03 March 2009

Chippewa Language Preeminent in Historic Terms for Birds

Annals of history from across decades indicate that the Chippewa Tribe had a vivid and rich variety of terms related to birds. The wordly expanse of the language shows a definitive knowledge of species and how the winged ones were a prominent aspect of tribal lore and mythology.

The history started with details published in 1778, from the journal of John Long, wherein there weren't any notes on living birds, but was a fine set of terminology from Nipigon Bay. The following list provides a designated term based on the term given in the published source, and the tribal term.

[No Tin, Chippewa Chief, 1844; Indians of North America]
Term Designation - Given Term - Native Term
Bird - All small birds - pennyshance
Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis
Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo
Crow, American - Crow - cark cark
Duck - Wild duck - sheshib
Egg - Eggs - wark in
Feather - Feathers - pequim
Goose - Wild goose - neecark
Loon - Loon - maunk
Nest - Nest - wesshepatchta
Plover - Plover - gueveshew
Ptarmigan - Partridge - peenay
Swan - Swan - kitchee meework
Turkey, Wild - Wild Turkey - weenecobbo
Wing - Wing - gwimbitch

The list conveys how the people knew a number of the prominent species of the tribal territory.

A relatively short few year later, there was another set of terms issued, based on the J. Long, publishing his account in 1791 of "Voyages and travels of an Indian interpreter and trader, describing the manners and customs of the North American Indians; with an account of the posts situated on the river Saint Laurence, Lake Ontario, &c. to which is added a vocabulary..."

Bird - All small birds - pennyshance
Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis
Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo
Duck - Wild duck - sheeshib
Duck - Wild duck - sheshib
Eagle - Eagle - meegeezes
Egg - Egg - manneguk
Egg - Eggs - wark
Feather - Feathers of birds - pequim
Fowl - Birds, or fowl - pinneyshis
Goose - Wild goose - neecark
Loon - Loon - maunk
Plover - Plover - gueveshew
Quail - Partridge - peenay
Swan - Swan - kitchee meework
Turkey, Wild - Turkey - weenecobbo
Wing - Wing of birds - gwimbitch

In 1828, John Summerfield wrote a sketch of the grammar of the Chippeway language from tribes in Michigan, which was issued by the Canada Conference Missionary Society. There were more than twenty terms of interest. This particular source was interim between the reminiscences of explorers and the details given by missionaries which followed, and were requisite for the holy men to communicate with the native people, in their efforts to convert them to a white-man's religious beliefs.

Bird - Cock; bird has derived its name from its crowing; so nearly all birds - pahkahahquay
Blackbird - Black-bird - ahsegenak
Bobwhite, Northern - Quail - mahskoodaysay
Coot, American - Mud-hen - mahnoomenekashee
Crane - Crane - ahshahgeh
Crow, American - Crow - kahgahgehshee
Duck - Duck - shesheeb
Duck - Duck species - ahahwa
Eagle - Eagle - megezeh
Feather quill - Feather, quill - megwon
Fowl - Fowls - penasewug
Goose, Canada - Wild goose - nekah
Grouse - Partridge - penaih
Gull - Gull - kahyask
Meadowlark, Eastern - Meadow-lark - moonegwana
Nest - Nest - wahzeswon
Owl - Owl - kookookoo-ooh
Pigeon, Passenger - Pigeon - omemee
Rail - Water-hen - ahjegahdashib
Raven, Common - Raven - ahndaig
Robin, American - Robin - opecheh
Turkey, Wild - Turkey - mezhesay
Wing - Wing - onegwegun
Woodpecker - Wood-pecker - pahpahsay

When Rev. Frederic Baraga was a missionary in the upper peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior, an essential aspect of his unforgettable legacy is a dictionary of the language of the native people he talked with on an intimate, conversational basis among the northern woods.

This priest of the Roman Catholic religion went west in 1843 to a place now called L'Anse — a place on the upper peninsula of a state now called Michigan because of some big inland lake — to teach Indians about the great heavenly spirit to which meaningful prayers should be directed. Communication with some understanding was essential, so during the subsequent years, Father Baraga obviously learned the intricacies of the native language, and wrote down the details on some type of paper or parchment, for later compilation and eventual publication.

