Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa: We Look in All Directions

by Thomas D. Peacock, Marlene Wisuri

"Ojibwe: Waasa Inaabidaa" (which translates "we look in all directions") is a uniquely personal history of the Ojibwe culture by Ojibwe educator Thomas Peacock. Illustrated with color and historic black-and-white photographs, artwork, and maps, it is the story of how the Ojibwe people and their ways have continued to survive, and even thrive, from pre-contact times to the present. The story visits contemporary Ojibwe and non-Indian issues, including tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, casino gambling, and education.

Genres: Nonfiction, Native Americans

159 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Martina Kernosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for class

[Cordelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could assign this as required reading for the whole state of Minnesota (and Wisconsin and maybe Michigan).

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent cultural overview and history of Minnesota's Anishinaabe people. Excited to delve deeper into the topics covered therein. The speaker's personal perspective and voice make this would-be textbook very much feel like a living document. Good to learn about my home state more meaningfully, though the history often hurts my heart. Important to remember!

[Freya Abbas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting and it talks about a lot of social issues that affect the Ojibwe and other Native American tribes. The author doesn’t separate himself from his research and inserts a lot of personal stories, but I think this was a great methodological choice and it made for an interesting reading experience.

[Katherine Nistler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informational with big pages and great pictures! Love the personal stories that start and end each chapter.

[Gustavo HdzMry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Escrito por gente de la nación Objibwe. Vale la pena leer su historia contada por ellos.

[Mark Bourdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful summary of the history, culture and life of the Ojibwe people.

[Teresa Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, used this for teaching

[Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was well written. I liked how each chapter had a introduction in the form of a personal story from the author's experience or a story given to the author. I liked how he added Ojibwemowin or Anishnamowin in each chapter.

The book focuses on the experiences of the Anishnabeg of the United States,more specifically in the Minnesota region. He uses references that i am familiar with like: Basil Johnston, William Warren, Gerald Vizenor, and Vine Deloria.

I did learn that the Ojibwe and other people such as the Cree, and other Algonquin people had a common ancestor named the Lenape people. I like how he focuses on how the leadership, culture, and education as changed through first contact, colonization, and renewal.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like a survey course: a little bit of information on major aspects of Ojibwe life now and then plus personal perspective. On the positive side it gave me an overview I desperately needed and the photographs are wonderful. I also appreciate the personal perspective of the author who doesn't hold back his feelings. On the downside, the references are a bit dated and the style of summarizing the chapter at the beginning and at the end reminded me of best-forgotten term papers. It accomplished its task however in that I got a taste of the Ojibwe culture and want to learn more.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really beautiful book.