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Di-bayn-di-zi-win: Embodying Ojibway-Anishinabe Ways
Di-bayn-di-zi-win: An Ojibway-Anishinabe Pedagogy is a collaboration exploring the importance of the Ojibway-Anishinabe worldview, use of ceremony, and language in living a good life, attaining true reconciliation, and resisting the notions of indigenization and colonialization inherent in Western institutions.
Indigenization within the academy and the idea of truth and reconciliation within Canada have been seen as the remedy to correct the relationship between Indigenous people and Canadian society. While honourable, they are difficult to achieve given the Western nature of institutions of the country and the collective memory of its citizens and the burden of proof has always been the responsibility of Anishinabeg.
Authors makwa ogimaa (Jerry Fontaine) and ka-pi-ta-aht (Don McCaskill) tell their di-bah-ji-mo-wi-nan (personal stories) to understand the cultural, political, social, and academic events of the past fifty years of Ojibway-Anishinabe resistance in Canada. They suggest that Ojibway-Anishinabe i-zhi-gay-win zhigo-dah-so-win (Anishinabe ways of doing and knowing) can provide an alternative way of living sustainably in the world. This distinctive world view, as well as values, language, and ceremonial practices can provide an alternative to Western political and academic institutions.
An Ojibway-Anishinabe pedagogy can peel away the layers of colonialism, violence, and injustice and speak truth, leading to true reconciliation.
Indigenization within the academy and the idea of truth and reconciliation within Canada have been seen as the remedy to correct the relationship between Indigenous people and Canadian society. While honourable, they are difficult to achieve given the Western nature of institutions of the country and the collective memory of its citizens and the burden of proof has always been the responsibility of Anishinabeg.
Authors makwa ogimaa (Jerry Fontaine) and ka-pi-ta-aht (Don McCaskill) tell their di-bah-ji-mo-wi-nan (personal stories) to understand the cultural, political, social, and academic events of the past fifty years of Ojibway-Anishinabe resistance in Canada. They suggest that Ojibway-Anishinabe i-zhi-gay-win zhigo-dah-so-win (Anishinabe ways of doing and knowing) can provide an alternative way of living sustainably in the world. This distinctive world view, as well as values, language, and ceremonial practices can provide an alternative to Western political and academic institutions.
An Ojibway-Anishinabe pedagogy can peel away the layers of colonialism, violence, and injustice and speak truth, leading to true reconciliation.
- GenresIndigenous
328 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 17, 2022
An interesting exploration of the history of ‘Indigenous Studies’ not only at Trent, but also - in less depth - across the country.
A wonderful exploration of the Anishinabeg ‘ways of doing and knowing’, grounded in the three fundamental cultural protocols, principles and practices that can guide us forward.
I also appreciated the exploration of the acts of resistance - many of which I knew about, but some I was unfamiliar with… They were a reminder that, as Jerry Fontaine points out in his early introductory remarks, that his whole life is - has been - an act of resistance… even just the f/act of waking up.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to a digital ARC.
3.5 rounded up to 4
A wonderful exploration of the Anishinabeg ‘ways of doing and knowing’, grounded in the three fundamental cultural protocols, principles and practices that can guide us forward.
I also appreciated the exploration of the acts of resistance - many of which I knew about, but some I was unfamiliar with… They were a reminder that, as Jerry Fontaine points out in his early introductory remarks, that his whole life is - has been - an act of resistance… even just the f/act of waking up.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to a digital ARC.
3.5 rounded up to 4
May 25, 2022
A phenomenal piece of writing. This book is so important. Truly groundbreaking work.
February 23, 2025
This work by authors Jerry Fontaine (Makwa Ogimaa) and Don McCaskill (Ka-pi-ta-aht) gives insight into the evolution of the resistance against colonization within Canadian society, and speaks to the resilience of the Canada's Anishinabe communites in their ongoing efforts towards empowerment and agency over the past fifty years.
Canada, much like the United States, has a complex history of race relations between tribal citizens and the dominant white culture. Although much work has been put into reconciliation and healing of the injustices commited upon indigenous people, it has often been done through Westernized and Institutionalized systemic means, with the pacing often set by the dominant societal powers, and the struggles associated with ensuring continual progress in these efforts being placed primarily upon indigenous groups. This book centralizes the importance storytelling, the power of sharing personal experience, emphasizes the importance of staying true to indigenous values, gives personalized accounts of the power of ceremony, recounts the importance of language, and provides deeper clarity and insight into indigenous ways of being and knowing.
Detailing the political, social, cultural, and academic aspects of the struggle for indigenous rights in Canadian society over the past 50 years, it gives a framework for progress towards restoration and revitalization of a culture that was instituationally decimated through genocide, residential schools, and forced assimilation. Despite the legacy of colonialism, violence, and injustice, along with the numerous struggles faced by indigenous communities, this book paints an inspirational picture for work that could be done in the United States someday.
As an Anishinabe man, who is deeply passionate about his culture and cultural identity, who would like to be a part of a positive legacy of change, this book spoke truth to power for me; it made me proud to be indigenous.
I may not yet know the language, I may be working on deepening my understanding of the culture, I may not yet have found a community of activists within which I can help facilitate these changes, but this book provides a framework to show how this is possible.
With the current American political administration making the struggle for progress, truth, healing, and empowerment in minority communities more relevant now than any time since the American Civil Rights Movement, this book gives me hope that my people can achieve equality, sovereignty, cultural restoration, and growth, and create a brighter future for American Indigenous communities.
Canada, much like the United States, has a complex history of race relations between tribal citizens and the dominant white culture. Although much work has been put into reconciliation and healing of the injustices commited upon indigenous people, it has often been done through Westernized and Institutionalized systemic means, with the pacing often set by the dominant societal powers, and the struggles associated with ensuring continual progress in these efforts being placed primarily upon indigenous groups. This book centralizes the importance storytelling, the power of sharing personal experience, emphasizes the importance of staying true to indigenous values, gives personalized accounts of the power of ceremony, recounts the importance of language, and provides deeper clarity and insight into indigenous ways of being and knowing.
Detailing the political, social, cultural, and academic aspects of the struggle for indigenous rights in Canadian society over the past 50 years, it gives a framework for progress towards restoration and revitalization of a culture that was instituationally decimated through genocide, residential schools, and forced assimilation. Despite the legacy of colonialism, violence, and injustice, along with the numerous struggles faced by indigenous communities, this book paints an inspirational picture for work that could be done in the United States someday.
As an Anishinabe man, who is deeply passionate about his culture and cultural identity, who would like to be a part of a positive legacy of change, this book spoke truth to power for me; it made me proud to be indigenous.
I may not yet know the language, I may be working on deepening my understanding of the culture, I may not yet have found a community of activists within which I can help facilitate these changes, but this book provides a framework to show how this is possible.
With the current American political administration making the struggle for progress, truth, healing, and empowerment in minority communities more relevant now than any time since the American Civil Rights Movement, this book gives me hope that my people can achieve equality, sovereignty, cultural restoration, and growth, and create a brighter future for American Indigenous communities.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews