Ojibwa Crafts

By Carrie A. Lyford

In the first half of the twentieth century, the Ojibwa (Chippewa) people of the western Great Lakes region still retained many of their traditional tribal ways of life, ways of life which included a wealth of ingenious and clever crafts based upon their understanding and use of natural local materials. With few tools but a long history, skilled artisans created the everyday articles needed for shelter, food preparation, clothing, and ceremonials; they also found time to make decorative items for exchange at trading posts or for sale to tourists who passed through their lands.-Print ed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Braunfell Books
• Release date: Feb 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9781805231400

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© Braunfell Books 2023, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

INDIAN HANDCRAFT SERIES 6

ILLUSTRATIONS 7

THE OJIBWA IN HISTORY 13

OJIBWA RESERVATIONS 16

OJIBWA LODGES 19

RECREATION 24

RELIGION 25

DIET OF THE OJIBWA 27

ACTIVITIES OF MEN AND WOMEN 28

PREPARATION OF MAPLE SUGAR (Sisibakwat) 29

WILD RICE (Manomin) AND ITS PREPARATION 30

HANDICRAFTS 32

WOOD AND BARK IN CRAFT WORK 35

Bows (mitigwab, s., mitigwabin, pl.) and Arrows (pikwak, s., pikwakon, pl.) 37

Wooden Brooms (tchigataigan, s., tchigataiganan, pl.) 38

The Cradle Board (tikinagan, s., tikinaganan, pl.) 41

Dolls (odaminowagan, s., odaminowaganan, pl.) 42

Drums (tewéigan, s., teweiganag, pl.) 43

The Grave Marker or Grave Post (adjedatig, s., adjedatigwin, pl.) 45

Pipes (opwagan, s., opwaganan, pl.) 47

Snow Shoes (agim, s., agimag, pl.) 51

PREPARATION OF CORD AND TWINE 52

Nettle Fiber and Its Uses 53

Basswood Fiber Cord 54

BIRCH BARK (Wigass) WORK 56

Midé Rolls 58

Mats of Birch Bark (wigwassapakwei, s., wigwassapakweiag, pl.) 60

Birch Bark Canoes (wigwass-tchiman, s., wigwass-tchimanan, pl.) 61

Birch Bark Containers (wigwassi makak, s., wigwassi makakon, pl.) 69

Decorations Used On Birch Bark 71

BASKET MAKING (Baskets—watabimakak, s., watabimakakon, pl.) 73

Willow Baskets (Wicker) 74

Cedar Root Baskets 75

Baskets of Basswood 76

Baskets of Black Ash 77

Baskets of Sweet Grass—(wicko-mashkossiw, s., wicko-mashkossiwan, pl.) 78

WOVEN YARN BANDS AND SASHES (miskogad, s., miskogadog, pl.) 80

Braiding 82

Netting 83

The Netted or Looped—Sash 84

Weaving 86

Old Indian Weave or Finger Weaving 87

Types of Articles Woven 88

Method of Weaving a Woodland Sash 89

Methods of Making Fringe 94

WOVEN BAGS (mashkimod, s., mashkimodan, pl.) 96

Bags of Nettle Weed Fiber 97

Bags of Basswood Bark Fiber 98

Woven Yarn Bags 101

Designs Used On Woven Bags 104

Cedar Bark Bags, Plaited 107

Tamarack Bags [Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch] 108

WOVEN MATS (anákan, s., anákanan, pl.) 109

Rush Mats 110

Cattail Mats For Wigwams 113

Cedar Bark Mats 114

Woven Rag Rugs 116

PREPARATION AND USE OF HIDES 120

Tanning 121

Rabbit Skin Blankets 125

Bags of Skin 126

Moccasins (makisin, s., makisinan, pl.) 128

COSTUMES 131

Woman’s Costume (matchigoden, s., matchigodenian, pl. or godass, s., godassan, pl.) 131

Man’s Costume (agwiwin, s., agwiwinan, pl.) 136

Costume Decorations and Accessories 141

QUILL WORK 146

Quill Work On Birch Bark 147

Quill Embroidery 148

BEAD WORK 149

Bead Weaving 150

Bead Embroidery 152

Beaded Border Patterns 153

Beaded Edging 156

Beaded Bands and Sashes 157

Shoulder Pouches or Bandoliers 158

RIBBON WORK OR APPLIQUE 160

DESIGNS 161

Designs On Woven Mats, Bags, and Sashes 161

Designs on Quill Work 162

Designs On Birch Bark 163

Designs Used In Beadwork 168

USE OF COLORS 182

NATIVE DYES 184

CONCLUSION 186

BIBLIOGRAPHY 187

PLATES OF OJIBWA DESIGNS 194

OJIBWA CRAFTS (CHIPPEWA)

