The Anishinaabe First Nation

The Anishinaabeg of the Anishinaabe First Nation are not insulted when the name Algonquin is given them but, they definitely prefer to be called Anishinaabe, their nation name since immemorial times. They are, however, members of the Algonkian language family.

Algoomeaking, or Algoomaking "at the place of spearing fish", a collective term for a number of North American tribes in the valley of the Ottawa river and around the northern tributaries of the St- Lawrence.

Nine Anishinaabe communities scattered in Outaouais and in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Nine communities called Ojibway, Algonquin, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Saulteaux, Nipissing, Mississauga as well as Oji-Cree and Metis who share the same cultural traditions.

The Anishinaabe Peoples of the Land

In the Anishinaabemowin language, Anishinaabe means the original person and Anishinaabeg means the true people who proudly preserve their traditions, who remain close to their ancestral ways of life and who carry on with their traditional lifestyle.

The Seven Anishinaabe Clans

The seven clans of the Anishinaabeg are instrumental in their personal identity as well as in their traditional role in society. Seven different clans, seven different animals and seven different roles.

Artwork Canadian flag by Nigel Fox (Ojibwe)

Birds are spiritual people who can predict the future. Bird clans are historically known as messengers between Earth and Heaven. People and Creator gave the clan the responsibility of caring for the birds.

Bears are police and healers. They know how to use the plants for medicine.The Bear clans are the ones who patrol the woods around the community and who watch for danger.

The Crane and the Loon clans are the leaders and the chiefs. They both work together for the good of all the people of the nation. Cranes are leaders playing one role. Loons are leaders playing another role.

Deer are poets and peacemakers. The Deer clan is the gentle people in the nation. Everything they do is kind and gentle.

Fishes are intellectuals and mediators. The Fish clan settles arguments between the crane and the loon clans. The Fishes are the wise people, they solve the problems within the nation.

Martens are warriors. The Marten clans fight to protect the nation and they are respected for their bravery and their skills.

The 10 Quebec First Nations are the Abenakis, Anishinaabeg, Atikamekw, Crees, Huron-Wendats, Innus, Maliseets, Mi'kmaq, Mowhawks and Naskapis plus, the Inuit in Inuit Nunangat.