Access to all of Zhaawano's blog posts from 2011 to 2025
Finding Inspiration in the Ancient Teachings of the Land
Boozhoo, biindigen! Hello, welcome! This page provides links to all the stories written by Zhaawano Giizhik from 2011 to the present.
The links
Introduction: Who are we and what brings us here?
Teaching Stories: Footsteps of Our Ancestors
Teaching Stories: Rebirth of a Powerful and Enchanting Art
Teaching stories: Undercurrent of Life
Teaching Stories: How the Spirit of Mandaamin Came to the World
Teaching Stories: Where Is It That You Dwell?
Teaching Stories: The Fire Within
Teaching Stories: Birth of Turtle Island
Teaching Stories: The Origin and Spirit Powers of the Birch Tree
Teaching Stories: Walking the Sacred Path of Life
Teaching Stories: Heartbeat of the Earth
Teaching Stories: Footprints of the Wolf
Teaching Stories: The Cycle of Life
Teaching Stories: The Spirit of Sunset
Teaching Stories: Giigoonh, Silent Being of Lakes and Streams
Teaching Stories: The Trees Speak, Story 1
Teaching stories: The Good Way of the Warrior
Teaching Stories: Finding Back the Road to Wisdom
Teaching Stories: That Which Is Given To Us
Teaching Stories: I Am an Invisible Child
Teaching Stories: The Paradoxical Nature of Life
Teaching stories: The Spirit of Humility
Teaching Stories: Life Is a Dance
Teaching Stories: We Are All Related
Teaching stories: Entering a Different Reality
Teaching Stories: The Seven Grandfather Teachings - Weaving Threads of Tradition
Star Stories: Fisher Star in the Sun
Star Stories: The Power of Dreaming
Star Stories: A Revolving Sky Above Nibaad Misaabe
Star Stories: The Amazing Legend of Yellow Star and the Sleeping Giant
Star Stories: A Vision of Love
Star Stories: Parallel Paths
Star Stories: A Gentle Rumble Across the Universe
Star Stories: Our Clans Among the Stars, chapter 1
Star Stories: Our Clans Among the Stars, chapter 2
Star stories: Ojibwe Star Map: An Artistic Rendering
Star Stories: The Moose on Earth and in the Sky
Star Stories: How the Fisher Brought Summer to the North
Star Stories: A Love Poem for Jane
Star Stories: They Go with Someone in a Canoe
Star Stories: The Wolf Above and the Wolf Below
Star Stories: Jiingwan and the Blood Star
Star Stories: The Boy Who Came From the Sun
Star Stories: The Great Thunderbird That Dwells Among the Stars
Star Stories: The Blood Moon, When Great Changes Begin
Star Stories: The Great Thunderbird That Dwells Among the Stars
Star Stories: A Celestial Love Affair
Star Stories: Gift of the Water Drums
Star Stories: Eagle Feather Woman and the Visitor From the Stars
Star Stories: The Vision of Sees-Beyond-the-Stars-Woman
Star Stories: The Mighty Winds From Our Grandfather in the Sky
Star Stories: A Message From the Thunderbirds
Star Stories: New Beginnings (A Love Poem)
Star Stories: To Fly With the Sky Bison
Star Stories: The Creation of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon
Star Stories: The Story of the Morning Star and the Evening Star
Star Stories: When Waakwi Aki Dances Backward in the Sky
Star stories: Dance of the Orange Blue Supermoon
Star Stories: Why We Must Relearn Our Stories
Star Stories: When Oshkaabewis Travels the Wolf Trail
Star Stories: Does My Storytelling Qualify as Science Fiction?
Star Stories: Harvesting Medicine Along the Cedar Trail
Star Stories: Mishibizhiw and the Great Passing of the Spirit Rabbit
Star Stories: The Great Sky Bear That Lives Among the Stars
Star Stories: Looking Through the Hole in the Sky
Star Stories: A Lullaby
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Growth Is a Mystery
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Prayer to the North
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: My Good Enemy
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Prayer to the East
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Sky Dreamers
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: The Eagle and the Sun
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: The First Feather
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Migizi's Dream
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Both Sides of the Sky
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Spiritual Perception
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Dialogue with the Cosmos
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Fill Our Spirits with Goodness
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: The Color of Love
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Spirit of the Three Fires
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Seeing in a Spirit Way
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Wings of the Sun Hawk
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: The Language of Our Hearts
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: The Silent Spirit of Dawn
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Trail of Seven Fires
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: The Heart-shaped Path of the People
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Eagle Feathers and Braids of Northern Sweetgrass
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: A Song of Great Power
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: The Gift of Spring
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: How the Golden Eagle Got Its Dark Plumage
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Sky Blanket and the Gifts of the Little Cedar Tree
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Spirit of Thunder Mountain
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Path of the Sun Dancer
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Flight of the Thunderbird Sky Dreamer
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: A Teaching of the Hawk
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: A Flower of Fire
Teachings of the eagle Feather: Through the Eagle Feather Will You Speak
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Spirit of the War Eagle
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Fire of the Thunder Beings
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: Ojibwe Terms of Endearment
Teachings of the Eagle Feather: A Song for Moses
Reflections of the Great Lakes: The Lake is Singing My Song
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Nibi, Source of Life
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Look into the Water of a Clear Lake
Reflections of the Great Lakes: We Are Still Here!