BY

CARRIE A. LYFORD

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INDIAN HANDCRAFT SERIES

This is the fifth volume in the series of pamphlets published by the Education Branch of the Bureau of Indian Affairs setting forth in popular language what is known about Indian arts and crafts in specific areas. We have drawn freely from authorities and their writings in preparing the material. Much that will be found in these pamphlets has been previously published elsewhere. However in drawing together this material and presenting it in a form which will enable teachers and pupils to visualize clearly the various steps and the practical carrying out of these ancient crafts, it is hoped where practicable to stimulate a revival of them among the people to whom they historically belong.

In the preparation of the present pamphlet Miss Lyford made several trips to the Great Lakes and Consolidated Chippewa reservations and much time was spent by her in the homes of the Ojibwa Indians. Much of the work was carried on in cooperation with Miss Mabel Morrow, Crafts Specialist of the Indian Bureau. Many museums specializing in Ojibwa (Chippewa) crafts were visited and generous assistance received from their curators. The manuscript has been read by Miss Mabel Morrow, Mr. E. R. Douglas of the Denver Art Museum, Dr. W. C. McKern of the Milwaukee Public Museum, Mr. Willoughby Babcock, Director of the Museum of the Minnesota State Historical Society, and Mr. Charles E. Brown of the State Historical Museum of Wisconsin, all of whom have given helpful suggestions. The line drawings of Ojibwa designs were prepared by Mr. Albert van der Loo of the Branch of Buildings and Utilities of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The following titles in this series have been published or are planned for publication in the near future.

1. Quill and Beadwork of the Western Sioux by Carrie A. Lyford.

2. Navajo Native Dyes by Nonabah Bryan and Stella Young.

3. Pueblo Embroidery by Ellen Lawrence (To be published).

4. Seneca Splint Basketry by Marjorie Lismer.

5. Ojibwa Crafts (Chippewa) by Carrie A. Lyford.

6. Iroquois Crafts by Carrie A. Lyford.

7. The Workaday Life of the Pueblo Indians by Ruth Underhill.

8. Spruce Root Basketry of the Alaskan Tlingit by Frances Paul.

9. Blackfeet Crafts by John C. Ewers.

While prepared and published primarily for use by schools and adult classes of the Indian Bureau, these pamphlets are available for purchase by others through the Visual Aids Service, Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kansas.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Plate

1. Birch bark boxes embroidered with porcupine quills (I)

2. Ceremonial dance Lac du Flambeau reservation. Drummers in center

3. Map of Ojibwa reservations today

4. Model of an Ojibwa lodge, illustrating construction (A)

5. Peaked Ojibwa lodge, covered with birch bark (I)

6. Domed wigwam, covered with elm bark (I)

7. A summer home of birch bark (I)

8. A modern log dance hall (E)

9. Preparing framework for the Grand Medicine Lodge (E)

10. Gathering wild rice (I)

11. Ojibwa women making birch bark baskets (left) and preparing fibre for mats (I)

12. Grave markers (E)

13. Wooden spoons (E)

14. Flageolet (Lover’s flute) (E)

15. An Ojibwa baby on its cradle board (A)

16. Musical instruments (E)

17. Ojibwa burial ground with covered graves (I)

18. An Ojibwa pipestone calumet (pipe) shaped like a tomahawk (E)

19. Wooden dishes for mixing tobacco, pipe cleaners, beaded tobacco bag, woman’s pipe (small), man’s pipe (large) (E)

20. Snow shoes (A)

21. Snow shoes—pointed and bear paw (A)

22. Spreading fish nets to dry (E)

23. Birch bark torches (E)

24. Bitten pattern on birch bark (E)

25. Birch bark scroll or midé roll (E)

26. Making a birch bark canoe (HDA)

a. Smoothing the ground with sand to conform to the canoe bottom

b. Heavy stones holding the bark for the bottom of the canoe in position

c. Stakes driven in the ground to determine the slant of the sides and the width of the beam of the canoe

