Ojibwe Stories

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we listen to Obizaan [Lee Staples], a spiritual advisor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Chato Gonzalez, Obizaan's apprentice and translator. In this two-episode series, Obizaan talks about what he calls the three different "camps" in Ojibwe culture: the "traditional" camp, the "lost spirit" camp, and the "hang around the fort" camp.

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we listen to Obizaan [Lee Staples], a spiritual advisor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Chato Gonzalez, Obizaan's apprentice and translator. They talk about the influence of European Americans that – intentional or otherwise – caused cultural changes to the Anishinaabe way of life.

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we have a conversation with Dennis Jones about the

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we welcome back Nancy Jones, a respected elder from Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation near Fort Frances, Ontario.

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we listen to Obizaan [Lee Staples], a spiritual advisor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. He talks about the value that Anishinaabe culture places on respecting the wholeness of the human body when considering things such as blood donations and transfusions, organ donation, body piercing, vasectomies, tattoos, amputations and surgical alterations. He also stresses the importance of respecting each other's differences, to not tease or bully those with different identities or lifestyles.

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we have conversation with Obizaan [Lee Staples], a spiritual advisor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Chato Gonzalez, Obizaan's apprentice and translator. Obizaan talks about the passing of Mille Lacs elder and longtime Ojibwe Stories contributor Larry Amik Smallwood. Obizaan conducted Amik's funeral in April, and he discusses teachings about our journey to the spirit world. Obizaan also discusses growing up with Amik in the Aazhomog community.

KUMD is saddened by the passing of Larry Smallwood [Amik], a longtime contributor to our program Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa. We send our thoughts and condolences to his family, and to the many people in the community who benefited from his wisdom and guidance. Amik grew up in Aazhoomoog, the Lake Lena District of Mille Lacs, and served as the director of language and culture for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. He also taught Ojibwe language at many institutions, including UMD.

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we continue our conversation with Obizaan [Lee Staples], a spiritual advisor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Chato Gonzalez, Obizaan's apprentice and translator. They talk with us today about healing the Anishinaabe community by honoring and returning to traditional ways.

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we have conversation with Obizaan [Lee Staples], a spiritual advisor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Chato Gonzalez, Obizaan's apprentice and translator. They talk with us today about healthy tribal organizations & leadership.

On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we have a conversation with Dan Jones about many topics, including clans, elders, and geographical place names. Dan is from the Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation in Ontario and is an Anishinaabemowin ("Ojibwe language") teacher at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, Minnesota. He also taught Ojibwe at UMD in the fall of 2016. He is also the twin brother of Dennis Jones, and the son of Nancy Jones, both of whom also have been guests on Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa.