Anishinaabe Clan System

The **Anishinaabe** (alternatively spelled **Anishinabe**, **Anicinape**, **Nishnaabe**, **Neshnabé**, **Anishinaabeg**, **Anishinabek**) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples present in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. They include the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawatomi, Mississaugas, Nipissing and Algonquin peoples. The Anishinaabe speak *Anishinaabemowin*, or Anishinaabe languages that belong to the Algonquian language family.

At the time of first contact with Europeans they lived in the Northeast Woodlands and the Subarctic, and some have since spread to the Great Plains.

The word *Anishinaabe* translates to "people from whence lowered". Another definition refers to "the good humans", meaning those who are on the right road or path given to them by the Creator Gitche Manitou, or Great Spirit. Basil Johnston, an Ojibwe historian, linguist, and writer wrote that the term's literal translation is "Beings Made Out of Nothing" or "Spontaneous Beings". The Anishinaabe believe that their people were created by divine breath.

The word *Anishinaabe* is often mistakenly considered a synonym of Ojibwe. However, Anishinaabe refers to a much larger group of tribes.

## Name

ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯ *Anishinaabe* has many different spellings. 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.

The name *Anishinaabe* is sometimes shortened to *Nishnaabe*, mostly by Odawa people. The cognate *Neshnabé* comes from the Potawatomi, a people long allied with the Odawa and Ojibwe in the Council of Three Fires. The Nipissing, Mississaugas, and Algonquin are identified as Anishinaabe but are not part of the Council of Three Fires.

Closely related to the Ojibwe and speaking a language mutually intelligible with *Anishinaabemowin* (Anishinaabe language) is the Oji-Cree (also known as "Severn Ojibwe"). Their most common autonym is *Anishinini* (plural: *Anishininiwag*), and they call their language *Anishininiimowin*.Among the Anishinaabe, the Ojibwe collectively call the Nipissings and the Algonquins *Odishkwaagamii* (those who are at the end of the lake), while those among the Nipissings who identify themselves as Algonquins call the Algonquins proper *Omàmiwinini* (those who are downstream).

Not all Anishinaabemowin-speakers call themselves Anishinaabe. The Ojibwe people who migrated to what are now Canada's prairie provinces call themselves *Nakawē(-k)* and call their branch of the Anishinaabemowin *Nakawēmowin*. (The French ethnonym for the group is *Saulteaux*). Particular Anishinaabeg groups have different names from region to region.

## Clans

The Anishinaabe use of the clan system represents familial, spiritual, economic and political relations between members of their communities. Often an animal is used to represent a person's clan or *dodem* but plants and other spirit beings are sometimes used as well. The word *dodem* means "the heart or core of a person". There are different teachings about how many clans there are and which are clans in leadership positions. This is due to the decentralized mode of governance that the Anishinaabe practice. Each person is a self-determining authority, and it is their duty to uphold their own roles and responsibilities for the wellbeing of *all our relations*. This is understood as the "Law of Non-interference". Nobody can interfere with another being's path unless they are causing great harm to another or themselves.

Within the Anishinaabe governance structure there are seven leader clans that each facilitate a specific role and have responsibilities within the community and to the rest of Creation. Within each grouping of clans are seven clans. This means there are a total of 49 total Anishinaabe clans.

1. *Waawaakeshi* (Deer)
	* *Zaagi'idiwin* (Love)
2. *Maang* (Loon)
	* *Debaadendiziwin* (Humility)
3. *Migizi* (Bald Eagle)
	* *Debwewin* (Truth)
4. *Makwa* (Bear)
	* *B'Maadziwin* (Good Life or Balanced Life)
5. *Ajijaak* (Crane)
	* *Mnaadendimowin* (Respect)
6. *Waabizheshii* (Marten)
	* *Aakedhwin* (Bravery)
7. *Mshiikenh* (Turtle)
	* *Nbwaakaawin* (Wisdom)

The clan system is integral to the Anishinaabe governance structure and to the Anishinaabe way of life as well as to their spiritual practices. People of the same clan are forbidden from getting married or having intimate relations as this would spell doom for the clan as a whole.

## History

### Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers

The Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers are among the most commonly shared teachings in Native culture. They hold great significance to the Anishinaabeg and are considered to be the founding principles of their way of life. The Seven Grandfather teachings have been around for centuries, passed on from elders through storytelling. These teachings have helped shape the way of life for the Anishinaabeg for years and continue to do so. The stories can be adapted to fit specific community values and have been incorporated by organizations, schools, different programs, artists, individualists, and tribes.

#### *Nibwaakaawin*: Wisdom (Amik)

According to Anishinaabeg culture, to cherish knowledge is to know wisdom. Wisdom is given by the Creator to be used for the good of the people. In Anishinaabemowin, this word expresses not only "wisdom" but also means "prudence," or "intelligence." In some communities, *Gikendaasowin* is used; in addition to "wisdom," this word can also mean "intelligence" or "knowledge."

#### *Zaagi'idiwin*: Love (Migizi)

According to Anishinaabeg culture, to know peace is to know love. Love must be unconditional. When people are weak they need love the most. In Anishinaabemowin, this word with the reciprocal theme *idi* indicates that this form of love is mutual. In some communities, *Gizhaawenidiwin* is used, which in most context means "jealousy" but in this context is translated as either "love" or "zeal."

