We are nearly at the end of another year. So this got me to thinking about the calendar….the months in the year….plus being that we are near to Christmas….so I thought I might write something based on a Christmas song but that incorporates some of what it might mean to be Anishinaabe. First some background though….
Combining the explanations from both Anishinaabemdaa: Thirteen Moons and the Turtle and Thirteen Moons: About 13 Moons:
In Anishinaabe (Ojibway) culture, we are taught that a piece of mother earth was put on the turtle’s back after the great flood. The world was created when muskrat brought mud from the bottom of the flood to be placed on turtle’s back. Nanabozho saw that the back of the turtle had thirteen sections, which he compared to the thirteen moons of the year. (The turtle’s shell has thirteen central plates, called scutes.) The traditional Anishininaabe calendar year follows a 13 moon lunar cycle. The names of each moon are influenced by natural phenomena, animal activity, and cultural practices and beliefs. These thirteen moons are now known as months and only twelve are recognized on a calendar.
From Anishinaabemdaa: Thirteen Moons and the Turtle are the Thirteen Moons:
Manidoo giizis - Spirit moon – January
Makwa giizis - Bear moon – February
Naabidin giizis - Snow crust moon – March
Bopogaame giizis - Broken snowshoe moon – March/April
Ziisibaakadake giizis - Sugar moon - April
Nmebine giizis - Sucker moon – May
Waabgonii giizis - Blossom moon – June
Miin giizis - Berry moon – July
Mnoomni giizis - Rice moon – August
Waabagaa giizis - Changing leaves moon – September
Bnaakwii giizis - Falling leaves moon – October
Baashkaakodin giizis - Freezing moon – November
Manidoo giizisoonhs - Little spirit moon -December
Any way taking The Twelve Days of Christmas, I came up with the following:
The Thirteen Moons Of ‘Nishness’
On the first moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
An eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the second moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the third moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the fourth moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the fifth moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the sixth moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Six geese a-flying-in-a-Vee,
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the seventh moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Seven Grandfather Teachings,
Six geese a-flying-in-a-Vee,
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the eighth moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Eight dream catchers,
Seven Grandfather Teachings,
Six geese a-flying-in-a-Vee,
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the ninth moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Nine Jingle Dress dancers dancing,
Eight dream catchers,
Seven Grandfather Teachings,
Six geese a-flying-in-a-Vee,
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the tenth moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Ten bears so brave and strong,
Nine Jingle Dress dancers dancing,
Eight dream catchers,
Seven Grandfather Teachings,
Six geese a-flying-in-a-Vee,
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the eleventh moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Eleven pipe carriers,
Ten bears so brave and strong,
Nine Jingle Dress dancers dancing,
Eight dream catchers,
Seven Grandfather Teachings,
Six geese a-flying-in-a-Vee,
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the twelfth moon of ‘Nishness’,
My lovely kwe sent to me
Twelve traditional drummers drumming,
Eleven pipe carriers,
Ten bears so brave and strong,
Nine Jingle Dress dancers dancing,
Eight dream catchers,
Seven Grandfather Teachings,
Six geese a-flying-in-a-Vee,
Five golden feathers,
Four Sacred Medicines,
Three birch bark canoes,
Two turtle rattles,
And an eagle in a tall pine tree.
On the thirteenth moon of ‘Nishness’.
My lovely kwe sent to me
Thirteen wolves howling
At each and every moon.
Hope you liked this….dedicated to a certain Cree lady who has caught my attention….a lovely kwe of the Wolf clan (Mahiingan dodem)….and in closing I also wanted to share the following song “The Glue” by Shy-Anne Horvoka (which has sort of a canoe theme):
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
