An illustrated glossary by Zhaawano Giizhik*

The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014
*In the process of composing this document, I respectfully borrowed and adapted some passages
from the Noongwa e-Anishinaabemjig website, the book “Rites of Conquest” by Charles E. Cleland
(University of Michigan 1992), ZhaawanArt art blog, the books “Ojibway Ceremonies” and
“OjibwayHeritage” by Basil Johnston (Bison Book, University of Nebraska Press 1990), The
Iconology, Manitou(s) and Metaphors of Josh Kakegamic by Leah Fontaine, the Article “The Spirit
Powers of Ojibwe and Odawa Art” by Winona LaDuke (NMAI, fall 2000), Anishinaabemowin Circle
Learning Guide Reference Book September 2010, Living With Animals by Michael Pomedi (University
Of Toronto Press 2014), and “Minjimendaamowinon Anishinaabe” by Janice
Acoose/Miskwonigeesikokwe (University of Saskatchewan). Also, sometimes text sources and
images are marked by a hyperlink. The graphic art and jewelry shown on these pages are works
by Woodland artists Norval Morrisseau (Miskwaabik Animikii; 1932-2007), Jackson Beardy (1944-
1984), Alex Janvier (1935), Carl Ray (1943-1978), Abe Kakepetum, Frank Polson (1952), Leland
Bebaminojmat Bell (1953), James Mishibinijima Simon (1954), Simone Mcleod (Aki-egwaniizid; 1962),
Iwan Shawana, Chris Angeconeb, Zhaawano Giizhik (1959), Christi Belcourt, and others.
I gratefully and respectfully dedicate this illustrated glossary to my Ojibwe Anishinaabe
ancestors who left their spirit and footprints at the beautiful rapids and falls of
Baawitigong (Sault Ste. Marie, MI); to my sons Niiwino Djjibikag (Odji) and Wiigwaas
Gitchiode’ (Gitchy) and each of their cousins so they will not forget where they come
from; to Aki-egwaniizid (Simone McLeod) because she is my best friend and lovingly
included me in her life and her amazing artistic and spiritual journey to the Dawn Land; and
to my Kanienkehaka /Odaawaa Nishnaabe niijii, oshkinawe-ogichidaa Phillip Meshekey
because he aspires to utilize his contemporary Turtle Medicine-inspired art expressions to
build bridges between the younger and older Anishinaabeg generations. Chi-miigwech
gakina awiiya inawemaaganag, miigwech gibzindaw, thank you all my relatives for listening.
Pronunciation Guide
All jewelry shown here and on Zhaawano’s web pages and blog posts have Ojibwe Anishinaabe (Chippewa)
names. The language, Anishinaabemowin, forms one of the daughters of the great Algonquian
(linguistic) stock, and is composed of a large variety of dialects; the disparities between, for instance,
the northern (Canadian) and southern (U.S.) dialects are quite substantial. The words and names
that you find on these pages more or less reflect these dialect differences. Being a spoken
language, only recently people have begun to write it. Although there is no standard international
orthography (yet), the below list is based on the Fiero Double Vowel orthography system. It is
currently used in over 200 Anishinaabe communities in and around Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta, North Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the international boundary.
In the list below, Ojibwe vowels and consonants and English equivalents of the Ojibwe sounds
are given. Although for written communication purposes the Fiero system was chosen as a crosscommunity
and international orthography, the list does not represent the full range of vowels or the
tones, nor does it reflect the enormous diversity of pronunciations and intonations that are typical of
a specific region or community. Please note that accurate pronunciation cannot be learned without
respectfully consulting a Native Ojibwe Anishinaabe speaker either in the U.S. or in Canada.
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13 approximate sounds of Ojibwe Anishinaabe vowels and consonants are given below.
a = as in about, or sometimes as in luck
aa = as in author but long in duration, pronounced with a certain emphasis.
ay = as in bye.
e = as in café, sometimes (but rarely) as in bed.
i = as in pin
ii = as in eel
o = as in obey, and sometimes as in book
oo = as in boat, and sometimes as in boot
ch = as in chin
j = as in judge
ñ = a (French) nasal sound, sometimes written as ‘nh’ (occurring at the end of some words)
These nasal sound are not always indicated in the below text.
zh = as in pleasure
‘ = glottal stop; represents a throaty release of air similar to the pause in “oh-oh”. A global stop
is sometimes omitted in pronunciation.
N.B.: All other consonants are (more or less) the same as in English.
The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014
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