12-13-02 @ 7:03 am EST

Here are a few interesting articles from the Mille Lacs Band website.

The Mille Lacs Ojibwe have different names for each "moon," or month. These names reflect the important seasonal changes that take place as the moons wax and wane.

January is Big Spirit Moon, or Gichi-Manidoo-Giizis. That’s because this is the time of year when the nights are longest, and the moon is in the sky so much.

February is known as Namebini-Giizis, or the Sucker Fish Moon.

March is called Onaabani-Giizis, which means Walk on Top of Snow Moon.

Because the Ojibwe make maple syrup and sugar in the early spring, April is called Sap Boiling Moon, or Iskigamizige-Giizis.

Zaagibagaa-Giizis is for May. It means Leaves Coming Out Moon.

Ode¹imini-Giizis is the name for the moon in June. It means Strawberry (heart shaped berry) Moon.

Blueberry Moon, or Miini-Giizis, is the name for July.

Wild rice harvesting begins in late summer and early fall, so August is Rice Making Moon, or Manoominike-Giizis.

September is Waatebagaa-Giizis, or Leaves Changing Colors Moon.

Falling Leaves Moon, or Binaakwii-Giizis, comes in October.

November is Gashkadino-Giizis, Freezing Over Moon.

And December is Manidoo-Giizisoons, or Little Spirit Moon.

http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/culture17story.html

According to Anishinabeg tradition, the Creator gave the Ojibwe People the clan, or dodem, system long ago. Ojibwe custom states that there were originally six beings that arose from the sea to live among the Anishinabeg: Wawaazisii (Bullhead), Ajejauk (Crane), Makwa (Bear), Moosance (Little Moose), Waabizheshi (Marten), and Bineshii (Thunderbird). These beings created the original clans.

One of the original six beings, the Thunderbird, always kept his eyes covered because when he looked at the Anishinabeg, they died. Because of this, the other five beings urged Bineshii to return to the sea. And that is why the Anishinabeg do not have a Thunderbird clan today.

At least 20 offshoots of the original clans have been identified. Here are some of the most common clans and their distinct characteristics:

• The largest clan was the Bear clan. Bear clan members were known as war chiefs and warriors, and for their thick black hair that never whitened, even in old age.

• Members of Fish clans — Bullhead, Sturgeon, Catfish, Northern, Whitefish, Merman and Sucker — were known for long life and baldness in old age. Fish clan members claim that their ancestor was the first to appear out of the sea.

• Members of the Crane clan were known for their loud and clear voices, and were recognized as famous speakers.

• The Wolf clan produced scouts. Wolf clan members lived mostly around Mille Lacs and St. Croix.

• Marten clan members served as pipe bearers and message carriers for the chiefs.

Eight clans have been identified among the Mille Lacs Band: Lynx, Bear, Marten, Bullhead, Wolf, Bald Eagle, Sturgeon, and Little Moose.

Even today, clan symbols are used to identify heritage. For example, when Band members are buried, their clan symbols appear on their graves to mark their lineage. Also, clan symbols appear on birch bark scrolls, treaties, and other documents.

http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/culture33story.html

According to Ojibwe tradition, the Creator gave the Ojibwe Nations their clan system long ago when six human beings emerged from the sea to live among the Ojibwe. Throughout history, the Ojibwe People have used this system, and even today it remains an important way for them to organize themselves.

The beings from the sea, which are said to have established the original clans, were Bullhead (Wawaasisii), Crane (Ajejauk), Bear, (Makwa), Little Moose (Moosoonce), Marten (Waabizhesi), and Thunderbird (Binesi). The Thunderbird clan no longer exists, but at least 20 offshoots of these original clans have been recorded. Among the Mille Lacs Band, eight clans have been identified: Bear, Marten, Bullhead, and Little Moose, as well as Lynx (Bizhiw), Wolf (Mai-iingan), Bald Eagle (Migizi), and Sturgeon (Name).

Clan identity is passed on through the father. While they may not be relatives, members of the same clan consider each other brothers and sisters, and they are expected to extend hospitality, food and lodging to each other.

While all clans are considered equal, each clan has distinctive characteristics based on its ancestors. For instance:

o The Bear clan is the largest clan. According to tradition, this clan descends from war chiefs and warriors who were known for their thick black hair which never whitened, even in old age.

o Fish clans, including Bullhead, Sturgeon and others, claim that their original ancestor was the first being to emerge from the sea. These clans descend from people known for long life and baldness in old age.

o Crane clan members descend from people whose loud and clear voices made them famous speakers.

Clans remain important today as an enduring part of the Ojibwe heritage and a way to keep track of blood lines. Members of the same clan often greet each other with "Aaniin, indodem" ("hello, my clan"), and people often request to have their clan symbols put on their grave markers to indicate clan lineage. Because clans generally extend beyond the various Ojibwe bands, they also help unite members of different bands as one nation.

http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/culture60story.html

Oral tradition, which is the spoken word passed from one generation to the next, explains that the Ojibwe clan system emerged long ago when six human beings - Bullhead, Crane, Bear, Little Moose, Marten, and Thunderbird - emerged from the sea to live among the Ojibwe. Over the centuries, these and other clan animals have further enriched the Ojibwe People's oral traditions.

As explained in Against the Tide of American History: The Story of the Mille Lacs Anishinabe, oral traditions explain "how the earth came to be as it is now and how the people are part of the earth and all living things. Oral traditions do not give exact times or dates as does written history. They do give us a special look into the ancient past which would otherwise be lost."

Clan animals are part of this special look into the past. For instance, the bear clan was known for producing great war chiefs. Members of the marten clan served as pipe bearers and message carriers. Civil chiefs and great speakers were expected to descend from the crane clan, while scouts were affiliated with the wolf clan.

These clan animals give us an insight into the ways of life in traditional Ojibwe villages. They also tell us why the Ojibwe People hold nature and all of its beings so close to their hearts. Animals, trees and rocks are all part of the circle of life and oral tradition, which the Ojibwe treasure as part of their culture.

http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/culture64story.html

There is much, much more on this site as well! But I don't want to copy ALL of it here. :) Check out the rest:

http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/culture.html