The Ojibwa or Chippewa - part 1

The Ojibwa or Chippewa
(also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway) - Part 1

@ first, a little about the Name Ojibway.

The autonym for this group of Anishinaabeg is "Ojibwe".
This name is commonly anglicized as "Ojibwa."
The name "Chippewa" is an anglicized corruption of "Ojibwa."
Although many variations exist in literature,
"Chippewa" is more common in the United States
and "Ojibwa" predominates in Canada,
but both terms do exist in both countries.
The exact meaning of the name "Ojibwe" is not known; however,
three most common explanations on the name derivations are:

* from "ojiibwabwe" meaning
"Those who cook\roast until it puckers,"
referring to their fire-curing of moccasin
seams to make them water-proof,
though some sources instead say this was a method
of torture the Ojibwe implemented upon their enemies.

* from "ozhibii'iwe" meaning
"Those who keep records (of a Vision),"
referring to their form of pictorial writing,
and pictographs used in Midewiwin rites

* from "ojiibwe" meaning
"Those who speak-stiffly" referring to how
the Ojibwe sounded to the Cree.



However,
across many Ojibwa communities across Canada and the U.S.,
the more generalized name of "Anishinaabe(-g)"
is becoming more common.

Their major divisions

10 major divisions of the Ojibwa in the United States,
omitting the Ojibwa located in Michigan,
western Minnesota and westward, and all of Canada;
if major historical bands located in Michigan
and Ontario are added, the count becomes 14:

*Saulteaux (Baawitigowininiwag)
about Sault Ste. Marie

*Boreder Sitters (Biitan-akiing-enabijig)
northern Wisconsin

*Lake Superior Band (Gichi-gamiwininiwag)
south shore of Lake Superior

*Mississippi River Band (Gichi-ziibiwininiwag)
upper Mississippi River in Minnesota

*Rainy Lake Band (Goojiijwininiwag)
Rainy Lake and River, northern Minn.

*Ricing-Rails (Manoomininikeshiinyag)
along headwaters of St.Croix River, Wisc.

*Pillagers (Mekamaadweshiinyag)
Leech Lake, Minnesota

*Mississaugas (Misi-zaagiwininiwag)
north of Lake Erie

*Algonquins (Odishkwaagamiig)
Quebec-Ontario Border, about Lake Nipissing

*Doki`s Band ( ?)
along French River, region Ontario, near Lake Nipissing

*Ottawa Lake or Lac Courte Oreilles Band
(Odaawaa-zaaga`iganiwininwag)
Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin

*Bois Forte Band (Zagaakwaandagowininiwag)
north of Lake Superior

*Torch or Flambeau Band
(Waaswaaganiwininiwag)
head of Wisconsin River

*Muskrat Portage Band
(Wazhashk-Onigaminiwag)
northwest side of Lake Superior



Their country

The extent of territory occupied by the Ojibway nation,
is the largest of any Indian possessions
of which there is any definite knowledge.
When the Champlain traders met them in 1610,
its eastern boundary was marked by the waters
of Lakes Huron and Michigan. The mountain ridge,
lying between Lake Superior and the frozen Bay,
was its northern barrier. On the west, a forest,
beyond which an almost boundless prairie.
On the south, a valley, by Lake Superior,
thence to the southern part of Michigan.
The land within these boundaries has always
been known as the country of the Ojibways.
It comprises some of the most romantic and beautiful scenery.
There are crystal waters flowing over rocky beds,
reflecting the mighty trees that for centuries
have reared their stout branches above them.
There are dense forests which no man has entered,
which have never waked an echo to the woodman`s axe,
or sounded with the sharp report of a sportman`s rifle.
Here are miles of wild flowers whose sweet fragrance,
is borne on every southern breeze,
and which form a carpet of colors as bright and beautiful
as the rainbow that arches Niagara.
The woodland is composed of a great variety of trees,
mostly pine, hemlock, oak, cedar, and maple.
As the traveller approaches the north,
he will meet birch tamarach, spruce, and evergreen.