Father Baraga's profound result was "A Dictionary of the Otchipwe Language, Explained in English," for the Chippewa Tribe, also applied to ancillary tribes, designated as the Ottawa, Pottawattamie and Algonquins.

Lake Superior — Otchipwe-kitchigami — was the "sea of the Chippewas" and its western lands were a focal point for this sublime investigation of the words used by the local tribe where the father spent his valuable time.

For the birds known to tribes-men, Rev. Baraga's dictionary provided several new terms for tribal language known for the annals of historic ornithology. The terminology is among the best because of its variety of defined words for the winged ones. This 662-page dictionary conveys a vivid understanding for a language rich in verbiage beyond simplistic terminology. There are terms of many variations for very specific, particular actions. Such subtlety is given.

This is a list of so many bird-related terms among the multitude of definitions, providing an interpreted term, the English term given in the dictionary, and the original, tribal term, though without any of the particular typographic subtleties given within the original volume published at Cincinnati:

The same year the dictionary was published, Reverend Baraga became a bishop in the church.

Term Designation

Given Term

Native Term

Beak

Beak

okoj

Beak

It has a long beak

ginikoje

Beak

It has a short beak

takokoje

Beak

Raven's beak

kagagiwikoj

Beak

The bird carries something in his beak

nimaige bineshi

Bill

Bill

masinaigans

Bird

A kind of bird

pashkandamo

Bird

A kind of white bird

odamaweshi

Bird

A large bird

binessi

Bird

A small bird

bineshi

Bird

Another kind of nightingale

sasina

Bird

bastard-loon

ashimang

Bird

Eagle-fighter (bird)

mi'gi-san-na-nis'-si

Bird

Giant's bird

windigobineshi

Bird

Honey-bird

nonokasse

Bird

Nightingale

gaskaskanedji

Bird

Red bird

natchinamanessi

Bird

Redbreast (bird)

memiskondini-manguneshi

Bird

South bird

ja-wa'-ni-bi-ne'-shi

Bird

Tamed bird

awakan

Bird

Young animal or bird

oshki-aiaans

Bird

Young little bird

panadja

Bird, female

Female of birds

najesse

Bird, male

Male of birds

nabesse

Bittern

Bittern

moshkaossi, ganawabimogisissweshi

Blackbird

A kind of black bird

makateinnak

Blackbird

A kind of black bird

segibanwanishi

Blackbird

Starling (bird)

assiginak; nadjinamanessi

Bluebird

A kind of blue bird

ojawane

Chicken

Chicken

panadja; pakaakwens

Claw

Eagle's claw

magisiwiganj

Claw

Loon's foot

mangosid

Crane

Crane

adjidjad

Crane, Whooping

White crane

wabadjidjak

Crest

Cock's crest

pakaakwe o patakibinweon

Crop

Crop or craw of a bird

omodai

Crop

This bird has a large crop

mangomodais aw bineshi

Crossbill

Cross-bill, cross-beak

ajidekoneshi

Crow

The cock crows

masitagosi pakaakwe

Crow, American

Crow

andek

Crow, American

Young crow

andekons

Curlew

Curlew

patashkanje

Dove, Mourning

Dove (domestic pigeon)

wabmimi; wab?minsi

Dove, Mourning

Turtle-dove

omimi

Dove, Mourning

Young turtle-dove

omimins

Down

Small soft feather (down); down (soft underfeather)

missegwanan

Duck

A kind of autumn duck

pikwakoshib

Duck

A large kind of duck

ininishib

Duck

A very fat duck

pakojishib

Duck

Another kind of duck

ansig; jingibiss; kinishtinokweshib; siamo; wakeiawishib

Duck

Beaver-duck

amikoshib

Duck

Duck

jishib

Duck

Duck with a long neck

ginogweiaweshib

Duck

Duck with a short neck

du-qua'-que-we'-shib

Duck

Duck; pigeon-tail (a kind of wild duck)

