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734:(birch bark box) for safe-keeping. Scrolls were recopied after so many years, and stored in dry locations, often underground in special containers, or in caves. Elders recopied the scrolls over time, and some were hidden away in remote areas for safekeeping. Scrolls were often kept hidden to avoid improper interpretations and to avoid ridicule or disrespect of the teachings.
828:
Kidd concluded "These two finds of 'birch bark scrolls' and associated artifacts indicates that
Indians of this region occasionally deposited such artifacts in out-of-the-way places in the woods, either by burying them or by secreting them in caves. The period or periods at which this was done is far
792:
are a traditional group that still keeps the scrolls and their 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. Scrolls are passed along and the oral teachings that go with
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The Ojibwa peoples of the Great Lakes region historically used birch bark to keep records for instructional and guidance purposes. Songs and healing recipes were readable by members of the tribe. Either through engraving or with the use of red and blue pigment, scrolls could contain any number of
812:
Twentieth century archaeology has confirmed that Native
Americans have been using birch bark scrolls for over 400 years. In 1965 the archaeologist Kenneth Kidd reported on two finds of "trimmed and fashioned pieces of birch bark on which have been scratched figures of
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Copper and slate may have also been used, along with hides, pottery, and other artifacts. Some archaeologists are presently trying to determine the exact origins, dates, and locations of their use. Many scrolls were hidden away in caves and man-made pits.
957:
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1110:
Deleary, Nicholas. "The
Midewiwin, an aboriginal spiritual institution. Symbols of continuity: a native studies culture-based perspective." Carleton University MA Thesis, M.A. 1990.
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804:, and ancient ways of writing and other ancient skills and artifacts may provide some clues to the migration patterns and history of North American and South American peoples.
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on the soft inner bark. Black charcoal is often used to fill the scratches to make them easier to see. To form a scroll, pieces of inscribed bark are stitched together using
214:
1335:
540:
1127:
Edwards, Brendan
Frederick R. Paper Talk: A history of libraries, print culture, and Aboriginal peoples in Canada before 1960. (Toronto: The Scarecrow Press, Inc, 2005).
1056:
Edwards, Brendan
Frederick R. (2005). Paper Talk: A history of libraries, print culture, and Aboriginal peoples in Canada before 1960. Toronto: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
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is named after these kinds of shells that grow in salt water oceans, and not in fresh water, which indicates a large trading and traveling network.
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from clear. But in any event, archaeologists should be aware of the custom and not overlook the possibility of their discovery."
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Some scrolls are songs and details of
Midewiwin rituals and medicine lodges. A map created by an Ojibwe on birchbark was used by
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Kidd, Kenneth E. 1965. Birch-bark
Scrolls in Archaeological Contexts. American Antiquity. Vol 30. No 4. page 480.
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and stories to succeeding generations. Several such scrolls are in museums, including one on display at the
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728:(cedar or spruce roots). To prevent unrolling, the scroll is lashed, then placed in a cylindrically-shaped
719:
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pictorial representations. Birch bark scrolls could measure anywhere from centimeters to several meters.
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The scrolls and traditions are still alive today, and passed along from generation to generation. The
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them. Complex stories are represented and memorized with the use of the pictures on the scrolls.
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958:"Record Birch-Bark Scroll, Writing | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution"
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There are many claims made by elders and indigenous teachers that humans have existed in
27:
Birch bark scrolls for ceremonial use by the Ojibwa (Anishinaabe) people of North
America
974:
The
Superior North Shore: A Natural History of Lake Superior's Northern Lands and Waters
934:"Record Birch-Bark Scroll, Writing | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution"
1383:
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1107:. "The Traditional History and Characteristic Sketches of the Ojibway Nation." (1850).
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Another scroll from a different collection was later dated to about 1560, +/-70 years.
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Hoffman, Walter James. "The
Midewiwin, or 'Grand Medicine Society', of the Ojibwa" in
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Reading Rock Art: Interpreting the Indian Rock Paintings of the Canadian Shield
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1135:, v. 7, pp. 149-299. (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1891).
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1027:"A RADIOCARBON DATE ON A MIDEWIWIN SCROLL FROM BURNTSIDE LAKE, ONTARIO"
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682:). These enabled the memorization of complex ideas, and passing along
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Some scrolls give the history of the Ojibway migration from Eastern
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written language composed of complex geometrical patterns and shapes
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Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Bureau of Ethnology Report
855:– Birch bark folk art by biting a design into birch bark
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of either bone, metal or wood is used to inscribe these
1150:. (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1983).
998:
Dewdney, Selwyn H.; Institute, Glenbow-Alberta (1975).
1148:
Traditional Ojibwa Religion and its Historical Changes
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1143:. (Milwaukee: University of Wisconsin Press, 1968).
744:Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye
1101:. (St. Paul: Red School House publishers, 1988).
761:to further west. They indicate the discovery of
1124:. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1975).
1117:. (Reprint: Minnesota Historical Press, 1979).
1169:
844:– ancient and medieval documents from Eurasia
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8:
1460:Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe School
1099:The Mishomis Book - The Voice of the Ojibway
1004:. Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Calgary, Alta.
