Anishinaabe

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Anishinaabe or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek (which is the plural form of the word) is a self-description often used by people belonging to the indigenous Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonkin peoples of North America, who share closely related Algonquian languages.

The definition of "Anishnaabeg" is First- or Original-People. Another possible definition refers to ideas about the good humans, or good people that are on the right road or path given to them by the Creator.

There are many variant spellings of the Anishinaabe name, depending on the transcription scheme and also on whether the name is singular or plural. So, different spelling systems may indicate vowel length or spell certain consonants differently (Anishinabe, Anicinape); meanwhile, variants ending in -eg/ek (Anishinaabeg, Anishinabek) come from an Algonquian plural, while those ending in an -e come from an Algonquian singular.

In the eastern Ojibwe and in the Odawa, due the syncope the word experiences, the name "Anishinaabe" is realised as Nishnaabe. The cognate word Neshnabé comes from Potawatomi, a people long allied with Odawas and Ojibwes in the Council of Three Fires. Identified as Anishinaabe but not part of the Council of Three Fires are the Nipissing, Mississaugas and Algonquin.

The Saulteaux people of western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan are also Anishinaabe, a sub-tribe of the Ojibwe, but they often call themselves Nakawē(-k) and their form of the Anishinaabe language as Nakawēmowin. Closely related to the Ojibwe and speaking a language mutually intelligible with Anishinaabemowin (Anishinaabe language) are the Oji-Cree (also known as "Severn Ojibwe"). However, their most common self-description is Anishinini (plural: Anishininiwag) and their language Anishininimowin.

Contents 1 History 2 Historical relations between the Anishinaabeg and other indigenous groups 3 Historical relations between the Anishinaabeg and Settlers 3.1 In French North America 3.2 In British North America 3.3 In the United States 3.4 In Canada 4 Relations today between the Anishinaabeg and their neighbours 4.1 Other indigenous groups 4.2 Canada 4.3 United States 5 Anishinaabe in popular culture 6 See also 7 External links 8 References

[edit] History

According to their tradition, and from recordings in birch bark scrolls, they came from the eastern areas of North America, or Turtle Island, and from along the east coast. According to the oral history, seven great miigis (radiant/iridescent) beings appeared to the peoples in the Waabanakiing (Land of the Dawn, i.e. Eastern Land) to teach the peoples of the mide way of life. However, the one of the seven great miigis beings was too spiritually powerful and killed the peoples in the Waabanakiing whenever the people were in its presence. The six great miigis beings remained to teach while the one returned into the ocean.

The six great miigis beings then established doodem (clans) for the peoples in the east. Of these doodem, the five original Anishinaabe doodem were the Wawaazisii (Bullhead), Baswenaazhi (Echo-maker, i.e., Crane), Aan'aawenh (Pintail Duck), Nooke (Tender, i.e., Bear) and Moozoonsii (Little Moose), then these six miigis beings returned into the ocean as well. If the seventh miigis being stayed, it would have established the Thunderbird doodem.

At a later time, one of these miigis beings appeared in a vision to relate a prophecy. The prophecy stated that if the Anishinaabeg did not move further west, they would not be able to keep their traditional ways alive because of the many new settlements and European immigrants that would arrive soon. Their migration path would be symbolized by a series of smaller Turtle Islands, which was confirmed with miigis shells (i.e., cowry shells). After receiving assurance from the their "Allied Brothers" (i.e., Mi'kmaq) and "Father" (i.e., Abnaki) of their safety in having the Anishinaabeg move inland, they advanced along the St. Lawrence River to the Ottawa River to Lake Nipissing, and then to the Great Lakes.

First of these smaller Turtle Islands was Mooniyaa, which Mooniyaang (Montreal, Quebec) now stands. At their "third stopping place", the Anishinaabeg divided into six divisions: Algonquin, Nipissing, Mississaugas, Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. While the Odawa established their long-held cultural centre on Manitoulin Island, the Ojibwe established their long-held cultural centre in the Sault Ste. Marie region of Ontario, Canada. With expansion of trade under partnerships with the French and later the British, fostered by availability of Small arms, members of the Council of Three Fires expanded southward to the Ohio River, southwestward along the Illinois River, and westward along Lake Superior, Lake of the Woods and the northern Great Plains.

