Ojibwe Clans
The Ojibwe word “Dodaem” means “That from which one draws one’s purpose, one’s meaning, one’s being”, and comes from the root word “Doodem”- to fulfill, and “Doodosh”- that from which I draw my substance. The Creator gave the Anishinabe the seven original clans as a government framework that would meet the basic human needs of everyone in the village, and so gave strength and order to the whole village. People were born into their clan and children were trained to perform the duties necessary to meet the needs that their clan was responsible for.
AH-JI-JAWK GI-GOON MAHNG (Crane), (Fish) (Loon)
The Crane and Loon Clans were given the power and chieftianship, as they were the people with natural abilities and qualities of leadership. These two clans worked together to give the Anishinabe a balanced government, by each serving as a check on the other. The AH-JI-JAWK, known for their natural oratory abilities, were called “Echo Maker” or “Speaker of The Clans”.
The Fish (Gi-Goon) Clan stood between the two chief clans as the ones who settled disputes between them, or cast the deciding vote if needed. This clan resolved differences of opinion and stabilized the governing body.
They were known as the “Star Gazers”, the intellectuals of the Anishinabe who pursued meditation and philosophy.
MAAKWA WA-BI-ZHA-SHI WA-SHISH-SHE (Bear) (Martin) (Deer) The Bear Clan served both as the Police Force and as a healer of the people. Because they spent so much time patrolling outside the village, close to nature, they became known for their knowledge of medicinal plants.
The Martin Clan was the warrior clan that protected the village from outside invaders and become known as the master strategists in planning the defense of the Anishinabe.
The Deer clan was the clan of the gentle people. They were the poets of the people and the pacifists who would not use harsh words of any kind. It is said that the creator destroyed the deer clan because they began marrying within their own clan and did not heed his warnings. There are no members of the Deer Clan left today.
BENAYS (The Bird Clan)
The Bird Clan had the natural abilities of intuition and knowledge of the future, and pursued the higher elevations of their mind as their leader, GEEZIK (Eagle) pursued the heights of the sky. Thus they were the spiritual leaders of the Anishinabe.
