Chief Dan Mosay of the St. Croix Band of Lake Superior Chippewa speaks at the Luck Museum

Chief Dan Mosay demonstrates his father’s blessed pipe for the audience at Thursday’s presentation at the Luck Museum. – Photo by Sophie Horgan

The 4 p.m. conversation delved into the history and cultural practices of the Anishinaabe people, highlighting their migration from the Great Lakes to Wisconsin. Mosay spoke about the significance of the Midewiwin ceremony—a sacred spiritual healing ritual of the Ojibwe people—and told his own story of how he went through it four times. He also shared the significance of tobacco in Ojibwe ceremonies, explaining that it is not for personal enjoyment, but rather a sacred means of carrying words to the Creator, asking for guidance or help. Holding his father’s blessed pipe, he described how tobacco, or asemaa, was traditionally wild grown and used in ceremonies before taking any action. Prompted by one curious listener from the audience, Mosay added that pipes are seen as having a spirit of their own. He also touched on the seasonal movements of woodland Native people, noting that they likely lived near areas with wild rice, building shelters called wiigiwaams—later adapted to “wigwam” by settlers—which were made of tree bark and could be reused year after year with minor repairs.

With many anecdotes and personal tidbits along the way, Mosay’s speech shared many stories and legends that had been spread through their culture for generations, including the legend of the Great Flood and of the muskrat. He recounted the story that was told him—that after the flood they floated in a boat, seeing nothing but water until a muskrat appeared. When asked if there was land, the muskrat dove underwater and returned with mud and leaves, which grew into an island, allowing the people to survive. As a sign of gratitude, the muskrat was given the freedom to live wherever he wanted, which is why muskrat houses can still be seen in swamps and lakes today. He explained how these stories were passed on from their grandparents or families in the wintertime, as there was nothing else to do but stay inside and keep warm, learning all of these legends of how things came about.

Mosay spoke with a certain interest that drew curiosity from the crowd that came out for Thursday’s discussion, filling the room with his presence as he spoke of the wondrous culture and history of his people. As listeners chimed in with questions or comments throughout the presentation, Mosay was always prepared to take them on with thorough earnestness.

For a presentation on the mammals of the Great Lakes region by Christian Cold, a wildlife technician and educator at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, come out to the Luck Museum again on Thursday, March 13.