| Waswagoning Lac du Flambeau, WI |
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Today, Waswagoning refers to a re-created Ojibwe village depicting the seasonal activities of these resourceful people. It's creator, Nick Hockings, an Ojibwe himself, wanted to preserve this fascinating way of life before it is forgotten. The thoughtfully created atmosphere of this beautiful forest setting draws in its visitors as they journey back in time to experience life with nature. The shelters, food gathering, storing and preparing facilities, tools, traps, boats and games are a powerful example of Ojibwe life generations ago. The day we were at this village, a group of university students were touring the site. We were fortunate to have a chat with Nick who told us many students come to Waswagoning to learn hands-on. Some stay for weeks, living in tipis or tents. It's one of the best places to learn about this interesting group of Native Americans. |
) What
is Harrison doing? "I'm pretending to thresh wild rice the
way the Ojibwe do. The long poles are to keep some of my weight off the
grain so I don't crush the rice." The Ojibwe would wear clean,
new moccasins while threshing. After stepping on a pit-full of rice until
the outer seed covers were loosened, they would winnow it by gently throwing
it in the air, letting the chaff blow away, and catching the clean grains
in a flat container. |
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich |
) We
are looking at a basket of tools. Some are made of stone, some of animal
bones, and some have both tied together with sinew. Before iron was introduced
by the Europeans, Native Americans used objects found in nature from which
to fashion their tools and implements. They became quite skilled at making
all sorts of useful items. |
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From the Dover Coloring Book North American Indian Dances and Rituals by Peter F. Copeland |
) This
is the inside of a wigwam. Amanda learned how they were constructed.
"First, they would make a frame, which was like a pattern and then
they would add thicker poles to support it. To hold the poles together,
they would use bark pounded from long twigs. They would cover the framework
with birch bark and sometimes reeds at the bottom so air could come in during
the summer so it wouldn't get too hot." |
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WA-SWA-GONING:
"the place where they spear fish by torchlight." This
was the name given by the Ojibwe to this beautiful area in northern
Wisconsin. Later, the French trappers would call it Lac du Flambeau,
which it is still called today. The English version is "Lake
of the Torches". This area is the location of many documentary
films about Native Americans before contact with Europeans.
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COLOR
ME)
Dreamcatcher
(Orchard Paperbacks)
Ojibwe