Pamela's+Research+Summary

Home Page The Rise of the Ojibwe People Bibliography =__Research Summary __= = = __By: Pamela Barnes __ = 1. __Climate and Geographic Factors:__=
 * Many Ojibwe came from eastern North America, along the east coast between Canada and America.
 * Lived near Atlantic by gulf of the St. Lawrence, more so the Hudson Bay.
 * North America started to become colder.
 * During the year temperatures tend to be colder near coast and warmer inland.
 * Average daily temperature during summer (July-August) round 12 degrees to 16 degrees.
 * Winter months (November-February) -25 degrees to -23 degrees.
 * Average rainfall (annually) is approximately 500 mm to 700 mm per year.
 * Rainfall peaks (July) at about 100 mm.
 * Snowfall is approximately in the 2 000 mm range.
 * Maximum depth of snow averages less than 1 000 mm
 * Ojibwe, in the 1500s, moved west to Great Lakes region.
 * Ojibwe lived in the forested woodlands before contact with Europeans.


 * 2. __Events and Leaders:__ **
 * 900 the Ojibwe left their villages on the Atlantic Coast to travel inland along the St. Lawrence River.
 * 1400 Descendants of those who started out reached final destination of Madeline Island near Lake Superior.
 * Ojibwe move west, Iroquois moved to Great Lakes region to take hunting and trading grounds from Ojibwe and the Ottawa.
 * Iroquois and Ojibwe had numerous battles, but the Ojibwe finally wiped out their camp during battle.
 * 1618 the Ojibwe makes first contact with the French.


 * 3. __Agriculture and the Economy:__ **
 * Ojibwe families owned sections of maple forest.
 * Early March they would make maple sugar.
 * The Ojibwe would use the sap from trees, boil it, to make maple syrup.
 * Ojibwe stirred the syrup until it turned to sugar.
 * 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.
 * Ojibwa involved in exchange of mink, muskrat, beaver, and other animal pelts.
 * Northern Ojibwa fished, gathered wild foods, and hunted game and waterfowl.
 * 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.
 * Women made clothing from animal skin.
 * bears claws are symbols that represent healing, represent a medicine person as a helper in the healing process
 * Feathers usually eagle feathers represent strength and courage and tend to be highly respected by those who understand the significance of this bird.
 * sweat lodge is a place where people can participate in cleansing or healing ceremonies where water is poured on hot rocks to produce steam.
 * Tabacco is a medicine used to communicate to the Spirit World.
 * The smoke represents one's visible thoughts.

**4. __Socio- Political Structure:__**


 * Social Organization-**
 * Ojibwa were divided into small autonomous bands of interrelated families.
 * Band organization was loose and flexible, and social relations, apart from divisions along the lines of age and sex, were egalitarian.
 * Political Organization-**
 * Each Ojibwa band was headed by a chief position earned on basis of hunting ability, personal appeal, and religious knowledge.
 * Shamans were respected and feared individuals who sometimes also functioned as band leaders.
 * Bands were headed by chiefs
 * As farming and settlement pattern were adopted local Political organization evolved to include an elected chief, assistant chiefs, and a local council.
 * This form of political organization was in part a government-imposed system.
 * The Plains Ojibwa each band had several chiefs, one of whom was recognized as the head chief.
 * The head chief usually inherited his position, held it for life, and was assisted by councillors elected by the adult male members of the band.
 * Social Control-**
 * Censure by means of ridicule and Ostracism was the primary mechanism of social control.
 * Among some Ojibwa groups mutilation and execution were punishments for certain offenses.
 * Among the Plains Ojibwa a wife found to have committed adultery could be mutilated or killed by her husband.
 * Among the Southeastern Ojibwa mutilation was the prescribed punishment for violating mourning taboos.
 * Chiefs among Plains Ojibwa sometimes mediated serious disputes, and when the people gathered on the open plains, camp police, maintained peace and order.
 * Conflict-**
 * Face-to-face hostility was rare in Ojibwa society.
 * Alcohol consumption seems to have increased the frequency and intensity of interpersonal conflict and physical violence.
 * The Ojibwa believed sorcery to be the cause of individual misfortune and in retaliation against their enemies.
 * Suspicion of sorcery was a cause of conflict and could result in long-lasting feuds Between families. Conflict also stemmed from encroachments on hunting and trapping territories.
 * 5. __Art, Literature and Music:__ **
 * Ojibwe art is just one part of the beautiful tradition of Native American art.
 * These creations tell about Indian traditions and customs
 * And reflect stories about Ojibwe families and their experiences.
 * Some of the most unique and beautiful pieces of Native American art is the beadwork.
 * Beadwork designs can represent specific tribes and tribal stories and legends.
 * Beadwork is created with glass beads, tiny stones, and pieces of copper, silver and animal bones.
 * Native American women also sew the beads into decorative patterns in clothing, moccasins, pouches and headdresses.

[] [] [] [|http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/tbacig/studproj/a1041/mnansx1800/chippewa.htm] [] [] [] [] [] []