Product Description

Andrew J. Blackbird and Raymond Kiogima share many similarities, even though they lived in different centuries. Both were Odawa, and they both cared about the customs and traditions of their people. Andrew J. Blackbird lived in Little Traverse, now Harbor Springs, Michigan, while Ray Kiogima lives there now. Both wrote dictionaries and grammars for their people, while also recounting legends. In Odawa Language and Legends: Andrew J. Blackbird and Raymond Kiogima, Blackbird’s original 1887 book is followed by Kiogima’s Odawa dictionary, grammar, translations of taped legends, and his own stories. This book is a resource for educators, historians, and all people interested in American Indian studies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1347258 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 236 pages

About the Author
CONSTANCE CAPPEL, Ph.D. is a lifetime advocate and friend of the Odawa people and their culture. While living in Harbor Springs, Michigan, she has developed friendships with many Native Americans, both as a child and more recently as a full time resident of the town. Her book, Sweetgrass and Smoke, included many sections from Andrew J. Blackbird’s book, History of the Odawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan. Hearing Ray Kiogima read from the Native texts and speak Odawa inspired her to bring out this unique book that contains the first Odawa language dictionary and grammar.

Customer Reviews

Thank you!
The ONLY improvement in this book (in my opinion) would be a guide to pronunciation (long vowel, short, etc.).

Thank you for giving me insight to some of the stories and customs of my grandmother...some of which my mother carries on to this day.

Native American History
Andrew J. Blackbird's History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians contained in this book is one of the more moving first person accounts of Native history that I have ever read. Not only is it moving, but then to have it followed by a dictionary and grammer was surprising. So much is contained in his section of Odawa Language and Legends that was new to me that I couldn't believe how much more was included in Raymond Kiogima's section. The two parts of this book balance each other and make it an ususual combination of Native history, language, and legends.

First Odawa dictionary
What a treat to have an Odawa dictionary written by an Odawa elder. For years I have needed more words for my studies in Native language. I thought that Ojibway was Odawa or Ottawa.
Now I have a book that contains all of Andrew Blackbird's book with his dictionary of Chippewa/Ottawa where I can compare Kiogima's words in the same book now. Kiogima's legends and stories are very interesting.