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“The Circle of Life” by Odawa artist and poet, Zoey Wood Salomon
The painting captures the Anishinaabe perspective of cycles in balance, a worldview where the gifts of light, lessons, earth, animals and knowledge are part of one continuum.
Zoey writes, “The people of the fires are symbolized by our seven grandmother/grandfather teachings of love, respect, honesty, bravery, humility, truth, and wisdom. Three fires also remind us to maintain balance in our body, our mind, and our spirit.”
- from Ojibwe.net
Nindodem, or Clan images are pictographic representations used for cultural and political purposes. The images graphically describe relationships with the known world as Inawemagan – as relatives. This tradition of inscription predates the arrival of Europeans and provides a wealth of knowledge. Painted or carved images are found on bark scrolls, rock, shell, bone. Painted or carved they symbolize the records of specific locations based on extensive ecological knowledge and kinship. Later found on treaty documents with newly arrived European as political representations equivalent to signatures on paper documents.
Nindodem are to keep balance with duties and responsibilities of people/peoples to act in a way that keeps balance and peace. Nindodem are not territorial signatures but more about family responsibilities and relationships. Colonized system introduced the hierarchy that influence contemporary ideas of nation states as nomenclature applied to tribal peoples. In the precontact period Anishinaabe and language people identified by what they did not who they are.
– Russell Nahdee, Aboriginal Education Centre
Three Fires Confederacy
Made up of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. A council of peoples who shared similar languages and culture. They met, and continue to meet today, to discuss matters important to politics and territory. The University of Windsor resides on the territories of this council.
Ojibwe: The older brother of the council, the one called the provider. They are the Keepers of Medicine and Faith.
Odawa: The middle brother and the warrior. They are the Keepers of the Trade and protector of the vast trade network of the council.
Potawatomi: The youngest brother and the protectors of the council fire. They are the Keepers of the Fires.
The Indigenous name for the Windsor region known as Wawiiahtanan Ziibii meaning “The River Bending" from Wawiiahtanong meaning the round area that is the circumference of the Great Lakes Basin. (Frederic Baraga: A Dictionary of the Ojibway Language 1878)
Bkejwanong – Where the Waters Divide
Biniskwa Sagaigan – Lake of the Swirling Eddies
Waiwaihtinan Zii Bii – Where the River Bends
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