Reflections of the Great Lakes: The Spirit of Manoomin
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Mishi-ginebig, Patron of Healing and Wisdom
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Mishi-name, The Great Sturgeon
Reflections of the Great Lakes: A Good Way of Life
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Earth Song
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Sunset at Gichigami
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Encounter with a Black Bear
Reflections of the Great Lakes: The Lake Remembers
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Tobacco, Sacred Gifts of the Thunderbirds
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Zhingibis and the Spirit of the North Wind
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Zhingibis and the Heart Berry
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Why I Use Silver in My Wedding Rings
Reflections of the Great Lakes: Animosh and the Twins
Reflections of the Great Lakes: They Speak From a Great Distance
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Healing Mirror
Teachings from the Tree of Life: A Vision of Healing
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Purpose of Life
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Bends and the Rocks in the River
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Gift of the Heart
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Native Reflections from the Sacred Medicine Circle
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Life is like a Rocky Hill Path
Teachings from the Tree of Life: We Learn as We Walk the Path of Life/A Reflection on Life and on Our Role as Artists
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Girl Who Walked the Bear Path
Teachings from the Tree of Life: A Spring Musing
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Mirror
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Healing Dance
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Mashkikiikewin Life
Teachings from the Tree of Life: About Polarization and the Medicine of Respect
Teachings from the Tree of Life: It's the Way You're treating Yourself
Teachings from the Tree of Life: There Is Nothing Wrong With You
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Poison in Turtle Island Soil
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Shadow of a Warrior
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Look for the Fire Within
Teachings from the Tree of Life: how Do We Keep Our Language Real?
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Why Bears Never Speak Backward but Some Indians Do
Teachings from the Tree of Life: We Have a Mind of Our Own, So Use It
Teachings from the Tree of Life: What's the Link between Fire and Sound?
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Wenabozho Meets Jesus
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Our Role as Storytellers
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Finding the Missing Link
Teachings from the Tree of Life: We All Paddle Our Own Canoe
Teachings from the Tree of Life: Why the Owls Bring Healing
Teachings from the Tree of Life: The Issue of Shame
Teachings From the Tree of Life: The Empathic Nature of Ojibwe Language
Teachings From the Tree of Life: Don't Judge. We All Have Scars
Teachings From the Tree of Life, part 34: Anger is a Wiindigoo
Teachings From the Tree of Life, part 35: The Cedar Branch on the Fire
The Way of the Heartbeat: The Sound of the Mide Drum
The Way of the Heartbeat: Dream of the Spirit Berries
The Way of the Heartbeat: Blessing of Long Life
The Way of the Heartbeat: A Shared Journey on the Good Red Road
The Way of the Heartbeat: Life in the Bosom of the Earth
The Way of the Heartbeat: A Sacred Fire Burns Deep in the Earth
The Way of the Heartbeat: The True Meaning of the Word Debwewin
The Way of the Hearbeat: The Power of Sound
The Way of the Heartbeat: The Knowledge in Our Hearts
The Way of the Heartbeat: This Is My Ceremony
The Way of the Heartbeat: Put on Your Makizinan
The Way of the Heartbeat: Maskawiziiwin and the Power of Forgiveness
The Way of the Heartbeat: Walk with Courage
The Way of the Heartbeat: Wenabozho and the Painted Drum
The Way of the Heartbeat: As Your Heart Beats
The Way of the Heartbeat: A Love Poem for Jane High Eagle
The Way of the Heartbeat: The Pulse of My Heart Drum
The Way of the Heartbeat: Ode'imin and the Wiindigoo of Polarization
Stories from the Land of Crane and Turtle: Journey of Our People
Stories from the Land of Crane and Turtle: Wenabozho and the Butterflies
Stories from the Land of Crane and Turtle: Zhoomin and the Vision of the Dancing Corn Plants
Stories from the Land of Crane and Turtle: Wenabozho and the Magic Bow
Stories from the Land of Crane and Turtle: Wenabozho and the Disappearance of the Sun
Stories from the Land of Crane and Turtle: Manidoowigwisimaa and the Return of the Fire Spirit
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Waabizheshi and the Mermaid
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Sleeping Bear and her Children
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: A Pink Rose
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: The Flower and the Star
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Wenabozho and the Roses
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Gibwanasii and Thunder Eagle Woman
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Where Earth and Sky Meet
