December 2010 | Nah gah chi wa nong • Di bah ji mowin nan | Page 9 Ashi-niswi giizisoog (Thirteen Moons) Manidoo Giizis is the Little Spirit moon and begins its cycle as a new moon on De- cember 5. Leroy DeFoe, FDL’s Cultural Resource Specialist shared that the name shows Manidoo Giizis the influence of Christianity and European influence, specifically the baby Jesus. Gaamitaawangaagamaag n the fall of 1850, repre- to stay there for the winter and had already died of dys- As a result of this tragedy the among them, European Ameri- sentatives from 19 Ojibwe lower their resistance to reloca- entery, measles, starvation or Chippewa bands, cans encouraged the establish- IBands started the ardu- tion. Delayed and inadequate freezing. They returned to their under the leadership of Chief ment of Indian Reservations. ous journey to the shores of payments of annuities and lack home territories under peril; Buffalo of La Pointe, pressed On October 12, 2000, the US Sandy Lake (Gaa-mitaawan- of promised supplies led to aside from President Millard erected a memorial commemo- gaagamaag), where they had the death of about 400 Ojibwe, being weak Fillmore to cancel rating the Sandy Lake Tragedy been told to gather by late Oc- mostly men, (12% of the tribe) from sickness the removal order. at the Army Corps tober by officials of the Zachary from disease, starvation, and and hunger, Many of the United of Engineers Sandy Lake Dam Taylor administration and MN freezing. the Ojibwe States public were Campgrounds. In addition, the Territory. The Sandy Lake Trag- Nearly 3,000 Ojibwe men had not outraged about the state created a rest area with edy is the culmination of this waited there for several weeks expected to government's treat- a view of Sandy Lake along series of events, which resulted before a government agent ar- have to make ment of the Ojibwe State Highway 65. A in the deaths of several hundred rived, only then informing them such a winter and supported the Historical Marker plaque memo- . that the government had been journey. end of removal. rializes the Sandy Lake Tragedy. The goal was relocation of unable to send the money and As a result, Chief Buffalo called Content adapted from informa- several bands of the tribe to supplies. It was early December 200-230 more on tion available at wikipedia.org areas west of the Mississippi before a fraction of the payment died before residents to support River. By changing the loca- and only small portion of sup- reaching them in their ef- tion for fall annuity payments, plies, much of the food already their homes by the following fort to stay in the territory. Not officials intended the Chippewa spoiled. By this time about 150 January. wanting to live with Indians Days of the week Ikwewag & Biboon Shared by Leroy DeFoe Ishkwaa-anama’e-giizhigad (be) Monday, the day after istorically, when the men hides they had tanned in the fall. (legends) of how the Anishinabeg id the days have Niizho-giizhigad returned to their lodges They decorated their work with came to be, how they received names before the ar- (be) Tuesday, the 2nd day Hand families, they would intricate designs made from por- the gifts of fire, birch bark, to- rival of Europeans? Aabitoosemagad find the women en- cupine quills. bacco and mahnomin (wild rice). D gaged in their usual Biboon, though Tradition tells that when a well One might ask what need (be) Wednesday, the middle was there for names of the day and accustomed sometimes harsh, known relative of the Anishi- days? Possibly days were Niiwo-giizhigad winter activities. was a time of nabeg leaves his human form only named as they related (be) Thursday, the 4th day During the winter peace and intro- and takes the shape of waabooz to moon stages: new or full. Naano-giizhigad the women used spection for the (waa-booz) (the snowshoe hare), Ojibwe names for the days (be) Friday their time to make Ojibwe people. when he sits down and lights his reflect the influence of Christi- Ishwaajanokii-giizhigad eating and cooking It was a time for pipe, when the smoke rises and anity. Note they are verbs... (be) Saturday, the day we utensils and food togetherness and the snow falls, that is when the Anama’e giizhigad scrub floors?! containers like wiig- teaching. This legends are heard... (be) Sunday, the Lord’s day waasi-makuk (birch was traditionally Excerpted from Biboon - Winter bark baskets). They Mad River Canoe adopted the time for the Lifeways of the Ojibwe, www.nps. Mark your calendar now for the 2011 fashioned clothing a version of waabooz for children to hear gov/grpo Storytelling, to be held February 19 at and footwear from their company logo the aadizookaanag the Sawyer Community Center deer and moose (Aa-di-soo-kaa-nag)

Upcoming Events: (more info at http://giizis13.wordpress.com) Thirteen Moons is a monthly production of FDL Resource Management Division and Uni- Thirteen Moons Workshop: Preparing the home for winter, Dec. 9, 2010, 5pm versity of Minnesota Extension. Content addresses culture, ecology, and natural resource Thirteen Moons Workshop: Winter Storytelling, Feb. 19, 2011 management. Comments and contributions are welcome and should be directed to FDL RMD at (218) 878-8001 or [email protected]