The Way of the Heartbeat, part 21: The Ancient Fire of Brotherhood

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Gichi-biboon-giizis (Big Winter Moon) (December 12, 2025)

This article includes phonetic transcriptions of Ojibwe words. Please consult the phonetic chart at the bottom of this page for pronunciation assistance!

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Aaniin!

My name is Zhaawano-giizhik. As a non-commercial artist, I see myself as more than just a painter; I am a storyteller, educator, and artisan jewelry designer dedicated to preserving and sharing Anishinaabe culture through my work. My jewelry, intended solely as storytelling tools and not for sale, reflects the culture of my ancestors along with my personal dreams and life experiences. Beyond being a designer, I aim for my creations to embody the essence of Anishinaabe izhitwaawin (Ojibwe tradition), inviting universal appreciation and understanding.

Central to my jewelry is a deep connection to Ojibwe mazinaajimowinan [oh-JIB-weh muz-zin-NAH-jim-oh-win-an], the ancient pictographs of the Anishinaabeg who once lived around the American Great Lakes and in the Canadian Shield. These enigmatic drawings, found on lake and riverbanks and in birch bark scrolls, inspire and influence my creative journey, weaving a rich tapestry of cultural heritage into every piece that leaves my workbench.

This two-tone overlay ring set, which I crafted a decade ago, is named "Ishkoden." Ishkoden [ish-koh-TEHN] is a term from Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language, meaning "fires." The rings, featuring a stunning color contrast of palladium gold on red gold, narrate the story of our People's journey.

It is a story that lives deep in our hearts...

The technique used for the rings, called overlay, originated with the Hopi silversmiths by the late 1930s. Overlay is a silversmithing technique in which two pieces of precious metal are soldered together after a design is cut from the upper layer.

For these rings, flames were crafted by cutting stylized flame shapes from a flat sheet of palladium white gold using a jeweler's saw. This sheet was then soldered onto a slightly thinner blank of red gold, and both sheets were joined together. The combined flat piece was hammered around a mandrel to shape it into a ring, with the ends soldered together. Finally, the exterior and interior of the rings were filed, sanded, and polished to a high shine.

The flames with the rings recount a pivotal historical event for the Anishinaabeg, or Spontaneous Peoples: the formation of an alliance after a legendary journey lasting hundreds of years from the Northeastern coasts of Turtle Island, now known as North America.

Approximately 1200 to 1500 summers ago, during a legendary westward migration from the northern shores of the Great Salt Waters (the Atlantic Ocean), the Waabanakiiyag, or Anishinaabeg Nation, reached what is now Mackinaw in lower Michigan and divided into three or four groups. These groups included the Anishinaabeg proper (Ojibweg), the "Elder Brother," designated as ‘Faith Keepers’ and caretakers of the Sacred Water Drum of the Midewiwin; the Odaawaag (Odawa) or Trader People, the "Middle Brother" tasked with sustenance; and the Bodwe'aadamiinhk (Bodewadmi) or People of the Fire Pit, the "Younger Brother" responsible for the Sacred Ancestral Fire. A fourth group, the Misi-zaagiwininiwag (Mississauga), is often associated with the Ojibweg. Around 1200 years ago at Michilimackinac, these groups formed a loose confederation known as Niswi-mishkodewin [niss-WIH mish-ko-TEH-win], which is Ojibwe for "Three Fires." All three or four Anishinaabe nations migrated into what is now Michigan State and other regions surrounding the Great Lakes.

Although the historical Niswii-mishkodewin had several meeting places, Michilimackinac * (derived from the Odaawaa/Ojibwe word Michinni-makinong (Mishi-makinaak-ong), meaning "Place of the Big Snapping Turtle," indicating the island's likeness to a giant turtle rising from the water) emerged as the preferred gathering site due to its central location. From this island, the Council met for military and political reasons and maintained relationships with fellow Anishinaabeg and other nations. Today, the Three Fires Council is still very active, focusing on a movement of spiritual revival, as well as the preservation and strengthening of the original Teachings, Rituals, Ceremonies, and Prophecies of the Anishinaabeg; all of which are embodied in the Midewiwin, the Anishinaabe Lodge of the Good Hearted Ones.

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The four stylized flames within these rings represent these fires; three flames symbolize the individual Nations that make up the Confederacy, and the fourth represents the original council fire of the Waabanakiiyag / Anishinaabeg from the time when they lived in Waabanaki, the ancient Dawn Land in the east. Collectively, the four fires embody peacekeeping, protection, spiritual strength, and cultural pride.