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: North Star Woman and the Call of the Loon
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: They Danced with Each Other
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Thunderbirds, Keepers of Sacred Medicine
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: The Loving Earth
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Return of the Drum Called Humble Spirit
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Walking the Rough and Winding Road
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Wenabozho and the Storytellers' Mirror
Love Stories from the land of Many lakes: More Than Life Itself (a love poem)
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Fire in My Heart (a love poem)
Love stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Does a Canoe Have Dreams? (a love poem)
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Yellow Star Woman's Dream Vision
Love Stories from the Land of Many Lakes: Seek the Deepest Blue of the Sky (A Love Poem)
What's Your Doodem, Part 1
What's Your Doodem: He Who Walks Around the Turtle Island
What's Your Doodem: Cut-tail, Teacher Among Teachers (The Story of the Catfish Clan)
What's Your Doodem: The Story of Giniw
What's Your Doodem: Dance of the Otter
What's Your Doodem: Shells, Cranes & Clans: The Story of the Origin of Our Clans
What's Your Doodem: Indoodem, The Breast From Which I Draw
What's Your Doodem: He/She Whose Footprints Have Sunk Deep into Our Hearts
The Trees Speak: Stories of the Maple Tree
The Trees Speak: Birth of the Bear Berry Tree
The Trees Speak: Debaajimood and the Story Tree
The Trees Speak: Why We Must Learn to Remember the Old Language
The Trees Speak: The Eagle and the Tamarack Tree
Reawakening of the Medicine People: The Amazing Story Of The Sleeping Medicine People
Reawakening of the Medicine People: Zhooniyaa, Precious Gift of the Underworld
Reawakening of the Medicine People: A Tribute to the Medicine Warriors of Our Time
Reawakening of the Medicine People: Wenabozho's Dance
Reawakening of the Medicine People: "If Only Our Eyes Saw Spirit"
Reawakening of the Medicine People: Return of the Bearwalker
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: The Rocks That Sing
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Gift from the Great Sea Turtle
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Turtle and Bear, Guardian of the Shaking Tent
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Wenabozho and the Evil Spirit of the White Mountain
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Round Dance of the Sky Bear People
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: The First Sound of Creation
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Giiwedinong? Geget!
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: A Tribute to Our Medicine Women
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Akiwenzii's Teaching
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Mother Earth's Rattle
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Wenabozho and the Meaning of Aadizooke
Stories and Teachings from the Earth: Dreaming of the Bagwajiwininiwag
Stories & Teachings from the Earth: Wenabozho and the Teaching of the Thunder Mountain Loon
Stories & Teachings from the Earth: We All Come From the Same Place
Stories & Teachings from the Earth: Why Storytelling Is About Context
Stories & Teachings from the Earth: What Is My Real Body?
Stories and Teachings From the Earth: A Word About Grandparents and their Grandchildren
Stories and Teachings From the Earth: Do Bears and Spiders Dream?
Stories and Teachings From the Earth: Wenabozho and the Big White Orange Wind-maker Spirit
Stories and Teachings From the Earth: Fire of the Buffalo
Artist's Inspirations, part 1: The Appeal
Artist's Inspirations, part 2: Everlasting Flower of Fire
Artist's Inspirations, part 3: The True Legacy of Chief Pontiac
Artist's Inspirations, part 4: Children of the Great Mystery
Artist's Inspirations, part 5: Spirits of the Mountains
Artist's Inspirations, part 6: Why I Started to Paint
Artist's Inspirations, part 7: Our Love Stems from a Dream
Artist's Inspiration, part 8: Reflections on a Ceremonial Bundle and on the Nature of Our Language
Spirit of the Seasons, part 1: Spirit of the Blueberries
Spirit of the Seasons, part 2: Spirit of Autumn
Spirit of the Seasons, part 3: A Celebration of Life
Spirit of the Seasons, part 4: Life Is a Gift
Spirit of the Seasons, part 5: When the Spirits of Summer and Winter Meet
Spirit of the Seasons, part 6: Mother Earth and the 13 Moons of Creation
Spirit of the Seasons, part 7: Return of the Wiindigoo
Spirit of the Seasons, part 8: Welcome, Strawberry Moon!
Spirit of the Seasons, part 9: When the Heart Berry Moon Speaks
Spirit of the Seasons, part 10: Why we Celebrate the New Year in Winter
Spirit of the Seasons, part 11: Aadizooke-When Stories Become Spirits
Spirit of the Seasons, part 12: Mother Earth's Dream and the Birth of our Lunar Calendar
Spirit of the Seasons, part 13: The Rise of the Super Blue Moon
Spirit of the Seasons, part 14: Song of the Sky Bison
Spirit of the Seasons, part 15: When Mother Earth and Grandmother Moon Meet
Reflections of a Storyteller, part 1: When There Is No Snow on the Ground
Reflections of a Storyteller, part 3: Beware of the Orange Wiindigoo
Reflections of a Storyteller, part 4: Tammo Geertsema Is My Grandfather's name
Migizi Says, part 1