Ajijaak Dodem
One of our (the Ojibwe) Seven original Clans, The Crane Clan: Ajijaak: meaning "sandhill crane" — which represents wisdom and equal communication for all Anishinaabe. The Crane (Ajijaak) is also known as Baaswenazhii (Echo Maker) because they would sound their voices to gather our people for Ceremony, Council, and Celebrations. We are reminded by the Crane (Ajijaak) to think carefully and thoughtfully before we speak, and to do so in a clear and honest manner. As Anishinaabe, we believe that the Crane (Ajijaak) is the one who all of our Clans look to for guidance.
Oral history tells us of a time long ago, that Gichi Manidoo (Creator) sent the Crane (Ajijaak) to find gathering places for all of the Beings in the Great Lakes area stopping at each along the way. The Crane (Ajijaak) landed for the fifth and final time on a hill overlooking Bahweting, and he called out far and wide to let all of Creation know, that this was the final spot for all to gather and a lodge for all of the clans was built on the water's edge. The members of the Crane Clan (Ajijaak Dodem) often held strong leadership roles within our Anishinaabe communities. The members of the Crane Clan (Ajijaak Dodem) and Loon Clan (Mong Dodem) were given the strong and clear voices to guide our people in a balanced and peaceful way. Historically many of our Ancestral Chiefs (Ogiimaa) here in the Bahweting area were from the Crane Clan (Ajijaak Dodem).
As with all wildlife, we respect and care about our Crane (Ajijaak) family members. Many tribes throughout the Great Lakes work to restore and protect the wetlands surrounding our communities, that are home to the Crane (Ajijaak). It is our responsibility as Anishinaabe to advocate for all of Creation and give these magnificent birds their space when we
encounter them in the wild.
The Seven Clans are as follow:
The Fish Clan - The educators. The fish watch the sky and have the knowledge of the sun, stars, and moon. In this way, the Fish Clan hold the most intelligence and are the people’s philosophers. They are also advisers to the Chief Clans.
The Bear Clan - Providing safety and doctoring. The mother bear protects her cubs with ferocity. She is also cunning and knowledgeable about the plants of the forest. Like the mother bear, the Bear Clan is responsible for protecting their people. It is said that people of the Bear Clan are short tempered and live on the outside of the village to ensure the safety of the gentler clans inside the village. The bear clan is also the medicine people for they know the healing ways of the plants available to them.
The Bird Clan - The spiritual leaders. The bird can fly high in the sky observing the world at great distances. Like the Eagle, the bird is known to be closest to the creator as they are part of the sky world and can access his/her wisdom. The Bird Clan are the keepers of knowledge and responsible for spreading the seeds of knowledge. The Bird Clan were traditionally the teachers and farmers.
The Hoof Clan - The caregivers. The Deer or Hoof Clan were known for their kindness, gentle and soft-spoken nature like the animals they represent. The Hoof Clan were responsible for looking after the social aspects of the community including ceremonies and celebrations.
The Marten Clan - The providers. The small, agile marten is limber, quick-tempered, ferocious, has quick reflexes and is an excellent hunter. Members of the Marten Clan carry these characteristics and as a result are the strategists, warriors, and builders within their community.
The Loon Clan - The internal leaders. The loon dives and sees the happenings inside the water. In this way, the Loon Clan is known as the Inside Chief as they are responsible for settling disputes and issues within their home community.
Crane Clan - External leaders. The crane stands in the water observing the world above the water line. Because the crane observes the outside world the Crane clan is known as the Outside Chief. The outside chief is responsible for negotiating with people from other communities.
For more information about the Anishinaabe clan system you can visit the following link:
Anishinaabe clan system - Wikipedia