Ma’iingan and the Ojibwe

Preface

This chapter will attempt to explore the significance of wolf recovery in the western Great Lakes region to one group of people – those known to others as the Ojibwe or Chippewa, and to themselves as the Anishinabe. It is not written by an Ojibwe, but by an individual who has had the pleasure and privilege of working with and for the Ojibwe for over two decades. It does not purport to extend the concepts discussed to other Native American nations – even those others residing in the western Great Lakes region – though in some cases there will be similarities.

It also does not intend to suggest that it fully captures the complexities of the relationship that exists between the Ojibwe and the wolf – or even that a singular relationship exists. The connection that individual Ojibweg share with ma’iingan tends to be deep, significant, and personal; any suggestion in the essay below that implies otherwise reflects only the shortcomings of the author.