At Awishinaabe , our mission is to provide exceptional consulting services that ensure Anishinaabe culture, traditions and history are appreciated, NOT appropriated.
Learn from authentic Anishinaabe peoples and their knowledge- from OUR perspective and not the stereotypical images, texts, or assumptions taught and perpetuated within communities, schools and families.
At the young age of 4, Biimskanodin was given her name by her grandmother, Ramona Jacobs-Jackson. Always curious and causing a stir, she was named Little Whirlwind (Biimskanodin in Ojibwe language) and this name holds truth to this day!
Never afraid to raise questions or issues, she uses her strong Anishinaabe Kwe voice to ensure future generations will not face the same challenges past ones resiliently survived.
Her knowledge and experience cohesively mesh with her educational background to offer you, your business, school or community the opportunity to learn, grow and correct hundreds of years of misinformation about the people indigenous to the Great Lakes Area.
We believe in a collaborative approach to consulting. We work closely with our clients to understand their needs and develop programs, workshops and community events together. Our goal is to build long-lasting relationships and bridge the divide between different cultures. We focus on similarities and positive interactions among native and non-native peoples, sharing our culture and to facilitate healing from past traumas.
Awishinaabe simply means someone or something that is appreciating another culture in a positive, respectful way- specifically the Anishinaabe culture.
BUT the longer explanation is as follows:
Its a play on Anishinaabe, original peoples- one elder describes it as "the people who live upon the earth in right way"
Grandma Jackson would say those who wanted to be Native were an Awishinaabe, instead of an Anishinaabe. This was in the 1980s, in prior decades Native peoples were not legally allowed to have powwows, ceremonies or have control over our images, history and culture. There were crafts being created and sold by Non-Native people, most times misrepresenting tribal imagery, history or made under fake "Indian names" - none of the profit or historical credit going to Native peoples.
In 1990, the Indian Arts and Craft Act (IACA) changed this. It prohibits the misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian art and craft products in the USA.
Whether you are an Anishinaabe, Awishinaabe or Ancient Alien..... it doesnt matter to us, if you want to learn- we want to share! Knowledge is Power