Annals of history from across decades indicate that the Chippewa Tribe had a vivid and rich variety of terms related to birds. The wordly expanse of the language shows a definitive knowledge of species and how the winged ones were a prominent aspect of tribal lore and mythology.
The history started with details published in 1778, from the journal of John Long, wherein there weren't any notes on living birds, but was a fine set of terminology from Nipigon Bay. The following list provides a designated term based on the term given in the published source, and the tribal term.
- Term Designation - Given Term - Native Term
- Bird - All small birds - pennyshance
- Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis
- Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo
- Crow, American - Crow - cark cark
- Duck - Wild duck - sheshib
- Egg - Eggs - wark in
- Feather - Feathers - pequim
- Goose - Wild goose - neecark
- Loon - Loon - maunk
- Nest - Nest - wesshepatchta
- Plover - Plover - gueveshew
- Ptarmigan - Partridge - peenay
- Swan - Swan - kitchee meework
- Turkey, Wild - Wild Turkey - weenecobbo
- Wing - Wing - gwimbitch
- Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis
The list conveys how the people knew a number of the prominent species of the tribal territory.
A relatively short few year later, there was another set of terms issued, based on the J. Long, publishing his account in 1791 of "Voyages and travels of an Indian interpreter and trader, describing the manners and customs of the North American Indians; with an account of the posts situated on the river Saint Laurence, Lake Ontario, &c. to which is added a vocabulary..."
- Bird - All small birds - pennyshance
- Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis
- Crane - Crane - kitchee carbo
- Duck - Wild duck - sheeshib
- Duck - Wild duck - sheshib
- Eagle - Eagle - meegeezes
- Egg - Egg - manneguk
- Egg - Eggs - wark
- Feather - Feathers of birds - pequim
- Fowl - Birds, or fowl - pinneyshis
- Goose - Wild goose - neecark
- Loon - Loon - maunk
- Plover - Plover - gueveshew
- Quail - Partridge - peenay
- Swan - Swan - kitchee meework
- Turkey, Wild - Turkey - weenecobbo
- Wing - Wing of birds - gwimbitch
- Bird - Fowl, or birds - pennyshis
In 1828, John Summerfield wrote a sketch of the grammar of the Chippeway language from tribes in Michigan, which was issued by the Canada Conference Missionary Society. There were more than twenty terms of interest. This particular source was interim between the reminiscences of explorers and the details given by missionaries which followed, and were requisite for the holy men to communicate with the native people, in their efforts to convert them to a white-man's religious beliefs.
- Bird - Cock; bird has derived its name from its crowing; so nearly all birds - pahkahahquay
- Blackbird - Black-bird - ahsegenak
- Bobwhite, Northern - Quail - mahskoodaysay
- Coot, American - Mud-hen - mahnoomenekashee
- Crane - Crane - ahshahgeh
- Crow, American - Crow - kahgahgehshee
- Duck - Duck - shesheeb
- Duck - Duck species - ahahwa
- Eagle - Eagle - megezeh
- Feather quill - Feather, quill - megwon
- Fowl - Fowls - penasewug
- Goose, Canada - Wild goose - nekah
- Grouse - Partridge - penaih
- Gull - Gull - kahyask
- Meadowlark, Eastern - Meadow-lark - moonegwana
- Nest - Nest - wahzeswon
- Owl - Owl - kookookoo-ooh
- Pigeon, Passenger - Pigeon - omemee
- Rail - Water-hen - ahjegahdashib
- Raven, Common - Raven - ahndaig
- Robin, American - Robin - opecheh
- Turkey, Wild - Turkey - mezhesay
- Wing - Wing - onegwegun
- Woodpecker - Wood-pecker - pahpahsay
- Blackbird - Black-bird - ahsegenak
When Rev. Frederic Baraga was a missionary in the upper peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior, an essential aspect of his unforgettable legacy is a dictionary of the language of the native people he talked with on an intimate, conversational basis among the northern woods.
This priest of the Roman Catholic religion went west in 1843 to a place now called L'Anse a place on the upper peninsula of a state now called Michigan because of some big inland lake to teach Indians about the great heavenly spirit to which meaningful prayers should be directed. Communication with some understanding was essential, so during the subsequent years, Father Baraga obviously learned the intricacies of the native language, and wrote down the details on some type of paper or parchment, for later compilation and eventual publication.
