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The Childhood Of Ji-Shib, The Ojibwa (1900)
The Childhood Of JiShib The Ojibwa - 1900 Author:Albert Ernest Jenks Members of the Ojibwa tribe of Indians are today most commonly called "Chippewa." The old men of the tribe will tell you, however, that the word Chippewa is a corruption of their true tribal name "Ojibwa." Through the efforts of Scientists this latter term is gradually coming in use again. Ojibwa Indians would not understand you, if you pron... more »ounced "Ji-shib" as it is spelled, for they pronounce it "she-sheeb." The World of Things does not mean to the Indian what it means to us. It is difficult, almost impossible, for him to differentiate himself from the other, so-called, lower animals. He and they both had the same ancestors long, long ago. One myth says, "Many, many Winters ago there were many buffalo; after four days a part of the buffalo turned to Indians." In some things the Indian believes himself superior to the other animals, while in many things he as truly believes himself inferior to them. The following is a true story, that is, it is all true to the Ojibwa child,---he believes it. The story is written with no other thought than to have constantly in mind what the Ojibwa child believes about the events of his everyday life as given in the story. And the following incidents are taken directly from the common life of the tribe. --- Albert Ernest Jenks« less