"Addressing Mind, the Ojibwe Elder, the Prophet said: “As the Oldest Brother, you will be the Faith Keeper, keeper and protector of the Midewiwin and the traditional Anishinaabe way of life. You will harvest manoomin (wild rice) in the autumn and gather heavy furs in the winter.” The prophet then turned to Body, the Odaawaa Elder, and said: “As the Middle Brother, you belong to the Trader People. You will transport the sacred food and the furs to our Third Brother, the Bodwewaadamii, the Hearth Tender who resides in the south.” He then addressed the  Bodwewaadamii man called Spirit, saying: “As the youngest brother, you will receive the sacred food and furs from the Middle Brother in exchange for corn, beans, and squash, which will then be taken back north. The three brother nations will work closely together, remaining perpetually connected in an unbroken cycle. Soon, in a time known as the Sixth Fire, a Gichi-ajijaak (Great Sandhill Crane) will lead our Peoples to a place where the waters of the Great Sea (Lake Superior) flow into Rattlesnake Sea (Lake Huron). Here, the Mide water drum will resonate once more across the islands and waters of our Great Lakes. Each summer, the Three Nations will rekindle the flames of the sacred Fire and celebrate together at the fish harvest at this place, which will forever be known as Baawitigong, the Place of the Rapids.” 
— Taken from the story  "How the Smoking of the Pipe Brought Peace and Healing to the People of the Three Fires."

For more details on the topic of the Three Fires, see:

• Stories from the Land of Crane and Turtle

• How the Smoking of the Pipe Brought Peace and Healing to the People of the Three Fires

• Spirit of the Three Fires (the link is currently inactive)

FOOTNOTE:

*Michilimackinac is pronounced MISH-uh-luh-MACK-uh-naw, with the final "ac" pronounced like "aw" (as in "awe") and always silent, despite spelling variations such as "Mackinaw." The name originates from mishimakinaakong, meaning "place of the great turtle," which describes the shape of the island. French settlers used the longer "Michilimackinac," while the British and later Americans shortened it to "Mackinac," though the pronunciation remains the same: "MACK-in-aw."

PRONUNCIATION DICTIONARY*

Anishinaabeg (members of the Ojibweg; members of one of the the Anishinaabe nations; Indigenous people)[a-nih-shih-nah-BEHG]

Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language; language of the Anishinaabeg)[a-nih-shih-nah-BEH-mo-win]

Anishinaabe izhitwaawin (Ojibwe tradition) [a-nih-shih-nah-BEH ih-zhih-TWAH-win]

Bodwe'aadamiinhk (members of the Boodewaadamii/Bodéwadmi/Potawatomi Nation) [boohd-weh'-ah-dah-meeñk]

Ishkoden (fires) [ish-koh-TEHN]

Mazinaajimowinan (pictographs) [oh-JIB-weh maz-zin-nah-jim-oh-win-an] 

Midewiwin ("Being in a state of mystically powerful"; the Grand Medicine Society; Medicine Dance) [mih-teh-wih-win/mih-TEH-win]

Misi-zaagiwininiwag (members of the Mississauga tribe) [mis-sih-zah-gih-wih-nih-nih-wuck]

Mishi-makinaak-ong (Place of the Great Snapping Turtle) [mis-shih-mak-kih-nuck-ong]

Niswi-mishkodewin ("Being Three Fires"; the Three Fires Confederacy [niss-WIH mish-ko-TEH-win]

Odaawaag (members of the Odawa Nation)[o-DAH-wahg]

Ojibwe [o-jib-BWAY]

Waabanaki (Land of Dawn) [WAH-ban-a-KIH]

Waabanakiiyag (members of the Waabanaki/Wabanaki Confederation) [WAH-ban-a-KIH-yuck]

Zhaawano-giizhik (white cedar from the south) [ZHAH-wah-no-GEEH-zhick]

*This phonetic dictionary employs the  Fiero double vowel system for spelling, with phonetic pronunciations based on Phonetic Writing Chart #1. For details, see: NISIDOTAM SPELLING & PHONETIC CHARTS OF THE OJIBWE LANGUAGE.

