WAR SONGS OF THE MISSISSIPPI BAND OF 



CHIPPEWA 



Odjib'we (pi. 1)/ the last great warrior of the Mississippi Band of 

 Chippewa in Minnesota, sang the songs which were associated with his 

 own expeditions, related the story of his war parties, and described 

 the war customs of his people, so that the white man might know 

 about them when the last warrior of the Chippewa should have been 

 forgotten. These songs and narratives constitute the greater part 

 of the following chapter. 



At the age of 89 Odjib'we still possessed a voice of unusual strength 

 and sweetness. The first phonographic records of his songs were made 

 in August, 1909. A second set of records was made two weeks later 

 for purposes of comparison, the songs being accurately repeated. At 

 the cx])iration of several months the entire material was translated 

 into Chippewa for revision by Odjib'we, some new songs were added, 

 and many were sung or recorded a third time. In these repetitions 

 it was noted that certain tones which were shortened or prolonged 

 in the original rendition were similarly shortened or prolonged; also, 

 that a slight sharping or flatting of certain tones was repeated. The 

 records occasionally vary in unimportant melody progressions or in 

 note-values which do not affect the length of the measure, and a few 

 songs show changes in words, Odjib'we stating that it is permissible 

 to alter the words, but that the "tune" and the meaning of the words 

 must not be changed." The original record of a song was not played 

 when securing a repetition, hence the identity of the renditions shows 

 how clearly the melody was retained in the mind of the singer. 



1 The name of this warrior is identical with the name of the tribe, the word being appUed also to a member 

 of the tribe (singular Odjib'we, plural Odjib'weg). The corrupted form "Chippewa," the only form 

 which seems to have been used in Government publications, has never been adopted by the Indians. 

 Many variants of this name were used by early writers, among those cited being, Achipoes (Perrot, 1671), 

 Ochipoy (York, 1700), Chepeways (Croghan, 1700), Tschipeway (Wrangell, 1839), and Otchipwe (Baraga, 

 1878). (See Handbook of American Indians, BuU. 30, B.A.E.,pt.l, pp. 280-281.) In the first volume of 

 treaties published by the Government the form "Chippewa" appears. (See Indian Treaties and Lav.'S and 

 Regulations relating to Indian affairs, compiled and published under orders of the Department of War, 

 Washington City, 1826.) 



The meaning of the word Odjib'we (pronounced Ojib'way) has been a subject of much discussion. (See 

 William H. Keating, in Narrative of an Expedition to the Source of St. Peter's River, vol. 2, p. 151, Phila- 

 delphia, 1824; Gov. Alexander Ramsey, in Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, 1850, 

 p. 8.3; and William W. Warren, in History of the Ojibways, St. Paul, Miim., 1885, p. 36.) The derivation 

 of the word from a root meaning "to pucker" is established, but the connection of the idea is a matter of 

 dispute. The form of moccasin to which some have attributed the name is shown in plate 36. It is possible 

 that the word Ojibway may have been derived from a place name in the country from which the tribe 

 came many generations ago. 



2 See description of song No. 37, p. 119. 



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