A Brief Ojibway History (Part I)

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The Ojibway or Ojibwa were of the Algonquin stock and are closely related to the Cree and Ottawa Nations. They were called Mississauga's by the early settlers. In the United States they call themselves Chippewa. The Algonquin's were the most widely spread of the First Nations People. They called themselves Anishinabag or Anishinabe which means " original men " Ojibway or Ojibwa comes from the Algonquin word "otchipwa" which means to pucker. (Their moccasins seams had a puckered up appearance which helped to keep out the snow ) It is easy to see where the name Chippewa comes from.

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They were not an agricultural people, but rather depended on fishing, hunting and the gathering of Wild Rice and cranberries. They discovered the secret of the maple tree and made Maple Sugar. They lived in Wigwams or a version of the Tipi, which was covered with bark mats. They excelled in basket and mat weaving, and made the Birch Bark Canoe , which became the transport method of choice by the French Fur Traders.

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They were more independent than the Haudenosaunee, had a version of the Clan System, but did not engage in inter-tribal celebrations. Their name for God was Monedo or Manitou. The Mississauga drove the Seneca; out of southern Ontario in the late 1600's. At one point in time, the ( 'Ojibway'/ Mississauga ) controlled the entire area we call the "Golden Horseshoe".

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By the late 1700's almost all the Aboriginal Peoples had moved from this area driven out by logging and increased white settlement. The treaties had robbed them of their land and lifestyle. They had never been defeated in war with the English; in fact they were allies and in the end were betrayed by the English Military Government. The promised Sovereignty for First Nations never came and remains denied to these First Canadians even now.

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Harvey Kirsch

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Source: www.rivernen.ca

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* Photography: Author unknown