🚀 go-pugleaf

Several people have asked me about the origins of my name and
the proper pronunciation.  Say it like it is spelled (Oh-Jib-Way).
I am a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
O'Jibway (Ojibwa,Odjibwa) and Chippewa are different names for
the same tribe.  The white man just could't figure out how to
spell it.  The French had their own ideas and the English had
theirs.  My Great Great Grandfather was called Keche O'Jibway
meaning Big/Great/Chief O'Jibway.  He was not a "chief" in that
he did not lead a band.  The name stuck down through the 
generations.  All of the sons were given english names but they
were all nicknamed chief, including my father.  Obviously the
family retained the last name O'Jibway also.  In the early 1800's
indians could take whatever name they wanted (including X).  This
makes research a barrel of fun as you can well imagine.  Indian
research is frustrating but the rewards are glorious (oh heck,
you can say the same about all genealogical research, isn't that
why we read net.roots :-) ?)  My most exciting find was in locating
the original land grant signed by Ulysses S. Grant given to my Great
Great Grandfather.  Now I'd like to know where that land is, can
anyone help me out?   (The SE quarter of the SW quarter of section
six and the NE quarter of the SW of section, Oh forget it!)

My second most exciting discovery was finding the following poem.
Perhaps it will serve to inspire some of you as it does me.

      Should you ask me: Whence these stories?
      Whence these legends and traditions,
      With the odors of the forest,
      With the dew and damp of meadows,
      With the curling smoke of wigwams,
      With the rushing of great rivers,
      With their frequent repititions,
      And their wild reverberations,
      As of thunder in the mountains?
      I should answer, I should tell you,
      "From the forests and the prairies,
      From the great lakes of the Northland.
      From the land of the O'Jibways
      From the land of the Dacotahs,
      From the mountains, moors and fenlands,
      Where the heron, the shuh-shuh-gah,
      Feed among the reeds and bushes."

                  Author Unknown
                  circa 1899

Denise O'Jibway - 612 8th Street - Del Mar, CA 91014
djo@sdchema.uucp