Do you know your clan?

3/1/2012

Sasswain Poitra was a member of the Marten clan. He served as a sub-chief to Little Shell III during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The Crane Clan was one of the leadership clans that served the Turtle Mountain Chippewa people.

The Chippewa people were divided into a number of doodem (clans) named for animals. This clan system served as a semi-formal structure of organization as well as a means of dividing labor in some cases. The five main totems among the Chippewa were Crane, Catfish, Loon, Bear and Marten.

There were at least twenty-one totems and sub-totems in all, recorded by William Whipple Warren: Crane, Catfish, Loon, Bear, Marten, Wolf, Reindeer, Merman, Pike, Lynx, Eagle, Rattlesnake, Moose, Black Duck, Sucker, Goose, Sturgeon, White Fish, Beaver, Gull, and Hawk. Some totems indicate non-Chippewa origins, such as the Wolf Clan for Dakota or Eagle Clan for American. There are other totems considered rare today among the Chippewa people because the totems have migrated to other tribes, such as the Merman Clan, which shows up as the Water-spirits Clan of the Ho Chunk people (Winnebago).

Each clan was ascribed different characteristics, and members of those clans were thought to exemplify these characteristic. For example, the Crane and the Loon Clans were given the power of Chieftainship. By working together, these two clans gave the people a balanced government with each serving as a check on the other. The people of the Catfish Clan were thought of as teachers and scholars. They helped children develop skills and healthy spirits. They also drew on their knowledge to solve disputes between the leaders of the Crane and Loon Clans. Members of the Bear Clan were reputed to be strong and steady police and legal guardians. Bear Clan members spent a lot of time patrolling the land surrounding the village, and in so doing, they learned which roots, bark, and plants could be used for medicines to treat the ailments of their people. The people of the Marten Clan were hunters, food gathers and warriors of the people. Long ago, warriors fought to defend their village or hunting territory. They became known as master strategists in planning the defense of their people.

Do you know your clan?

54 Comments

Author

Content is provided by Kade M. Ferris M.S. Kade has a B.A. in anthropology and history from University of North Dakota, and a M.S. degree in anthropology from North Dakota State University. Kade serves as the Historical Society board Vice President and is a professional historian and anthropologist with over 18 years of experience. He serves as the THPO and Director of Natural Resources for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and is the Vice President of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Historical Society Board.

Joseph Neesho Migizi Marion link

3/1/2012 05:21:01 am

Most of our people don't know which clan they come from. How would they find out?

Kade

3/1/2012 05:24:04 am

That's one of the things we need to learn....we need to make this a priority.

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emma link

3/4/2024 12:00:33 pm

my clan is wolf

Terri Martin-Parisien

3/2/2012 12:18:46 pm

Offer tobacco (asiimaa) to a spiritual leader.

Shelly Strom link

7/23/2019 10:33:14 am

Can I offer tobacco to a spiritual leader of another tribe? I trust him and I know him and i do nto live in MT anymore. Not sure what to do.

Howard Gourneau

8/1/2021 12:39:00 pm

Just came across this..

Curious as to what the answer from here will be.

I am a son of Patrick Gourneau and a desendant of Old Wild Rice

kaleb link

11/8/2022 06:08:06 am

blew

Tanikka

6/7/2023 10:18:51 am

It's your great neice charlie grandaughter

Teresa Martindale

3/16/2022 01:04:14 pm

Makwa (Bear Clan).
Descendants of Marie Angelique Makwa

Terry Bartlett

5/30/2022 07:47:06 am

Trying to learn more about Marie Angelique Makwa. She is my g-g-g-g-grandmother. I have found conflicting information on whether she was full-blooded Chippewa or 1/2. One of her sons is recorded as saying he is 1/4 (making her 1/2). But subsequent information he provides about the amount of Indian blood in his children contradicts this. That information implies she had to be more than 1/2. And my brother has a record suggesting Marie Angelique Makwa was full blooded. Does anyone have more solid information? Thanks.

Anna Reid

2/21/2025 07:48:18 pm

She is my ancestor as well. I have taught my sons that we are bear clan.

Jeffrey

12/7/2022 02:13:18 pm

What you do is get some tobacco, and go to an elder like a medicine person or pipe carrier. Ask him for your name, your medicine colors (not the same.as your clan colors), medicine,s, and clan. He ay or may not tell you your current spirit or animal helper also. He will be able to tell you. If for some reason you are from a demographic that would not have been part of a clan you will be given one. But there. are also signs. My great great uncle Jex was attacked by a bear and my grandfather would go into the woods and feed them peanut butter off his hands. All the older men that would naturally draw to me to teach me things would always turn out to be bear clan. I tattooed red and black bear claw tattoos on myself before I even knew red and black were bear clan colors.

