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

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The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 nibi waabo (water song). Another eagle spirit called Mishoomis Giniw, the Golden eagle grandfather who is regarded as protector of Ziigwan, the spring time spirit, watches over all women, and particularly over women who are in new beginnings. “Keeper of Mother Earth”’ by Abe Kakepetum (Keewaywin First Nation Anishinaabe) Besides being an important prayer messenger, Migizi was chosen by GICHI MANIDOO (the Great Mystery) to represent the Teaching of Zaagi’idiwin (Love) because Migizi flies high above the earth and sees all that is true, and is therefore closer to GICHI- MANIDOO than any other creature. GICHI-MANIDOO explained that Love is the most elusive of all virtues and no other creature is so elusive as this mighty spirit-bird, and love has the same light and airy nature as his plumes. The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 114
The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 Migizi teaches humankind that Nibwaakaawin (wisdom) and Zoongide’ewin (courage) cannot exist without each other. He teaches us that there is wisdom in understanding that one cannot walk the path of life without making changes once in a while and that it takes courage to actually bring about the change. As GICHI MANIDOO, after creating Aki, the World, spoke about the importance of minobimaadiziwin, living a life according to the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Mishoomis Migizi became inspired and told Great Mystery that he, since his feathers symbolized the intermediate region between things of the spirit world and the earth, would like his feather to be gifted to the Anishinaabe person who’s the most brave and who’s guided the most by the Teachings conferred on the humans by the Spirit Grandfathers. Migizi’s generous offer prompted GICHI-MANIDOO to tell the Anishinaabeg of the teachings of the feather and the power of spirit flight, and he instructed them that no Eagle be harmed for their feathers since they were manidoog (spirits) in themselves, and that whenever a person saw an Eagle fly overhead, this mighty spirit-bird must be honored with asemaa (sacred tobacco) in hand. GICHI-MANIDOO added that any person, no matter what age, living their life according to the Seven Teachings would be gifted with a feather! As the eagle is anami`ewin mizhinawe, a prayer carrier of messages and giving thanks, Anishinaabe healers sometimes envision themselves turning into eagles as they pray for another person and to GICHI-MANIDOO, the Great Mystery, asking the eagle to carry the sickness up to GICHI-MANIDOO in order to heal the patient. So highly esteemed are his spiritual powers that an Anishinaabe person would never gaze up to a flying eagle without offering a prayer with asemaa (the sacred tobacco) in his or her hand. Feathers of Migizi and Giniw, the bald eagle and he golden eagle, convey human thoughts and feelings and provide persons with an opportunity to speak directly to the spirits with debwewin (a straight mind) and bekide’ewin (a pure heart). According to tradition, it were the animikii-binesiwag, the thunderbirds, the most powerful birds in creation and metaphorical representations of migiziwag (eagles) and gekekwag (hawks), who imparted to eagle feathers a fragment of their celestial power; it is even said that they gave each eagle four of their feathers. Elders tell us that carrying an eagle feather is a sacred act and that it comes along with great responsibilities since the power of a feather comes from the Thunderbirds; a person who is worthy of bearing an eagle feather must therefore acknowledge that he is recognized by the Thunderbirds themselves as being able to use their formidable spirit powers… The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 115
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The Universe Of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg, an illustrated glossary by Zhaawano Giizhik*

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