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.

Smoking Mixture Chickadee

Sam ZimmermanMarch 28, 2022May 26, 2023

by Sam ZimmermanMarch 28, 2022May 26, 2023

Kinnikinnick gijigijigaaneshiinh When I was a gwiiwizens (boy), imbaabaa (my father) and nimishoomenh (my uncle) took me down to my nimishoomis (my grandfather’s) childhood home in Cannonball Bay, Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage Reservation). They showed me...

Raven, Goes About Crying Out

Sam ZimmermanFebruary 22, 2022May 26, 2023

by Sam ZimmermanFebruary 22, 2022May 26, 2023

Gaagaagii babaamademo A niiji (friend) recently shared that when she was driving along Hwy 61, a migizi (bald eagle) was fighting with gaagaagiwag (ravens) over a fresh waawaashkeshi (deer) kill. It reminded me...

Northern Lights Wolves

Sam ZimmermanJanuary 25, 2022May 26, 2023

by Sam ZimmermanJanuary 25, 2022May 26, 2023

Naanaate ma’iinganag Last month, I kept having a recurring bawaajigan (dream) of a Ma’iingan (wolf) running at mookise (dawn) and I had to paint it. But it bothered me that it...

Welcome Home

Sam ZimmermanDecember 29, 2021

by Sam ZimmermanDecember 29, 2021

I went home in September to Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage) to house sit for a cousin; it was the first time back since my naming. I was a little...

Calling the Pack

Sam ZimmermanDecember 1, 2021

by Sam ZimmermanDecember 1, 2021

Ma’iimgan wiikomaad iniyen owiijima’iinganan I have seen a number of wolves and coyotes lately. This past month, I was heading up to Two Harbors when...

Nimishoomis Mooz (My Grandfather’s Moose)

Sam ZimmermanOctober 26, 2021

by Sam ZimmermanOctober 26, 2021

With this past October and November being a favorite time for hunting either mooz (moose) or bine (grouse), I think of hunting stories shared with me. I have...

Ezhi-gikininjiininang gigashiminaan (The Way a Mother Hugs Us)

Sam ZimmermanSeptember 27, 2021

by Sam ZimmermanSeptember 27, 2021

What started off as a public art commission to promote breastfeeding quickly became a love letter to my nimaamaa (mother) who has shared stories of her time...

Mookise Meme (Dawn Pileated Woodpecker)

Sam ZimmermanAugust 31, 2021

by Sam ZimmermanAugust 31, 2021

Recently, I was driving back from Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage) when I saw a beautiful flash of miskwaa (red) launch from the trees and dive across Highway 61. At...

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