Naming Ceremony

• The Ojibwe naming ceremony is a tradition that ceremonially welcomes a new child into the world by naming her. The naming ceremony involves a tribal spiritual leader as well as the parents of the child, who speak the name of the child to each of the four cardinal directions. After this ceremony the Ojibwe considered the child to be officially recognized by the spirit world.
  
  

Spirituality

• The Ojibwe maintain a developed traditional spirituality. The Ojibwe recognize four powers of the universe, or four "grandfathers," that represent the four cardinal directions. Ojibwe practice a variety of religious rituals involving these figures as well as other major members of the Ojibwe spiritual system, including the Great Spirit Creator, the Sun and the Moon. In their rituals, the Ojibwe make heavy use of tobacco as well as other traditional Indian spiritual herbs and trees, notably sage and cedar.
  
  

Dream Objects

• The Ojibwe use a variety of physical objects to symbolically represent important dreams they have experienced. These dream objects would traditionally serve as personal totems and talismans to aid their struggles in life. An Ojibwe who experienced a significant dream would fashion either an object or a symbolic representation that occurred within the dream. The Ojibwe believe that this would aid them in times of trouble, such as during sicknesses or in periods of warfare.
  
  

Language

• The Ojibwe people have their own language, Ojibwe, which is a part of the Algonquin family of languages. Ojibwe is still spoken by some Ojibwe people, and some universities, such as the University of Minnesota, even offer classes in the language. Ojibwe has found its way into the English language, giving English speakers the words Mississippi, moccasin, moose and pecan, among others. According to the UCLA Language Materials Program, Ojibwe has five recognized dialects. They are Northern Ojibwe, spoken in Manitoba and northwest Ontario; Southern Ojibwe, spoken in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin; Western Ojibwe, spoken in Saskatchewan and British Columbia; Eastern Ojibwe or Algonquin, spoken in southern Ontario and Ottawa Ojibwe, spoken in Ottawa.