At Ojibwe quiz bowl competitions, students answer questions posed by a moderator about Ojibwe language, culture, and history. Teams square off against each other in tournament format. If there is any uncertainty about the accuracy of a response, judges make the final determination whether the answer is correct or not.
High schools and colleges throughout Minnesota sponsor Ojibwe and Dakota quiz bowl teams. Onamia and Nay Ah Shing high schools both field teams and host tournaments each year.

*Note: "Neyaashing" is the alternate double-vowel spelling of Nay Ah Shing.

Photos: Nay Ah Shing A, above, took first place at the April 20 tournament, and Nay Ah Shing B, below, finished second. Left to right: Caleb Sam, Mia Sam, Ronni Jourdain, RaeAna Sam-Nickaboine, Chase Sam, Adrian Wade, Adam Benjamin.