Table Of Content

QJIBW HERITA3E X>INSTON BASIL Rarelyaccessiblebeyondthe limits ofits people, Ojibwaymythologyis as richin meaning andmystery, asbroad, as deep, and as innatelyappealingasthemythologies of Greece, Rome, Egypt, andothercivilizations. Now, inonevolume, Ojibwayteacher Basil Johnstonsets forththebroad spectrumofhis people'slife, legends andbeliefs—theheart andsoul oftheirculture symbolicallyex- pressed and relatedinaccounts thatare as authentic as theyareentertaining. Their authorship isperhapsmostproperlyattributed tothe tribalstorytellers whohave carriedon the verbaltraditionwhich Mr. Johnstonhere faithfullyrecords andpreserves. Fromthis age-oldlore thereemerges acompositepicture ofOjibway ideals and values, relatingto such matters as the attainment ofspirituallife, the four ages of the individual, supernatural events, ceremony, song, dance, prayer, the environment, death and human conduct. Storiesto beread, enjoyed, dwelt onandfreely interpreted, theyembodyseveralthemes and levels ofmeaning and lendthemselves per- fectly to the Ojibway ideal stated in the preface "thatthe truths containedinstories : mustbe livedout andbecomepartofthe person." QJIBW HERITA3E This Ojihii'uy^logo'[?y Del Ash\eive, from Cape Crol^er symbolizes the content of the hoo\. The large circle at-the top with four projections represents Kitche Manitou, the Creator. A circle symbolizes spirit; to denote Great Spirit, a larger circle was circumscribed around a smaller. The four projections indicate universalpresence. The inverted semi-circle below the symbol for Kitche Manitou represents s\y and universe. Immediately below is the symbol of the Sun; it represents life^dncftinie, linear and cyclic. Under the Sun is the image of man within a sphere. Together they repre- sent human life and existence and being. Conjoining the symbol for life to the symbol for Kitche Manitou is the line of life and power: with the two branches on either side sweeping upward and outward denoting the Tree of Life, plantl{ind upon which all beings are sustained. The base for the Life-line and the Tree of Life formed by a straight line represents the earth and roc\, the substance of Mother Earth. The teepees in different styles image tribes, communities, societies and families and mean differentstylesand modes of living. On either side of the figure of the encircled man are other men and women. Those nearest to the central image with wavy lines emanating from their lips reflect speech, history, languages and stories. Next to the speal^ers are women, symbols of the primacy and constancy of womankind. The figures most remote from the centre mirror sustenance and patterns of life. The four orders of animals. Tree of Life, earth, and men and women repre- sent being, andexistence and time. QJIBW HERITAGE JOHNSTON BASIL McClelland and Stewart ) © Copyright 1976 McClelland and Stewart Limited Allrights reserved ISBN 0-7710-4440-2 Case : ( Illustrations courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum. McClelland and Stewart Limited, The Canadian Publishers, 25 Hollinger Road, Toronto, Ontario. M4B 3G2 Printed and Bound in Canada. Contents Preface/7 1 The Vision of Kitche Manitou/11 2 Father Sun and Mother Earth/21 3 The Nature of Plants/32 4 The Nature of Animals/46 5 Man's World/59 6 The Midewewin/80 7 The Path Without End/94 8 The Path of Souls/103 9 The Four Hills of Life/109 10 The Vision/119 11 Ceremonies, Songs, Dances/134 12 The Incorporeal World/149 Turtle, reproduced by permission ofDelAshkfwe.