The Trail of Nenaboozhoo: and Other Creation Stories

by Bomgiizhik Isaac Murdoch, Christi Belcourt (Contributor)

“The Trail of Nenaboozhoo is a remarkable and powerful collection of sacred Ojibwe creation stories that tell of a legendary past in which Nenaboozhoo, the creator spirit of Ojibwe legend, along with various beloved Animal Spirits, teach their wisdom. Transcribed from Isaac Murdoch’s oral storytelling, these stories are accompanied by beautiful illustrations by renowned artists Isaac Murdoch and Christi Belcourt. Many of the stories appear in both English and Anishinaabemowin. Moving, profound, and beautiful, this text is a vitally important contribution to Indigenous literature and to the preservation of Anishinaabe language and culture.

From the Foreword, by Isaac Murdoch: “Everything we have can be accredited to the gifts from the spirit world. As we are now in abrupt climate change we can see the world-wide ecological collapse happening before our very eyes. How important was the birch bark canoe? The wigwam? How important were those gifts that were given to us? I think they were very important. They were more than important; they were sacred.” ”

Genres: Indigenous, Mythology, Canada

147 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2019

About the author

Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch) is from Nimkii Aazhibikoong First Nation. He is of the Fish Clan and is Ojibwe. He has four beautiful children. He currently lives in the forest at Nimkii Aazhibikoong, an Indigenous community that focuses on Indigenous language, art, and land based activities. Being blessed with the opportunity, Bomgiizhik grew up in the traditional setting of hunting and gathering on the land. Having spent many years learning from Elders, he spends a lot of his time as a Story Teller. Many of these stories become his visual art pieces which have become recognized world wide. Bomgiizhik is also a Singer Song Writer who loves to make music when ever he gets a chance. You will often find him on the land looking at his favorite plants or gazing into the beautiful night sky.

Bomgiizhik (revolving Sky) Nimkii Aazhibikoong njibaa. Giigoonhan doodeman. Ojibwe aawi. Niiwin gwenaajiwinjin wdaansan wda’aawaan. Nongo megwaa daa mtigwaakiing. Nimkii Aazhibikoong, Nishinaabekiing enaagdoot Nishinaabemowin miinwaa mzinbiigeng, ngoj-go-gegoo baa nankiing maakiing. Aapji gii-mnaabewzi, Bomgiizhik gii-bi-kogid, ghkendangwaa zhi-nishnaabe maadzid, gi-giiwse, gii-zgaktaaso, gegookiing edinang.Aashi gaa-bi-kenoomaagzid getsinjin gii-bi-ghkendmaad niibna nso-boon, miinongo maanda enakiid, aadsookewnini aawi. Niibnaa go kinda dbaajmowininan gashtoonanwii-mzinbii’ang ezhiwaambdvng, miidash gonda mzinbiiganag kina mziwi king ewaambjigaazjig. Bomgiizhik ge’e ngomwinan ezhtoojindo-ngamnan, miinwaa doo-zhibii’aanan. Aapji go bishgendaan maandqa nankid, pii gwa zhised. Naangodnong syaakyoojin waawaaskoneyan maage datganaabit oodi gnawaambdang gwenaajwinik, gwenaajwang dibik giizhik.

Reviews

[Jessica Madiratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are so beautiful and have a lot to teach us. I had the opportunity to hear Issac tell one of the stories from the book and it really impacted the way I read that story. Highly recommend this book.

[Rachel Ashera Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is extremely cool. A gorgeously (colour!) illustrated translation of Neneboozhoo stories, some of which are also written in Ojibwe, with a conversational voice and the odd burst of cheeky humour.

[Minosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hard to rate and is more like a 3.5 stars. I LOVE that it’s bilingual English/Ojibwe (although the Ojibwe is definitely not perfect, but who among us learners can cast the first stone, lol) and I think it’s a compelling narrative……but a lot of it is REALLY different from the Nenabozho stories I know. And of course All Teachings Are Correct etc etc but also I feel like he intentionally left out the stories where Nenabozho is a total dumbass in favor of the ones where he is a hero. Which I ideologically and culturally disagree with as a narrative choice. It’s worth reading but if you aren’t super familiar with the stories please don’t take it as some kind of gospel truth.

[Todd Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but another surprisingly good Ojibwe book like Wolf's Trail.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains the creation stories of the Ojibwe Tribe. They are really interesting and complex and when you read them you can see where they are coming from with the natural world around you. The stories are sometimes funny and sometimes very sad. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would like to read more books like this to learn more about the different Native American cultures and their stories.

[Arielle W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad this exists and that these stories are being preserved - though it's different from some of the Nenaboohoo stories I've heard before. I also love the illustrations and the fact that there is an Anishinaabemowin and English translation.

[Danielle]

DNF @25% - The writing was so abrupt and I just couldn’t get into it. I loved that many of the stories had side-by-side translation in Anishinaabemowin though.

[John Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful collection by a truly gifted storyteller.