Father Baraga's profound result was "A Dictionary of the Otchipwe Language, Explained in English," for the Chippewa Tribe, also applied to ancillary tribes, designated as the Ottawa, Pottawattamie and Algonquins.
Lake Superior Otchipwe-kitchigami was the "sea of the Chippewas" and its western lands were a focal point for this sublime investigation of the words used by the local tribe where the father spent his valuable time.
For the birds known to tribes-men, Rev. Baraga's dictionary provided several new terms for tribal language known for the annals of historic ornithology. The terminology is among the best because of its variety of defined words for the winged ones. This 662-page dictionary conveys a vivid understanding for a language rich in verbiage beyond simplistic terminology. There are terms of many variations for very specific, particular actions. Such subtlety is given.
This is a list of so many bird-related terms among the multitude of definitions, providing an interpreted term, the English term given in the dictionary, and the original, tribal term, though without any of the particular typographic subtleties given within the original volume published at Cincinnati:
The same year the dictionary was published, Reverend Baraga became a bishop in the church.
Term Designation |
Given Term |
Native Term |
Beak |
Beak |
okoj |
Beak |
It has a long beak |
ginikoje |
Beak |
It has a short beak |
takokoje |
Beak |
Raven's beak |
kagagiwikoj |
Beak |
The bird carries something in his beak |
nimaige bineshi |
Bill |
Bill |
masinaigans |
Bird |
A kind of bird |
pashkandamo |
Bird |
A kind of white bird |
odamaweshi |
Bird |
A large bird |
binessi |
Bird |
A small bird |
bineshi |
Bird |
Another kind of nightingale |
sasina |
Bird |
bastard-loon |
ashimang |
Bird |
Eagle-fighter (bird) |
mi'gi-san-na-nis'-si |
Bird |
Giant's bird |
windigobineshi |
Bird |
Honey-bird |
nonokasse |
Bird |
Nightingale |
gaskaskanedji |
Bird |
Red bird |
natchinamanessi |
Bird |
Redbreast (bird) |
memiskondini-manguneshi |
Bird |
South bird |
ja-wa'-ni-bi-ne'-shi |
Bird |
Tamed bird |
awakan |
Bird |
Young animal or bird |
oshki-aiaans |
Bird |
Young little bird |
panadja |
Bird, female |
Female of birds |
najesse |
Bird, male |
Male of birds |
nabesse |
Bittern |
Bittern |
moshkaossi, ganawabimogisissweshi |
Blackbird |
A kind of black bird |
makateinnak |
Blackbird |
A kind of black bird |
segibanwanishi |
Blackbird |
Starling (bird) |
assiginak; nadjinamanessi |
Bluebird |
A kind of blue bird |
ojawane |
Chicken |
Chicken |
panadja; pakaakwens |
Claw |
Eagle's claw |
magisiwiganj |
Claw |
Loon's foot |
mangosid |
Crane |
Crane |
adjidjad |
Crane, Whooping |
White crane |
wabadjidjak |
Crest |
Cock's crest |
pakaakwe o patakibinweon |
Crop |
Crop or craw of a bird |
omodai |
Crop |
This bird has a large crop |
mangomodais aw bineshi |
Crossbill |
Cross-bill, cross-beak |
ajidekoneshi |
Crow |
The cock crows |
masitagosi pakaakwe |
Crow, American |
Crow |
andek |
Crow, American |
Young crow |
andekons |
Curlew |
Curlew |
patashkanje |
Dove, Mourning |
Dove (domestic pigeon) |
wabmimi; wab?minsi |
Dove, Mourning |
Turtle-dove |
omimi |
Dove, Mourning |
Young turtle-dove |
omimins |
Down |
Small soft feather (down); down (soft underfeather) |
missegwanan |
Duck |
A kind of autumn duck |
pikwakoshib |
Duck |
A large kind of duck |
ininishib |
Duck |
A very fat duck |
pakojishib |
Duck |
Another kind of duck |
ansig; jingibiss; kinishtinokweshib; siamo; wakeiawishib |
Duck |
Beaver-duck |
amikoshib |
