Gitchi Diindiisi: Superior Blue Jay
I was telling niimaamaa (my mother) recently how much I have missed the diindiisiwag (blue jays) visiting me. She reminded me of their favorite baaganag (nuts) and seeds,...
Sam Zimmerman
Bangishimon Maang: Twilight Voyageur Loon
With the days beginning to warm and becoming longer, I am excited for the return of maangwag (loons) to the zaaga’igan (lakes) and ziibiwan (rivers) of Minnesota. I find...
Tettegouche Waabizheshi: Tettegouche Pine Marten
A few weeks ago, in Tettegouche State Park, I saw a flash of miskozaawizi (orange) and waabishkaa (white) in a zhingwaak (pine tree). I thought it was a red ajidamoo (squirrel),...
Giiyosewinini: A Hunter
When I am out wandering the woods, I am always delighted when I come across newly chewed and felled trees from amikwag (beavers). They are among some of...
Opichi: Robin
As the days get shorter in biboon (winter), I am already looking forward to the warmer ziigwan (spring) months. The arrival of ziigwan (spring) is my favorite time of...
Niibin Nigig: Summer Otter
I was up in Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage) for nimiwin (powwow), burning bashkodejiibik (sage) jiigibiig (on the shore) looking for lake glass and cool rocks when I saw a wadikwan (tree branch) in...
Mooka’am Kagige: Sunrise Raven
I love waking up with my makade-mashkikiwaaboo (coffee), during the quiet mooka’am (sunrise) of the gigizheb (morning) with my cats. We sit together and watch the misajidamoo (grey squirrels), my nemesis the waabooz (rabbit) and...
Niibin Namewag: Summer Sturgeons
I am scared of ice fishing, so I admire akwa’wewinini (ice fisherman) who are zoongide’e (brave) enough to venture out onto the mikwam (ice) during cold baboon (winter) days...