Connecting with the Ojibwe People Quiz

Answer: The Original People

The Ojibwe language was initially only a spoken language. Written versions appeared later, using the Roman alphabet. Due to this, there are numerous spellings and various transliterations of Ojibwe. However, the basic meanings remain the same. Anishinaabeg is also translated to mean True People and First Man.

The translation of Ojibwe is "puckered" and relates to the style of moccasin they wore.

Answer: Three Fires

The Council of Three Fires' participants were the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. According to Potawatomi elder Shup-Shewana, the council took place in 796 A.D. at Michilimackinac. Michilimackinac is an area of the Great Lake around the Straits of Mackinac.

Its central location provided many meetings for the Council of Three Fires. The council brought together people whose languages and territories were near. They met to discuss military and political matters.

Answer: Algonquian

Algonquian is a linguistic grouping. It consists of more than 45 individual tribes. It is considered the largest Indian group north of Mexico. Among the many, besides the Ojibwe, are the Sauk, the Cheyenne, the Yurok of Northern California and the Powhatan. The Blackfoot are also Algonquian.

Answer: Rice

The wild rice harvest was a chore shared by men and women. The man would steer the birchbark canoe through the reeds while the woman knocked the rice into the boat. The Ojibwe still use this method for rice harvesting.

Answer: Dreamcatchers

Legend has it the first Dreamcatcher was created by a grateful spider. Nokomis, the grandmother of all the Ojibwe People, restrained her grandson from killing the spider. The beholden spider then spun a beautiful web in Nakomis' window. Only good dreams were allowed through the small hole. Bad dreams were hopelessly caught in the web.

The Lakota believe they first created the Dreamcatcher and have a legend of their own. The Parflech is a container made from rawhide and the Mandala is a ceremonial wheel used by the Plains Indians.

The Kachina is a Hopi doll.

Answer: Samuel de Champlain

The French came first and thereby became allies of the Ojibwe. The Ojibwa's desire for European trade goods eventually led to war with the Iroquois over rich lands with furs. The Iroquois went to war with many tribes over this issue and took many down.

The Ojibwe came out ahead in the end, won many battles and forced the Iroquois to sue for peace in 1701. The Ojibwe supported the French during The Seven Years' War.

Answer: Dakota Sioux

Until 1736 there was an alliance between the Ojibwe and Sioux. When this ended and war began the Sioux became their most significant enemy. The Ojibwe fought the Sioux continuously for 130 years. Ultimately, the Ojibwe drove the Sioux from their native lands in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The Ojibwe went on to claim lands in three Canadian provinces and seven U.S. states. The Ojibwe were the most powerful tribe in the Great Lakes region.

Answer: All of these

Nothing was off-limits during war. The Ojibwe killed men, women and children with no regrets. Captives were only taken if they were deemed useful as slaves. The Ojibwe practiced guerrilla warfare with quick ambush attacks followed by a quick retreat to safety.

Answer: Chief Broken Tooth

In his native language he was known as Chief Katawabeda (1753-1832). He followed his father as Chief of the Sandy Lake Band in Minnesota. Broken Tooth was the first to act as overall ruler of the Minnesota Ojibwe. James Doty, who later became Governor of the Wisconsin territory, said "Brachu, (Broken Tooth) who, it seems raised himself to this superior station merely by his eloquence.

It appears he (Katawabeda) is the first Emperor of these tribes..." No other Ojibwe achieved the status of "Emperor". Black Hawk was Sauk, Tecumseh was Shawnee and Red Cloud was Lakota.

Answer: Martin Van Buren

The Treaty of St. Peters (Pine Tree) was negotiated by the U.S. in order to gain control of the Ojibwa's rich timber land. Although Chief Buffalo and other Great Lakes chiefs signed the document, they were relatively quiet due to misgivings. In an ensuing letter to Territorial Governor Henry Dodge, Chief Buffalo stated, "The Indians acted like children; they tried to cheat each other and got cheated themselves.

When it comes my turn to sell my land, I do not think I shall give it up as they did...Father I speak for my people, not for myself. I am an old man. My fire is almost out-there is but little smoke.

When I sit in my wigwam & smoke my pipe, I think of what has past and what is to come, and it makes my heart shake. When business comes before us, we will try and act like Chiefs. If anything is to be done, it had better be done straight."