Describe the family, clan, and community structure of the Ojibway. There is obviously the main character and namesake of the novel, Night Flying Women, whomst lives with her mother Round Earth, and father Outstanding. In the Ojibway society like in most, respect is earned and those with the most respect as in most cultures are the elders. Everything is learnt from the elders, who pass knowledge down generation to generation. Each community is comprised of a few families with many members living together. The three clans of the Ojibway, the Wolf, Fish, and Bear clans were separate, distinct tribes of the Ojibway. What was the nature or the essence of the Ojibway peoples’ relationship to forests? The Ojibway were pretty much one with the forest. They never really left it unless they were forced to and it was basically all they knew their entire lives. Each season yields different natural reactions in the forest, and the Ojibway would not let anything go to waste.
They respected the forest like it was a living being, and relied on it to better themselves. Everything within the forest, including even animals, was treated as part of the Ojibway. What were the seasonal patterns and activities that comprised a typical year for the Ojibway? What foods and materials were especially important? Starting in spring, the Ojibway would plant vegetables to harvest in the summer, while also collecting wood and sugarbush. Rice was a staple of their diet as it is so easy to grow and not as treacherous on the environment as other plants. Once it becomes summer, the Ojibway would begin to harvest the things they planted in the spring, and would work on drying their meat in preparation for the winter. They would continue this through the fall as winters were quite harsh and they needed as much supplies as possible to last. Paramount to the Ojibway was the rice and sugarbush they harvested, as well as tobacco which they would use in countless ceremonies and in leisure.
How did dreams or visions influence the actions and decisions of the clan? Dreams in the Ojibway’s eyes-or minds-was basically an extension of reality to them. They would harken back on their dreams in order to make decisions for the tribe. Oona, who was born during an eclipse, is believed to be special because of this and thus was assumed that she would be able to predict future events through the power of her dreams. What interactions did this clan have with the “white strangers” over several generations? What were their perceptions of the lifeways and values of these new people …especially in relation to forests and wildlife? Throughout their encounters with the pale people, the Ojibway learned not to trust these men in canoes. Each year whites would come and chop down their precious forest in order to build houses for their nearby village.
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They saw that these white people believed more in material goods and bettering themselves rather than respecting the value that nature such as the forest holds. 6. What were some ways by which the Ojibway attempted to reconcile or combine their old (traditional) ways and new ways of life? While they realized that the white people had figured out a better way to build sturdier lodging and thus mimicked their construction strategies, the Ojibway did their best to retain cultural values such as their tobacco ceremonies and creating medicines from herbs. They would wear the clothes of the pale people reluctantly, but would also try to retain their traditions of living off the land and utilizing everything to it’s full abilities. 7. What was “the paper”? Why was it so important? How well did reality match the words on the paper?
The paper was a treaty brought to the Ojibway by the white men decreeing that the land they had been living on for generations was no longer their property. They were told they must find new land to live on, which would be provided by the white men. This was important because it meant they must give up the land they had loved and respected for so many years. The white men had said their new residence would have enough room for everyone, with food and clothing along with more modern accessories they had never used before. Sadly the reality was they were deprived of basic necessities and this led to widespread hunger and disease. How were the white settlers and government officials (with some exceptions) viewed by the Ojibway …as an advanced and sophisticated society? …as a compassionate and respectful people? …as people who expected to learn from aboriginal people? …or in less favorable terms? Be specific and make note of the variation among the people described in the narrative. At first the Ojibway were quite wary of the white men as they were so different from their secluded way of life. Then as they got to know them, albeit cunningly by the white men, the Ojibway realized that the white men did some things better than the Ojibway.
Obviously there were Ojibway folk that despised them no matter what, but the vast amount saw the whites as a means to improve their own society, including Oona’s dad. Oona never really truly trusted them, and for good reason. What are key lessons that you learned from reading “Night Flying Woman”? How could these lessons (and values and attitudes) inform our lives and choices in the 21st century? I learned the values of a strong family structure along with respecting your elders as they have simply experienced more than me and are able to teach me things I know nothing about. I also learned just how much we can live off the land if we actually show respect back to it and don’t be wasteful with it. I think there is so much waste and a lack of values and respect nowadays where people will litter and things like that where it shows we just don’t care about nature after all it has given us. We should be one with it, and not desecrate it like the white men in the story end up doing. Until then we are toast because of climate change.
References
- Encyclopedia.com – Ojibwa
- Britannica – Ojibwa
- Ojibway Heritage
- Indian Country Today – The Ojibwe Mapping Tradition
- Great Lakes Indian Fisheries and Wildlife Commission – Cultural Overview: OJIBWE (Chippewa, Anishinaabe) Culture and History
- Minnesota Historical Society – Ojibwe Fond du Lac People Working Together