aawe

Duck

White duck

wabansig; wabininishb

Duck, American Black

Black duck

makateshib

Eagle

Another kind of eagle

wabijakwe

Eagle

Black eagle

missansi

Eagle

Eagle

migisi

Eagle

War-eagle

kiniw

Eagle

Young eagle

migisins

Egg

Egg

wanan

Egg

Gull's egg

guiashkwawan

Egg

Hen's egg

pakaakwewawan; pakaskwawawan

Egg

Hen's egg

pakaakwawawan

Egg

Small egg

wawanons

Egg shell

Shell of an egg

wawan anugaawana

Egg white

White of the egg

wabawan; wabishkag wawan

Egg yolk

Yolk of an egg

miskwawan; miskwawandjigan; osawag wawan; osawawan

Feather

Feather

migwan

Feather

Feather of a large bird

binessiwigwan

Feather

Feather of a small bird

binashiwigwan

Feather

I have a plume of feathers on my head

nin nimashkaige

Feather

Large feather

kitchigwunan

Feather

Plume of feathers

nimashkaigan; migwangena; patakibinweon

Feather

The bird is naked, has no feathers

pashkosi, papashkosi bineshi,

Feather

White feather

wabigwan

Flight

Flight

ojimowin

Flight

Flight (of birds); flying

bimissewin

Flight

The bird flies low

tabassisse bineshi

Flight

The bird flies quick

kijisse bineshi

Flight

The bird has his wings closed

nabwangeshka bineshi

Flight

The bird starts

pasigwao bineshi

Flock

The birds are together, by troops

bimaamog binessiwag

Fly

I fly up in the air

nind ombisse

Fly

It flies about

babamisse

Fly

It flies around

giwitasse

Fly

It flies from

ondjisse

Fly

It flies from

ondjibide

Fly

It flies hither

bidjibide; bidjisse

Fly

It flies in

pindigesse

Fly

It flies off (something)

madjibide

Fly

It flies out (a bird)

sagidjisse

Fly

It flies round

bijibasse

Fly

It flies up

ombibide

Goose

Another kind of wild goose

obijashkissi

Goose

Wild goose

nika

Goose, Snow

White goose

wabwewe

Grouse

Marsh-partridge

mashkodesse

Grouse

Partridge

bind

Grouse

The partridge shakes his wings

gwigwinguso bind

Grouse

Tree on which the partridge shakes his wings

gwigwingwaowatig

Grouse

Young partridge

bindus

Gull

Gull

guiashk

Gull

Young gull

gaiashkons

Hen

Hen

pakaakwe; ikwe-pakaakwe

Hunting ducks

I hunt ducks

nin nandoshibe; nin nodjishibe

Hunting partridge

I hunt partridge

nin nand abinewe

Hunting pigeons

I hunt pigeons

nin nandaomimi; nin nodjomimiwe

Jay

Jay

pikwakokweweshi

Jay, Gray

A kind of gray bird

okanisse

Junco, Dark-eyed

Snow-bird

wabaningosi

Kingfisher, Belted

Fisher (bird)

okishkimanisse

Kingfisher, Belted

Kingfisher (bird)

ogishkimanissi

Lapwing, Northern

Lapwing (bird)

meningwane

Lark

Lark

kikibikomeshi

Loon

Loon

mang

Loon

Young loon

mangons

Magpie

A kind of small magpie

gwingwishi

Magpie, Black-billed

Magpie

apishkagogi

Merganser

Saw-bill

ansig

Moult

The bird is moulting

pinigwane bineski

Nest

Nest

wasisswan

Nest

The bird builds its nest

wasisswanike bineshi

Osprey

Fish-hawk

mitchiyigwans

Owl

A kind of small owl

kokobo

Owl

A kind of small owl

gwengowia

Owl

Another kind of owl

peshkwe

Owl, Great Horned

Horned owl

wewendjigano

Pigeon, Passenger

Wild pigeon

omimi

Pigeon, Passenger

Young wild pigeon

omimine

Pigeon, Rock

Domestic pigeon

wabomemi

Pigeon, Rock

Young domestic pigeon

wabmimins

Plover

Plover (bird)

