Ojibwa, Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippewa, and Saulteaux are all terms used for the same Anishinaabe people indigenous to North America's Subarctic and Northeastern Woodlands.
The name of the people varies according to the region. The term "Chippewa" is more commonly used in the United States, while "Ojibwe" predominates in Canada. "Ojibwa" is also commonly used in the United States, while "Saulteaux" is more commonly used in Canada.
Ojibwa and its forms are from the French, while Chippewa is from the English. The Saulteaux are a branch of the Ojibwe Nations within Canada.
Alternate spellings include Achipoes, Chepeway, Chippeway, Ochipoy, Odjibwa, Ojibweg, Ojibwey, and Otchipwe.
The Ojibwa are one of the largest and most powerful American Indian nations in North America, with approximately a hundred and fifty bands throughout the northern United States and southern Canada.
Traditionally known for birchbark canoes, maple syrup, and copper mining, the Ojibwa have had a significant effect on the Great Lakes region of Western New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and southern Quebec and Ontario for centuries.
Historically positioned between early French and British settlers, they established relationships with both and were vital participants in trade and commerce throughout the region.
While they were spread out over a comparatively large area, the Ojibwa were connected by the Great Lakes and rivers, which they traveled in canoes, often relying more on fishing than on hunting, although they also engaged in hunting and trapping, which gave them a surplus they used to trade for clothing, guns, and medicines.
The Ojibwa were part of the Council of Three Fires, an alliance between the Ojibwa, the Ottowa, and the Potawatomi. Originally one people, they had developed unique identities after the Anishinaabe arrived at Michilimackinac in Michigan during their migration west.
This Council would gather to discuss necessary military and political issues, much of which related to their relationships with tribes outside the council, as well as the French, English, and Americans.
Following the founding of the United States, the Council transitioned into the Western Lakes Confederacy, also known as the Great Lakes Confederacy, along with the Algonquins, Nipissuy, Meskuraki, Sacs, and others.
Like other American Indian tribes, the Ojibwa were forced to sign several treaties with the U.S. government, the most deleterious being the 1855 Treaty of Washington, which forfeited a large part of Ojibwa land in Minnesota to the U.S. government, creating the Leech Lake and Millelaces reservations. Previous land treaties in 1837 and 1854 had already taken the larger part of Ojibwa land in exchange for payments and goods. As the U.S. government now owned most of the Ojibwa hunting lands, the Treaty of Washington forced the Ojibwa to shift to agriculture, and the lack of explicit permission to hunt and fish the land left to them still adversely affects the Ojibwa today, as state laws are enforced over the treaty rights even on Ojibwa land.
The Ojibwa language is part of the Algonquian family of languages and has a series of dialects and writing systems. Because the Ojibwa language was similar to that of the Potawatomi, it was often used as a trade language between tribes. The Ojibwa language is also known as Anishinaabemowin.
Like other American and First Nation communities, the Ojibwa were greatly affected by the Native Boarding School Initiative, which forced English upon young Ojibwa, stripping them of their language, traditions, and beliefs.
The Ojibwe have traditionally been organized into bands, which settled along rivers and near forests, to make use of their fishing and hunting skills. Semi-nomadic, they would move around more in the winter as they adjusted to the weather.
It was the Ojibwa and related groups who originated dreamcatchers, which were magical webs intended to protect infants from bad dreams, while the feathers at the bottom would allow good dreams to be passed on.
The Ojibwa are one of the largest tribal populations in the United States, and they maintain a significant presence in Canada. Canadian Ojibwa is primarily found in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, while those in the United States are in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Each tribe has its own history, unique culture, and traditions, as well as its own flag and government.
Common religions include traditional Midewiwin, Roman Catholicism, and Episcopalianism, although other Christian denominations are also represented.
The Ojibwa have always been known for their adaptability, survival, and expansion.
Topics related to the Ojibwa, Ojibwe, Chippewa, or whatever other name they might go by are appropriate for this portion of our guide.
Recommended Resources
The Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways is an Ojibway First Nation in northern Ontario. Its governance structure, chief, boards, committees, and council are introduced, along with its history, treaties, sovereignty, membership and transfership policies, and job postings. Its communities, departments, facilities, services, and events are discussed, and businesses and enterprises are included. Locations are shown on a map, and contacts are posted on the site.
https://batchewana.ca/
Also known as Gnoozhekaaning (Place of the Pike), the reservation forms the tribal government of one of the federally recognized Sault Ste. Marie bands of Chippewa, also known as Ojibwa. The larger section of the reservation land is in Chippewa County, Michigan, with land in both Bay Mills and Superior townships, and a small section encompasses Sugar Island in Sugar Island Township. Tribal departments, the Tribal Court, and an overview of tribal services and contacts are set forth.
https://www.baymills.org/
The Ojibwa band is located near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Also known as Ketegaunseebee, the Garden River reserve consists of two non-contiguous areas, the larger along the St. Mary's River and Highway 17. Its history, government, and treaties are noted, with an overview of services, governance, and access to various policies, laws, policies, plans, and other documentation. A calendar of events, business directory, community centre, and employment opportunities are noted.
https://www.gardenriver.org/
Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia
GIM is a non-profit organization established in 2000 by veteran tribal school teachers to aid in the efforts of the Ojibwe language revitalization movement through the creation and distribution of high-quality indigenous language materials, including "Reclaim!." a point-and-click adventure game intended to immerse Ojibwe youth in language skills. The GIM board and staff and its projects and products are introduced, along with songs, videos, conversations, and games in Ojibwe.
