Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes)

Biidaaban, meaning "The Dawn Comes" in Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language), is the title of a speculative fiction novel by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, published in 2020. The novel follows Biidaaban, a young Anishinaabe person who has been tasked with maple syrup extraction in a future Toronto reclaimed and renamed Gchi-nishnaabeg territory.

The narrative blends traditional Anishinaabe knowledge, storytelling, and perspectives with contemporary discussions on technology, environmentalism, and Indigenous resurgence. Biidaaban's work with maple syrup serves as a metaphor for both cultural continuity and resistance against colonial structures. The story also explores themes of intergenerational knowledge transfer, the importance of language revitalization, and the reclaiming of Indigenous relationships with the land.

Beyond the novel, the term Biidaaban represents a broader concept of hope, renewal, and the emergence of a future rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing. It signifies a movement towards decolonization, reconciliation, and the revitalisation of Anishinaabe culture and language. The phrase encapsulates the anticipation and promise of a new beginning, one built on respect for the environment and the restoration of Indigenous sovereignty.