Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 55

Ojibwa - Language, Culture, Bands and First Nations of Ojibwe people

An Algonkin North American Indian group originally concentrated around L Superior and L Huron; called Chippewa by the Europeans; c.150 000 (2000 census). Hunters and nomads, they were impoverished following the decline of the fur trade.

Ojibwa

"One Called From A Distance" (Midwewinind) of the White Earth Band, 1894.
Total population 175,000
Regions with significant populations United States, Canada
Language English, Ojibwe
Religion Catholicism, Methodism, Midewiwin
Related ethnic groups Ottawa, Potawatomi and other Algonquian peoples

The Ojibwa, Aanishanabe or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway, Anishinaabe, or Anishinabek) are the largest group of Native Americans/First Nations north of Mexico, including Métis. Marie, at the outlet of Lake Superior, the French referred to them as Saulteurs;

Language

The language of the Ojibwa, which many of whom still speak the Ojibwe language known as Anishinaabemowin or Ojibwemowin, belongs to the Algonquian linguistic group, and is descended from Proto-Algonquian. Due to the Ojibwa presence in the Great Lakes region and for hundreds of years as their fur trading with the French increased the Ojibweg’s power, the language became one of the handful of key trade languages of the area and for the northern Great Plains, which lead to an extremely significant presence in the northern US. 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. Continuing their westward expansion, the Ojibwa divided into the "northern branch" following the north-shore of Lake Superior, and "southern branch" following the south-shore of the same lake. Their second major settlement, referred as their "seventh stopping place", was at Shaugawaumikong (or Zhaagawaamikong, French, Chequamegon) on the southern shore of Lake Superior, near the present La Pointe near Bayfield, Wisconsin. By the end of the eighteenth century the Ojibwa were the nearly unchallenged owners of almost all of present-day Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and Minnesota, including most of the Red River area, together with the entire northern shores of Lakes Huron and Superior on the Canadian side and extending westward to the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota, where they became known as the Plains Ojibwa or Saulteaux. The Ojibwa expanded eastward taking over the lands alongside the eastern shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

University of Phoenix

In the USA, the government attempted to remove all the Ojibwa to Minnesota west of Mississippi River culminating in the Sandy Lake Tragedy and several hundred deaths.

In Canada, the cession of land by treaty or purchase was governed by the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and subsequently most of the land in Upper Canada was ceded to the Crown. In northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta the numbered treaties were signed. British Columbia had no signed treaties until the late 1900's, and most areas have no treaties yet. There are ongoing treaty land entitlements to settle and negotiate. The treaties are constantly being reinterpreted by the courts because many of them are vague and difficult to apply in modern times.

See Treaty Timeline below - and see Individual Treaties with maps at .

Culture

The Ojibwa live in groups (otherwise known as "bands").

Several Ojibwa bands in the United States cooperate in the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, which manages their treaty hunting and fishing rights in the Lake Superior-Lake Michigan areas. Some Minnesota Ojibwa tribal councils cooperate in the 1854 Authority, which manages their treaty hunting and fishing rights in the Arrowhead Region. In Canada, the Grand Council of Treaty #3 manages the Treaty 3 hunting and fishing rights around Lake of the Woods.

Traditionally, each band had a self-regulating council consisting of leaders of the communities' clans or odoodeman, with the band often identified by the principle doodem. A example of this would be Maandawe-doodem ("Fisher-clan") of the Meshkwahkihaki peoples, who live along the south shore of Lake Superior.

Bands and First Nations of Ojibwe people

Warren, in his History of the Ojibway People, records 10 major divisions of the Ojibwa in the United States, omitting the Ojibwa located in Michigan, western Minnesota and westward, and all of Canada:

