Ojibwe Indians
The Ojibwe Indians, also known as the Chippewa indians, are located all around the great lakes. They are the second largest indian population in Canada and the fourth largest indian population in the united states. The Ojibwe speak the language Anishinaabe, part of the algonquian linguistic group, which is still widely spoken today by elders. Anishinaabe has a somewhat developed form of pictorial writing system; most of which was recorded on birch bark scrolls and on rock. The use of petroforms, petroglyphs, and pictographs were common. Ojibwe Indians live in small villages consisting of 40-80 people, all of which are either related by blood, marriage, or kinship ties. Traditionally, the Ojibwe are hunter gatherers but also farm and trade making them more horticulturalists. The men fish, hunt, garden, and train as warriors. The woman helped cultivate the fields, pick berries, made maple sugar, made clothing and helped with household chores. As to the children, once the boy masters the art of fishing and hunting, he is then honored and accepted into a war-party. From then on the boy lives the life of a man, focused on a career and independence. As to the sister, if the brother was to bring home food, the sister’s tradition role would be to cook it for him, take care of his clothes, and thank him with tobacco (which he would smoke while she cooked). Ojibwe Women, in general, are submissive and inferior compared to the men.
Living not for herself but to find a mate, women focus on their craftsmanship in hope of impressing a man and forming a relationship. The Ojibwe view the world in three genders; male, female, and the ‘two-spirit’. In Ojibwe culture, the woman occasionally take on men’s roles. When this happens, the individual would be considered a ‘two-spirit’. There are three different types of “two-spirits”. First, the Iron woman. The Iron Woman is a woman who wants to practice, or feels to be a natural at, shamanism, sorcery and medicine. Woman are not
Living not for herself but to find a mate, women focus on their craftsmanship in hope of impressing a man and forming a relationship. The Ojibwe view the world in three genders; male, female, and the ‘two-spirit’. In Ojibwe culture, the woman occasionally take on men’s roles. When this happens, the individual would be considered a ‘two-spirit’. There are three different types of “two-spirits”. First, the Iron woman. The Iron Woman is a woman who wants to practice, or feels to be a natural at, shamanism, sorcery and medicine. Woman are not
Bibliography: Peacock, Thomas D. A Forever Story: The people of the Fond du Lac Reservation Cloquet, MN : Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 1998