Their Canadian lands extended from Central Saskatchewan to southern Ontario, and in the United States included the northern corner of North Dakota, northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, most of Michigan and part of northern Ohio.

Historically, the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi, who together form the Confederation of Three Fires, began as a people living beside the Atlantic Ocean or “Great Salt Sea”.

Acting on instructions from a vision, the people moved inland to the Great Lakes, where they split up geographically: the Potawatomi went to Lake Michigan, the Ojibwe to Bawating, "the place of the rapids" (Sault Ste. Marie), and the Odawa settled at Michlimackinac and Manitoulin Island.

Most Ojibwe were classic Woodlands culture, but over time they spread across a wide area and major differences developed. Like all Native Americans, the Ojibwe adjusted to their circumstances.

After reaching the northern plains, the Bungee (Plains Ojibwe) adopted the Buffalo culture and became very different from the other Ojibwe in their art, ceremony, and dress.

Toward the southern part of their range in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ontario, Ojibwe villages were larger and and permanent, and they began cultivating corn, squash, beans, and tobacco.

Most Ojibwe lived in the northern Great Lakes, however, with a short growing season and poor soil. They were hunter-gatherers who hunted and fished, harvested wild rice and maple syrup and grew Three Sisters gardens in their summer camps.

Click on the arrow to learn more about the Ojibwe way of life.