Duck |
Duck |
jishib |
Duck |
Duck with a long neck |
ginogweiaweshib |
Duck |
Duck with a short neck |
du-qua'-que-we'-shib |
Duck |
Duck; pigeon-tail (a kind of wild duck) |
aawe |
Duck |
White duck |
wabansig; wabininishb |
Duck, American Black |
Black duck |
makateshib |
Eagle |
Another kind of eagle |
wabijakwe |
Eagle |
Black eagle |
missansi |
Eagle |
Eagle |
migisi |
Eagle |
War-eagle |
kiniw |
Eagle |
Young eagle |
migisins |
Egg |
Egg |
wanan |
Egg |
Gull's egg |
guiashkwawan |
Egg |
Hen's egg |
pakaakwewawan; pakaskwawawan |
Egg |
Hen's egg |
pakaakwawawan |
Egg |
Small egg |
wawanons |
Egg shell |
Shell of an egg |
wawan anugaawana |
Egg white |
White of the egg |
wabawan; wabishkag wawan |
Egg yolk |
Yolk of an egg |
miskwawan; miskwawandjigan; osawag wawan; osawawan |
Feather |
Feather |
migwan |
Feather |
Feather of a large bird |
binessiwigwan |
Feather |
Feather of a small bird |
binashiwigwan |
Feather |
I have a plume of feathers on my head |
nin nimashkaige |
Feather |
Large feather |
kitchigwunan |
Feather |
Plume of feathers |
nimashkaigan; migwangena; patakibinweon |
Feather |
The bird is naked, has no feathers |
pashkosi, papashkosi bineshi, |
Feather |
White feather |
wabigwan |
Flight |
Flight |
ojimowin |
Flight |
Flight (of birds); flying |
bimissewin |
Flight |
The bird flies low |
tabassisse bineshi |
Flight |
The bird flies quick |
kijisse bineshi |
Flight |
The bird has his wings closed |
nabwangeshka bineshi |
Flight |
The bird starts |
pasigwao bineshi |
Flock |
The birds are together, by troops |
bimaamog binessiwag |
Fly |
I fly up in the air |
nind ombisse |
Fly |
It flies about |
babamisse |
Fly |
It flies around |
giwitasse |
Fly |
It flies from |
ondjisse |
Fly |
It flies from |
ondjibide |
Fly |
It flies hither |
bidjibide; bidjisse |
Fly |
It flies in |
pindigesse |
Fly |
It flies off (something) |
madjibide |
Fly |
It flies out (a bird) |
sagidjisse |
Fly |
It flies round |
bijibasse |
Fly |
It flies up |
ombibide |
Goose |
Another kind of wild goose |
obijashkissi |
Goose |
Wild goose |
nika |
Goose, Snow |
White goose |
wabwewe |
Grouse |
Marsh-partridge |
mashkodesse |
Grouse |
Partridge |
bind |
Grouse |
The partridge shakes his wings |
gwigwinguso bind |
Grouse |
Tree on which the partridge shakes his wings |
gwigwingwaowatig |
Grouse |
Young partridge |
bindus |
Gull |
Gull |
guiashk |
Gull |
Young gull |
gaiashkons |
Hen |
Hen |
pakaakwe; ikwe-pakaakwe |
Hunting ducks |
I hunt ducks |
nin nandoshibe; nin nodjishibe |
Hunting partridge |
I hunt partridge |
nin nand abinewe |
Hunting pigeons |
I hunt pigeons |
nin nandaomimi; nin nodjomimiwe |
Jay |
Jay |
pikwakokweweshi |
Jay, Gray |
A kind of gray bird |
okanisse |
Junco, Dark-eyed |
Snow-bird |
wabaningosi |
Kingfisher, Belted |
Fisher (bird) |
okishkimanisse |
Kingfisher, Belted |
Kingfisher (bird) |
ogishkimanissi |
Lapwing, Northern |
Lapwing (bird) |
meningwane |
Lark |
Lark |
kikibikomeshi |
Loon |
Loon |
mang |
Loon |
Young loon |
mangons |
Magpie |
A kind of small magpie |
gwingwishi |
Magpie, Black-billed |
Magpie |
apishkagogi |
Merganser |
Saw-bill |
ansig |
Moult |
The bird is moulting |
pinigwane bineski |
Nest |
Nest |
wasisswan |
Nest |
The bird builds its nest |
wasisswanike bineshi |
Osprey |
Fish-hawk |
mitchiyigwans |
Owl |
A kind of small owl |
kokobo |
Owl |
A kind of small owl |
gwengowia |
Owl |
Another kind of owl |
peshkwe |
Owl, Great Horned |
Horned owl |
wewendjigano |
Pigeon, Passenger |
Wild pigeon |
omimi |
Pigeon, Passenger |
Young wild pigeon |
