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 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. However, both Midewiwin and Waabanowin Elders trace the origins of their lodges or societies to the original teachings of Wiinabozho. The aadizookaanan (sacred stories or parables - myth is a European concept! -) of Wiinabozho are used in the ceremonies and teachings of both societies. Waabanowin, the Society of the Dawn, is the counterpart of the – much more prominent - Midewiwin. In these aadizookaanan, metamorphosis occurs with noticeably frequency where manidoog (manitous or spirit beings) change their form. Wiinabozho, undoubtedly the most beloved of all aadizoogaanag and manidoog, is the pinnacle of all that is good in the Anishinaabeg. Yet, paradoxically, Wiinabozho also opens a dark window on the soul, revealing all that is bad in human nature. He is basically a manidoo in nature and essence before anything else; outward appearance is only an incidental attribute of his incorporeal being. One of the many good deeds Wiinabozho performed for the good of the People was that he had blessed Wiigwaas, their beloved birch tree. The principal lesson that Wiinabozho, through his many adventures and his often foolish, sometimes heroic, and sometimes wise actions, teaches mankind is that one can outgrow or overcome childish behavior and learn to act wisely and with maturity – and to live according the guiding principles of Anishinaabe bimaadiziwin: how to live a good and honest life. His original name (Nanabozho) is possibly derived from an Ojibwe word that is a corruption of naning, which means “trembling”, combined with ozho (ozo), shortened from ozhowaa (ozowaa), which means “having a tail”. If this is true, it is not unthinkable that the name Nanabozho fits Wiinabozho’s capacity of a contrary and thus holds up a mirror to people who are timid and unwilling to take risks or responsibility.* Left: “Spirit For Each Day” bich bark painting by Mishibinijima (Click on image to see his blog). Right: image of Wiinabozho. The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 128
The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 Kevin Belmore/Minowewegabow (Ojibwe): ”Giizis Over Nanabush” Many strings of life ago Wiinabozho suddenly disappeared from the earth; some sources relate that he went to rest in the land of his father, the Spirit of the West, while others claim that he, since sunset indicates death - which he, being an aadizoogaan, certainly wasn’t - more likely spends his old age on an island toward the sunrise – wearing the trunk and branches of the cedar tree as an ornament on his head, with its roots all around him. And although he couldn’t be destroyed because his inner essence was still manidoo, neither could he be permitted to roam at will through cosmos as he had done, so he was placed on this unknown island in the Great Lake (Superior) to remain there as long as the earth lives. Roy Thomas (Ojibwe): “Thunder Bay” The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 129
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The Universe Of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg, an illustrated glossary by Zhaawano Giizhik*

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