As the Anishinaabeg moved inland, through both alliances and conquest, various other closely-related Algonquian peoples were incorporated into the Anishinaabe Nation. These included, but not limited to, the Noquet (originally part of the Menomini Tribe) and Mandwe (originally part of the Fox). Other incorporated groups can generally be identified by the individual's Doodem (Clan). Migizi-doodem (Bald Eagle Clan) generally identifies those whose ancestors were Americans, Awaazisii-doodem (Burbot Clan) as now extinct branch of Sioux occupying the Sault Ste. Marie region of Lake Superior and Ma'iingan-doodem (Wolf Clan) as Santee Sioux. Other Anishinaabe doodem migrated out of the core Anishinaabeg groupings, such as the Nibiinaabe-doodem (Merman Clan) that is now found as the "Water-spirit Clan" of the Winnebagos.

Anishinaabeg peoples live as tribal governments or bands (First Nations) in both the northern United States and southern Canada, chiefly around the Great Lakes. Through treaties and Indian Removal of the past, some Anishinaabeg are also located in Kansas and Oklahoma.

[edit] Historical relations between the Anishinaabeg and other indigenous groups

[edit] Historical relations between the Anishinaabeg and Settlers

Historically, the great majority of Anishinabeg people dealt with the white settlers peacefully. However, we must exclude the Anishinabeg from the Three Fires Confederation, from their Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, southern Ontario, Pennsylvania and Quebec lands, for they were from the more easterly lands of the Anishinabeg people, which simply means they were the first of the Anishinabeg to carry on contact with the invading whites. Countless numbers of eastern Anishinabeg warriors and civilians, laid down their lives fighting the white settlers who dared to squat on their beloved land. Presently, we have no correct estimate for exactly how many Anishinabeg became a casualty during their war against the white settlers, yet it must have been significant. Overall, most contact between the Anishinabeg and white settlers were through peaceful means. Then there is that question which deals specifically with the white traders, who were known to entice the Anishinabeg straight into serious dept. Thats an issue everyone would like to forget, for the same continues at the present time for all people, no matter what race they may be.

[edit] In French North America

[edit] In British North America

In regards to the Anishinabeg relationship with the British, it was no more different than their relationship with their French brethren. However, the Anishinabeg of the Three Fires Confederation likely looked upon their British brethren with greater suspicion and distrust, than they had for the French. When it comes down to it, the leaders of the Three Fires Confederation only went so far in their relationship with the English, as to acquire those necessary modern day weapons of war, so they could defend their beautiful land against their white American enemy, in the first phase of their relationship with their English brethren. During the American Revolutionary War, through the War of 1812, the Anishinabeg of the east of their vast country, sent their warriors out to attempt to halt the onslaught of the American whites, while forming an uneasy military alliance with England, which the leaders from the Three Fires Confederation likely felt very reluctant about doing, but they obviously knew that they had no choice but to give in to doing the unwanted. Once the Anishinabeg of the east of their vast country had been defeated by the United States, the door was then open for both England and the United States, to actively force the remaining Anishinabeg to cede their beloved land to them. England would eventually demand of the Anishinabeg of Canada to go to that negotiating table to cede over almost all of their beloved land. The leaders of the Canadian Anishinabeg definitely dreaded going to those deliberate land debacles,which were one of the darkest events in human history. As for the overall relationship that the Anishinabeg had with England, it can be safe to assume that the Anishinabeg absolutely despised having anything to do with England, just as much as they despised having anything to do with the Americans, and just as much as they despised having anything to do with France. In other words, the Anishinabeg people looked upon all whites with great negativity.

[edit] In the United States

The relationship between the Anishinaabe and the American government have not always been a pleasant one. Beginning with the Northwest Indian War caused in part by American settlers illeagally colonizing areas between the original Thirteen Colonies and Mississippi River and ending with the signing of the Treaty of Greenville of 1795, the government of the United States had attempted to relocate tribes from the entire United States to the west of the Mississippi River. Many Anishinaabe refugees from the conflict, particularly Odawa and Potawatomi migrated north to British-held areas.