omimine |
Pigeon, Rock |
Domestic pigeon |
wabomemi |
Pigeon, Rock |
Young domestic pigeon |
wabmimins |
Plover |
Plover (bird) |
tchitchwishkiwe |
Pluck |
Pick; I pick a bird |
nin pushkobina bineshi |
Raptor |
A kind of prey-bird |
tehains |
Raven, Common |
Raven |
kagagi |
Screech-Owl, Eastern |
Screetchowl |
kakabishe |
Shoveler, Northern |
Spoonbill (bird) |
jede |
Snipe, Wilson's |
Snipe |
padashkaanji; manominikeshi |
Song |
The bird warbles |
masitagosi bineshi; wiiagweweto |
Swallow |
Swallow (bird) |
jashawanibissi |
Swan |
A kind of small swan |
manabisi |
Swan |
Swan |
wabisi |
Swan |
Young swan |
wabisins |
Tail |
Tail of a bird |
wanashkid |
Tail |
Tail of a large bird |
binessi-wanashkid |
Tail |
Tail of a small bird |
bineshi-wanishkid |
Teal |
Teal (duck) |
sagataganishib; wewibingwange |
Thrasher |
Trasher [thrasher] |
apagandaigewinini |
Thrush |
Thrush (bird) |
opitchi |
Turkey, Wild |
Turkey (bird) |
misisse |
Turkey, Wild |
Wild turkey |
pagwadji-misisse |
Turkey, Wild |
Young turkey |
misissens |
Vulture, Turkey |
Vulture |
winange |
Wing |
Wing |
ningwigan |
Woodcock, American |
Woodcock |
padjashkaanji |
Woodpecker |
White wood-pecker |
wabipapasse |
Woodpecker |
Wood-pecker |
meme; pakweamo; papasse; bigwakokweoweshi |
So notable here from this historic work worthy of special appreciation, is the array of various terms active and passive, or, noun and verb for different birds and related aspects of avian focus. The translative variety applies to the entire specter of daily living for the tribe. This was a rich language equivalent with the subtle nuances of any modern language.
The Indians readily knew a variety of fowl in their tribal area which is now part of upper Michigan, and though given in the lexicon, particulars on the species are lacking through some limitation in interpretation. Despite this, there are no other known dictionaries, which have such a variety of terms for egg, or for fly or flight, for example. There are obviously some vague definitions for terms that are just too limited to allow giving an identity for a particular type of bird species.
No other linguistic source mentioned the tree upon which the partridge shakes its wings, or the notable term, gwigwingwaowatig with its uncertain pronunciation unknown in an era more than 150 years beyond its inscription.
"Kijisse bineshi," would be a good exclamation for when particular birds are going low across the horizon.
Or, when doing a survey for a bird atlas project, the term "nimaige bineshi," would certainly be apropos to note an adult bird taking food to its young.
Considering the multitude of other terms within the dictionary, it seems it would be readily possible to write something using an interpreted understanding of the original Indian language. What an interesting endeavor this would be!
With the burgeoning publication of specific article on birds due to the arrival of various ornithological journals, W.W. Cooke paid particular attention to a somewhat focused nomenclature. His list issued in 1884, in the first volume of the Auk, was prepared from knowledge of the Chippewa of White Earth, Minnesota, gained from a three years' residence. The introductory text indicated that the tribal members knew more about species present in the winter when birds were scarce than during the summer. The men of the tribe were recognized for an extraordinary skill in identifying ducks in flight at a distance. The birds also were recognized for their importance in tribal mythology for youngsters.