English Name Ojibwa Name
(in Double-vowel spelling)
Location
Boarder-Sitters Biitan-akiing-enabijig northern Wisconsin
Lake Superior Band Gichi-gamiwininiwag south shore of Lake Superior
Mississippi River Band Gichi-ziibiwininiwag upper Mississippi River in Minnesota
Rainy Lake Band Goojijiwininiwag Rainy Lake and River, about the northern boundary of Minnesota
Pillagers Mekamaadwewininiwag Leech Lake, Minnesota
Ricing-Rails Manoominikeshiinyag along headwaters of St. Croix River in Wisconsin and Minnesota
Ottawa Lake (Lac Courte Oreilles) Band Odaawaa-zaaga'iganiwininiwag Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin
Bois Forte Band Zagaakwaandagowininiwag north of Lake Superior
Torch (Flambeau) Band Waaswaaganiwininiwag head of Wisconsin River
Muskrat Portage Band Wazhashk-Onigamininiwag northwest side of Lake Superior at the Canadian border

These 10 major divisions and other major groups that Warren did not record developed into these Ojibwa Bands and First Nations of today.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways Bay Mills Chippewa Community Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishnabek First Nation Cat Lake First Nation Chapleau Ojibway First Nation Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point Chippewas of Rama Mnjikaning First Nation The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Chippewa of the Thames First Nation Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boys Indian Reservation Curve Lake First Nation Cutler First Nation Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Garden River First Nation Grassy Narrows First Nation (Asabiinyashkosiwagong Nitam-Anishinaabeg) Islands in the Trent Waters Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation Kinistin First Nation Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Magnetawan First Nation Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation Lac La Croix First Nation Lac Seul First Nation Lake Nipigon Ojibway First Nation Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe Bad River Chippewa Band Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Keweenaw Bay Indian Community L'Anse Band of Chippewa Indians Ontonagon Band of Chippewa Indians Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Bois Brule River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chippewa River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Removable St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Sokaogon Chippewa Community St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Indians Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Indians Muskrat Portage Band of Chippewa Indians Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Cass Lake Band of Chippewa Lake Winnibigoshish Band of Chippewa Leech Lake Band of Pillagers Removable Lake Superior Bands of Chippewa of the Chippewa Reservation White Oak Point Band of Mississippi Chippewa Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Mille Lacs Indians Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Rice Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa St. Croix Band of Chippewa Indians of Minnesota Kettle River Band of Chippewa Indians Snake and Knife Rivers Band of Chippewa Indians White Earth Band of Chippewa Gull Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Otter Tail Band of Pillagers Rabbit Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Removable Mille Lacs Indians Removable Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Rice Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians (Historical) Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Lac des Bois Band of Chippewa Indians Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council Sagkeeng First Nation Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Saulteau First Nation Shawanaga First Nation Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Wabasseemoong Independent Nation Wabauskang First Nation Wabun Tribal Council Beaverhouse First Nation Brunswick House First Nation Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation Matachewan First Nation Mattagami First Nation Wahgoshig First Nation Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation Wahnapitae First Nation Washagamis Bay First Nation Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation Whitefish Bay First Nation Whitefish Lake First Nation Whitefish River First Nation Whitesand First Nation Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation Windigo First Nations Council Bearskin Lake First Nation Cat Lake First Nation Koocheching First Nation North Caribou Lake First Nation Sachigo Lake First Nation Slate Falls First Nation Whitewater Lake First Nation Wabigoon Lake Ojibway First Nation Whitefish Lake First Nation Yellow Quill First Nation

Other Tribes known by their Ojibwa/Ottawa Names

Known
Name
Ojibwa
Name
Ojibwa
Meaning
Own
Name
Arkansas Aakaanzhish Damn little Kansas Quapaw
Assiniboine Asiniibwaan Stoney 'Asp' (i.e. the Sioux) Nakota
Blackfoot Makadewanazid Black-foot Siksikawa
Chipewyan Ojiibwayaan Pointed Skin Dënesųłiné
Chowanoc Zhaawanoog Southerners Shawnee
Eskimo Ashki-amaw Eats It Raw Inuit
Flathead Nebagindibe Flat-head Salish
Kansas Aakaans [Lives at the] Little Hell-hole Kaw
Kaskaskia Gaaskaaskeyaa Hide-scraper
Kickapoo Giiwigaabaw Stands here-and-there
Menominee Omanoominii Wild Rice People Omāēqnomenew
Miami Mayaame Sturgeons Miimii
Micmac Miigimaa Allied-Brothers Mi'kmaq
Moingwena Moowiingwenaa Have a Filthy Face
Ottawa Odaawaa Trader Odawa
Potawatomi Boodewaadamii Fire Keeper Bodéwadmi
Sauk/Sac Ozaagii [Lives at the] Outlet Asakiwaki
Sioux Naadawensiw Little like the 'Adders' (i.e. the Iroquois) Aioe-Dakota-Lakota-Nakota
Snake Ginebig Snake Shoshoni
Winnebago Wiinibiigoo [Lives at the] Murky Waters Ho-čąk

