The Universe Of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg, an illustrated glossary by Zhaawano Giizhik*
A Glossary written and illustrated by Native Woodland artist Zhaawano Giizhik demonstrating a cross section of Anishinaabe Izhinamowin: the traditional worldview of the Ojibwe Anishinaabeg, who for the past 2 millennia inhabit the North American Great Lakes area.
A Glossary written and illustrated by Native Woodland artist Zhaawano Giizhik demonstrating a cross section of Anishinaabe Izhinamowin: the traditional worldview of the Ojibwe Anishinaabeg, who for the past 2 millennia inhabit the North American Great Lakes area.
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Universe</strong> of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Ojibwe</strong> <strong>Anishinaabeg</strong> <strong>by</strong> Zhaaw<strong>an</strong>o Giizhik - 2014<br />
fed <strong>by</strong> springs. By a wise provision of nature the seed of m<strong>an</strong>oomin is carried southward<br />
<strong>by</strong> the plump, ring-necked zhiishiib – the wild duck- which the People hunt during<br />
M<strong>an</strong>oominike-Giizis, the Rice-Making Moon, the season Euro Americ<strong>an</strong>s call the month of<br />
September.<br />
Reseeding m<strong>an</strong>oomin in a birch bark nooshkaachinaag<strong>an</strong> (winnowing trail).<br />
While “ricing” is traditionally <strong>an</strong> industry essential to food supply <strong>an</strong>d trade, it has, like<br />
the maple sugar camp in the Maple-Sugaring Moon (April), a pleas<strong>an</strong>t social phase, which<br />
is why the southern <strong>Anishinaabeg</strong> gave m<strong>an</strong>oomin <strong>an</strong> honored place in their culture.<br />
Besides being <strong>an</strong> import<strong>an</strong>t food staple the seed of m<strong>an</strong>oomin has also a profound<br />
spiritual me<strong>an</strong>ing. According to age-old Midewiwin knowledge, the <strong>an</strong>cestors of the<br />
<strong>Anishinaabeg</strong> were told <strong>by</strong> seven prophets to leave their homel<strong>an</strong>d near the Atl<strong>an</strong>tic<br />
coast <strong>an</strong>d move to a l<strong>an</strong>d where food grows upon the water; after a 1500 to 2000 yearslong<br />
migration during which they followed a miigis shell in the sky <strong>an</strong>d the call of a spirit<br />
bird that GICHI-MANIDOO had sent to earth to show them the way, the <strong>Anishinaabeg</strong><br />
reached this place in present-day Minnesota, <strong>an</strong>d their migration had come (more or<br />
less) to <strong>an</strong> end, their spiritual m<strong>an</strong>ifest destiny fulfilled. Also, the seed of m<strong>an</strong>oomin had<br />
a spiritual me<strong>an</strong>ing in everyday life: in the long ago GICHI-MANIDOO blessed the sleep of<br />
certain chosen people with the knowledge of m<strong>an</strong>oomin <strong>an</strong>d these “Rice Dreamers’’<br />
showed their People how to feed themselves with the sacred grain. And until today, when<br />
someone dies, the <strong>Anishinaabeg</strong> still offer m<strong>an</strong>oomin for the spirit/soul to travel its<br />
journey…<br />
Click on image to go to the `Protect Our M<strong>an</strong>oomin´ blog<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Universe</strong> of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Ojibwe</strong> <strong>Anishinaabeg</strong> <strong>by</strong> Zhaaw<strong>an</strong>o Giizhik - 2014<br />
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