Ojibwemowin Audio - 13 Moons

Learn More

For millenia, Native Americans have utilized phenological events coupled with traditional knowledge to keep track of time. For the Ojibwe, the happenings of the world help to influence the naming of the months of the year.

In the United States, we use the "Gregorian" calendar, which is a solar calendar consisting of 12 months. Traditionally, the Ojibwe followed a lunar calendar, which is 13 moons long. The timing of each giizis (moon) corresponds to important events in the cycle of life and nature.

Ojibwemowin (the Ojibwe Language) is traditionally an oral language, so it is important to not just see the words, but to hear them. Hearing and speaking these words helps preserve the culture of this special place.

Click on the name of each moon to hear the word in Ojibwe.

Waabigwani-giizis

Flowering moon. It is at this time of year that the flowers show their beauty to us.
Ode'imini-giizis

Strawberry Moon. The strawberry is one of the first berries to become available to eat in June.
Aabita-niibino-giizis

Halfway Through Summer Moon. This moon gets it’s name from the midway point of the summer, the solstice.
Miini-giizis

Blueberry Moon. Blueberries are one of the most important foods of the Ojibwe people.
Manoominike-giizis

Ricing Moon. It was the manoomin, “food that grows on water”, that brought ancient Ojibwe to the Chequamegon Bay region a long time ago.
Waatebagaa-giizis

Bright Leaves Moon. What a gift to have these trees show us their colors!
Binaakwe-giizis

Combing Leaves Moon. After the trees show us their brilliant colors, they drop their leaves to the forest floor.
Gashkadino-giizis

Freezing Over Moon. As winter grips the world around us the snow starts sticking on the ground, the wind gets a little bit chillier.
Manidoo-giizisoons

Little Spirit Moon. What is it about the month of December that would be smaller than the rest of the months?
Gichi-manidoo-giizis

Great Spirit Moon. The translation of this moon refers to the Great Spirit Moon.
Namebini-giizis

Sucker Moon. This moon refers to sucker fish that spawn during this time.
Onaabani-giizis

Snowcrust Moon. This moon refers to the crust that forms on the snow as it warms up during the day and refreezes at night
Iskigimizige-giizis

Sugaring Moon. After long winters and with food stores running out, maple sugar was regarded as a special gift that came along with spring.