Ojibwa Treaties

Treaties with France

La Grande Paix de Montréal (1701)

Treaties with Great Britain

Treaty of Fort Niagara (1764) Treaty of Fort Niagara (1781) Indian Officers' Land Treaty (1783) The Crawford Purchases (1783) Between the Lakes Purchase (1784) The McKee Purchase (1790) Between the Lakes Purchase (1792) Chenail Ecarte (Sombra Township) Purchase (1796) London Township Purchase (1796) Land for Joseph Brant (1797) Penetanguishene Harbour (1798) St. Joseph Island (1798) Toronto Purchase (1805) Head-of-the-Lake Purchase (1806) Lake Simcoe Land (1815) Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Purchase (1818) Ajetance Purchase (1818) Rice Lake Purchase (1818) The Rideau Purchase (1819) Long Woods Purchase (1822) Huron Tract Purchase (1827) Saugeen Tract Agreement (1836) Manitoulin Agreement (1836) The Robinson Treaties Ojibewa Indians Of Lake Superior (1850) Ojibewa Indians Of Lake Huron (1850) Manitoulin Island Treaty (1862)

Treaties with the United States

Treaty of Fort McIntosh (1785) Treaty of Fort Harmar (1789) Treaty of Greenville (1795) Fort Industry (1805) Treaty of Detroit (1807) Treaty of Brownstown (1808) Treaty of Spring Wells (1815) Treaty of St. Louis (1816) - Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi Treaty of Miami Rapids (1817) St. Mary's Treaty (1818) Treaty of Saginaw (1819) Treaty of Saúlt Ste. Marie (1820) Treaty of L'Arbre Croche and Michilimackinac (1820) Treaty of Chicago (1821) Treaty of Prairie du Chien (1825) Treaty of Fond du Lac (1826) Treaty of Butte des Morts (1827) Treaty of Green Bay (1828) Treaty of Prairie du Chien (1829) Treaty of Chicago (1833) Treaty of Washington (1836) - Ottawa & Chippewa Treaty of Washington (1836) - Swan Creek & Black River Bands Treaty of Detroit (1837) Treaty of St. Peters (1837) - White Pine Treaty Treaty of Flint River (1837) Saganaw Treaties Treaty of Saganaw (1838) Supplimental Treaty (1839) Treaty of La Pointe (1842) - Copper Treaty Treaty of Potawatomi Creek (1846) Treaty of Fond du Lac (1847) Treaty of Leech Lake (1847) Treaty of La Pointe (1854) Treaty of Washington (1855) Treaty of Detroit (1855) - Ottawa & Chippewa Treaty of Detroit (1855) - Sault Ste. Marie Band Treaty of Detroit (1855) - Swan Creek & Black River Bands Treaty of Sac and Fox Agency (1859) Treaty of Washington (1863) Treaty of Old Crossing (1863) Treaty of Old Crossing (1864) Treaty of Washington (1864) Treaty of Isabella Reservation (1864) Treaty of Washington (1866) Treaty of Washington (1867)

Treaties with Canada

Treaty No. 3 (1873) - Northwest Angle Treaty Treaty No. 4 (1874) - Qu'Appelle Treaty Treaty No. 9 (1905-1906) - James Bay Treaty Treaty No. 5, Adhesions (1908-1910) The Williams Treaties (1923) The Chippewa Indians The Mississauga Indians Treaty No.

User Comments Add a comment…

Oka - Surname, Car, Food, Geography, History, Metrics, Military, Music, Aviation, Lifestyles [next] [back] Oireachtas - Composition, Role, Committees, History, Northern Ireland representation