> Is there a difference between Chippewa and Ojibwa?
We are one people with three names. Those names are Chippewa, Ojibway
and Anishinabe. Each name has it's own history and as best I can I
will describe the differences and usage below. The following is based
upon my research and my own cultural exposure and any errors or
inconsistencies are my doing.
Chippewa "Chip-eh-wa"
The name Chippewa is the "official" name as recognized by the United
States Government and is used on all treaties.
As such, this name is often used when talking in an official matter,
or informally to non-Indian people.
Ojibway "Oh-jib-way"
This name is the most popular and the most proper as given it was
given by our enemies. We use this when talking with other Indian
people or someone more familiar than the above "Chippewa". It has many
different spellings; Ojibway, Odjibwa, Odjibwe, Ojibwag, Ochipoy,
Tschipeway, Chepeways, Achipoes and others. There is some controversy
over it's real meaning, but suffice it to say it means, "to pucker."
There are some that believe it is due to our puckered seam moccasins
that were sewn that way to keep the snow out. There is another meaning
too but I won't go into that here.
Anishinabeg "Ann-eh-shin-ah-beg"
This is the word that we call ourselves. Generally, it is reserved for
Anishinabe people to refer to themselves, although there are some that would
rather be known by this name. Actually, the Anishinabe are also people that
lives in our creation stories. They are the original people and were very weak.
--Charles Phillip Whitedog, "Born Ojibway, hopefully they'll let me die that
way too!"