Sam Zimmerman

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When he isn't working as a Special Education Director in Duluth, raising his two cats, or in his studio painting, Sam Zimmerman is outside hiking, fishing, or sketching along the shores of Gitchi Gami. He is currently working on his first book of paintings with stories in English and Ojibwemowin.

Aginjibagwesi Biiwide: Goldfinch Visitor

Sam ZimmermanJune 25, 2026

by Sam ZimmermanJune 25, 2026

After the long biboon (winter) months, I miss our bineshiinh (bird) relatives that spend ziigwan (spring) and niibin (summer) building their wadiswan (nests) in my backyard. I am always minwendam (happy) to clean off and rehang all...

Gichigami-ziibi Name: St. Louis River Sturgeon

Sam ZimmermanMay 27, 2026

by Sam ZimmermanMay 27, 2026

I haven’t shared a monthly article in a few months, as imbaabaa (my father) has returned home to our ancestors. I often walk along the Gichigami-ziibi (St. Louis River)...

Twilight Run

Sam ZimmermanJanuary 30, 2026

by Sam ZimmermanJanuary 30, 2026

This piece was inspired to capture the manidoo (spirit) of the run under the evening skies of the North Shore along Gitchi-Gami (Lake Superior). It was completed on bibooni-giizis (December) 21,...

Wiigwaas Meme: Birch Pileated Woodpecker

Sam ZimmermanDecember 29, 2025

by Sam ZimmermanDecember 29, 2025

I recently went to Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage) to visit inawemaaganag (relatives) and to put down an asemaa (tobacco) offering at Manidoo-giizhikens (Spirit Little Cedar Tree) before biboon (winter) fully arrives. I had finished visiting with inawemaaganag (relatives)...

Dagwaagin Maang: Autumn Loon

Sam ZimmermanNovember 25, 2025

by Sam ZimmermanNovember 25, 2025

With the quick fading of the rich, ozhaawashkwaa (green) plants and mitigoog (trees), and the chill gihizheb (in the morning) air with the giizis (sun) shining bright—maangwag (loons) have left the northern waters of...

Asin-badakide-ziibi Amik: Baptism River Beaver

Sam ZimmermanAugust 26, 2025

by Sam ZimmermanAugust 26, 2025

This past ziigwan (spring), an amik (beaver) was enjoying his life along the Asin-badakide-ziibi (Baptism River). I would often go down and visit the mouth of the ziibi (river) to see how the...

Giizhik Meme: Cedar Pileated Woodpecker

Sam ZimmermanJuly 28, 2025

by Sam ZimmermanJuly 28, 2025

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to get outside and gagaakone (harvest without cutting) some giizhikaandag (cedar bough) medicine, as I had used all of...

Migizi Flight Above Shovel Point

Sam ZimmermanJune 26, 2025

by Sam ZimmermanJune 26, 2025

A few weeks ago, along the shore near Shovel Point in Tettegouche State Park, I watched migiziwag (bald eagles) fly high above Gitchi Gami (Lake Superior). At...

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