Wiigwaasabak

About Wiigwaasabak

(Redirected from Birch bark scrolls)
Example of a Birch bark scroll piece

The Ojibwa (Anishinaabe) people of North America had written down complex geometrical patterns and shapes on 'birch bark scrolls', known as ''wiigwaasabak'' in the Ojibwe language. These writings enabled one to memorize complex ideas, and to pass along history and stories to the next generations. Several such scrolls are in museums including one on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. One recent study of a few scrolls details the complex math and memorizing scheme associated with the symbols that were used long ago. The complex writings also included astronomy, mapping, family lineage, songs, and migration routes. In addition to birch bark, copper may have also been used, along with hides, pottery, and other artifacts.

Contents
Construct
Purpose
See also
References

Construct


The bark of paper birch provides an excellent natural medium to write upon, preserve, and to pass along ancient thoughts and ideas. Usually, a stylus of either bone, metal or wood was used to inscribe these ideographs on the soft inner bark. Pieces of inscribed bark are stitched together using ''wadab'' (cedar or spruce roots) to form the scroll. The scroll is then stored by lashing the scroll to prevent it from unfurling, then placed in a cylindrically-shaped ''wiigwaasi-makak'' (birch bark box) for safe-keeping. Elders recopied the scrolls over time, and some were hidden away in remote areas for safe keeping. There has been different interpretations for each scroll, which indicates that there are some incorrect teachings that may have been purposely passed along for a sacred scroll.

Purpose


There are scrolls that give some of the history of the Ojibway migration from Eastern North America to further west. They indicate the discovery of ''miigis'' shells, or white cowrie shells along their migration through the Great Lakes region. These shells are used in Midewiwin ceremonies, and Whiteshell Provincial Park is named after these kinds of shells that grow in salt water oceans, and not in fresh water, which indicates a large trading and travelling network.
The scrolls and traditions are still alive today, and passed along from generation to generation. The Midewiwin are a traditional group that still keeps the scrolls and the teachings alive. There is some secrecy involved to keep the scrolls safe, to interpret them correctly, and to wait until there is more respect for this ancient language system.
There are many claims made by elders and aboriginal teachers that humans have existed in North America before the last ice age, and ancient ways of writing and other ancient skills and artifacts may provide clues to the migration patterns and history of North American and South American peoples.

See also



★ Birch bark document – medieval Russian documents

★ – Birch bark folk art

★ – Canoe typically made using birch bark

★ – Knife for harvesting birch bark

★ – Wigwam, typically made using birch bark

★ – boxes and other containers made of birch bark

★ – dishes and trays made of birch bark

References



★ Benton-Banai, Edward. ''The Mishomis Book - The Voice of the Ojibway''. (St. Paul: Red School House publishers, 1988).

★ Deleary, Nicholas. "The Midewiwin, an aboriginal spiritual institution. Symbols of continuity: a native studies culture-based perspective." Carleton University MA Thesis, M.A. 1990.

★ Densmore, Frances. ''Chippewa Customs''. (Reprint: Minnesota Historical Press, 1979).

★ Dewdney, Selwyn Hanington. ''The Sacred Scrolls of the Southern Ojibway''. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1975).

★ Hoffman, Walter James. "The Midewiwin, or 'Grand Medicine Society', of the Ojibwa" in ''Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Bureau of Ethnology Report'', v. 7, pp. 149-299. (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1891).

★ Landes, Ruth. ''Ojibwa Religion and the Midewiwin''. (Milwaukee: University of Wisconsin Press, 1968).

★ Vecsey, Christopher. ''Traditional Ojibwa Religion and its Historical Changes''. (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1983).

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