The Traditional Anishinaabe World View.pdf

The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014
In various Mide-ceremonies, initiates or patients are “shot” by Midewiwinininiwag
(priests), who point the nose of a Mide-nigig-wayaan (beaded otter-skin medicine
bundle) at the initiate, or patient. The “patient” is “killed” by the bundle’s powerful
contents, consisting of Mide-miigisag (sacred cowry shells) that fly into his or her body;
then, with his breath, the priest would revive the “dead” person. When the candidate
member/patient rises, he or she, in a symbolical way, is been “healed” by the repeated
shootings, songs, and prayers. In this dramatic fashion are enacted life and death, loss
and restoration, and infection and decontamination.
It is very probable that in the old days, since they grow only on reefs in the South
Pacific, the small white cowries had been obtained by trade with indigenous people from
the south. It is certain that Miigisag had already been found in earthen mounds in ancient
and forgotten forests in the areas around the Great Lakes, long before the first contact
with European traders.
Go to ZhaawanArt Blogspot to read more about the role of the miigis shell in
connection with the Seven Fires prophecy that lead to the Migration, and about
the Nizhwaaswi Gagiikewin (Seven Sacred Teachings) that became the
foundation of Midewiwin practice.
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MIDEWIWIN: alternately pronounced as muh-
DAY-w'win and mi-DAY-win, its literal meaning
being “Society (Lodge) of Those Who Are In
A Mide State” (Mide meaning something like
“Sacred And Unseen”), Midewiwin is a prestigious
lodge or association of male and female healers
and thinkers and artists, respected keepers and
protectors of the traditional Anishinaabe way of
life and ceremonies that are many thousands of
years old. Midewiwin persons are generally called
Mide, plural Mideg, participants of the
ceremonies are referred to as Midew, plural
Midewiig. Mideg themselves sometimes give the
following, traditionalistic, explanation about the meaning of Midewiwin: “Society of the
Good-hearted Ones” or “The Good Heart Sound Of Life”, or “The Way Of The
Heartbeat”.
Midewiwin – some claim the word partially derives from the Anishinaabe word MINODE’
which means Good Heart, others suggest it derives from MADWEWE which means Sound
Resonance, as in the echoing of the Mide waterdrum whose omnipresent sound
represents the Earth’s heartbeat and that of the Great Mystery of Life – is said to have
been founded many strings of life ago by the first herbalist/medicine man of his People,
who went by the legendary name of Ode’imin (Heart-shaped Berry or strawberry). Under
the skilful tutelage of his supernatural teacher Wiinabozho, who taught him to study the
nature of plants from the conduct of animals, Ode’imin forever institutionalized the
knowledge of curing and Bimaadiziwin, or the Code for Long Life and Upright Living. He
taught the People the properties and the curative powers of all beings of the plant world
and conferred to them the philosophy of Bimaadiziwin, which would forever be
propagated through the ceremonies of the Midewiwin. Ode’imin explained to the
ancestors that the physical side of life and the physical strength of a human being and
that of his community should alwas be in perfect balance with the spiritual side of life and
The Universe of The Ojibwe Anishinaabeg by Zhaawano Giizhik - 2014
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