Ode’imini-giizis (Strawberry Moon) / Baashkaabigonii-giizis (Blooming Moon), July 13, 2024
Boozhoo, aaniin, biindigen miinawaa nindaadizooke wigamigong!
Hello! Welcome back in my Storytelling Lodge!
Today we will dwell some more on a fascinating character that plays a central role in Anishinaabe aadizookewin – which translates into "Sacred Storytelling of the Anishinaabeg Peoples."
Called Anaamakamig Bizhiw (“Nambizhiw”) – Underground Lynx – in ancient times, Mishibizhiw is nowadays seen as a horned underwater spirit that lives in the depths of Gichigami (Lake Superior). The Great Lynx is also mirrored in the night sky as Gaa-ditibaanowe’ ("Curly Tail") – a star formation called Leo and Hydra by their Latin and Greek names. In the above image Curly Tail is depicted in the sky with horns on his head and a spiraling tail; the latter represents the whirlpools in the lakes that he creates by slashing it. The celestial Lynx consists of stars that belong to the constellation called Leo and Hydra on the Western star maps. The head of Leo makes up the long curled tail, while the head of Hydra makes up the head of the Mishibizhiw.
In the old times, when Gaa-ditibaanowe’ Mishi-bizhiw appeared in the night sky, it was seen as a warning to keep off the thinning ice. If risk was ignored one would likely break through the ice and get snatched by the horned lynx that lived below. On earth, although they keep themselves at a distance if not directly attacked, lynx can be dangerous when met on a mountain or in the thick forest – particularly where adult lynx females have cubs. Hence, the Gaa-ditibaanowe’ Mishi-bizhiw constellation is a reminder that the northwoods, especially during the transition time between winter and spring, is potentially dangerous. Thinning ice on the lakes and rivers, hard crust on the snow, flooding, and unpredictable snowstorms are characteristic of Gichi-gamiin, the Great Lakes region, during this time. Traditionally, when it is time to head for iskigamizigan (sugar bush) for aninaatig ozhiga'igewin – which is when the maple trees get tapped for their sap in iskigamizige-giizis (the month of April) –, feasts and prayers are offered. This is done for the water spirits (like Curly Tail) and to all those relatives that did not survive the winter and went on their final journey to the Jiibay-miikana (Path of Souls) and beyond.
Wenabozho Anang, a summer star formation including the constellation called Scorpio in Western astronomy, is often depicted as Wenabozho shooting an arrow at the Mishibizhiw Gaa-ditibaanowe’: The Great Curly-tailed Lynx in the night sky. In the northern hemisphere, Wenabozho Anang, or Nanabozho Anang as it is often called, is visible in the southeast from June to mid September. It is located at the end of Binesiwi-miikana, “the Thunderbird’s Path,” also called Jiibay-miikana/zibii, “the Path/River of Souls” (the Milky Way).
Wenabozho, also called Wiisagejaak (Crane Spirit) by the Anishininiwag (Oji-Cree), a beloved trickster-transformer often pictured as a hare, is the elder brother and teacher of the Anishinaabeg, and closely related to Ma’iingan, the Wolf, who walked with him soon after the new world was created. There are many Wenabozho stories; according to tradition, they are orally told when there is snow on the ground.
There are also several Wenabozho-related aadizookaanan (stories) around that tell the story of what caused the flooding of the earth. Now I will tell an aadizookaan that links this dramatic event to a great battle between Wenabozho and Mishibizhiw, the Water Lynx .
After Wenabozho had created the Underground Lynx out of a myriad of poor unfortunate souls that lingered in the Underworld, the latter did not like what Wenabozho had made him into, and soon, watched by a peaceful family of loons disturbed by the sudden brawl, the two engaged in a great battle on Gichigami (the Great Sea, nowadays called Lake Superior). Wenabozho, approaching the Lynx in his canoe shooting arrows at him, injured his opponent, but none of the arrowheads had managed to penetrate his scaly skin deeply enough to seriously wound him.
When the wounded cat, an arrow sticking in his side, fled to the depths of Gichigami (the Great Sea, called nowadays Lake Superior), he sought refuge in a den safely hidden in its deep waters. However, when Wenabozho threatened to follow him underneath the water and hunt him down, the Great Lynx begged for mercy, offering a great amount of copper in return, but Wenabozho refused the offer.
Since he is a great trickster, Wenabozho then tricked the frog people into lending him a frog skin to disguise himself so he could get close to Mishibizhiw. When he, disguised as a frog, got near Mishibizhiw in his den, he jumped him and rammed the arrow tighter in his side. But since Mishibizhiw is a spirit himself, Wenabozho failed to kill him. Enraged, the retaliating Lynx slashed his copper tail and created a great flood, killing all the plants and land animals.
Wenabozho, surprised by the sudden deluge that covered all of the earth except some high mountain tops, fled to the highest summit he could find and muskrat, at the request of a female Sky Spirit who decided to save the world, dived to the bottom of the flooded earth and used his little paws to scoop up some soil. The brave little water animal succeeded and brought back parts of the old world to recreate the new on a Turtle's back...
But that's a story for another day!
Nahaaw. Weweni onjida gibizindaw noongom. Well, thank you for listening today. Giga-waabamin wayiiba, I hope to see you again soon!
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