#### *Minaadendamowin*: Respect (Shkode-bzhiki)

According to Anishinaabeg culture, to honor all creation is to have respect. All of creation should be treated with respect. If an individual wants to be respected, they must also show respect. Some communities instead use *Ozhibwaadenindiwin* or *Manazoonidiwin*.

#### *Aakode'ewin*: Bravery (Makwa)

According to Anishinaabeg culture, to be brave is to face the foe with integrity. In Anishinaabemowin, this word literally means "state of having a fearless heart." To do what is right even when the consequences are unpleasant. Some communities instead use either *Zoongadiziwin* ("state of having a strong casing") or *Zoongide'ewin* ("state of having a strong heart").

#### *Gwayakwaadiziwin*: Honesty (Gaagaakshiinh /Gitchi'Sabe)

According to Anishinaabeg culture, honesty in facing a situation is to be brave. Individuals should always be honest in word and action. If an individual is honest with themselves first, they will more easily be able to be honest with others. In Anishinaabemowin, this word can also mean "righteousness."

#### *Dabaadendiziwin*: Humility (Maa'iingan)

According to Anishinaabeg culture, humility requires recognizing oneself as a sacred part of Creation, neither better nor worse than any other creation. In Anishinaabemowin, this word can also mean "compassion." Some communities instead express this with *Bekaadiziwin*, which in addition to "humility" can also be translated as "calmness," "meekness," "gentility" or "patience."

#### *Debwewin*: Truth (Mshiikenh/Mikinak)

According to Anishinaabeg culture, truth is knowing all of these things. Individuals should speak the truth and not deceive themselves or others.

### Storytelling

The Anishinaabeg follow an oral storytelling tradition. Storytelling serves as an integral part of Anishinaabeg culture as "stories teach the stock of wisdom and knowledge found in the culture" and "promotes 'respectful individualism," wherein individuals do not force their thinking upon others. Instead of directly teaching right and wrong, the Anishinaabeg often use storytelling to share their history and cultural truths, including but not limited to the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers. Stories often "provide important lessons for living and give life purpose, value, and meaning." They can further "include religious teachings, metaphysical links, cultural insights, history, linguistic structures, literay and aesthetic form, and Indigenous 'truths'." By understanding traditional stories, individuals can better understand themselves, their world, where they came from, and where they are going.

Storytelling is situational, meaning that storytellers must be mindful of audience, of listener, and [should] keep the oration accessible and real." When a story is shared, "[t]he teller and the listener are equally active; the listener is not passive." Furthermore, stories told are not static: "Once they become public, people will play will them, embellish them, and add to them ... There is no need for any particular story to have any particular form. Nor is it the case that any one story can ever be said to have achieved its final form. Instead, all stories are works in progress."

Before telling a story, Elders "very often begin by quoting the authority of Elders who have gone before. They do not state the authority as coming from themselves. They will say things like, 'This is what they used to say,' or 'This is what they said.'"

Beyond sharing cultural knowledge, storytelling traditions can help provide Anishinaabeg children "with the intellectual tools necessary to exercise authory." The Anishinaabeg see the act of allowing children to share stories as "an act of empowerment." This action "recognizes that even children have something to contribute, and encourages them to do so."

Stories are typically shared throughout the winter when there is less to do and the animals are sleeping.

#### Trickster

The Trickster is a common character in Anishinaabeg storytelling and goes by many names, including Coyote, Raven, Wesakejac, Nanabozho, and Glooscap. They appear in many forms and genders. Stories involving the Trickster "often use humour, self-mocking, and absurdity to carry good lessons."

The Trickster helps teach cultural lessons by "learning lessons the 'hard' way." Within such stories, "Trickster often gets into trouble by ignoring cultural rules and practices or by giving sway to the negative aspects of 'humanness' ... Trickster seems to learn lessons the hard way and sometimes not at all." Contrary to some depictions of Trickster figures, the Trickster in Anishinaabeg stories "has the ability to do good things for others and is sometimes like a powerful spiritual being and [is] given much respect." Stories involving the Trickster serve to "remind us about the good power of interconnectedness within family, community, nation, culture, and land. If we become disconnected, we lose the ability to make meaning from Indigenous stories."

### Before the 1800s

Before the arrival of the Europeans, and until at least the 1800s, many Anishinaabeg were subsistence farmers. For example, the Odawa, centered in Michilimackinac, grew corn in the summers and generally moved south in smaller family groups in the winters to hunt game. They tapped sugar maples in the spring, and moved back to the main villages to prepare for the lake sturgeon spawning season and planting.

They were "renowned" for their skills at making and using canoes and traded widely.

Their kinship was patrilineal and most Anishinaabe doodemag enforced exogamy, the wife keeping and representing her father's doodem while her children would take on their father's doodem. For the first few years of a marriage, a husband would live with his wife's family, and then they would typically return to the husband's people. As a result, many Anishinaabe villages included people speaking different languages not only from different clans, but also from entirely different peoples, such as the Huron and even occasionally Sioux.

1. ↑ Template:Citation
2. ↑ Traditional Governance (en-CA).