The Universe Of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg, an illustrated glossary by Zhaawano Giizhik*

The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014
consciousness quality that was in keeping with the way of thinking of the aadizookaanag,
and the language they spoke. This approach gave the storyteller the chance to tune into
the unpredictable dreamscapes of the supernatural world; after all, the inhabitants of this
world were capable of shape shifting and always inclined to unexpectedly draw near the
storyteller and his or her audience and eavesdrop on the narrative any time and in any
outward shape they liked.
A traditional- storyteller was always aware of the presence of the beings of the
incorporeal world and therefore made sure that his or her narrative - and the words that
made up the narrative - contained the same transformative powers as the aadizookaanag
that played the protagonist in it.
In the sacred Ojibwe Anishinaabe stories or parables, metamorphosis occurs with
noticeably frequency where manidoog change their form. Wiinabozho, undoubtedly the
most beloved of all aadizoogaanag (“grandfathers of the nonhuman or semi human
class”), whose primary characteristic is “shape shifting” - the ability to resume form and
personality of a human, or a hare, or a wild goose, or a tree stump - is basically a
manidoo in nature and essence before anything else; outward appearance is only an
incidental attribute of his incorporeal being.
Usually, Wiinabozho stories are told during long winter nights by the old ones to the
young. Wiinabozho, son of Wiininwaa, a mortal woman, and the Spirit of the West and
grandson of Nookomis (his grandmother on earth), is called Wiisagejaak by the Nakawēk
(Northwestern Ojibweg), the Anishininiwak (Oji-Cree), and their neighbours to the north,
the Cree. Wiinabozho is associated with rabbits or hare and is sometimes referred to as
the Great Hare (Misabooz), although he is rarely depicted as taking the physical form of a
rabbit. He is the benefactor of the Anishinaabeg who helps little children, the poor, and
the weak. But he is also the mighty creator of plants, animals, and the geography of the
landscape as the Anishinaabeg know it. And he is many other things: a shape shifter who
can change from various animal forms to various human forms; a trickster that by his
foolish and humorous actions holds a mirror up to humankind, constantly showing them
that things aren’t always what they seem; a very skillful hunter with supernatural
powers, and a great adventurer, always looking for equally powerful adversaries in order
to test his own strength. Building the first Midewigaan (lodge of the Midewiwin) is an act
accredited to him – although not all traditionalist sources agree that he was actually the
founder of the Anishinaabe Medicine Society.
Likewise, the origins of the WAABANOWIN (the Dawn Society) are traced to the original
teachings of Wiinabozho: Wiinabozho stories are often used in the ceremonies and
teachings of the Society. The reason the members of the Waabanowin only recount
certain traditions in winter, is because Mizhibizhiw, the horned underwater manidoo with
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The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014