The Moon Culture - Wilderness North

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The Moon Culture

The Anishinabe people live in a large area within what is now the United States and Canada … they are often called Ojibway or Chipaway..
The Anishinabe designated the names of the moon to correspond with the seasonal influence within a given location. Because the region the Anishinabe lived was so large, the moons may not be called the same thing for all areas. For example, the Anishinabe in lower Michigan would not have the same activities as the Anishinabe in Minnesota. There are actually 13 moons each year, but most cycles follow the 12-month calendar.

The Center for Native American Studies adopted this version of moon cycles:

January: Minado Giizis (Min-ah-doh Gee-zehs) Spirit Moon
February: Makwa Giizis (Mah-kwah) Bear Moon
March: Onaabidin Giizis (Oh-nah-bid-in) Snow Crust Moon
April: Popogami Giizis (Poh-poh-gah-mi) Broken Snowshoe Moon
May: Nimebine Giizis (Nimh-eh-bi-neh) Sucker Moon
June: Waabigonii Giizis (Wah-bi-goh-nee) Blooming Moon

July: Miin Giizis (Meehn) Berry Moon
August: Minoomini Giizis (Min-oh-min-i ) Grain (Wild Rice) Moon
September: Wabaabagaa Giizis (Wa-bah-ba-gah) Changing Leaves Moon

October: Binaakwe Giizi (Bi-nah-kway) Falling Leaves Moon
November: Baashkaakodin Giizis (Bah-shkah-koh-din) Freezing Moon
December: Minado Giisoonhs (Min-ah-doh Gee-soonhs) Little Spirit Moon

Credit: Center for Native American Studies – Northern Michigan University

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