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 Heartbeat Society) was erected there, and for the second time since the People had left the Dawn Land the sound of the Midewiwin Grandfather Drum reverberated across the land and the waters. Since then the Sandhill Crane, who is sometimes called Baswenaazhi (the Echo Maker) and regarded as a symbol of eloquence and leadership, presides over all councils. _______________________________________________________________ AKI: the land, or mother earth. Also alternatley called OMAAMAMA, NIMAAMAA-AKI, OMIZAKAMIGOKWE, MOOSHOKAMIKWE, ASHKAAKAMIGOKWE, GOOKOMISINAAN, and OGASHINAN. In a broader context, Aki meansworld, or cosmos. MANIDOOKWE (Spirit Woman) is an ancient term denoting a maternal, spiritual ancestor, referred to as the Mother Spirit, or the land. In the old days, the Anishinaabeg, in particular the men and women belonging to the Midewiwin (Way Of The Heartbeat Lodge), listened to the world and the manidoog and aadizookaanag (guardian spirits) and the animals that live in it. They sought their images and voices in ritual stories and songs and dreams and visions and depicted them on rocks and on medicine bags, in birch bark scrolls, and on a myriad of other items and utensils. In return the world and all the animals and spirit beings that dwell there disclosed to these indiviuials - and their communities as a whole - essential norms and principles for bimaadiziwn: how to live long and healthy lives (see also: ANISHINAABE BIMAADIZIWIN and MIDEWIWIN). _ “Communication”. This outline painting by the late Ojibwe Medicine Painter Carl Ray depicts the Anishinaabe worldview, stressing the communication, reciprocal responsibilities and mutual obligations that exist between all life-giving and life-sustaining forces and beings of Aki, the universe. AN AADIZOKAAN (SACRED OR TRADITIONAL STORY) ABOUT THE CREATION OF AKI (THE UNIVERSE): The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 16
The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 “Many moons ago, when the World was not yet born, GICHI-MANIDOO (The Great Mystery, sum of all Mysteries) beheld a vision. It saw in its dream a vast sky filled with many stars and the day-sun and the night-sun, and it saw the earth in the form of a giant sea turtle. In order to make its dream come true GICHI-MANIDOO first decided to make rock, water, fire, and wind. These substances were born spontaneously, seemingly out of nothing, and GICHI-MANIDOO breathed into each one its sacred life breath. From these four sacred substances, each gifted with a different soul and spirit and nature and shadow, GICHI- MANIDOO created the world it had seen in its vision, filled with the sun, the stars, the night-sun, and the earth. To the day-sun GICHI-MANIDOO gave the powers of light and heat and rays to warm the earth. To the night-sun GICHI-MANIDOO gave the powers of light and the power to watch over the earth and all her children at night. To the earth GICHI-MANIDOO gave the power of growth and healing, and on and beneath her surface it formed hills, mountains, plains, valleys, lakes, rivers, streams, bays, wells, ponds, and even underwater streams. To these waters he gave the twin powers of purity and renewal. To the wind GICHI-MANIDOO gave music-making qualities and it infused in it its own power of breath of life. Then GICHI-MANIDOO made plants and animals (and birds, insects, and fish) and, finally, its breath created man…” -Excerpted from the story “Teachings Of The Eagle Feather, Part 7” by Zhaawano Giizhik. Image: SPIRITS OF THE MOUNTAINS, acrylic on canvas by Simone Mcleod/Aki-egwaniizid. Click on image to view details. I will never forget the first time I saw this magnificent painting done by my friend Simone McLeod, called "Spirits Of The Mountains". As I was pondering the painting it suddenly dawned on me that to us, the The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014 17
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The Universe Of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg, an illustrated glossary by Zhaawano Giizhik*

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