Term Designation |
Given Term |
Native Term |
Bittern, American |
American bittern |
mosh-ka-was-shi |
Bittern, Least |
Least bittern; the bird that looks at the sun |
ga-na-wa'-bi-mo-gi'-zis-si-swesh'-in |
Blackbird |
Blackbird |
as-sig'-g-nak |
Blackbird, Red-winged |
Red-winged blackbird; red-shouldered bird |
me'-mis-ko-di'-ni-mang-a-ne'-shi |
Blackbird, Yellow-headed |
Yellow-headed blackbird; little Sioux blackbird |
bwan-ence'-as-sig'-gi-nak |
Bluebird, Easter |
Bluebird, the blue colored bird; blue colered bird |
o-zou-wash'-ko-bi-ne'-shi |
Bobolink |
Bobolink; Chicago bird; skunk bird, from the white stripe down back |
shi-ka'-go-bi-ne'-shi |
Brant |
Brant |
we'-we |
Bufflehead |
Butterball; shot eater, because it is so hard to hit |
wa-ke'-i-a'-wi-shib' |
Bunting, Snow |
Snow bunting; morning star bird |
wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi |
Catbird, Gray |
Catbird |
ma-ma'-dwe-bi-ne'-shi |
Chickadee, Black-capped |
Black-capped chickadee |
kitch'-i-kitch-i-ga'-ne-shi |
Coot, American |
American coot; legs hanging down behind |
a'-tchi-ga-deg' |
Cormorant, Double-crested |
Double-crested cormorant; raven duck |
ka-gog'-i-shib |
Cowbird, Brown-headed |
Cowbird; small blackbird |
a-ga'-jid-as-sig'-gi-nak |
Crane, Sandhill |
Sandhill crane |
a-gi-gak' |
Crane, Whooping |
Whooping crane |
wab'-a-gi-gak' |
Crossbill |
Crossbill; having a crossed bill |
a'-ji-de-ko-ne'-shi |
Crow, American |
Crow |
an-deg' |
Cuckoo |
Cuckoo |
pi-gua-o-ko'-que-o-we'-shi |
Dove, Mourning |
Mourning dove; tame dove; white pigeon |
wa'-ba-mi'-mi |
Duck |
Duck; a beaver duck |
a-mik'-o-shib |
Duck, American Black |
Black mallard; black duck |
muk-ud-e'-shib |
Duck, Ring-billed |
Ring-billed blackhead; fall duck |
tu-gua'-go-shib |
Duck, Wood |
Wood Duck |
si-a-mo' |
Eagle, Bald |
Bald eagle |
mi'-gi-zi |
Eagle, Bald |
Man eagle |
ini'-ni-zi |
Eagle, Golden |
Golden eagle; war eagle of the Chippewas |
gi-neu' |
Flicker, Northern |
Yellow-shafted flicker; bird with dirty colored wings |
mo-ning'-gua-ne' |
Golden-Plover, American |
Golden plover; yellow crane sandpiper |
o-za'-wa-gi'-gak-o-chu-is-ki-wen' |
Goldeneye, Common |
American golden-eye; arrow duck |
mud-we-ang'-ge-shib; pi-kwa'-ko-shib |
Goldfinch, American |
American goldfinch |
bi-yung' |
Goose, Canada |
Canada Goose |
ni-ka' |
Goose, Greater White-fronted |
White-fronted goose |
a-pish'-ni-ka' |
Goose, Snow |
Snow goose; suspect it is the snow goose |
ma'-na-bi-si |
Goshawk, Northern |
Goshawk |
ki-bwan'-i-si |
Grackle, Common |
Purple grackle; big blackbird |
chi-as-sig-gi-nak |
Grebe, Horned or Eared Grebe |
Horned grebe, or eared grebe; big diver |
kitch'-i-shin'-gi-bis |
Grebe, Pied-billed |
Thick-billed grebe |
shin'-gi-bis |
Grosbeak, Evening |
Evening grosbeak |
pash-kan'-da-mo |
Grosbeak, Pine |
Pine grosbeak |
o-ka-nis'-se |
Grouse |
Grouse |
bi-ne' |
Grouse, Ruffed |
Ruffed grouse |
wen'-gi-da-bi-ne' |
Grouse, Spruce |
Canada Grouse; prairie bird |
mus-ko-de'-se |
Gull and terns |
Gulls and terns |
kai-osk' |
Harrier, Northern |
Marsh hawk; snake hunter |
o-no'-gi-gi-neb-i-que'-si |
Hawk |
Cooper's hawk and sharp-shinned hawk |
ke-kek' |
Hawk |
Hawk |
ke-kek' |
Hawk, Cooper's |
Cooper's hawk; hairy hawk |
mish'-i-ke-kek |
Hawk, Red-tailed |
Red-tailed Hawk; small red hawk |
mis'-qua-na-ni'-si |
Hawk, Rough-legged |
Rough-legged hawk; black hawk |
mu-ku-de'-ke-kek' |
Hawk, Swainson's |
Swainson's hawk |
tchai-ince' |
Heron, Great Blue |