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PHONETIC WRITING CHART

"a" related sounds:

a before consonants, the "y" sound, and a glottal stop (') sound - a short, distinct, straightforward "a", akin to the "a" in British English "fashion." Examples: izhinam, "s/he has a certain dream or vision, thinks s/he sees something a certain way ([ih-zhih-NAM]). Ayaa, "s/he is in a certain state or a certain place or moves a certain way" ([a-YAH]). Nisawa'igan, "tipi" ([nih-sa-wa-IH-gun])

• -a at the end of a word: the "a" is a distinct, straightforward "a" and resembles the "a" in English "blah." Example: MEEH-ka-NA (path, road, trail) - corresponding with Fiero "miikana"

​ah before consonants - resembling the long "a" sound in "Khan" of Genghis Khan. Example: [aw-dih-zo-kahn] - Corresponding with Fiero "aadizookaan" (sacred story; nonhuman protagonist of a sacred story).

• -wah - the "ah" in "wah" has a long, distinct, straightforward "a" sound. Example: mee-nah-WAH - Corresponds with Fiero ""miinawaa" (also; and; again)

• chahg - "aw" has a long, distinct, straightforward "a" sound. Example: [(nin)-jih-CHAHG] (my spirit, my soul) - corresponding with Fiero "ninjichaag"

aw before consonants - resembling the "aw" sound in English "saw"​

bay - resembling "ie" in English "pie" Example: [gee-BAY] (ghost; spirit) - corresponding with Fiero "jiibay"

​gun - the "u" is similar to the "u" in "gun" - corresponding with "gan" in Fiero spelling

nun - the "u" is similar to the "u" in English "nun" - corresponding with "nan" in Fiero spelling

shun - the "u" is similar to the "u" in English "nun" - corresponding with "shan" in Fiero spelling

aw - similar to  the “a” sound in English "dawn" but longer in duration

• wah - the "ah" is pronounced like the extended “a” sound in the English word "pecan" - corresponding with "aa" in Fiero. Example: bawaagan [bah-WAAH-gun] - Guardian Spirit Animal; sacred pipe 

uck - similar to the "uck" sound in English "luck" - corresponding with "ak" and "ag" in Fiero spelling

ock - similar to the "ag" sound in English "bag" but pronounced longer - corresponding with "aak" in Fiero spelling

wuck - similar to the "uck" sound in English "luck" - corresponding with "wag" in Fiero spelling

knock - resembling the "awk" sound in English "hawk"  but pronounced longer - corresponding with "naak" in Fiero spelling. Example: mikinaak [mih-kih-knock] (snapping turtle)

"e" related sounds:

eh - like the “e” sound in English "bet"​

• beh/deh/geh/keh/meh/neh/seh/teh/weh/yeh - a straight "e" sound similar to the "ba" in English "baby." Examples: [ah-nih-shih-nah-BEH] - corresponding with "Anishinaabe" in Fiero script; [gih-gun-a-wish-koht-da-WEHM] (You (plural) tend the fire) - corresponding with "giganawishkodawem" in Fiero script​

• eh' - the "e" has a straight "e" sound similar to "ba" in English "baby"; (') indicates a glottal stop. Example: o-deh'-ih-mah (heart) - corresponding with "ode'imaa" in Fiero script

• kehd - a straight "e" sound similar to the "ba" in English "baby." Example: [beh-boon-ih-kehd] - corresponding with "Bebooniked" in Fiero script

eigh - similar to the "eigh" sound in English "height"

• wake - similar to English "wake" - corresponding with "weg" in Fiero script

nay - the "ay" sound is similar to the "ay" in English "bay"; corresponding with "ne" in Fiero "Binesi" (Thunderbird)

• gwaytch - the "ay" is similar to the “ay” in English "bay"; corresponding with "gwech" in Fiero script

• mayne - the "ay" sound is similar to the "ay" in English "bay"; corresponding with "e" in Fiero script

• daym/wayn - the "ay" sounds are similar to the "ay" in English "bay"; corresponding with "e" in Fiero script

• ​way/wayn/yay - similar to English "way"; the "ay" corresponds with "e" in Fiero. Example: [zhaw-wayn-nin-dih-win] -"zhawenindiwin" in Fiero script

eñ - the "ñ" in "eñ" is pronounced with a nasal sound, like the "n" in the French word "pain" (bread). Example: [noo-zhis-sheñ] (my grandchild) - corresponding with noozhishehn in Fiero script

• "shiñ" is pronounced like the French word "chien" (dog). Example: oozhishenyan [oo-zhis-shiñ-yañ] (her/his grandchild/grandchildren)

