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How Odjiig’s Hunting Prowess gave summer season to the Anishinaabe


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In Anishinaabe’s cosmology, legend has it that Odjiig, a hunter disguised as a fisher ascended to the sphere of Sky Fathers and gave his life to reclaim Niibin, the summer season from Kababoonka. In this writing, we will give a narration of this ancient Anishinaabe mythology.

Who are the Anishinaabe?

For clarity’s sake, we would like to explain the difference between ‘Anishinaabe’ and ‘Anishinaabeg’. ‘Anishinaabe’ is used to describe the people while ‘Anishinaabeg’, which is the plural form, is used to indicate membership and belonging to that group. The term ‘Anishinaabe’ describes linguistically and culturally related indigenous peoples residing in today’s United States and Canada. [i] They have for the past 1000 years lived in the North American Great Lakes area and the Canadian Shield. Memberships to this cultural group include the Ojibwe, the Odawa, Potawatomi, Saulteaux, Oji-Cree and Algonquin peoples. [ii]  

The belief systems of the Anishinaabe are clearly celestial; they are heavy believers in the heavenly bodies like the stars or Anangan in the Anishinaabe language. According to Lawrence William Gross:

In Anishinaabe cosmology, the celestial bodies of the upper sky are associated with physical and symbolic light, enlightenment, and wisdom. It is in the upper sky vault, too, that the Land of Peace is situated. It is a land of happiness reached within four days by the spirits of the deceased that travel djiibe-miikana, the trail of souls. A dazzling blue light in the northern skies the Anishinaabeg sometimes see at night illuminates this trail: the waasnode, or northern lights. The three principal stars are Ningaabi-Anang (the Evening Star of the west), Waaban-anang (the Morning Star of the east), and Odjiig-anang (the Fisher Star, or the constellation of the Big and Little Dipper). [iii]

We shall briefly examine these three main stars guiding the Anishinaabe.

Ningaabi-anang – The Evening Star of the West

Ningaabi-anang is not only regarded as the Evening Star of the west but also called “Star Sinking in Waters” or “Women’s Star”. The Ningaabi-anang is considered a powerful medicine man residing in the realm of Epangishimaag (the West) and the patron of all women and former tutor of the younger Waaban (Dawn). Regarded as sage and virtuous, he teaches healing, patience, and the need for self-restraint.   

Waaban-anang is not only known as the Morning Star but also has similar capabilities to Ningaabi-anang, as a powerful medicine man of the eastern skies who embodies youthfulness and knowledge. These qualities put him in eternal rivalry with his former teacher, the Evening Star. Such intense and unending rivalries between the two typify the perpetual conflicts and contrasts within human society.  

Odjiig-anang – The Fisher Star

Odjiig-anang is described as the constellation of many bright stars resembling an odjiig (which is a fisher), with an arrow sticking in its tail called Big and Little Dipper, or Bear by the Euro-Americans. A point to reckon here is that Odjiig is further described as a weasel. Perhaps, in the sense of a flurry mammal or a sneaky or sly person. But it may be for the former, hence Odjiig is considered an expert and lively hunter of the Northwoods, who represents the doodem of hunters among many bands of Anishinaabeg from the Great Lakes area.                                                                                                  

Reclaiming Summer from Kababoonka

According to Anishinaabe’s mythology, several moons ago the fearless Kababoonka covered the earth with snow and ice all year round, then the hunter, Odjiig took on the shape of the fisher and assisted by the wolverine, went up to the sphere of the Sky Fathers and wanted to take away summer. In his tussle to open the baskets filled with summer birds and fowls and set them free and allow warmth to descend to the cold earth, the heavenly bodies gave him some injuries with their magic arrows.  

As a result, while bearing the shape of a fisher, Odjiig died from loss of blood. However, his death was not in vain, because that brought completion to the sky organizations. His death brought the summer season and thanks to him, the Anishinaabe could enjoy eight to ten moons without snow.

There is something special about the Anishinaabe’s cosmology. It is sacrificial like most primitive (by 'primitive' here, I meant something that is 'primordial') religions. A divinity sacrificing their lives so that humanity could live or enjoy the good life or a less harsh environment, or climate is found even in Christianity. In fact, it could be said that such sacrifice made by Odjiig is the basic teaching found in Bimaadiziwin. That is, the people should live to gain good fortune, health, and peace in this world and inherit the Land of Peace in the next. Therefore, every Anishinaabe is called to lead a good way of life which can be achieved through personal efforts or the help of medicine persons, grand-fathers or spirit-helpers. [iv]  

Further, the teachings of Midewiwin (that is, the Society of Medicine and Ethics) encourage each person to follow a path and this path is called ‘The True Path of Life’. Arguably, the path is strewn with thorns, and with natural twists and turns which are described as traveling over four hills: infancy, youth, adulthood, and old age. Thus, for anyone to depart from this true path of life and not come back is considered dead, hence, the need for help through prayers and vigil for guidance and constant examination of one’s life.  

The origin and development of the Anishinaabe’s world came from the skies and back onto it they shall return when their life on earth is complete. Accordingly, there is a constant battle waging between the Evening star of the west and the Morning star of the east. Such unending rivalry brings equilibrium to their world. The Anishinaabe’s traditional belief encourages the people to follow ‘The True Path of Life’ which requires serious personal efforts but can be assisted through petitions to medicine persons, grand-fathers, or spirit-helpers.

[i] Dakota & Anishinaabe Peoples: History, Culture & Daily Life. In Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/dakota-anishinaabe-peoples-history-culture-daily-life.html - accessed 03 April 2021.

[ii] Who are the Anishinaabe People? In World Atlas. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/who-are-the-anishinaabe-people.html - accessed 05 April 2021.

[iii] Gross. L.W. The Cosmic Vision of Anishinaabe Culture and Religion. The American Indian Quarterly. Vol. 26(3). December 23, 2002.

[iv] Raza. M. The Anishinaabe. 20 December 2012. Prezi Inc., https://prezi.com/favhzxslu57d/the-anishinaabe/ - accessed 05 April 2021.

  

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