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Home Page Research Summary Essay The Decline of the Ojibwe People

The Rise of the Ojibwe People
By: Pamela Barnes The Ojibwe are native people of north America. This continent is ther original homeland. Native north Americans are called American Indians or native Americans. The Ojibwe call themselves the anishinabe. This word means “original people.” The Ojibwe once lived near the atlantic ocean in modern day Canada. They began moving westward around 600 years ago. By the 1500-1600s most Ojibwe had made their way to lake superior. This great lake is in the northern united states. The Ojibwe lived in forested woodland near the lake. In summer men would go hunting for fish and deer. (with bows and arrows) Women and children would gather wild nuts and berries (blueberries, chokeberries, and juneberries). Berries would be put in the sun to dry. In fall, people would gather manomia, wild rice (manomia: grows in lakes and rivers). During winter, women would plant small gardens of maize, beans, squash, and pumpkins. Boys learned to make canoes from cedarwood, practiced fishing with woven nets. Girls taught to clean, cook meat, weave fishing nets and make pottery, and birch containers. And the women made clothing from animal skin. __****__ Ojibwe Creation Story   __****__

 K itchi Manitou, the greatest of spirits, the most powerful being in the universe had to ask a woman for help. He asked if she would bear his essence. He asked if she would love and nurture his children. Sky Woman agreed. They joined together and Sky Woman became pregnant with the children of Kitchi Manitou. And then the blighter disappeared. So Sky Woman went down to Mother Earth to make preparations for the birth herself. Many animals passed by to ask what she was up to. She explained that she was carrying Manitou's children and was preparing a home for them. The word spread across the world. Most creatures were happy and excited that Manitou had given them the gift of his children. But not the Water Manitous. They were mad! The life form that lived on Mother Earth needed their water. They knew that if the children of Kitchi Manitou walked the Earth that their powers would be diminished. In retaliation they used their powers to cause a great flood that spread across the entire world. As the waters rose and destroyed her encampment Sky Woman retreated to the Moon. She looked down in dismay. She knew that she could influence her own destiny. She could have a say in how things turned out. Sky Woman could see a few animals that were not under the total control of the Water Spirits. That was because although they breathed air, they knew how to swim! The first creature she called to her aid was the giant turtle. He came to the surface so that she could sit on his back and call others to her side. The loon, the beaver, the little muskrat were among her assistants. What she said was this. "I don't have all the powers of creation that Kitchi Manitou has. But I am a woman. I have the power to re-create. It is my gift. I can re-create Manitou's world. I need your help. I need you to dive deep to bring me a handful of the original soil made by Manitou. The soil will be the seed I use to re-create the Earth." All day long the animals took turns trying to reach the soil covered by the great depth of water but without success. The muskrat was the only animal that had not tried to get the soil. So he took many deep breaths. Down he went, the muskrat was gone for hours and hours. Geezhigo-Quae strained to catch sight of the muskrat. Suddenly she gasped and pointed through the waves. The turtle swam towards it and Sky Woman realized it was the muskrat...but he was dead. Lovingly she pulled him from the water and found clutched in his paw the soil from Manitou's world. To thank the muskrat she bent over and breathed life back into him. Then she took the soil and breathed into it the characteristics that would allow it to provide nourishment, shelter, teachings and incentive to the beings that would live upon it. That soil she rubbed on the turtle's back. And the Earth was re-created. Forever known as Turtle Island. Sky Woman gave birth. Eventually Kitchi Manitou returned and was grateful to Geezhigo-Quae for her strength and her compassion. He gave her a knew name. Thereafter she was known as Nokomis - the Great Mother, creator of the Anishinaubaek, the Good Beings. 