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Chippewa Indian Gentes
Authors differ as to the names
and number of the Chippewa gentes, which range all the way
from 11 to 23. Warren gives 21 gentes, of which the
following are not included among those named by Morgan:
Manamaig (Catfish),
Nabaunauhay (Merman),
Besheu (Lynx), Molls (Moose),
Nekah (Goose),
Udekumaig (Whitefish),
Gyaushk (Cull).
Some of them, Warren says, have but few members and are
not known to the tribe at large. The Maskegon sprang from the Reindeer,
Lynx, and Pike (Pickerel) gentes, which went to the north of Lake Superior
when the tribe moved west from Sault Ste Marie. Among some of the Chippewa
these gentes are associated in 5 phratries:
Awausee,
Businausee,
Ahahweh,
Noka
Mousonee.
The Awausee phratry includes the Catfish, Merman,
Sturgeon, Pike (Pickerel), Whitefish, and Sucker gentes-all the Fish
gentes.
The Businausee phratry includes the Crane and Eagle
gentes, businausee, 'echo-maker,' being a name for the crane.
The Ahahweh phratry includes the Loon, Goose, and
Cormorant gentes, ahahweh being a name for the loon, though the Loen gens
is called Mong.
Morgan makes Ahahweh distinct and called them the
'Duck' gens.
The Noka (No-ke, Bear) phratry included the Bear
gentes, of which there were formerly several named from different parts of
the bear's body; but these are now consolidated and no differences are
recognized excepting between the common and the grizzly bears.
The Mousonee phratry includes the Marten, Moose, and
Reindeer gentes. Mousonee seems to be the proper name of the phratry,
though it is also called Waubishashe, from the important Marten gens which
is said to have sprung from the incorporated remnant of the Mundua.
Morgan (Anc. Soc., 166, 1877) names the following 23
gentes:
Myeengun (Wolf)
Makwa (Bear)
Ahmik (Beaver)
Mesheka (Mud turtle)
Mikonoh (Snapping turtle)
Meskwadare, (Little turtle)
Ahdik (Reindeer)
Chueskweskewa (Snipe)
Ojeejok (Crane)
Kakake (Pigeon hawk) [=Kagagi, Raven]
Omegeeze (Bald eagle)
Mong (Loon)
Ahahweh (Duck), [=Waewae, Swan]
Sheshebe (Duck)
Kenabig (Snake)
Wazhush (Muskrat)
Wabezhaze (Marten)
Mooshkaooze (Heron)
Ahwahsissa (Bullhead)
Namabin (Carp [Catfish])
Nama (Sturgeon)
Kenozhe (Pike) [=Kinoga, Pickerel]
Tanner gives also the Pepegewizzains (Sparrow-hawk),
Mussundummo (Water snake), and the forked tree as totems among the Ottawa
and Chippewa.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or NationsFree
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