tchitchwishkiwe

Pluck

Pick; I pick a bird

nin pushkobina bineshi

Raptor

A kind of prey-bird

tehains

Raven, Common

Raven

kagagi

Screech-Owl, Eastern

Screetchowl

kakabishe

Shoveler, Northern

Spoonbill (bird)

jede

Snipe, Wilson's

Snipe

padashkaanji; manominikeshi

Song

The bird warbles

masitagosi bineshi; wiiagweweto

Swallow

Swallow (bird)

jashawanibissi

Swan

A kind of small swan

manabisi

Swan

Swan

wabisi

Swan

Young swan

wabisins

Tail

Tail of a bird

wanashkid

Tail

Tail of a large bird

binessi-wanashkid

Tail

Tail of a small bird

bineshi-wanishkid

Teal

Teal (duck)

sagataganishib; wewibingwange

Thrasher

Trasher [thrasher]

apagandaigewinini

Thrush

Thrush (bird)

opitchi

Turkey, Wild

Turkey (bird)

misisse

Turkey, Wild

Wild turkey

pagwadji-misisse

Turkey, Wild

Young turkey

misissens

Vulture, Turkey

Vulture

winange

Wing

Wing

ningwigan

Woodcock, American

Woodcock

padjashkaanji

Woodpecker

White wood-pecker

wabipapasse

Woodpecker

Wood-pecker

meme; pakweamo; papasse; bigwakokweoweshi

So notable here from this historic work worthy of special appreciation, is the array of various terms — active and passive, or, noun and verb — for different birds and related aspects of avian focus. The translative variety applies to the entire specter of daily living for the tribe. This was a rich language equivalent with the subtle nuances of any modern language.

The Indians readily knew a variety of fowl in their tribal area which is now part of upper Michigan, and though given in the lexicon, particulars on the species are lacking through some limitation in interpretation. Despite this, there are no other known dictionaries, which have such a variety of terms for egg, or for fly or flight, for example. There are obviously some vague definitions for terms that are just too limited to allow giving an identity for a particular type of bird species.

No other linguistic source mentioned the tree upon which the partridge shakes its wings, or the notable term, gwigwingwaowatig with its uncertain pronunciation unknown in an era more than 150 years beyond its inscription.

"Kijisse bineshi," would be a good exclamation for when particular birds are going low across the horizon.

Or, when doing a survey for a bird atlas project, the term "nimaige bineshi," would certainly be apropos to note an adult bird taking food to its young.

Considering the multitude of other terms within the dictionary, it seems it would be readily possible to write something using an interpreted understanding of the original Indian language. What an interesting endeavor this would be!

With the burgeoning publication of specific article on birds due to the arrival of various ornithological journals, W.W. Cooke paid particular attention to a somewhat focused nomenclature. His list issued in 1884, in the first volume of the Auk, was prepared from knowledge of the Chippewa of White Earth, Minnesota, gained from a three years' residence. The introductory text indicated that the tribal members knew more about species present in the winter — when birds were scarce — than during the summer. The men of the tribe were recognized for an extraordinary skill in identifying ducks in flight at a distance. The birds also were recognized for their importance in tribal mythology for youngsters.

Term Designation

Given Term

Native Term

Bittern, American

American bittern

mosh-ka-was-shi

Bittern, Least

Least bittern; the bird that looks at the sun

ga-na-wa'-bi-mo-gi'-zis-si-swesh'-in

Blackbird

Blackbird

as-sig'-g-nak

Blackbird, Red-winged

Red-winged blackbird; red-shouldered bird

me'-mis-ko-di'-ni-mang-a-ne'-shi

Blackbird, Yellow-headed

Yellow-headed blackbird; little Sioux blackbird

bwan-ence'-as-sig'-gi-nak

Bluebird, Easter

Bluebird, the blue colored bird; blue colered bird

o-zou-wash'-ko-bi-ne'-shi

Bobolink

Bobolink; Chicago bird; skunk bird, from the white stripe down back

shi-ka'-go-bi-ne'-shi

Brant

Brant

we'-we

Bufflehead

Butterball; shot eater, because it is so hard to hit

wa-ke'-i-a'-wi-shib'