Great blue heron |
shu-shu'-ga |
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated |
Ruby-throated hummer |
non-o-ka'-si |
Jay, Blue |
Blue jay |
jan-di'-si |
Jay, Gray |
Canada jay |
guin-gui'-shi |
Junco, Dark-eyed |
Black snowbird |
bu-te'-shi-wish |
Kestrel, American |
Sparrow hawk |
pi-pi'-gi-wi-zance' |
Killdeer |
Killdeer; big prairie sandpiper |
mus-ko-de'-chi-chi-ji'-twish-ki-wen' |
Kingbird, Eastern |
Kingbird; cannibal bird |
win'-di-go-bi-ne-shi |
Kingfisher, Belted |
Kingfisher |
o-gish'-ki-mun-is-si' |
Kite, Swallow-tailed |
Swallow-tailed kite; big swallow |
kitch'-i-shau-shau'-won-ni-bi'-si |
Lark, Horned |
Shore lark; yellow snow bunting |
o-za'-wa-wa'-bu-nong-o'-zi |
Loon |
Loon |
mang |
Magpie, Black-billed |
Magpie |
a-pish'-ka-gog-i' |
Mallard |
Mallard; female mallard; white mallard |
wab'-i-ni-ni-shib' |
Mallard |
Mallard; man duck |
i-ni'-ni-shib' |
Martin, Purple |
Purple martin; black swallow |
mu-ke-de'-shau-shau'-wun-ni-bi'-si |
Merganser |
Sheldrakes |
an'-zig |
Merganser, Common |
American Sheldrake; big sheldrake |
kitch-i-an'-zig |
Merganser, Hooded |
Hooded sheldrake; sharp-billed duck |
gi-ni-ko-ne'-shib |
Merganser, Red-breasted |
Red-breasted merganser; yellow sheldrake |
o-ga-wan'-zig |
Nighthawk, Common |
Nighthawk |
besh-que' |
Nuthatch, Red-breasted |
Red-bellied nuthatch |
ki-ki-bi'-di-ko-me'-shi |
Nuthatch, White-breasted |
White-bellied nuthatch |
chi-chi-ga'-nam-da-we'-shi |
Oriole, Baltimore |
Baltimore oriole; poplar or willow bird |
wa-do'-pi-bi-ne'-shi |
Osprey |
Fish hawk |
mi'-gi-ki-qua-ne' |
Owl |
Owl |
o-ko'-ko-ko-o' |
Owl, Barn |
Barn owl |
bo'-du-wi-dom-be' |
Owl, Barred |
Barred owl |
wen'-gi-du-ko-ko-ko-o' |
Owl, Great Gray |
Great gray owl |
we-wen'-gi-ga-no' |
Owl, Great Horned |
Great horned owl |
o-tow'-i-ge-o-ko'-ko-ko-o' |
Owl, Snowy |
Snowy Owl |
wa'-bi-o-ko'-ko-o' |
Pelican |
Pelican, both species |
she'-de |
Pigeon, Passenger |
Pigeon |
o-mi'-mi |
Pintail, Northern |
Pintail; long-necked duck |
kin-o-gua'-ya-we-shib |
Prairie-Chicken, Greater |
Prairie hen |
a-gusk' |
Raven, Common |
American raven |
ka-gog-i' |
Redhead |
Redhead; big fall duck |
kitch'-i-tu-gua'-go-shib |
Robin, American |
American robin |
o-pi'-che |
Sandpiper |
Sandpiper |
ji-twish'-ki-wen |
Scaup |
Scaup ducks; spirit ducks |
ma'-ni-do-shib' |
Screech-Owl, Eastern |
Little screech owl |
ka-kab'-i-shi |
Shoveler, Northern |
Shoveller; shovelling duck |
ma-da-i-ga'-ni-shib |
Shrike, Northern |
Shrike; big cannibal bird |
kitch'-i-win'-di-go-bi-ne'-shi |
Snipe, Wilson's |
Wilson's snipe |
pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja |
Sora |
Sora rail; rice bird |
mo-no'-min-i-kesh-i' |
Sparrow, Song |
Song sparrow |
kos-kos-ko-ni'-chi |
Swallow |
All other swallows; little bird that tumbles over and over in the air |
shau-shau'-wun-ni-b-sence' |
Swan |
Swan; white bird |
wa'-bi-si |
Swift, Chimney |
Chimney swift; wooden quills, in allusion to the stiff tail-feathers |
me-mit'-to-go-ning-gue-ga-ne'-si |
Tanager, Scarlet |
Scarlet tanager |
o-da'-gi-na-ma ne'-shi |
Teal, Blue-winged |
Blue-winged duck |
we-wi'-bing-guang-ge' |
Teal, Green-winged |
Green-winged Teal; spunk duck; also called big teal |
sug-gu-ta'-ka-ni-shib |
Thrasher, Brown |
Brown thrush; big thrush |
chi'-a-nuk' |
Thrush, Swainson's |
Thrush, olive-backed |
a-nuk' |
Towhee, Eastern |
Towhee bunting; black thrush |
muk-ud-e'-ai-a'-nuk |
Turkey, Wild |
Turkey |
mi-sis'-si |
Veery |
Wilson's thrush |
