Project Ojibwa | Council of the Three Fires (original) (raw)
The Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi formed a loose confederacy known as the Council of the Three Fires. Among the Ojibwa, the family was of great importance, and formed the basis of the social structure. The tribe was made up of small bands leading nomadic lives on their own hunting territories. The bands had normally no formal chiefs, but there were always warriors whose superiority was recognized, and whose leadership was sought in time of war. There was no chieftain of the whole tribe, and alliances between bands were made as expedient. A messenger bearing the pipe of war would be sent to the neighbouring bands. He would deliver the message of his chief and then pass the pipe. Those who smoked it were committed to join the war party; those who declined to fight passed the pipe without smoking it. To smoke and not to fight was a great disgrace.
The principal enemies against whom such alliances were necessary were the Iroquois and the Sioux.
Ojibwa warriors were brave and well disciplined. Their weapons were the bow and arrow, knobbed wooden clubs, knives and round moosehide shields. Warriors tried in war were distinguished by an eagle feather in their hair.*
* From the Official Program at the Commissioning of HMCS Ojibwa 1965
For more:
Midewiwin - The Grand Medicine Society