Ojibway Clan System

The Anishinaabe, like most Algonquian-speaking groups in North America, base their system of kinship on clans or totems. The Ojibway word for clan (*doodem*) was borrowed into English as totem. The clans, based mainly on animals, were instrumental in traditional occupations, intertribal relations, and marriages. Today, the clan remains an important part of Anishinaabe identity.

## Tradition

The Anishinaabe peoples are divided into a number of *doodeman*, or clans, (singular: *doodem*) named mainly for animal totems (or *doodem*, as an Ojibway person would say this word in English). In Anishinaabemowin, *ode'* means heart. *Doodem* or clan literally would translate as 'the expression of, or having to do with one's heart'; in other words *doodem* refers to the extended family. According to written / oral tradition, the Anishinaabeg spanned the North Eastern Woodlands of Turtle Island (North America). The origins of the Clans where giving to the Getay-Anishinawbeg after the cleansing of the Earth by water. As the memory of people had been wiped clean. Anishinaabe Toodaims: is the social fabric context for politics, kinship, and identity of the Anishinawbeg peoples.

The meh established "a framework of social organization to give them strength and order" in which each totem represents a core branch of knowledge and responsibility essential to society. Today, seven general totems compose this framework. The crane and the loon are the leadersship, responsible for over-seeing and leading the people. The fish are the scholars and mediators and are responsible for solving disputes between the crane and the loon. The bear are both police and medicine gatherers. The martens are hunters but also warriors as well. The moose are mediators and exemplify peace. Clans are both a means of acquiring and retaining knowledge for the Anishinawbeg. Knowledge gained through experience and interactions with the natural world and other clan members is passed down and built upon through generations.

Traditionally, each band had a highly democratic independent council consisting of leaders of the communities' Families / clans or *odoodeman*, with the group often identified by the principal *doodem*. In meeting others, the traditional greeting among the Ojibway peoples is "What is your *doodem*?" ("Aaniin odoodemaayan?") in order to establish a social conduct between the two meeting parties as family. Marriage among members of the same clan is forbidden.

## Etymology

The word *odoodem* is a dependent noun. When speaking of one own *doodem*, the Anishinaabe would say *nindoodem(-ag)* ('my clan(s)'), *gidoodem(-ag)* ('your clan(s)') for addressees and *odoodeman* ('his/her clan(s)') for others.

## Pedagogy

The clan system is an integral part of acquiring and retaining knowledge for the Anishinaabe. Each clan contributes a key element to the society and individual members contribute to a clan’s knowledge through experience. During a clan member’s lifetime, they are able to gain knowledge known by the clan; emphasis is placed on personal experience, rather than a strict student-teacher relationship. Although members learn through relationships with other clan members, it is the experience gained as a result of these relationships that allows them to attain knowledge. Throughout a clan member’s life, knowledge they gain that was previously unknown to the clan is added to the clan’s collective knowledge. This knowledge is then passed down to future generations, contributing to the "flow of *Nebwakawin* (wisdom) that passes from generation to generation".

Despite pressure from the colonial society in Canada and the United States, much Anishinaabe knowledge has survived and continues to be shared and built upon. Alexander Wolfe's *Earth Elder 18 Stories: The Pinayzitt Path*, Dr. Dan Musqua's *The Seven Fires: Teachings of the Bear Clan*, and Edward Benton-Banai's *The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway* are a few notable works of Anishinaabe literature. These publications are important carriers of knowledge that pass from the ancestors to future generations.

## Clan totems

There were at least twenty-one Ojibway totems in all, recorded by William Whipple Warren. Other recorders, such as John Tanner, list many fewer but with different *doodem* types. For the Potawatomi, at least 15 different totems were recorded. The clan types today are quite extensive, but usually only a handful of *odoodeman* are found in each of the Anishinaabe communities. Like any other All Anishinawbeg speaking peoples, the Anishinawbeg clan system served as a system of social weave as well as a means of dividing labour. The clan groups or phratries are listed below, listing each of the *doodem* clans or gentes within their group. The known Anishinawbeg clans are listed below.

### *Bimaawidaasi* group

The *Bimaawidaasi* group was charged with scouting, hunting and gathering.

* "Hooves" subdivision:
	+ *Moozwaanowe* ("Little" Moose-tail)
	+ *Moozens* or *Moozoons* or *Moozonii* (Little Moose)
	+ *Mooz* (Moose)
	+ *Adik* (Caribou)— The Adik totem is common among the Ojibwa and north of Lake Superior. A prominent family from this doodem from the Grand Portage area relocated to La Pointe and produced the chiefs Mamongazeda and Waubojeeg. Later members of this branch became leaders at Sault Ste. Marie.
	+ *Waawaashkeshi* (Deer)
	+ *Mishewe* (Elk)
		- *Omashkooz* (Stag)
		- *Eshkan* (Antler)
	+ *Bizhiki* (Buffalo)
* "Little Paws" subdivision:
	+ *Waabizheshi* (Marten)
	+ *Amik(waa)* (Beaver)
	+ *Wazhashk* (Muskrat)
	+ *Gaag* (Porcupine)
	+ *Esiban* (Raccoon)
	+ *Waabooz(oo)* (Rabbit)
	+ *Zhaangweshi* (Mink)
	+ *Waagoshiinh* (Fox)
	+ *Zhigaag* (Skunk)
	+ *Asanagoo* (Squirrel)

### *Giishkizhigwan* group

The *Giishkizhigwan* group was charged with teaching and healing.