Your clan dodem knows you before you are even aware.

You will be fine, just ask for help. Give the pipe carrier tobacco first. Make sure it's someone in good standing with community that you trust.

April Rose

9/7/2024 06:14:41 am

I am told I am the granddaughter of clear sky. My matenal side is Boyer and my paternal side is Decoteau. I was kept hidden from my native family and not taught anything. I need to know where I come from and ancestry only went for far. I am in my 50's now and really want to pass family history and knowledge to my grown boys

Jennifer Bercier

12/22/2024 10:17:19 pm

I believe the connection with the animal brings forth the calling. While on my spirit walk, I came across an Eagle in the tree and a black bear from Montana sitting along the river bank.
I was asked who goes there and I r4sponded it's me, Otter Who Swims up River. I had a strang rash like show up on my upper chest area and it was a bear claw print.
The next summer while along another river I sat at the bank and a blue heron fished feet from me for a few hours.
I believe it searched my desires, and searching to clear and clean my path to move forth. I am still on my journey, connecting with Nature and learning to feel the heartbeat.
Nature and the calling will guide each member to the Totem

Thiefault

12/25/2024 09:21:15 am

I'm clueless about clanship and was never taught while growing up. Certainly, still don't know but just consider myself a turtle clan from Turtle Mountain Chippewa Band. I definitely would like to know my clan

3/1/2012 05:22:23 am

The new Heritage Center web page looks good.

Leah McCloud

3/1/2012 10:56:26 pm

Kade this a awesome sight packed with historical data which is a researchers dream. Way To Go! I Love It!

3/2/2012 03:19:09 am

That's why I'm enjoying it soooo much!

3/2/2012 12:20:24 pm

I agree. Great job Kade!!!

Fran Demery

3/2/2012 01:44:14 am

This is so Awsome to have our heritage noticed!!

3/2/2012 03:19:31 am

Thanks!

Jane Ferris Downey

3/6/2012 12:15:29 am

Very impressive! Proud of you little cousin.

3/6/2012 12:18:44 am

Warwick adult link

10/24/2012 12:16:39 pm

Thanks to your blog, I'm gonna create one now too, thank you.

Paul Soulier (Maang) link

2/19/2013 04:58:40 am

While I already knew what my clan was, I didn't know about the characteristics. I am of the loon clan, so learning about the power of Chieftainship is interesting.

Lisa Poitra

7/17/2013 10:33:48 pm

Great job! The information you provided is very helpful. Thank you for providing this page.

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9/7/2013 02:22:59 am

I enjoyed reading your blog, thank you.

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These are great strategies for project managers. Though they study an entire unit on it in the certificate iv course, I think a lot comes down to personal time management strategies.

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1/21/2014 06:50:09 pm

This page is a great method to connect to others. Congratulations on a job well achieved.

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2/21/2014 10:23:24 pm

This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.

Shkodae

5/24/2016 10:05:15 am

people from my tribe the potawatomi tribe dont have some of those

Daniel Charles Lesage Black

6/13/2016 11:10:24 am

Im just starting to find out my heritage and want to find out more,my father was of Georgina Island and want to research more about what clan I might be

Shielah Andersen

6/26/2016 03:15:34 pm

I am especially interested as a swimming instructor to learn more about the Merman Clan...does anyone know any keeper of oral tradition, written story or link that I could go to for more info?

Suzie CalfRobe

7/1/2016 12:41:47 am

My family is Doney

Ernest Schuls

2/28/2017 09:16:23 am

I was glad to find this site..... I have been doing research on my family tree and have found that one of my ancestors was Ke-che-waub-ish-ash, known as Big Marten.... He was a Warrior Chief, a contemporary of and right-hand-man to Bi-aus-wah, who was the civil and peach Chief... of the Sandy Lake Ojibways.

Ke-che-waub-ish-ash was killed in a battle with Dakota Sioux warriors at a point of land between the Elk and Mississippi rivers around 1887 from what I can find.... Also Ke-che-waub-ish-ash had a daughter named Louise who married a trapper named Bethelemy Chevalier who was part French and part Menominee Indian...They had a daughter named Marie Antionette Chevalier(1793 to 1865) who wound up owning and operating one of the largest trading posts in the Green bay Wisconsin area.... The story goes that the Indians in the area could not pronounce Marie Antoinette, and their pronunciation came out Queen Marinette...... She was such a well known, well liked person and business woman in the area that the town and county of Marinette Wisconsin was named after her...And would be my great, great, great aunt......

