To Whom Do You Belong?

WENABOZHO: An ANISHINAABE FOLK HERO

Wenabozho [WAY-nuh-BOH-zho] is an important figure in Anishinaabe history, and he was tasked with going through and meeting all of creation and giving them names!

Therefore, the names of each plant being in Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe language) are important in their own right. Even their English translations tell us of the specific knowledge and gifts that Wenabozho deemed vital to the larger community!

NAMES PAINT US A PICTURE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

Names have been given to us to distinguish relationships between each other. They tell others who we belong to – just think of your last name. That’s your family’s specific name!

Last names can also tell what region you grew up in, or where your family comes from, and what community you belong to. Names are important, and they hold a lot of information!

Similarly, plant names in Anishinaabemowin can make these distinctions, too. Wenabozho named plant beings to tell us their special gifts: how to use them and what gifts they offer to the world. We wanted to offer up these names so that you, too, can honor them!