The Ojibwa

1. The Ojibwa By: Colin M.

2. Geography • The Ojibwa lived in Minnesota near the Great Lakes. They were one of the largest Native American tribes. Their wigwams, or birchbark houses, were made of lashed together saplings and covered with birch bark. A traditional Ojibwa wigwam

3. Resources • The Ojibwa did not farm much, due to the cold climate, but the lakes and forests provided ideal opportunities for hunting and fishing.

4. Climate • The Ojibwa lived in Humid America and by rivers, so the climate was cool and wet.

5. Ojibwa culture • The Ojibwa enjoyed games, especially gambling. • The Ojibwa held many ceremonies and dances, whether for feasts and festive occasions, or war dances. War dance

6. Ojibwa Religion • The Ojibwa had a god named Nanabozho. He taught them lessons, sometimes through funny mistakes. • The Ojibwa had many spirits, or, Manitous, who represented the various animals and objects in nature. The main Manitou was Kitche Manitou, who created the world.

7. Games • A game that the men played was stickball. It was a rough and violent beginning to lacrosse, played with a net in a hole in the wand. They also played archery and wrestling, and a throwing game called snowsnake. • The women played a game like stickball, but with straight staves and two balls tied together with leather. Snowsnake sticks

8. Ojibwa Government Families were born in a clan, represented by an animal. Some of these animals are Catfish, Sturgeon, Pike, Whitefish, and Sucker, not to mention Eagle, Crane, Loon, Goose, Reindeer, Marten, Moose, and Bear. They could also be represented by totem poles. • The clans were ruled by men.

9. Friends and Enemies • The Ojibwa held an alliance with both the Ottawa and Potawatomi, and were called the Three Fires. They fought Sioux and Fox tribes for control of lakes. An Ottawa.

10. Everyday Life • Ojibwa women passed time making baskets and bowls. • They hunted animals and gathered plants for food, including wild rice and maple sugar. They hunted deer and bear. Wild rice Maple sugar

11. Other Food • The Ojibwa women made the food only once a day, but it was a very large meal, consisting of meat, broth, rice and maple sugar, and dried berries. • They used pots and baskets to cook, made of iron, or bowls made of birch bark. Ojibwa women cooking.

12. Bibliography • Bial,RaymondThe Ojibwe/Lifeways2002, Benchmark Books • Erdich,LouiseThe Birchbark House