[Algonquiana] Butterfly

Sat Apr 15 13:06:25 UTC 2017

The Anishinaabe story is that the first human babies were cared for so well they never stood up so Nanabush / Wenabozho asked Gizhemanidoo what to do and while he was waiting for an answer he was tossing pebbles.  The pebbles then turned into butterflies who taught the babies to grow up and reach for life which is why we put butterflies on children’s blankets and regalia – especially girls who learn fancy style dancing which is said to be an imitation of butterfly motions.

A version of the story is in Tales the Elders Told by Basil Johnston

What a great question!

Margaret

Margaret

Margaret Noodin
Director, Electa Quinney Institute for American Indian Education
Associate Professor of English and American Indian Studies
Book Review Editor, Studies in American Indian Literature
Co-Editor, The Papers of the Algonquian Conference
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
www4.uwm.edu/eqi/
www.ojibwe.net

On 4/14/17, 7:33 PM, "Algonquiana on behalf of Roland Bohr" <algonquiana-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org on behalf of r.bohr at uwinnipeg.ca> wrote:

    Hello All, 

    Though not Algonquian, but Siouan, the Crow leader Plenty Coups, who grew up in the later nineteenth century, related to the ethnographer Frank B. Linderman how in his childhood, he and other boys were exorted by their elders to run and catch butterflies and rub them on their chests to obtain the butterfles' speed and agility. 

    Roland Bohr
    Director, Centre for Rupert's Land Studies
    5CM12
    University of Winnipeg
    515 Portage Avenue
    Winnipeg, Manitoba,
    R3B 2E9

    Ph.: (204) 786-9007

    ________________________________________
    From: Algonquiana <algonquiana-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org> on behalf of Lynn Whidden <WhiddenL at BrandonU.CA>
    Sent: Friday, April 14, 2017 4:04 PM
    To: Goddard, Ives; 'Bousquet Marie-Pierre'; Algonquiana
    Subject: Re: [Algonquiana] Butterfly

    And Densmore recorded a Chippewa song (Vol 2) sung by a warrior named Butterfly.

    Lynn

    Lynn Whidden PhD
    Emerita Professor
    Brandon University
    204 571 0801
    whiddenl at brandonu.ca

    ________________________________________
    From: Algonquiana [algonquiana-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org] on behalf of Goddard, Ives [GODDARDI at si.edu]
    Sent: 13 April 2017 11:29
    To: 'Bousquet Marie-Pierre'; Algonquiana
    Subject: Re: [Algonquiana] Butterfly

    It may be of interest that Meskwaki mêmêkêha 'butterfly' is one of the names used traditionally for a male dog (or horse) by men of the Thunder Clan.

    Ives

    Ives Goddard
    Senior Linguist, Emeritus
    Department of Anthropology

    NHB 322, MRC 112
    Smithsonian Institution
    P.O. Box 37012
    Washington  DC  20013-7012
    goddardi at si.edu
    tel. 202-633-1963, fax 202-357-2208

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Algonquiana [mailto:algonquiana-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org] On Behalf Of Bousquet Marie-Pierre
    Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 6:31 PM
    To: Algonquiana <ALGONQUIANA at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG>
    Subject: [Algonquiana] Butterfly

    Hi everyone,

    I am looking for references about the symbolism of butterflies in Algonquian cultures. I am interested in powwow regalia, especially for children, where this design is often represented.
    Thanks in advance,
    Marie-Pierre.

    49th Algonquian Conference
    http://en.anthropo.umontreal.ca/algonquian-conference/home/
    ———————————
    Marie-Pierre Bousquet PhD
    Directrice du Programme en études autochtones<https://www.facebook.com/pea.udem>
    Professeure titulaire/Full professor
    Département d'anthropologie
    Université de Montréal
    C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville
    Montréal (Qc) H3C 3J7
    CANADA
    Tel: 514-343-2152<tel://Tel:%20514-343-2152>
    marie-pierre.bousquet at umontreal.ca<mailto:marie-pierre.bousquet at umontreal.ca>

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