L Premo

1/24/2023 06:48:08 am

I'd be interested to learn more from your research on Ke-Che Waub-ish-ashe / Big Marten. I'm a descendant of Marinette. Have you published any of your notes online? Thanks!

Lori Barkley

7/6/2017 01:46:21 am

Thanks for this great information. I'm a member of the Poitras family, which according to the posting above is of the Martin clan. My father, who is in his 70s looks EXACTLY like Henry 'Sasswain' Poitras above. He's a great (X 3) uncle to my dad. I've been researching some of Barkwell's information about the Red River Metis settlement and the dozen or so native women who were wives of the trappers. I'm related to Utinawas, Josephette Assinaboine, and Marguarite Grant. (whose uncle married Little Shell I's daughter). What's a good resource to find out more about the clans and how they functioned on the Prairies?

Samuel

7/31/2020 07:17:41 am

Were related Lori! That be through Grant. You are also related to chief Rocky Boy! He was related to Marguarite Grant. Cuthbert Grant II led Ojibway Soldiers in southern Manitoba during War of 1812. They defeated invading whites and Eskimos at Battle of Seven Oaks. Ojibway leaders agreed to set aside a small colony for the white invaders and their Eskimo allies. It's known as Red River Colony. Ojibway Soldiers subjugated Red River Colony until 1869, when they agreed to allow it to become independent. It become Manitoba. Ojibway Soldiers laid waste to that portion of Red River Colony located in Minnesota and North Dakota, in 1862. They also killed 100's of white invaders in south Minnesota in 1862. Chief Sitting Bull was born and raised among the Red River Ojibway's.

Chelsey Peterson

4/4/2018 10:08:22 am

How do i figure out what clan iam from. Iam trying very hard to learn my heritage but with not much Knowledge of my native american ancestry and the little i do have is kind of vague im having some trouble in doing so i know my grandmother was enrolled in belcourt ND (turtle moutains) but aside from that my knowledge is limited.

Elizabeth Rondeau

7/7/2018 10:01:21 am

Aanii.
What dodem is White Earth Reservation where my ancestors are from?
Chi migwetch

Chris ardoin

3/5/2019 03:56:05 pm

I'm chippewa wolf clan.but I cant find a single thing about
My clans role in history or present day.someone help point
Me in the right direction or better yet just give me a definitive answer

7/31/2020 07:04:28 am

Since your from Wolf Nation, it means you are from the Ojibway Peoples Bear Nation or Totem. They were Ojibway Peoples Military and Police Force. The Bear Nation or Totem had many smaller nations or totems. They took their nation or totem names from predators. Depending on which Ojibway Dialect, the word for Wolf in Ojibway ranges from Ma-i-gan to Mo-he-gon. Remember that in Ojibway Language they use "i-gan" to define something animate or created by humans. It's derived from the Ojibway word for "Conversation," which is "Gan-o-ni-diw-in." It's pronounced Gan-no-knee-do-win! Ojibway word for Reservoir is Za-ga-i-gan. Their word for Reservation and Reserve is Ish-kon-i-gan. They used their "ish" pejorative" to let on they didn't like being set aside small areas of land! They disapproved of it!

7/31/2020 06:49:14 am

Ojibway People had 6 major nations or totems. Warren wrote 6. Not 5. He was not being honest. He inserted a terrorist threat! The Bear Nation was largest and ruled the Ojibway Nation. They were police and soldiers and according to Warren, Ill Tempered! The Ottawa or Odawah Nation was second largest. Next was the Gaossed Nation or Hunter Nation. Next was the Fisher Nation. Next was the Agriculture Nation. Next was the Midewiwin Nation which had the duty of Education and Health. They were the smallest Ojibway Nation or Totem. There were many smaller nations or totems within each major nation or totem. Ottawa Nation or Totem, had far more totems than all other Ojibway Nations or Totems.Their work dealt with crafts and trade. Each nation or totem member, took their surname from their nation or totem. They could not marry another member from the same nation or totem. However, they could marry another member of another nation or totem within the major totem they were member of. If a member of a nation or totem within the Bear Nation or Totem, married a member of the same nation or totem within the Bear Nation or Totem, they were possibly executed! They had to marry a member from another nation or totem of the Bear Totem or another of the major Nations or Totems of the Ojibway People!

11/29/2021 03:00:33 pm

My 7th great grandfather was Ke-che-Waub-Ish-Ash, of the Martin Clan, a war chief under Bi-aus-wah, who was the "Peace Chief" ... The following is an interesting account of how he was killed in a battle with the Dakota ... From an oral account taken from The HISTORY OF THE OJIBWAY PEOPLE, William W. Warren, Written in 1852 --- Ke-che-wau-ish-ash (The Big Marten)
Ke-che-wau-ish-ash was an most celebrated Ojibway warrior in the Modern Times. His story as reported to William Warren appears below. It is the story of the last significant Ojibway battles with the Dakota and his death.

