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

The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014
But first GIIZHIGOOKWE had to convince MIKINAAK to lend his back to the re-creation of
the world, because at that time the world was inundated with water below her and most
animals had been drowned in the Great Flood that had hit the first world. As Sky Woman
noticed that a few animals had survived the flood she called to her aid the giant turtle.
He came to the surface so that she could sit on his back and call others to her side.
Maang (the loon), Amik (the beaver), Nigig (the otter), and Wajashk (the little muskrat)
were among her assistants.
That day, long ago, she spoke to the water animals as follows: 'I don't have all the
powers of creation that GICHI-MANIDOO has. But I am a female spirit and I have a
special gift. I have the power to recreate. I can recreate the world GICHI-MANIDOO
created, but I can't do it by myself. I need your help. I need you to dive deep. I need you
to bring me a handful of the original soil made by GICHI-MANIDOO. The soil will be the
seed I use to recreate the Earth.
All day long the water animals
took turns trying to reach the
soil covered by the great depth
of water but to no avail. At the
end of the day it was only
Wajashk the little muskrat, not
used to swimming in deep
water, who had not given it a
try. The brave little animal
decided that with no one else
available to help it was up to
him to do the job. He took
many deep breaths and dived
down and down.
As he finally came back to the
surface Wajashk had clutched in
his paw the soil from the
bottom of the sea. Gratefully GIIZHIGOOKWE took the soil, dried it and breathed life into
it, then rubbed it on the turtle's back. She rubbed the soil round and round and as she
did so - some say aided by MA'IINGAN the wolf- an island took shape above the
water. This is said to have occurred at MISHI-MIKINAAK-ONG, the present-day Mackinac
Island in Lake Huron. GIIZHIGOOKWE continued to move over the new soil. She and the
wolf walked in wider and wider circles; it took them 14 summers to complete the job!
And so the Earth was recreated. Forever after the Anishinaabeg called the world
MIKINAAK-OO-MINIS, or Turtle Island.
Once the new island was complete, GIIZHIGOOKWE nurtured the twins to manhood and
womanhood, and then, as her purpose and nature were finally fulfilled, she ascended
back into the sky, where she changed her name in WEZAAWI-GIIZHIG-OO-KWE, Yellow
Sky Woman, and became known as NOOKOMIS DIBIK-GIIZIS, Grandmother Moon. From
here on, Nookomis Moon watched over her children by night; by day MISHOOMIS GIIZIS
(the Sunfather) and OMIZAKAMIG-OO-KWE (the Earthmother) took care of them. And
Nookomis’ existence, her gift of life, and the primacy of women are still remembered by
the Anishinaabeg each time Dibik-giizis, the Night Sun shines on their precious islandhome.
“
Giiwenh: so the story goes.
Above image: Turtle Island Paradise by David Wolf Morrisseau.
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