27. Making a birch bark canoe (HDA)

d. The gunwales placed lengthwise and the bark sewed in place

e. An end view after the gunwales have been installed

28. Making a birch bark canoe (HDA) 53

f. The ribs and flooring from green cedar saplings must be soaked in water three days before the ends are inserted between the gunwales

g. Seams in the bark are sealed with spruce pitch

29. The finished canoe ready for its maiden trip (HDA)

30. Birch bark basket (mokok) and ricing trays (E)

31. Birch bark cut-outs (E)

32. Basket of willow withes (A)

33. Bark bag filled with wild rice (E)

34. Coiled sweet-grass basket (E)

35. Netted sash (modern) (A)

36. Woodland sash, old Indian finger weave (I)

37. Weaving a woodland sash Steps I-IV (diagram)

38. Weaving a woodland sash Steps V and VI diagram)

39. Making round braided fringe (diagram)

40. Bag being twined on the simple two-stick loom (A)

41. Unfinished basswood bark bag (A)

42. Woven bag of raveled blanket yarn (E)

43. Ojibwa woven bag (A)

44. An unfinished yarn bag (modern cotton carpetwarp) (E)

45. Modern woven yarn bag (A)

46. Detail of lattice warp weave (A)

47. Unfinished cedar bark rice bag (E)

48. Weaving rush mats

a. After reeds have been interlaced the basswood bark is woven across the mat

b. A finished mat and one in its first stages

49. An unfinished rush mat on frame (E)

50. Wigwam of cat tail mats with roof of birch bark (I)

51. An unfinished cedar bark mat (E)

52. Details of plaiting and twining (diagram)

53. A birchbark bitten pattern (E)

54. Doll made of willow withes (A)

55. Bone flesher for scraping hide (E)

56. Stretching and softening a buck skin (I)

57. Midé bag (beaver skin medicine bag) (P)

58. Old puckered toe moccasins embroidered in yarn (H)

59. Moccasin pattern (old style) and finished moccasin (E)

60. Modern moccasin with beaded velvet top (E)

61. An Ojibwa girl in costume of 1850 (A)

62. Women’s leggings (H)

63. Women’s leggings (E)

64. A modern Ojibwa girl in old time costume (1)

65. An Ojibwa man in ceremonial costume (E)

66. Roach headdress on stick (a) as worn (b) as stored away (E)

67. Man’s leggings (D)

68. Beaded breechcloth (H)

69. Beaded breechcloth (E)

70. Beaded sash and headbands (E)

71. Ojibwa pouches with bandoliers in geometric and floral designs (A)

72. Beaded band being woven on a simple loom (A)

73. Beaded velvet bag with four tabs (E)

74. Embroidered bead border designs (E)

75. Beaded band

76. Beaded band

77. Knife sheath with porcupine quill decoration (H)

78. Ojibwa designs from reed mats

79. Ojibwa designs from old storage bags

80. Ojibwa designs from yarn bags

81. Ojibwa quill designs, for band and pouch

82. Ojibwa patterns cut from birch bark

83. Ojibwa designs, for birch bark and wood

84. The underground panther; the thunder bird

85. Ottertail design with variations

86. Conventionalized isolated unit designs

87. Design elements or motifs used in beadwork

88. Conventionalized leaf borders based on the rhomboid

89. Design elements in bead embroidery

90. Cut out design

91. Reed doll

92-98. Bag designs

99. Quill designs

100-118. Band, belt and sash designs

119. Cut out designs

120-124. Applique designs

125-126. Moccasin designs

127-132. Beaded pouches

133-145. Designs used in bead embroidery

Illustrations through the courtesy of:

(A) American Museum of Natural History, New York City

(E) Bureau of American Ethnology, Washington, D.C.

(D) Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado

(H) Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, New York City

(P) University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia, Pa.

(HDA) Mr. H. D. Ayer of the Mille Lacs Indian Trading Post, Onamia, Minnesota

(I) Bureau of Indian Affairs

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THE OJIBWA IN HISTORY

SCATTERED throughout the wooded sections of the fake country in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and along the southern border of Canada are to be found the descendants of the great Ojibwa tribe of Indians, at one time the third largest Indian tribe in North America, Along the shores of Lake Huron, Lake Superior and the northern portion of Lake Michigan, as well as around the smaller lakes, the Woodland Ojibwa have continued to live since an early day. In Canada they are scattered from Eastern Ontario to Winnipeg, with some roving bands in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.

Small groups of the Pembina band, the most westerly of the Ojibwa, have roamed from the northwestern section of Minnesota westward into North Dakota in the region of the Turtle Mountains and northward into Canada. A group known as the Nibowisibiwininwak settled in Saskatchewan. The Pic River group settled in Manitoba. These northern groups came in contact and mingled with the Cree and the Assiniboine. This branch was known as the Saulteaux, a name early given them by the French. Their proximity to the buffalo herds led them to adopt to a large extent the bison-hunting plains culture and they have been distinguished from