Those who remained were then subjected to the Indian Removal policy of the United States, which of all the Anishinaabeg affected the Potawatomi the most. The Odawa were more removed from the settlers' paths, so only a handful of communities experienced removal. For the Ojibwa, removal attempts culminated in the Sandy Lake Tragedy and resulted in several hundred deaths, while only few families were removed to Kansas as part of the Potawatomi removal. For the Potawatomi, survival without removal meant escaping into Ojibwa-held areas and hiding from the officials of the United States.

After the Sandy Lake Tragedy, the goal of the government changed to instead moved the tribes onto reservations, often consolidating whole groups of communities. However, after the Dakota War of 1862, many Anishinaabe communities in Minnesota were relocated and further consolidated.

[edit] In Canada

In Canada, the Anishinabeg are probably more numerous than the Anishinabeg of the United States, even though the latest population estimates give the American Anishinabeg population being greater than Canada's Anishinabeg's population. We must include the many more mix bloods which are included among the American Anishinabeg population, when we debate the correct Anishinabeg population. But probably more so is the fact that many of Canada's Anishinabeg's are not counted during census time as a result of certain laws which are followed in Canada. In the United States, the Anishinabeg population is approaching near 200,000, which does include many mix bloods who take pride in being Anishinabeg. Apparently, the accepted Canadian Anishinabeg population is under 100,000, but we have to include those who are not officially counted, whose correct number could actually equal the accepted current Canadian Anishinabeg population. So to be fair its likely that Canada's correct Anishinabeg population could be 200,000 or even higher, and that does include mix bloods. Canadian Anishinabeg's have withstood the efforts of their white brethren to force them to only speak English, which the Anishinabeg in the United States were not capable of doing. 50,000 or more Canadian Anishinabeg's speak in the Anishinabeg dialects they were born to speak in. From Quebec, to the eastern lands of British Columbia, there are numerous Anishinabeg Reserves, which, are for the most part, small in size but those tiny islands of remaining Canadian Anishinabeg lands have kept the Canadian Anishinabeg's well organized, and their beautiful musical language alive. Of course, the Canadian Anishinabeg are descended from the northern Lake Superior Anishinabeg's, whose original homeland was probably in the vicinity of the eastern upper peninsula of Michigan, where they would eventually separate, with one group going down into Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, southern Ontario and Pennsylvania, while another group migrated straight westward, while the ancestors of the Canadian Anishinabeg's then commenced to the north, and then to the west, where they would eventually migrate to eastern British Columbia in the 19th century. Future scholars of the Anishinabeg will eventually learn if all Anishinabeg's are descended from those Anishinabeg's of the eastern upper peninsula of Michigan, or if they are descended from the Algonkin Anishinabeg's of Quebec. Today, we truly can't determine the true origins of the Anishinabeg people, but history does point to the upper peninsula of Michigan as their birth lands, but the Algonkins need further intensive study to determine if all Anishinabeg people are directly descended from them.

[edit] Relations today between the Anishinaabeg and their neighbours

[edit] Other indigenous groups

[edit] Canada

[edit] United States

[edit] Anishinaabe in popular culture

A fictional Anishinaabe clan in Ontario, the Mtigwaki, are featured in the comic strip For Better or For Worse from 2005-2006.

[edit] See also

• Algonquin (Omaamiwinini)
  • Algonquin language
• Midewiwin
• Mississaugas (Misi-zaagiing)
• Nipissing (Odishkwaagamii)
• Oji-Cree/Severn Ojibwa (Anishinini)
  • Anishininimowin language
• Ojibwa/Chippewa (Ojibwe)
  • Ojibwe language
• Ottawa (Odaawaa/Odawa)
• Potawatomi (Boodewaadamii/Bodéwadmi)
  • Potawatomi language
• Saulteaux/Plains Ojibwa (Nakawē)

[edit] External links

• Anishinabek Nation - Union of Ontario Indians
• Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians History

[edit] References

• Bento-Banai, Edward (2004). Creation- From the Ojibwa. The Mishomis Book.
• Warren, William W. History of the Ojibway People. Borealis Books (St. Paul, MN: 1984).
• White, Richard (July 31, 2000). Chippewas of the Sault. The Sault Tribe News.