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769:) shells along their migration through the
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1122:The Sacred Scrolls of the Southern Ojibway
1001:The Sacred Scrolls of the Southern Ojibway
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91:
670:ceremonial use, these scrolls are called
80:Learn how and when to remove this message
43:This article includes a list of general
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895:and other containers made of birch bark
94:
238:Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
901:– dishes and trays made of birch bark
264:Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
7:
977:. U of Minnesota Press. p. 57.
611:Example of a Birch bark scroll piece
1331:Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers
49:it lacks sufficient corresponding
25:
1440:Anishinabek Educational Institute
1141:Ojibwa Religion and the Midewiwin
885:, typically made using birch bark
773:region. These shells are used in
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34:
865:typically made using birch bark
210:British Columbia Treaty Process
1:
1291:Mishi-ginebig ("great snake")
1450:Canadian residential schools
1078:. Dundurn Press Ltd., 1994,
215:Crown and Indigenous peoples
1524:Native American ethnobotany
1120:Dewdney, Selwyn Hanington.
710:tree provides an excellent
666:When used specifically for
453:Indigenous English Dialects
1540:
971:Waters, Thomas F. (1987).
779:Whiteshell Provincial Park
690:Museum in Washington, DC.
1455:Hannahville Indian School
875:for harvesting birch bark
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559:Indigenous North Americas
1465:U.S. residential schools
1445:Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School
808:Archaeological knowledge
337:Indigenous personalities
64:more precise citations.
1514:Native American relics
1261:Grand Medicine Society
1097:Benton-Banai, Edward.
613:
1146:Vecsey, Christopher.
746:to follow a route to
647:scroll, on which the
624:Anishinaabe syllabics
609:
1321:Seven fires prophecy
463:Aboriginal syllabics
438:Indigenous languages
1519:Native American art
1509:Anishinaabe culture
1341:Traditional beliefs
1113:Densmore, Frances.
869:maniwiigwaasekomaan
842:Birch bark document
819:legendary creatures
491:Traditional beliefs
332:Indigenous cultures
175:Residential schools
165:Settler colonialism
1374:Birch bark scrolls
1346:Underwater panther
938:collections.si.edu
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96:Indigenous peoples
18:Birch bark scrolls
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1074:Rajnovich, Grace
1025:Kidd, Kenneth E.
1011:978-0-8020-3321-5
984:978-1-4529-0377-4
748:Grand Portage Bay
604:
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570:Canada portal
516:Index of articles
269:Numbered Treaties
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16:(Redirected from
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1407:Birchbark biting
1218:myth and stories
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1041:. Retrieved
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941:. Retrieved
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359:Demographics
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1417:Ribbon work
1296:Mudjekeewis
1251:Elbow witch
1204:Clan system
1185:Anishinaabe
910:Petroglyphs
771:Great Lakes
708:paper birch
688:Smithsonian
653:Anishinaabe
468:Chinuk pipa
448:Chinuk Wawa
432:Linguistics
415:Territories
385:Atlantic CA
249:Land claims
62:introducing
1498:Categories
1389:Potawatomi
1369:Algonquian
1246:Drumkeeper
1236:Deer Woman
1092:References
1043:2023-10-14
943:2021-03-17
905:Petroforms
720:ideographs
645:birch bark
632:, plural:
521:Indigenous
259:Land title
231:Indian Act
45:references
1432:Education
1412:Quillwork
1361:Languages
1326:Shingebis
1316:Pukwudgie
1301:Nanabozho
879:wiigiwaam
848:Midewiwin
790:Midewiwin
775:Midewiwin
754:in 1731.
698:Construct
668:Midewiwin
640:ᐧᐆᒃᐧᐋᓴᐸᑰᓐ
485:Religions
244:Land Back
98:in Canada
70:June 2008
1214:Religion
915:Rock Art
836:See also
679:ᒥᑌᐧᐆᒃᐧᐋᔅ
629:ᐧᐆᒃᐧᐋᓴᐸᒃ
309:Politics
299:Case law
294:Genocide
199:Politics
170:Genocide
158:Genetics
148:Timeline
1475:Housing
1351:Wendigo
1306:Nokomis
1281:Manitou
1226:Aayaase
1188:culture
859:jiimaan
815:animals
802:ice age
765:(white
738:Purpose
706:of the
684:history
643:) is a
321:Culture
142:History
58:improve
1483:Wigwam
1422:Wampum
1379:Ojibwe
1311:Powwow
1231:Baykok
1196:Family
1082:
1008:
981:
883:Wigwam
823:Ojibwa
767:cowrie
763:miigis
716:stylus
649:Ojibwa
47:, but
1037:(PDF)
1030:(PDF)
921:Notes
893:boxes
873:Knife
863:Canoe
725:wadab
541:Stubs
536:Métis
531:Inuit
510:Index
378:Métis
347:Music
131:Métis
124:Inuit
1080:ISBN
1006:ISBN
979:ISBN
704:bark
702:The
622:(in
458:NAPA
1399:Art
750:on
369:AB
327:Art
1500::
1216:,
936:.
891:–
881:–
871:–
861:–
825:.
663:.
626::
616:A
410:SK
405:QC
400:ON
395:MB
390:BC
373:FN
1177:e
1170:t
1163:v
1046:.
1014:.
987:.
960:.
946:.
651:(
595:e
588:t
581:v
83:)
77:(
72:)
68:(
54:.
20:)
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