Activity 2- Making a Spirit- Hist 228 Michael McCue First Nation, MĂ©tis and Inuit religions in Canada vary widely and consist of complex social and cultural customs for addressing the sacred and the supernatural. As someone with indigenous blood on my father's side of the family, I have decided to use this knowledge to create a spirit in the image and beliefs of my people. My spirits name is noojimo nininj, which in Ojibwe translates to "healing hands". He is the son of the creator, who in Ojibwe culture is named Gitchee Manitou. His mythology goes as such: noojimo nininj was created during the origins of the world, in which a Great Spirit dives, or orders animals to dive, into the primeval water to bring back mud, out of which the Earth is fashioned. Noojimo nininj dived into the water but landed on the turtle, which would eventually become turtle island (the earth/north America). As he was created at the beginning of time, it is believed that he has knowledge of everything that was and will be and is often seen as the bridge between the Ojibway people and the creator, as the messenger. He is deity that Ojibway tribes pray to for help with any illness that strikes the village. He is depicted as a long-haired warrior riding a white horse, holding a medicine wheel in one hand and a bow in the other. He is prayed to before battle as well; warriors ask noojimo nininj to protect them from injuries or wounds sustained. Shamanism is also common in Ojibwe culture. It is seen most prominently using ceremonial performers. Ritual objects such as the calumet, rattles, drums, masks, medicine wheels, medicine bundles and ritual sanctuaries are filled with spiritual power. Shamans are believed to have direct pipelines to spirits and deities, with specific steps needing to be taken to ensure contact is made. In the case of noojimo nininj, the burning of
sweetgrass and smudging the smoke on a sick individual is believed to be what will summon him. Sweetgrass is believed to be the hair of mother earth, the mother of noojimo nininj. Ojibwe spiritual life was animistic, the natural world being inhabited by numerous spirits both good and evil, some of which required special treatment. As noojimo nininj is divine, it was believed that his spirit inhabited everything good in the world. However, the animals that represent the seven grandfather teachings (respect-buffalo, courage-bear, humility-wolf, wisdom- beaver, honesty-sabe, truth-turtle, and love-eagle) are believed to have the strongest spiritual presence. Therefore, when a sick individual needs healing, it is common to keep him/her in a sweat lodge with one or more of these animals, which could be sacrificed with a prayer to noojimo nininj