Bunting, Snow

Snow bunting; morning star bird

wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi

Catbird, Gray

Catbird

ma-ma'-dwe-bi-ne'-shi

Chickadee, Black-capped

Black-capped chickadee

kitch'-i-kitch-i-ga'-ne-shi

Coot, American

American coot; legs hanging down behind

a'-tchi-ga-deg'

Cormorant, Double-crested

Double-crested cormorant; raven duck

ka-gog'-i-shib

Cowbird, Brown-headed

Cowbird; small blackbird

a-ga'-jid-as-sig'-gi-nak

Crane, Sandhill

Sandhill crane

a-gi-gak'

Crane, Whooping

Whooping crane

wab'-a-gi-gak'

Crossbill

Crossbill; having a crossed bill

a'-ji-de-ko-ne'-shi

Crow, American

Crow

an-deg'

Cuckoo

Cuckoo

pi-gua-o-ko'-que-o-we'-shi

Dove, Mourning

Mourning dove; tame dove; white pigeon

wa'-ba-mi'-mi

Duck

Duck; a beaver duck

a-mik'-o-shib

Duck, American Black

Black mallard; black duck

muk-ud-e'-shib

Duck, Ring-billed

Ring-billed blackhead; fall duck

tu-gua'-go-shib

Duck, Wood

Wood Duck

si-a-mo'

Eagle, Bald

Bald eagle

mi'-gi-zi

Eagle, Bald

Man eagle

ini'-ni-zi

Eagle, Golden

Golden eagle; war eagle of the Chippewas

gi-neu'

Flicker, Northern

Yellow-shafted flicker; bird with dirty colored wings

mo-ning'-gua-ne'

Golden-Plover, American

Golden plover; yellow crane sandpiper

o-za'-wa-gi'-gak-o-chu-is-ki-wen'

Goldeneye, Common

American golden-eye; arrow duck

mud-we-ang'-ge-shib; pi-kwa'-ko-shib

Goldfinch, American

American goldfinch

bi-yung'

Goose, Canada

Canada Goose

ni-ka'

Goose, Greater White-fronted

White-fronted goose

a-pish'-ni-ka'

Goose, Snow

Snow goose; suspect it is the snow goose

ma'-na-bi-si

Goshawk, Northern

Goshawk

ki-bwan'-i-si

Grackle, Common

Purple grackle; big blackbird

chi-as-sig-gi-nak

Grebe, Horned or Eared Grebe

Horned grebe, or eared grebe; big diver

kitch'-i-shin'-gi-bis

Grebe, Pied-billed

Thick-billed grebe

shin'-gi-bis

Grosbeak, Evening

Evening grosbeak

pash-kan'-da-mo

Grosbeak, Pine

Pine grosbeak

o-ka-nis'-se

Grouse

Grouse

bi-ne'

Grouse, Ruffed

Ruffed grouse

wen'-gi-da-bi-ne'

Grouse, Spruce

Canada Grouse; prairie bird

mus-ko-de'-se

Gull and terns

Gulls and terns

kai-osk'

Harrier, Northern

Marsh hawk; snake hunter

o-no'-gi-gi-neb-i-que'-si

Hawk

Cooper's hawk and sharp-shinned hawk

ke-kek'

Hawk

Hawk

ke-kek'

Hawk, Cooper's

Cooper's hawk; hairy hawk

mish'-i-ke-kek

Hawk, Red-tailed

Red-tailed Hawk; small red hawk

mis'-qua-na-ni'-si

Hawk, Rough-legged

Rough-legged hawk; black hawk

mu-ku-de'-ke-kek'

Hawk, Swainson's

Swainson's hawk

tchai-ince'

