Aanjikiing / Changing Worlds: An Anishinaabe Traditional Funeral

A detailed account of the Ojibwe funeral ceremony as practiced by Lee Obizaan Staples at Lake Lena, Minnesota, on the reservation of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

As a young man, Lee Obizaan Staples learned from his elders how to conduct an Ojibwe funeral. He memorized, in Ojibwe, all the steps involved in the pre- and post-funeral feasts, the wake, and the ceremony—including directions to those present, specific prayers, the uses of tobacco, instructions to the deceased, and much more. Since 1995, he has answered the call of the tobacco that always seems to find him and never seems to cease. He and Ombishkebines, whom he selected to carry these teachings forward, provide both the Ojibwe teachings and an English version that explains, rather than translates, the teachings. This book is a guide for those who have been chosen to carry on this work and for those seeking a deeper understanding of Anishinaabe traditional funeral rites.