* *Giigoonh* or *Namens* (Fish)
	+ *Wawaazisii* or *Owaazisii* (Bullhead)
	+ *Maanameg* (Catfish)
	+ *Adikameg* (Whitefish)
	+ *Namebin(aa)* (Sucker)
	+ *Numaii* or *Maame* (Sturgeon)
	+ *Ginoozhe* (Pike)
* *Mikinaak* (Snapping turtle)
	+ *Mishiikenh* (Mud turtle)
	+ *Miskwaadesi* (Painted turtle)
* *Ginebig* (Snake)
	+ *Omazaandamo* (Black snake)
	+ *Midewewe* or *Ozhiishiigwe* (Rattle snake), or *Zhiishiigwaan* (Rattle)
* *Omakakii* (Frog)
* *Nigig* (Otter)
* *Nibiinaabe* (Merman)
* *Ashaageshiinh* (Crab)

### *Nooke* group

The *Nooke* group was responsible for defense and healing. Though today the Bear Clan has all merged into a single clan known as *Nooke*, at one time the Bear was the largest — so large, in fact, that it was sub-divided into body parts such as the head (*Makoshtigwaan* or 'bear-skull'), the ribs and the feet (*Nookezid* or 'tender-foot'), as well as different types of bears such as the *Waabishki-makwa* or 'white black bear' and the *Mishimakwa* or 'grizzly bear'.

* *Makwa* (Bear)
	+ *Makoshtigwaan* (Bear-skull)
	+ *Nookezid* (Tender-foot)
	+ *Makokon* (Bear's Liver)
	+ *Miskwaa'aa* (Blood)
	+ *Waabishki-makwa* (White black bear)
	+ *Mishimakwa* (Grizzly bear)
* *Bizhiw* (Lynx)
* *Ma'iingan* or *Mawii'aa*(Wolf)

### *Baswenaazhi* group

The *Baswenaazhi* group were traditionally charged with outgoing International communications. Because of this, often members of the *Baswenaazhi* group are said to be the most vocal.

* *Binesi* (Thunderbird)
	+ *Ajijaak* (Crane or "Thunder")
		- *Nesawaakwaad* ("Forked tree")
	+ *Ashagi* (Heron)
	+ *Gekek* (Hawk)
	+ *Omigizi(we)* (Bald eagle)
		- *Mitigomizh* (White oak)
		- *Wiigwaas* (Birch bark)
	+ *Giniw* (Golden eagle)
	+ *Bibiigiwizens* (Sparrowhawk)
	+ *Makade-gekek(we)* (Black hawk)

### *Bemaangik* group

The *Bemaangik* are charged with internal/domestic communications. They were often charged with the community's own council fires and help facilitate dialogue on all internal/domestic issues.

* *Bineshiinh* (Bird)
	+ *Aan'aawenh*, *Aa'aawenh* or *Aa'aawe* (Pintail) (Oj)
	+ *Owewe* (Wild goose or "Swan")
	+ *Bine* (Partridge or "turkey") or *Aagask* (grouse) (Oj, Po)
	+ *Nika* (Goose) (Ms, Oj)
	+ *Maang* (Loon) (Al, Oj, Od, Po)
	+ *(Makade)Zhiishiib* ((Black) duck) (Oj)
	+ *Gayaashk* (Gull) (Oj, Od)
	+ *Jiwiiskwiiskiwe* (Snipe) (Oj)
	+ *Omooshka'oozi* (Bittern) (Oj)
	+ *Zhedeg* (Pelican)
	+ *Ogiishkimanisii* (Kingfisher) (Al, Oj)
	+ *Aandeg* (Crow) (Po)
	+ *Gaagaagishiinh* (Raven)
	+ *Omiimii* (Pigeon) (Ms)
	+ *Apishi-gaagaagi* (Magpie) (Ms)

### Metaphors

On occasion, instead of referring to the totem by the actual being's name, a clan is identified instead by a metaphor describing the characteristic of the clan's totem. The metaphors that survive to today include:

* *Bimaawidaasi* 'Carrier' = *Amik*(*we*) 'Beaver'
* *Giishkizhigwan* 'Cut-tail' = *Maanameg* 'Catfish'
* *Nooke* 'Tender' = *Makwa* 'Bear'
* *Baswenaazhi* 'Echo-maker' = *Ajijaak*(*we*) 'Crane'
* *Bemaangik* 'Pass-by Sounder' = *Owewe* 'Wild goose'