In going from east to west, along the borders of the lakes,
the scenery is so changing and of such kaleidescope variety
and beauty that description is impossible.
There is room and opportunity for adventure among the bold,
broken, rugged rocks, piled up one upon another
in "charming confusion," on the shores,
along the borders of the silent waters,
or beneath the solid cliffs against which the waters
of Superior break with a force which has polished their rocky surface.
The mountains, rivers, lakes, cliffs, and caverns
of the Ojibway country, impress one with the thought
that Nature has there built a home for Nature`s children.

Tomorrow part 2, about their Lakes and more

AHO

Ojibway spirit

Aaniin ("hello")

Today a post about the Ojibway spirit



Nanabooshoo
(also Nanabush, The Great Hare, Manaboju, The Great Trickster):
This prominent figure in Chippewa oral tradition supposedly taught the
Native Peoples all their chief social functions, including hunting, fishing,
canoe building and face painting.



Kitchi Manito (also Gitchee Manito):
The Supreme Being; the Creator; the Great Spirit.

Matchi Manito:
The Evil Spirit,
who takes the form of a great fish or two-tailed merman,
the Great Lynx or something evil that lives in the lake.

The Winds:
The other four spirits
(four is an important number among the Chippewa)
are the East, West, North and South winds.



THE ORIGINS OF NANABUSH



In the beginning, as the Ojibwa story tellers say,
the world in which we live did not exist.
Kitchi Manitou, the Great Spirit,
had a dream in which he saw a world made of mountains
and valleys, lakes and streams, plants and animals,
and people. In his wisdom Kitchi Manitou realized
that he was to bring these things into being.
He created a world made of four primary elements;
rock, water, fire and wind:

To the sun he gave the power
to heat and light the earth,
To the earth he gave the power
of growth and healing,
To the water he gave purity and renewal,
To the wind he gave music
and the breath of life itself,
After these things Kitchi Manitou
created human kind.
To them he gave the power of dream.

As the world was new,
the Ojibwa people had much to learn
and Kitchi Manitou took pity on them
and sent them a teacher, Nanabush.
Nanabush was the son of a human mother
and the West Wind spirit father.
He was sent to earth to teach his people
about the healing plants, about kindness,
generosity, and honesty.
One of Nanabush's first tasks was to name the trees,
the waters, the mountains, the animals,
the birds and the plants.



Nanabush had powerful magic to give special powers
or attributes to the animals and plants.
Nanabush was also a Trickster,
bent on making humans look silly
(although his own jokes often backfired on him).
As a Trickster, he could change form
and take the shape of an animal.
The one distinguishing feature of Nanabush
when he was in human form, as drawn on rocks
and carved in stone by the Ojibwa,
was his rabbit-like ears.

Miigweech ("thanks")
~U-ne-ga-wa-ya~

I live in Germany ....

I live in Germany ....

Beautiful country, great scenery,

But I posed one question ever and ever again!

Why do I think and feel so different as all Germans?

Years ago I started to thinking,
about the life!, also about my life,
I think the meaning of life !
you've got me right?

Now I am 47 years old, relatively lonely,
Because I am "swim against the upstream
of so-called civilized society" !

I will be evaded and condemned
as a dreamdancers or nutter ....

But one remains forever,
my heart remains a red heart,
and I`am proud of this ........

AHO
~ U-ne-ga-wa-ya ~



Ich lebe in Deutschland....

Schönes Land, tolle Landschaft,

aber eine Frage stelle ich mir immer wieder !

Warum denke und fühle ich so anders
wie alle Deutschen ?

Ich habe vor Jahren angefangen nachzudenken,
über das Leben, auch über mein Leben!
Ich meine den Sinn des Lebens, versteht ihr das?

Nun bin ich 47 Jahre alt, relativ einsam,
weil ich gegen den Strom der sogenannten
zivilisierten Gesellschaft schwimme!

Ich werde gemieden und abgestempelt
als Traumtänzer oder Spinner....

aber eines bleibt auf ewig,
mein Herz bleibt ein rotes Herz
und darauf bin ich stolz........

AHO
~U-ne-ga-wa-ya~