an-wak' |
Vulture, Turkey |
Turkey buzzard; dirty wing |
wi-nong'-a |
Warbler, Black-throated Blue |
Black-throated blue warbler |
o-ja'-wa-no |
Warbler, Yellow |
Summer yellowbird |
o-za'-wa-bi-ne'-shi |
Waxwing, Bohemian |
Bohemian waxwing; crested bird |
o-ze'-gi-ban-wan'-i-shin |
Waxwing, Cedar |
Cedar waxwing; the bird that is king or chief |
o'-gi-ma-bi-ne'-shi |
Whip-poor-will |
Whippoorwill |
gwen-go-wi-a' |
Woodcock, American |
Woodcock; big snipe |
kitch'-i-pa-dash'-ka-an'-ja |
Woodpecker |
Hairy and downy woodpecker |
pa-pa'-se |
Woodpecker, Pileated |
Pileated woodpecker |
me'-me |
Woodpecker, Red-headed |
Red-headed woodpecker |
pa-que-a-mo' |
Wren, House |
House wren |
o-du-na'-mis-sug-ud-da-we'-shi |
Wren, Marsh |
Marsh wren |
mus-ko'-zi-bi-ne'-shi |
This is a profound, scholarly work with importance beyond the time of its origin.
During the same era, another study of the Chippewa tribal language was underway by someone with the most intimate knowledge of the tribe and its lexicon. The history on the Ottawa and Chippewa of Michigan written by Andrew J. Blackbird, whose father was Macka-de-pe-nessy, or Black-hawk, which should have been the proper last name for Andrew. He attended a couple of educational institutions in the 1850s, but his degree was based on his life experiences, not from a piece of paper from some institution.
This selection provides the final portion of the tribal language being considered.
Term Designation |
Given Term |
Native Term |
Bird | Bird | pe-nay-shen |
Crane | Crane | au-dje-djawk |
Crow, American | Crow | awn-dayg |
Duck | Duck | she-sheb |
Eagle | Eagle | wing-ge-zee |
Grouse | Partridge | pe-nay |
Gull | Gull | kaw-yawshk |
Hawk | Hawk | pe-nay-se |
Jay, Blue | Bluejay | tchin-dees |
Loon | Loon | mong |
Pigeon, Passenger | Pigeon | o-me-me |
Prairie-Chicken, Greater | Prairie hen | ke-wo-nee |
Robin, American | Robin | au-pe-tchi |
Thrasher, Brown | Thrasher | au-nawk |
Turkey, Wild | Turkey | me-zhe-say |
Woodcock, American | Woodcock | may-may |
Woodpecker | Woodpecker | paw-paw-say |
This set of terms reveals once again a number of the most typical bird species of the tribal area, which was the area of Harbor Springs, where Mr. Blackbird was the postmaster in 1858, and the same area where he was born.
Wonders of the Chippeway Tribe
The terminology opens a new realm for the native language given in bird history, which could readily be a focus of study for time undefined, depending only on someone's particular interest. Tribal terms for quilt, for sewing, for knitting, are even included for those which may have an interest in this type of an indoor endeavor. The words, given in two variations tribal to English and English to tribal are a sublime work of scholarly work far beyond the basic responsibilities of a missionary.
The terms given here are an addition to the terms previously presented from other sources that convey this aspect of bird history. This particular instance of bird lore from more than a century in the past, or basically times long forgotten except for treasured annals of history, can be readily appreciated since someone took the time to write it down and get it into print of some manner so it can be easily remembered and reviewed.
This terminology ellicits a new appreciation for the appreciation of the birds during the endless centuries they have been known by people of the continental lands.
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