https://gim-ojibwe.org/
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission
The GLIFWC is an intertribal, co-management agency that implements off-reservation treaty rights on behalf of its eleven-member Ojibwa tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Formed in 1984, it exercises authority specifically delegated by its member tribes, ensuring significant off-reservation harvests while protecting the resources. Harvest regulations, camping, treaty rights, GIS maps, educational materials, and reports are featured, and contacts are posted.
http://glifwc.org/
Originally known as Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute, the Indigenous-owned and controlled post-secondary institution serves the M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. Programs are open to members of the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, Constance Lake First Nation, M'Chigeeng First Nation, Sagamok First Nation, Sheguiandah First Nation, Sheshegwaning First Nation, Whitefish River First Nation, and Zhibaahaasing First Nation. Contacts are posted on the site.
https://www.kenjgewinteg.ca/
Defined in 1934 by the Indian Reorganization Act as the successor apparent of the L'Anse and Ontonagon bands, the L'Anne Indian Reservation is the land base of the federally recognized Keweenaw Bay Indian Community of the historic Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. The reservation is situated on two non-contiguous sections on either side of the Keweenaw Bay in Baraga County, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Community also manages the separate Ontonagon Indian Reservation.
http://www.ojibwa.com/
Also known as West Bay, the First Nations band government is home to the Anishinabek of the Three Fires Confederacy: Odawa, Ojibway, and Pottawattomi. It is the second largest First Nation on Manitoulin Island, in the Great Lakes Region of Northern Ontario, Canada. An administrative directory, departmental information, office contacts, and an online contact form are featured. Its chief and council are introduced, and its Anishinaabemowin Revival Program and advisory groups are highlighted.
https://mchigeeng.ca/
Also known as the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, and, in Ojibwe, Misi-zaaga'iganing Anishinaabeg, the federally recognized tribe is situated in east-central Minnesota and one of the six members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. The band has a three-branch division-of-powers form of government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Its governmental structure is featured here, along with tribal businesses and industries, job opportunities, and contacts.
https://millelacsband.com/
The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is the centralized governmental authority for six Ojibwe bands in Minnesota. Created in 1934, it is comprised of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. Its administrative structure and contacts are provided, its programs and services are outlined, and job openings are posted.
https://www.mnchippewatribe.org/
Ojibwe People's Dictionary, The
Established by faculty and students in the Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota, and hosted by UMN, the Ojibwe People's Dictionary features illustrations of Ojibwe material culture and activities, narrating the cultural history and contemporary lives of Ojibwe people from the Great Lakes region. The result is an illustrated searchable talking dictionary, with old and new photographs. Audio recordings, images, videos, and documents are used in the effort.
https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/
The Red Lake Indian Reservation, in Ojibwe, Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga'iganing, is made up of several holdings, the largest in an area about Red Lake in north-central Minnesota, primarily in Beltrami and Clearwater counties, although land in seven other counties is part of the reservation. The Reservation is home to the federally recognized Red Lake Band of Chippewa, the only closed reservation in Minnesota. The Red Lake Band has opted not to join the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
https://www.redlakenation.org/
The federally recognized band of Chippewa (Ojibwe) people is located in the central Lower Peninsula of Michigan, with its tribal offices on the Isabella Indian Reservation near Mount Pleasant in Isabella County. The tribe operates the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino, and Eagle Bay Marina, along with other enterprises and businesses. Its tribal government, services, organizations, and cultural programs are introduced, and contacts are provided.
http://www.sagchip.org/
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
SCTC is a tribal land-grant community college in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Established by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Committee in 1998, the Isabella Reservation and the larger Mount Pleasant area are its chief service areas. SCTC has a focus on maintaining the Saginaw Chippewa tribal culture, although non-Native students are admitted. The college offers GED and ABE programs, as well as degrees in Native American studies, business, liberal arts, and general studies.
https://www.sagchip.edu/
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Often shortened to the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, or the Soo Tribe, the federally recognized Native American tribe is headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Tribal council members represent the tribe's five units throughout seven counties in the UP, although more than half of its enrolled members live outside of the five units. Its history, culture, enterprises, governmental structure, membership services, and contacts are provided.
https://www.saulttribe.com/
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
Based on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota, the Turtle Mountain Band is also known as Mikinaakwajiw-ininiwag. Headquartered in Belcourt, the tribal government's structure, tribal law library, and tribal calendar are presented, along with an overview of tribal resources and programs, a digital resource guide, and a directory of tribal government employees. Photographs, videos, and access to various documents and applications are included.
https://tmchippewa.com/
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center
Located in Belcourt, South Dakota, the Heritage Center highlights traditions from the Ojibwa people and the Metis/Cree people. Its mission is to preserve the written documents and artifacts of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and to make historical materials available for use by the Turtle Mountain people and others who have an interest in the Tribe and its unique heritage. An overview of its history and culture is presented, along with the Center's location and hours.
http://www.chippewaheritage.com/
Based at the White Earth Indian Reservation, the White Earth Nation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) is in northwestern Minnesota. It is the largest reservation in the state by land area and one of the six bands that make up the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. The Band operates the Shooting Star Casino, Hotel, and Event Center in Mahnomen, Minnesota, and a new location in Bagley. Its divisions, tribal entities, community council operations, a map of the nation, and a history are provided.
https://whiteearth.com/
