CANADA HISTORY - DOCUMENTS NATIVES

Ojibway Poems

Analysis of the Document - (The Document follows below the Analysis)

Ojibway Poems is a powerful collection of poetry that reflects the rich cultural heritage, spirituality, and struggles of the Ojibway people. Written by Indigenous authors, these poems articulate the profound connection between the Ojibway people and the natural world, their ancestors, and their traditions. The poems convey deep respect for the environment and the sacred elements of life, such as the sun, moon, earth, and water. However, the collection also explores themes of colonization, loss, and survival, highlighting the enduring strength and resilience of the Ojibway in the face of centuries of oppression.

The Ojibway Poems serve as a vehicle for preserving oral traditions in written form, allowing the stories and beliefs of the Ojibway people to reach wider audiences. Through these poems, readers are drawn into the heart of Indigenous experience, witnessing the beauty, pain, and determination that characterize the Ojibway's historical journey. The poems often embody a cyclical understanding of life, reflective of Indigenous cosmology, where every element in the world is interconnected.

The implications of Ojibway Poems on Canadian history and culture are profound. At a time when Indigenous voices were often marginalized, this collection provided a platform for the expression of Indigenous identity and worldviews. It challenged the colonial narrative that had long dominated Canadian literature and history, offering instead a deeply personal and communal account of what it means to be Ojibway in a land shaped by settler colonialism.

By foregrounding Indigenous perspectives, Ojibway Poems helped to shift the cultural landscape in Canada. It became part of a broader movement toward the recognition of Indigenous literature as an essential part of the Canadian canon. This recognition was crucial not only in terms of cultural representation but also in advancing political conversations about land rights, sovereignty, and reconciliation.

In the larger framework of Canadian history, the Ojibway Poems collection contributed to the growing recognition of the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems and their preservation through art and storytelling. It also reflected the resilience of Indigenous peoples in maintaining their cultural practices despite the ongoing pressures of assimilation and cultural erasure. These poems were more than literary expressions—they were acts of resistance, claiming space for Indigenous voices in a society that had long sought to silence them.

Moreover, the collection has had a lasting influence on Indigenous literature in Canada, inspiring future generations of Indigenous poets and writers to explore their heritage, speak their truths, and engage with their communities’ histories in creative and empowering ways. In this sense, Ojibway Poems is not only a testament to the past but also a living document that continues to shape the future of Indigenous expression in Canada.

In conclusion, Ojibway Poems stands as a landmark in Canadian literary and cultural history, symbolizing the intersection of art, politics, and identity. It provides a window into the world of the Ojibway people, their struggles and triumphs, and it remains an enduring reminder of the vital importance of Indigenous voices in shaping Canada’s ongoing story. Through this collection, the legacy of the Ojibway—and Indigenous peoples more broadly—continues to influence the cultural and historical consciousness of Canada.

Medicine Song of an Indian Lover (Ojibwa)

I.

Who, maiden, makes this river flow?

The Spirit-he makes its ripples glow-

But I have a charm that can make thee, dear,

Steal o'er the wave to thy lover here.

II.

Who, maiden, makes this river flow?

The Spirit-he makes its ripples glow-

Yet every blush that my love would hide,

Is mirror'd for me in the tell-tale tide.

III.

And though thou shouldst sleep on the farthest isle,

Round which these dimpling waters smile-

Yet I have a charm that can make thee, dear,

Steal over the wave to thy lover here.

The Loon Upon the Lake (Ojibwa)

I looked across the water,

I bent o'er it and listened,

I thought it was my lover,

My true lover's paddle glistened.

Joyous thus his light canoe would the silver ripples wake.-

But no!-it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake.

Ah me! it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake.

I see the fallen maple

Where he stood, his red scarf waving,

Though waters nearly bury

Boughs they then were newly laving.

I hear his last farewell, as it echoed from the brake.-

But no, it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake,

Ah me! it is the loon alone-

The loon upon the lake.

Dream Song (Ojibwa)

It is I who travel in the winds,

It is I who whisper in the breeze,

I shake the trees,

I shake the earth,

I trouble the waters on every land.

Prophetic Powers (Ojibwa)

1.

At the place of light-

At the end of the sky-

I,the Great Spirit,

Come and hang

Bright sign.

2.

Lo! with the sound of my voice,

The prophet's voice,

I make my sacred lodge to shake-

By unseen hands my lodge to shake,

My sacred lodge.

3.

Haih! the white bird of omen,

He flies around the clouds and skies-

He sees,-unuttered sight!

Around the clouds and skies-

By his bright eyes I see-I see-I know.

Chants to the Deity (Ojibwa)

1.

I am the living body of the Great Spirit above,

The Great Spirit, the Ever-living Spirit above,

The living body of the Great Spirit

Whom all must heed.

Heh! heh! heh! heh!

2.

I am the Great Spirit of the sky,

The overshadowing power.

I illumine earth,

I illumine heaven.

Way, ho! ho! ho! ho!

3.

Ah say!

what Spirit, or Body, is this Body?

That fills the world around,

Speak man!

Ah say!

What Spirit, or Body, is this Body?

Way, ho! ho! ho! ho!

Hawk Chant of the Saginaws (Ojibwa)

The hawks turn their heads nimbly round;

They turn to look back on their flight.

The spirits of sun-place have whispered them words,

They fly with their messages swift,

They look as they fearfully go,

They look to the farthermost end of the world,

Their eyes glancing bright, and their beaks boding harm.