Heron, Great Blue

Great blue heron

shu-shu'-ga

Hummingbird, Ruby-throated

Ruby-throated hummer

non-o-ka'-si

Jay, Blue

Blue jay

jan-di'-si

Jay, Gray

Canada jay

guin-gui'-shi

Junco, Dark-eyed

Black snowbird

bu-te'-shi-wish

Kestrel, American

Sparrow hawk

pi-pi'-gi-wi-zance'

Killdeer

Killdeer; big prairie sandpiper

mus-ko-de'-chi-chi-ji'-twish-ki-wen'

Kingbird, Eastern

Kingbird; cannibal bird

win'-di-go-bi-ne-shi

Kingfisher, Belted

Kingfisher

o-gish'-ki-mun-is-si'

Kite, Swallow-tailed

Swallow-tailed kite; big swallow

kitch'-i-shau-shau'-won-ni-bi'-si

Lark, Horned

Shore lark; yellow snow bunting

o-za'-wa-wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi

Loon

Loon

mang

Magpie, Black-billed

Magpie

a-pish'-ka-gog-i'

Mallard

Mallard; female mallard; white mallard

wab'-i-ni-ni-shib'

Mallard

Mallard; man duck

i-ni'-ni-shib'

Martin, Purple

Purple martin; black swallow

mu-ke-de'-shau-shau'-wun-ni-bi'-si

Merganser

Sheldrakes

an'-zig

Merganser, Common

American Sheldrake; big sheldrake

kitch-i-an'-zig

Merganser, Hooded

Hooded sheldrake; sharp-billed duck

gi-ni-ko-ne'-shib

Merganser, Red-breasted

Red-breasted merganser; yellow sheldrake

o-ga-wan'-zig

Nighthawk, Common

Nighthawk

besh-que'

Nuthatch, Red-breasted

Red-bellied nuthatch

ki-ki-bi'-di-ko-me'-shi

Nuthatch, White-breasted

White-bellied nuthatch

chi-chi-ga'-nam-da-we'-shi

Oriole, Baltimore

Baltimore oriole; poplar or willow bird

wa-do'-pi-bi-ne'-shi

Osprey

Fish hawk

mi'-gi-ki-qua-ne'

Owl

Owl

o-ko'-ko-ko-o'

Owl, Barn

Barn owl

bo'-du-wi-dom-be'

Owl, Barred

Barred owl

wen'-gi-du-ko-ko-ko-o'

Owl, Great Gray

Great gray owl

we-wen'-gi-ga-no'

Owl, Great Horned

Great horned owl

o-tow'-i-ge-o-ko'-ko-ko-o'

Owl, Snowy

Snowy Owl

wa'-bi-o-ko'-ko-o'

Pelican

Pelican, both species

she'-de

Pigeon, Passenger

Pigeon

o-mi'-mi

Pintail, Northern

Pintail; long-necked duck

kin-o-gua'-ya-we-shib

Prairie-Chicken, Greater

Prairie hen

a-gusk'

Raven, Common

American raven

ka-gog-i'

Redhead

Redhead; big fall duck

kitch'-i-tu-gua'-go-shib

Robin, American

American robin

o-pi'-che

Sandpiper

Sandpiper

ji-twish'-ki-wen

Scaup

Scaup ducks; spirit ducks

ma'-ni-do-shib'

Screech-Owl, Eastern

Little screech owl

ka-kab'-i-shi

Shoveler, Northern

Shoveller; shovelling duck

ma-da-i-ga'-ni-shib

Shrike, Northern

Shrike; big cannibal bird

kitch'-i-win'-di-go-bi-ne'-shi

Snipe, Wilson's

Wilson's snipe

pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja

Sora

Sora rail; rice bird

mo-no'-min-i-kesh-i'

Sparrow, Song

Song sparrow

kos-kos-ko-ni'-chi

Swallow

All other swallows; little bird that tumbles over and over in the air

shau-shau'-wun-ni-b-sence'

Swan

Swan; white bird

wa'-bi-si

Swift, Chimney

Chimney swift; wooden quills, in allusion to the stiff tail-feathers

me-mit'-to-go-ning-gue-ga-ne'-si

Tanager, Scarlet

Scarlet tanager

o-da'-gi-na-ma ne'-shi

Teal, Blue-winged

Blue-winged duck

we-wi'-bing-guang-ge'

