Ojibway Myths and Ceremonies

By: Amanda Baggette

MACHI MANITOU• The Great Mystery

• The Creation Story

To: Sky Woman

Event: Birth of the World

From: The Giant Turtle

MUSKRAT

SHAPE SHIFTING• Nana’b’oozoo- a half-human

castaway on the sea during Machi Manitou (the creation

story)• Shape shifter

• Changes into various animal forms, human forms, and

mystical animal forms.

• He conquered giant animals, diminishing them

in size.

THE MANITOUS• The interconnection and balance

of nature and life.

• The Spirit

• Essentially: everything has a spirit(animals, plants, geographic

features, weather, etc.)

• The four worlds:Fire, Breath, Water, Spirit

• Prayer to a Deer Slain by a HunterI had need,I have dispossessed you of beauty, grace, and life.I have sundered your spirit from its worldly frame.No more will you run in freedomBecause of my need.

I had need.You have in life served your kind in goodness.By your life, I will serve my brothers.Without you I hunger and grow weak.Without you I am helpless, nothing.

I had need,Give me your casement for protection.Give me your bones for my labors,And I shall not want.

KITCHI MANITOU• The Great Spirit or Master of Life

• Has control and sanction over all manitous.

• “More generous with the birds and animals rather than men and

women”

PERSONAL MONITOU• Adopt spiritual names.

• Hope: to derive advantages and benefits from these monitou.

• Most adopted personal monitou were named by those favored

by Kitchi Manitou.

• The Manitous, The Spiritual World of the Ojibway Basil Johnston. Harper Collins Publishing.

• Ojibway Ceremonies, Basil Johnston. Harper Collins Publishing.

• The Ojibway Indians, John Grim. Historical Society Press.