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 />
one time for each of the seven directions - east, south, west, north, the skies, the earth,<br />
<strong>an</strong>d within oneself. According to the vision of the Omàmiwinini gr<strong>an</strong>dmother that led to<br />
the renewed water song ceremony, thirteen gr<strong>an</strong>dmothers stood on the ice of a lake in<br />
order to absorb the teachings from the water under their feet….<br />
Wikwemikong <strong>Ojibwe</strong> painter James Mishibinijima: “ Thirteen Gr<strong>an</strong>dmothers” (Click on image)<br />
_______________________________________________________________________<br />
NIGIG: <strong>The</strong> Otter. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Anishinaabeg</strong> know how much they are indebted to Nigig, the<br />
otter. Nigig had once saved their <strong>an</strong>cestors from extinction <strong>by</strong> bringing a healing pl<strong>an</strong>t<br />
(ginebig-washk or “snake root”) from the depths of the waters, therefore he (along with<br />
mikinaak the turtle) was elected the symbol of healing.<br />
According to <strong>an</strong>cient tradition, WIINABOZHO, the benevolent<br />
messenger whom GICHI-MANIDOO (the Great Mystery) had ordained to<br />
help the People, noticed the poor condition they were in – poverty,<br />
sickness <strong>an</strong>d even starvation had plunged them in sheer misery <strong>an</strong>d<br />
despair – <strong>an</strong>d he chose the otter to teach them about various remedies<br />
<strong>an</strong>d rituals for treating the sick.<br />
For this reason the priests of both MIDEWIWIN (Society of Unseen<br />
Ones) <strong>an</strong>d WAABANOWIN (Society of Dawn, a counterpart of the<br />
Midewiwin) elected NIGIG the first <strong>an</strong>d leading patron of their powerful<br />
Medicine Lodges.<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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