Teal, Green-winged

Green-winged Teal; spunk duck; also called big teal

sug-gu-ta'-ka-ni-shib

Thrasher, Brown

Brown thrush; big thrush

chi'-a-nuk'

Thrush, Swainson's

Thrush, olive-backed

a-nuk'

Towhee, Eastern

Towhee bunting; black thrush

muk-ud-e'-ai-a'-nuk

Turkey, Wild

Turkey

mi-sis'-si

Veery

Wilson's thrush

an-wak'

Vulture, Turkey

Turkey buzzard; dirty wing

wi-nong'-a

Warbler, Black-throated Blue

Black-throated blue warbler

o-ja'-wa-no

Warbler, Yellow

Summer yellowbird

o-za'-wa-bi-ne'-shi

Waxwing, Bohemian

Bohemian waxwing; crested bird

o-ze'-gi-ban-wan'-i-shin

Waxwing, Cedar

Cedar waxwing; the bird that is king or chief

o'-gi-ma-bi-ne'-shi

Whip-poor-will

Whippoorwill

gwen-go-wi-a'

Woodcock, American

Woodcock; big snipe

kitch'-i-pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja

Woodpecker

Hairy and downy woodpecker

pa-pa'-se

Woodpecker, Pileated

Pileated woodpecker

me'-me

Woodpecker, Red-headed

Red-headed woodpecker

pa-que-a-mo'

Wren, House

House wren

o-du-na'-mis-sug-ud-da-we'-shi

Wren, Marsh

Marsh wren

mus-ko'-zi-bi-ne'-shi

This is a profound, scholarly work with importance beyond the time of its origin.

During the same era, another study of the Chippewa tribal language was underway by someone with the most intimate knowledge of the tribe and its lexicon. The history on the Ottawa and Chippewa of Michigan written by Andrew J. Blackbird, whose father was Macka-de-pe-nessy, or Black-hawk, which should have been the proper last name for Andrew. He attended a couple of educational institutions in the 1850s, but his degree was based on his life experiences, not from a piece of paper from some institution.

This selection provides the final portion of the tribal language being considered.

Term Designation

Given Term

Native Term

Bird Bird pe-nay-shen
Crane Crane au-dje-djawk
Crow, American Crow awn-dayg
Duck Duck she-sheb
Eagle Eagle wing-ge-zee
Grouse Partridge pe-nay
Gull Gull kaw-yawshk
Hawk Hawk pe-nay-se
Jay, Blue Bluejay tchin-dees
Loon Loon mong
Pigeon, Passenger Pigeon o-me-me
Prairie-Chicken, Greater Prairie hen ke-wo-nee
Robin, American Robin au-pe-tchi
Thrasher, Brown Thrasher au-nawk
Turkey, Wild Turkey me-zhe-say
Woodcock, American Woodcock may-may
Woodpecker Woodpecker paw-paw-say

This set of terms reveals — once again — a number of the most typical bird species of the tribal area, which was the area of Harbor Springs, where Mr. Blackbird was the postmaster in 1858, and the same area where he was born.

Wonders of the Chippeway Tribe

The terminology opens a new realm for the native language given in bird history, which could readily be a focus of study for time undefined, depending only on someone's particular interest. Tribal terms for quilt, for sewing, for knitting, are even included for those which may have an interest in this type of an indoor endeavor. The words, given in two variations — tribal to English and English to tribal — are a sublime work of scholarly work far beyond the basic responsibilities of a missionary.

The terms given here are an addition to the terms previously presented from other sources that convey this aspect of bird history. This particular instance of bird lore from more than a century in the past, or basically times long forgotten except for treasured annals of history, can be readily appreciated since someone took the time to write it down and get it into print of some manner so it can be easily remembered and reviewed.

This terminology ellicits a new appreciation for the appreciation of the birds during the endless centuries they have been known by people of the continental lands.

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