WOJB Woodland Community Supported Radio

Ojibwe Calendar

This calendar uses a 12 month cycle, as is used for most if not all of the Ojibwe people of the Lac Courte Oreilles (lac-coot'-o-ray')area. However, the traditioanl Ojibwe calendar year follows a 13 moon lunar cycle. The names of each moon are influenced by natural phenomena, animal activity, and cultural practices and beliefs. Ojibwe is widely spoken throughout North America from Quebec to Saskatchewan, and from Michigan to Minnesota. Because the area in which Ojibwe is spoken is so vast, not all Ojibwe people use the same names for the moons. There are many diffferent dialects of Ojibwe but all belong to the algonquian language family. The following list shows some of the differences in the names of the moons.

Anishinaabemowin - Ojibwe Language - Writing and sound chart below the calendar moons.

January	Gichi-manidoo-giizis Maajii-bibooni-giizis Manidoo-giizis Oshki-bibooni-giizis Gichi-giizis	Great Spirit Moon Start of the Winter Moon Spirit Moon New Winter Moon Big Moon
February	Namebini-giizis Migizi-giizis Makoonsag-gaa-nitaawaadi-giizis	Sucker Fish Moon Eagle Moon When the Bear Cubs are Born Moon
March	Onaabani-giizis Bebookwedaagime-giizis Aandego-giizis Niki-giizis Ziinsibaakwadooke-giizis	Hard Crust on the Snow Moon Snowshoe Breaking Moon Crow Moon Goose Moon Sugar Making Moon
April	Iskigamizige-giizis Omakakiiwi-giizis Bebookwedaagime-giizis Maango-giizis	Maple Sap Boiling Moon Frog Moon Snowshoe Breaking Moon Loon Moon
May	Waabigoni-giizis Zaagibagaagime-giizis Waswwgone-giizis	Flowering Moon Budding Moon Flowering Moon
June	Ode-imini-giizis Gitige-giizis Waawano-giizis	Strawberry Moon Gardening Moon Egg Moon
July	Aabita-Niibino-giizis Miini-giizis Miskomini-giizis Baashkawe'o-giizis	Mid-Summer Moon Blueberry Moon Raspberry Moon Flying Moon
August	Manoominikie-giizis Odatagaagomini-giizis Basikwa'o-giizis	Ricing Moon Blackberry Moon Flying Moon
September	Waatebagaa-giizis Mandaamini-giizis Moozo-giizis	Leaves Changing Color Moon Corn Moon Moose Moon
October	Binaakwe-giizis	Falling Leaves Moon
November	Gashkadino-giizis Adikomemi-giizis	Freezing Moon Whitefish Moon
December	Manidoo-giizisoons Gichi-bibooni-giizis	Little Spirit Moon Big Winter Moon

Ojibwe writing and Sound Chart

There is no mutually agreed upon writing system that is used for the Ojibwe language in all of its locales. However a number of systems have been used, some more popular than others. One of these systems is called the Double-vowel system. Developed by Charles Fiero, this system uses seven vowels, 15 cosnonants, and one glottal stop. Approximations of the sounds in the examples below may provide a reference for understanding how the Double-vowel system works.

The basic alphabet that is used:

a, aa, b, c d, e, g, h ',i, ii, j, k, m, n, o, oo, p, s, t, w, y, z

The sounds below are only approximations and should always be supplemented with the language of fluent speakers.

double vowel	phonemic	English	Ojibwe
a (short vowel)	uh	about	asemaa
aa (long vowel)	aah	father	aanin
e (long vowel)	ay	cafe	memengwaa
i (short vowel)	ih	pin	gimiwan
ii (long vowel)	ee	seen	niiwin
o (short vowel)	oh	open	ojibwemo
oo (long vowel)	oo	boot	googii

Consonants	Ojibwe	meaning	a similar sound in English
b	bakade	s/he is hungry	book, speak
ch	chi-ogin	tomato	cheese
d	dagoshin	s/he arrives	do, stop
g	gaazhagens	cat	geese,ski
h	hay'	opps! darn!	hi
'	bakite'an	hit it!	uh oh
j	jiimaan	canoe	jump
k	makazin	shoe	pcik
m	miinan	blueberries	man
n	namebin	sucker	name
p	baapiwag	they are laughing	rip
s	wiisini	s/he is eating	miss
sh	nishkaadizi	s/he is angry	bush
t	mitig	tree	pit
w	waabang	tomorrow	way
y	babagiwayaan	shirt	yellow
z	ziibi	river	zebra
zh	zhaangaswi	nine	measure

Example: ishwasemidaana ishwaswe zhangaswe - 88-9, -ish-was-ay-mid-ahna, ish-was-way, zhah-gas-way
odaawa zaaga'igining, -lake of ottowa, - oh-dah-wa, zah-ga-uh-i-gin-ing