The Ojibway Creation Story

Boo-zhoo' (hello), my name is Mishomis. I am an Ojibway Indian. I live here in my cabin on the forested shores of Madeline Island. Madeline Island is in Lake Superior and is part of a group of islands now called the Apostle Islands. Many years ago, my Ojibway ancestors migrated to this area from their original homeland on the eastern shores of North America.

Now the Ojibwe and their offshoots are spread from the Atlantic coast, all along the St. Lawrence River, and throughout the Great Lakes region of this country.

I would like to tell you an account of how man was created on this Earth. This teaching was handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation by my ancestors. Sometimes the details of teachings like this were recorded on scrolls made from Wee'-gwas (birchbark). I am fortunate to be the keeper of several of these scrolls. They will help me remember some of the details of what I give to you.

When Ah-ki' (the Earth) was young, it was said that the Earth had a family. Nee-ba-gee'-sis (the Moon) is called Grandmother, and Gee'-sis (the Sun) is called Grandfather. The Creator of this family is called Gi'-tchie Man-i-to' (Great Mystery or Creator).

The Earth is said to be a woman. In this way it is understood that woman preceded man on the Earth. She is called Mother Earth because from her come all living things. Water is her life blood. It flows through her, nourishes her, and purifies her.

On the surface of the Earth, all is given Four Sacred Directions--North, South, East, and West. Each of these directions contributes a vital part to the wholeness of the Earth. Each has physical powers as well as spiritual powers, as do all things.

When she was young, the Earth was filled with beauty.

The Creator sent his singers in the form of birds to the Earth to carry the seeds of life to all of the Four Directions. In this way life was spread across the Earth. On the Earth the Creator placed the swimming creatures of the water. He gave life to all the plant and insect world. He placed the crawling things and the four-leggeds on the land. All of these parts of life lived in harmony with each other.

Gitchie Manito then took four parts of Mother Earth and blew into them using a Sacred Shell.

From the union of the Four Sacred Elements and his breath, man was created.

It is said the Gitchie Manito then lowered man to the Earth. Thus, man was the last form of life to be placed on Earth. From this Original Man came the A-nish-i-na'-be people.

In the Ojibway language if you break down the word Anishinabe, this is what it means: ANI (from whence) NISHINA (lowered) ABE (the male of the species).

This man was created in the image of Gitchie Manito. He was natural man. He was part of Mother Earth. He lived in brotherhood with all that was around him.

All tribes came from this Original Man. The Ojibway are a tribe because of the way they speak. We believe that we are nee-kon'-nis-ug' (brothers) with all tribes; we are separated only by our tongue or language.

Today, the Ojibways cherish the Megis Shell as the Sacred Shell through which the Creator blew his breath. The Megis was to appear and reappear to the Ojibway throughout their history to show them the Path that the Creator wished them to follow. Some Ojibway Indians today wear the Megis or Cowrie shell to remember the origin of man and the history of their people.

There are a few people in each of the tribes that have survived to this day who have kept alive their teachings, language, and religious ceremonies. Although traditions may differ from tribe to tribe, there is a common thread that runs throughout them all. This common thread represents a string of lives that goes back all the way to Original Man.

Today, we need to use this kinship of all Indian people to give us the strength necessary to keep our traditions alive. No one way is better than another. I have heard my grandfathers say that there are many roads to the High Place. We need to support each other by respecting and honoring the "many roads" of all tribes. The teachings of one tribe will shed light on those of another.

It is important that we know our native language, our teachings, and our ceremonies so that we will be able to pass this sacred way of living on to our children and continue the string of lives of which we are a living part.

Mi-gwetch' (thank-you)!

Excerpt from the Mishomis Book by Eddie Benton Banai