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.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<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 />
When the children, if they were lucky, finally returned to their families, they no longer<br />
knew the old l<strong>an</strong>guage <strong>an</strong>d could not communicate with or learn from the elders.<br />
Needless to say that in the visually oriented, modern-day society we live in today,<br />
children’s imagination gets far less exercise th<strong>an</strong> in the old days when children’s minds<br />
were still well-tuned to imagining characters <strong>an</strong>d actions in the story world. Not being<br />
able to speak or underst<strong>an</strong>d the old l<strong>an</strong>guage with its highly expressive nature doesn’t<br />
help either.<br />
M<strong>an</strong>y weshkiig (youngsters), however, are today showing renewed interest <strong>an</strong>d pride in<br />
ANISHINAABE BIMAADIZIWIN, the road that leads them back to the customs <strong>an</strong>d values<br />
of their <strong>an</strong>cestors – <strong>an</strong>d at the same time forward into, hopefully, a brighter future. But<br />
also <strong>an</strong> increasing number of folks who aren’t so young <strong>an</strong>ymore ask the elders who are<br />
still around – or consult books, or blogs like this one – to teach them how to derive<br />
me<strong>an</strong>ing from the stories <strong>an</strong>d from Anishinaabemowin, their native l<strong>an</strong>guage.<br />
Although it is certainly true that most of the formal storytelling traditions have gone with<br />
the skilled storytellers who have passed on to the spirit world, what is promising <strong>an</strong>d<br />
encouraging is that nowadays more <strong>an</strong>d more <strong>Ojibwe</strong> folks, who w<strong>an</strong>t to use the art of<br />
storytelling to revive community tradition, return to the <strong>an</strong>cient practices of sharing<br />
hum<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>d spiritual<br />
experience. Thus, new<br />
practices of storytelling,<br />
adapted to modern living,<br />
are taking place within<br />
Anishinaabe families, even<br />
with those who live in<br />
urb<strong>an</strong> areas; like their<br />
<strong>an</strong>cestors of long ago they<br />
share stories around the<br />
kitchen table, or even<br />
revive the old communal<br />
fireside ritual <strong>by</strong> gathering<br />
around the fireplace with<br />
family <strong>an</strong>d friends.<br />
Furthermore, the fact that<br />
more <strong>an</strong>d more ‘tribal’<br />
schools <strong>an</strong>d colleges<br />
combine academics with<br />
Anishinaabe l<strong>an</strong>guage <strong>an</strong>d culture might also prove helpful in creating a new generation<br />
of storytellers – who, in their turn, <strong>by</strong> building new practices of storytelling, c<strong>an</strong><br />
motivate, inspire, empower <strong>an</strong>d heal those who come after…<br />
<strong>The</strong> above image shows a painting <strong>by</strong> the late Anishinini Anishinaabe artist Carl Ray depicting <strong>an</strong> Aadizoka<strong>an</strong>aa<br />
Giigoonh (a legendary Spirit Fish) called “Snake Sturgeon”<br />
AJIJAAK: Ajijaak, the S<strong>an</strong>dhill Cr<strong>an</strong>e, also called Baswenaazhi, the Echo<br />
Maker, is responsible for leadership <strong>an</strong>d external communication because of his loud <strong>an</strong>d<br />
clear voice. Members of the AJIJAAK (Cr<strong>an</strong>e cl<strong>an</strong>) are traditionally noted for giving<br />
direction <strong>an</strong>d for their oratory skills. <strong>The</strong> WAABAJIJAAK or White Cr<strong>an</strong>e cl<strong>an</strong> provided for<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 />
13