Ojibwa

Origins- Ashley Gross The American Indian Ojibwa tribe is from the Northeast United States, predating the mid seventh century. The tribe calls themselves the “Anishinabeg”, while they are more commonly known as the Chippewa. While little is known about the actual origins of the tribe, they have come up with their own explanation of their genesis. According to legend, in the beginning there was nothing-except possibility. From possibility Gitchie Manitou created seven great miigis appeared to the rampant uncultured people in order to teach them how to live. One miigi was too powerful, and killed a group of the people. He was cast into the ocean, leaving six. These six miigis formed doodems, or clans, and then went into the ocean to be with their counterpart. The miigis continue to send visions of scared places and where the clans need to travel to this day. These great miigis are also known as Sun, Moon, Four Winds, Thunder, Lightening and Windigo. However, due to European influence during the 1600’s there was a “ruling” great spirit that was added, Kiccimanito. Kiccimanito controlled all of the other spirits, most likely modeling after the European “God” concept. The belief in these spirit gods was called Manitou or Manido. Presently though, the Ojibwa are Christian as they have assimilated into mainstream American culture.

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Sacred Times and Practices- Carine Awa
====The Ojibwa believed that inside the massive headlands of the eastern shore was the domain of several powerful gods. A rocky peninsula on lake superiors eastern shore called Cape Gargantua is regarded as one of the most sacred places on the entire shore. The Ojibwa consider it highly charged spiritual center. Nanaboozboo, the trickster god who governed the moods of water and granted peaceful journeys upon the lake t those who paid homage to him. Nearby a devils chair, a 60feet tall 18 m rising out of water. the rock resembles a chair surrounded by another small island called devils frying pan. Not far also a small rock island along Cape Gargantua called devils warehouse. The Ojibwa influencial tribe was the lake superior, it performed most of their rituals.==== ====To cure some one from an illness: a sucking cure is mainly performed by men not women. The shamans use a set of sucking tubes and small bones through which they suck and spit out the illness as part of their procedure. The sucking treatment is commonly use to cure illness that are deemed to come from invaded forces. The ceremony is held after sundown. In the ceremony water is set in a bowl placed near the patient. The shaman proceed by singing and accompanying himself with a rattle, taping the patients body once the place to determine has been found, he proceeds of the illness. Tube and bones to suck the illness out of the patient.====





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Ojibwa: Artistic Expression and Stories in oral religion- Charlotte Dream Catchers: used to dreams.

Dreams: dreamers would dream of certain objects, prophetic dreams; would fortell danger, boys and girls would dream to create their future.

Wapum: Purple and white shell beads were used, culturally important as art, the pictures told a story or represented a family member.

Powwow: Was a celebration that gathered people to give thanks to their Creator, sing and dance.

 Roy, Loriene. “Ojibwa, Overview.” [] Redish, Laura Orrin, Lewis. “Native Languages of the Americas.” 1998. [] Catlin, George. “Braves Dance, Ojibwa.” 1835- 87. []



**TRADITIONAL CULTURE**

===Cultural values such as generosity, honesty, and strength of character, endurance, and wisdom were instilled through education, religious practice, and by example within the tribe. The Ojibwa counted time by 24-hour intervals (nights), months (moons), and years (winters). Each month had a name, denoting some natural feature or event. For example, the month of September, when tribes harvested wild rice along the lakeshores, was called manoominikegiizis, or "ricing moon." October was "falling leaves moon." Time was sometimes reckoned by making notches on sticks. === ===

=== ===Their culture was very much influenced by the natural terrain, or the natural world as the Ojibwa people adapted their lifestyle to survive in a heavily forested land traversed by a network of lakes and rivers. The Ojibwa lived in hunting camps in late fall and winter, a seminomadic life, moving a number of times each year in order to be close to food sources. === ===Except for the Plains Ojibwa, who rode horses, they traveled on land by foot and wore snowshoes during the winter, transporting goods on dog sleds. They treated animals as parts of their world on the same level as themselves. When hunting they would only catch what was needed and used all of the animal. === ===

=== ===Women occupied their time by tanning hides, sewing and, decorating clothing in geometric designs with bones, feathers, dyed porcupine quills, shells, and stones, using bone or thorn needles and thread made from nettles or animal sinew. So that they used the whole animal women made jewelry out of animal bones and teeth. When making their homes or places to sleep they would only cut down or grab what was needed and all was used from the tall trees to the smallest cattails. Weaving birch bark strips or rush, cedar bark, or cattail mats around the saplings for sleeping. When they moved to another camp, the Ojibwa left the frame, taking the lightweight birch bark strips and rush mats. Birch bark was a very versatile natural product from which the Ojibwa people created many items from canoes to toboggans and even storage containers. During warm months the Ojibwa slept on cedar bough mattresses, each person wrapped in a bearskin or deerskin robe. ===

 Bibliography  "The Creation Story of the Ojibwa." Canadian Native Art - a Cultural Perspective by an Ojibwa Artist. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. .  "Ojibwa - History, Migration to the Great Lakes, First Contact with Europeans." Countries and Their Cultures. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. <http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Ojibwa.html>.