"i" related sounds:

ih - similar to the “i” sound in English "bit"

​che - similar to "ji" in English "jibberish" - corresponding with "ji" in Fiero

im - similar to the "im" sound in English "rim"

in   - similar to the "in" sound in English "win"

ick - similar to the "ick" sound in English "lick" - corresponding with "ig" in Fiero "waawiyekamig" (the Universe)

ew - like the "ew" sound in English "brew"

ee- before consonants: resembling the "ee" sound in English "heed"

• ​gee- is pronounced like English "Je" in "Jezus" - corresponding with Fiero "jii" - Example: jiibay [GEE-beigh] (spirit; soul; ghost)

• eeh - like the “ee” sound in English "heed"

• mee - like English "me" but pronounced longer

• nee - "ee" resembles the "ee" in English "heed"

• ​​​wee - like English "we"

• zee - "ee" resembles the "ee" in English "heed"

• chee - [tchee] corresponding with the "chi" sound in Fiero "gichi"

been - the "ee" is similar to the "ee" sound in English "keen" - corresponding with Fiero "biin" (Example:"biindigen" (welcome) [BEEN-dih-kehn])

gee -  like the sound "je" in English "Jesus"- corresponding with "jii" in Fiero

geeh - The "g" is a guttural sound, corresponding with "gii" in Fiero

jeeg - the "j" is pronounced like the "j" in "Jesus" - corresponding with "jiig" in Fiero. (Example: "ojiig"(fisher marten) [o-JEEG]

jeeñ - the "j" is pronounced like the "j" in "Jesus" - corresponding with "jiinh" in Fiero. (Example: "abinoojiinh"(child) [a-bih-nooh-JEEÑ]

jih- the "j" is pronounced like the "j" in "Jesus" - corresponding with "ji" in Fiero. (Example: aanikoobijigan (ancestor) [ah-nih-kooh-bih-jih-gun]

keeh - The "k" is similar to "g" but is pronounced slightly harder, corresponding with "gii" in Fiero

neen - corresponding with "niin" in Fiero aaniin (how?; why?; greetings!)

"o" related sounds:

oh - similar to the “o” sound in English "off"

• -gong - "ong" is similar to the "ong" sound in English "long." Example: Fiero "giizhigong" (in the sky)

• -gonk - "onk" is similar to the "onk" sound in English "honk." Example: Fiero "giizhigong" (in the sky) - as pronounced by, among others, members of Obaashiing (Red Lake, Minnesota)

o- like the “oa” sound in English "load." Example: [oh-do-DAYM] - corresponding with the "oo" in Fiero "odoodem" (his clan)  

ooh - like the “oo” sound in English "food" 

• tu - the "u" sound resembles the "ou" in English "you" - Example: [mah-nih-TU] - corresponding with "doo" in Fiero "manidoo" (spirit; mystery) 

bow - like English "bow"- corresponding with "oo" in Fiero

Peculiarities: 

eñ - a nasal ending like the sound in the French name "Jean." Corresponding with "nh" in Fiero spelling

"sh" sounds like the "sh" in English show or the “su” in English measure ​- corresponding with "zh" in Fiero script

Vowel + ñ: The "ñ" indicates a nasalized vowel. Examples: ñ (also written as "aanh" or "a'anh" in Fiero script), ñ (enh in Fiero script), eeñ (iinh in Fiero script), ooñ (oonh in Fiero script).

An apostrophe (') is used to express a glottal stop.

Consonants: generally pronounced similarly to English consonants. 

"j" resembles the "j" sound in "Jim."

• "dj" in "djaah" resembles the "j" sound in "Jim." Example: [djaah-sah-keed] - corresponding with Fiero "jaasakiid" (shaking tent seer) 

• "dj" in "djeez" resembles the "j" sound in "Jim" (Example: [djeezhe-kahn] - corresponding with Fiero "jiisakaan" (shaking tent) 

​A capital letter used for a single letter signifies a brief pause or "apnea," a sound akin to a glottal stop, which nonetheless does not disrupt the continuity of a word or sentence. For example: Ka-na-weE-ish-koh-tE-ih-WE ("S/he tends the fire over there"): the capital letters in "Ka", wE, and tE indicate an apnea (small pause in breathing)).

A syllable entirely written in capital letters means that the syllable is stressed. 

For example: [ah-nih-shih-nah-BEHG] (Anishinaabeg).