From Lee Salzman, History of the First Nations

"The Ojibwe were the largest and most powerful Great Lakes tribe; perhaps the most powerful east of the Mississippi; and quite possibly the most powerful in North America. The Lakota (Sioux) and Apache have gotten better press, but it was the Ojibwe who defeated the Iroquois and forced the Sioux to leave Minnesota. Very few Americans realize that the Ojibwe were a major power. Their location was well north of the main flow of settlement, and their victories over native enemies have never received proper credit. A variety of names (Ojibwe, Chippewa, Bungee, Mississauga, and Saulteaux) and division of their population between Canada and United States has masked their true size. In addition, the Ojibwe never fought with Americans after 1815. Even before this, their participation in wars between Britain and France or fighting Americans in the Ohio Valley was fairly limited. Considering the prowess of Ojibwe warriors, this was probably just as well for the Americans. However, this does not mean they have been ignored by government. As the Chippewa, they signed more treaties with the United States than any other tribe fifty-one! North of the border, the Ojibwe have "touched the pen" more than thirty times with the French, British, and Canadians."

HISTORY OF THE OJIBWAY PEOPLE, William W. Warren, Written in 1852

1885 CHAPTER XIX.

Progress of the Ojibways on the Upper Mississippi.

In order to retaliate on the Dakotas the invasion which they had made on the Upper Mississippi, which resulted in the battle of Crow Wing, and the capturing of their women at Sandy take, the Ojibways, early the following spring, collected a war party nearly two hundred strong who, embarking in their birch canoes, raddled down the current of the Mississippi into the country of their enemies. They discovered no signs of the Dakotas in the course of their journey as far down as the mouth of Crow River, within thirty miles of St. Anthony Falls. Here they left their canoes, anti proceeding across the country to the Minnesota River, they discovered a village of their enemies situated a short distance from its confluence with the Mississippi. The attack on this village, though severely contested by the Dakotas, was perfectly successful, and the war party returned borne with a large number of scalps. The inciddents of this fight were told to me by Waub-o-jeeg (White Fisher), a present living sub-chief of the Mississippi Ojibways, whose grandfather No-ka acted as one of the leaders of this party but as his accounts are somewhat obscure and much mixed with the unnatural, I refrain from giving the details.

This incursion to the Dakota country is, however, notable from the fact, that it is the first visit of the kind which the Ojibways of this section tell of their ancestors having made to the Minnesota River. When the warriors left their homes in the north, it was early spring, and the leaves had not yet budded. On arriving at the Minnesota River, however, they were surprised to find spring far advanced, and the leaves on the trees which shaded its waters, in full bloom. From this circumstance they gave it the name of Osh-ke-bug-e-sebe, denoting "New' Leaf River," which name it has retained among the Ojibways to tbe present day.

A few years after the incursion of No-ka to the Minnesota River, the Ojibways again collected a war party of one hundred and twenty men, and under the leadership of Ke-che-wau-ishe-ashe (Great Marten) a noted warrior, who acted as the war chief of Bi-aus-wah, they embarked in their canoes, and floated down the Mississippi, which they had now learned to make their chief and favorite war course. On their way down die river, the leader every morning deputed a canoe of scouts to proceed some distance in advance of the main body, to search for signs of the enemy, and runners were sent ahead by land, to follow down each bank of the river, to prevent a surprise of the party from an ambuscade of the enemy. Guarded in this manner from any sudden surprise, the Ojibway warriors quietly floated down with the current of the great river On this occasion they had reached a point a short distance above the mouth of Elk River, when the scouts in the foremost canoe, as they were silently paddling down, hugging the eastern bank of the Mississippi, immediately below an extensive bottom of forest trees,

Deborah eischen link

4/2/2022 01:15:26 pm

I am trying to find what clan I am from. John Vallie is my great grandfather. His daughter, my grandma is Jane Vallie- Bercier.

Kim

10/1/2023 07:13:22 pm

I too am a Bercier, and have found two more living in Selkirk Manitoba. We are all wolf clan. I also have reindeer clan in my genealogy.

Deborah Eischen

10/3/2023 11:35:10 am

Kim please send me your email or text me 562 370 5397
I would love to talk with you!
Chi Miigwetch

Nunya

2/3/2023 11:27:09 am

Crane Clan! Chippewa- White Earth Nation! Give it up, whoop whoop!! Just a descendant though. My family tie with that ancestry left when my great grandmother left the reservation.

Do you know your clan?

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