The Midewiwin or Grand Medicine Society of the Ojibwa | Page 7

in fact, the general rule in regard to the birch-bark rolls was that they were never colored at all; indeed, the bark was not adapted to coloration. The metaphorical coloring was also used by him in a manner which, to any thorough student of the Indian philosophy and religion, seems absurd. Metaphysical expressions are attached to some of the devices, or, as he calls them, symbols, which, could never have been entertained by a people in the stage of culture of the Ojibwa.
SHAMANS.
There are extant among the Ojibwa Indians three classes of mystery men, termed respectively and in order of importance the Mid?��?��, the J??s?��sakk??d?��, and the W?��b??n??��, but before proceeding to elaborate in detail the Society of the Mid?��?��, known as the Mid?��?��wiwin, a brief description of the last two is necessary.
The term W?��b??n??�� has been explained by various intelligent Indians as signifying a�?Men of the dawn,a� a�?Eastern men,a� etc. Their profession is not thoroughly understood, and their number is so extremely limited that but little information respecting them can be obtained. Schoolcraft,[5] in referring to the several classes of Shamans, says a�?there is a third form or rather modification of the medawin, * * * the W?��b??n??��; a term denoting a kind of midnight orgies, which is regarded as a corruption of the Meda.a� This writer furthermore remarks[6] that a�?it is stated by judicious persons among themselves to be of modern origin. They regard it as a degraded form of the mysteries of the Meda.a�
[Footnote 5: Information respecting the history, condition, and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States. Philadelphia, 1851, vol. 1, p. 319.]
[Footnote 6: Ibid., p. 362.]
From personal investigation it has been ascertained that a W?��b??n??�� does not affiliate with others of his class so as to constitute a society, but indulges his pretensions individually. A W?��b??n??�� is primarily prompted by dreams or visions which may occur during his youth, for which purpose he leaves his village to fast for an indefinite number of days. It is positively affirmed that evil man?��id?s favor his desires, and apart from his general routine of furnishing a�?hunting medicine,a� a�?love powders,a� etc., he pretends also to practice medical magic. When a hunter has been successful through the supposed assistance of the W?��b??n??��, he supplies the latter with part of the game, when, in giving a feast to his tutelary daimon, the W?��b??n??�� will invite a number of friends, but all who desire to come are welcome. This feast is given at night; singing and dancing are boisterously indulged in, and the W?��b??n??��, to sustain his reputation, entertains his visitors with a further exhibition of his skill. By the use of plants he is alleged to be enabled to take up and handle with impunity red-hot stones and burning brands, and without evincing the slightest discomfort it is said that he will bathe his hands in boiling water, or even boiling maple sirup. On account of such performances the general impression prevails among the Indians that the W?��b??n??�� is a a�?dealer in fire,a� or a�?fire-handler.a� Such exhibitions always terminate at the approach of day. The number of these pretenders who are not members of the Mid?��?��wiwin, is very limited; for instance, there are at present but two or three at White Earth Reservation and none at Leech Lake.
As a general rule, however, the W?��b??n??�� will seek entrance into the Mid?��?��wiwin when he becomes more of a specialist in the practice of medical magic, incantations, and the exorcism of malevolent man?��id?s, especially such as cause disease.
The J??s?��sakk??d?�� is a seer and prophet; though commonly designated a a�?juggler,a� the Indians define him as a a�?revealer of hidden truths.a� There is no association whatever between the members of this profession, and each practices his art singly and alone whenever a demand is made and the fee presented. As there is no association, so there is no initiation by means of which one may become a J??s?��sakk??d?��. The gift is believed to be given by the thunder god, or Animiki?��, and then only at long intervals and to a chosen few. The gift is received during youth, when the fast is undertaken and when visions appear to the individual. His renown depends upon his own audacity and the opinion of the tribe. He is said to possess the power to look into futurity; to become acquainted with the affairs and intentions of men; to prognosticate the success or misfortune of hunters and warriors, as well as other affairs of various individuals, and to call from any living human being the soul, or, more strictly speaking, the shadow, thus depriving the victim of reason, and even of life. His power consists in invoking, and causing evil, while that of the Mid?��?�� is to avert it; he attempts at times to injure the Mid?��?�� but