## Social order

Some national sub-divisions were simply referred by their major clan component. An example of this would be *Maandawe-doodem* ('Fisher-clan') of the *Meshkwahkihaki* peoples, who live along the south shore of Lake Superior. More inland than the *Maandawe-doodem* were the *Waagosh-doodem* ('Fox clan') of the *Meshkwahkihaki*, who are called the Fox Tribe in English. When the *Maandawe* were defeated in a major battle between the Ojibway and the Meshkwahkihaki peoples, the surviving *Maandawe* were adopted as part of the Ojibwa nation, but instead as the *Waabizheshi-doodem* ('Marten clan'). Among some Ojibway people, (though not all) the *Waabizheshi* clan is also used to denote a form of adoption, i.e., a non-native father and Ojibway mother. In other instances, for example, *odoodem* communities such as the *Amikwaa* were treated as fully interdependent Nations of the Anishinaabeg Confederacy, or given a designation to represent their primary function in the social order, such as with the *Manoominikeshiinyag* ('Ricing-rails') or the *Waawaashkeshi-ininiwag* ('Deer[-clan] Men').

Some *doodem* indicate non-Ojibway origins. Other than *Waabizheshi*, these include the *Ogiishkimanisii-doodem* (Kingfisher Clan) and *Ma'iingan-doodem* (Wolf Clan) for Dokota and *Migizi-doodem* (Eagle Clan) for Americans. There are other *odoodem* considered rare today among the Ojibwa because the *odoodem* have migrated into other tribes, such as the *Nibiinaabe-doodem* (Merman Clan), which shows up as the *Water-spirits Clan* of the Winnebagoes.

## Kinship

Ojibwa understanding of kinship is complex, taking into account of not only the immediate family but also the extended family. It is considered a modified Bifurcate merging (Iroquois) kinship system. Consequently, Ojibwa would speak of not only about grandfather (*nimishoomis*) and grandmother (*nookomis*), father (*noos*) and mother (*ningashi*), and son (*ningozis*) and daughter (*nindaanis*), but also would speak of elder brother (*nisayenh*), younger sibling (*nishiimenh*), cross-uncle (*nizhishenh*), parallel-aunt (*ninooshenh*), male sibling of same gender (*niikaanis*), female sibling of same gender (*niidigikoonh*) and sibling of opposite gender (*nindawemaa*), and cross-cousin of the opposite gender (*niinimoshenh*), to name only a few.

Siblings generally share the same term with parallel-cousins as with any Bifurcate merging kinship system due to being a member the same *doodem*, but the modified system allows for younger sibling to share the same kinship term with younger cross-cousins (*nishiimenh*). In addition the complexity wanes as one goes away from the speaker's immediate generation, with some degree of complexity retained with female relatives (for example, *ninooshenh* is 'my mother's sister' or 'my father's sister-in-law'—i.e., my parallel-aunt—but also 'my parent's female cross-cousin'). In both with the great-grandparents and older generations and with the great-grandchildren and younger generations, the Ojibwa collectively call them *aanikoobijigan*. This sign of kinship/clans speaks of the very nature of the Anishinaabe's entire philosophy/lifestyle, that is of interconnectedness and balance between all living generations and all generations of the past and of the future.

In addition to the Anishinaabeg *doodem*, clans of other tribes are considered related to the Anishinaabe clans if they have the same designation. Consequently, for example, a union between an Anishinaabe Bear Clan member with a Cherokee Bear Clan member would be considered illegal — even incestuous — by many traditional community groups.

## Notable

### White Crane

The White Crane clan were the traditional hereditary chiefs of the Ojibway at Sault Ste. Marie and Madeline Island, and were some of the more powerful chiefs encountered by the first French explorers of Lake Superior. Members of the crane clan include:

* Tagwagane – an important chief at Madeline Island in the early 19th century
* Ikwesewe – the wife of Michel Cadotte and the namesake of Madeline Island

### Loon

Closely associated with the crane clan, members of the loon clan became important chiefs on Lake Superior's south shore during the fur trade period. Members of the loon clan include:

* Chief Buffalo – a famous chief of Madeline Island
* Walter Bresette – a Red Cliff Ojibway activist

### Bear

Always the most numerous of the Anishinaabeg, members of the bear clan were traditionally the warriors and police (Ogichidaa), as well as the healers. Many members of the clan continue in these roles today. The bear clan provided most of those who participated in the Bad River Train Blockade. In fiction, the police officers in the novels of Louise Erdrich come from the bear clan.

### Eagle

Now one of the most common clans, the eagle totem was once of the smaller clans. However, the number of eagle totem members grew when new members whose paternal ancestors were Americans were assigned to this totem. Since the first sustained contact by the Anishinaabe with the United States was through government officials, the symbol of the American eagle was taken for a clan marker. Members of the Eagle clan include:

* William Whipple Warren – a 19th-century Ojibway historian
* Nahnebahwequa – Mississauga Ojibway missionary and spokeswoman
* Kahkewaquonaby – Mississauga Ojibway Methodist missionary and spokesman
* Anton Treuer – Leech Lake Band Ojibway historian and language activist