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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) but are not considered one of the Anishinaabeg are the Oji-Cree (also known as "Severn Ojibwe"). Instead, their self-description is Anishinini (plural: Anishininiwag) and their language as Anishininimowin.
History
According to their own 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, six great miigis (radiant/irridescent) 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 six great miigis beings was too spiritually powerful and killed the peoples in the Waabanakiing. The five great miigis beings remained to teach while the one returned into the ocean. The five great miigis beings then established doodem (clans) for the peoples in the east. Of these doodem, the five original Anishinaabe doodem were the Echoer (i.e., crane), Tender (i.e., bear), catfish, loon and marten, then these five miigis beings returned into the ocean as well. 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 series of smaller Turtle Islands confirmed with miigis shells (i.e., cowry shells). After recieving 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 Saint 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.
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.
See also
- Algonquin (Odishkwaagamii)
- Mississaugas (Misi-zaagiing)
- Nipissing (Omaamiwinini)
- Ojibwa/Chippewa (Ojibwe)
- Oji-Cree/Severn Ojibwa (Anishinini)
- Ottawa (Odaawaa/Odawa)
- Potawatomi (Boodewaadamii/Bodéwadmi)
- Saulteaux/Plains Ojibwa (Nakawē)
External links
Reference
- Warren, William W. History of the Ojibway People. Borealis Books (St. Paul, MN: 1984).
Native American tribes | First Nations in Ontario | First Nations in Quebec | First Nations in Manitoba | First Nations in Saskatchewan | Native American tribes in Michigan | Native American tribes in Indiana | Native American tribes in Wisconsin | Native American tribes in Minnesota | Native American tribes in North Dakota | Native American tribes in Montana | Native American tribes in Kansas | Native American tribes in Oklahoma
"Anishinaabe"