Over the weekend, “Star Wars: A New Hope” dubbed in Ojibwe premiered in Winnipeg. Niigaanii-Animikii Inini, or Kalvin Hartwig, played a role in the translation.

He gives voice to Red Leader, played by the late Drewe Henley. Hartwig is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and works for the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

“It all started when I was perusing Facebook after work,” he said. “I saw a posting calling for applications to audition, and I said to myself, ‘I love Star Wars. I’m very big into Ojibwe language revitalization. I’m a film producer and I want to move into voice acting and acting,’ and so I couldn’t let this pass up.”

He was given lines for several different characters, taped an audition from his home, and sent it off to the producers. He got a second audition, which was virtual.

“I began, and then she interrupted me. She said, ‘Hey, I got a few suggestions.’ She gave me the suggestions, I took them to heart, and when I went through the second time, she interrupted me again,” Hartwig said. “She said, ‘You know what, I’ve seen enough, I’ve heard enough. I really like what you’re doing there. I’m going to give you a role.'”

He went up to Winnipeg in the spring and had one hour to record his lines in a studio. Hartwig says it’s an honor to be part of something so historic.

“This is a huge milestone, not just for Hollywood. This is the first Disney if not major Hollywood film being dubbed in Ojibwe,” he said. “But also a huge milestone for language revitalization, Ojibwe language revitalization. And I really hope that folks that watch this film can be inspired, inspired to either continue learning the Ojibwe language or begin.”

The film will be in select theatres and is expected to be released on Disney+.