Insights from Anton Treuer on Ojibwe culture, Native American history, and Indigenous education
Introduction
Grief is a universal human experience, but different cultures offer different ways of understanding and navigating loss. In Ojibwe culture, teachings about death, grieving, and healing provide a structured, meaningful approach to one of life’s most difficult transitions.
As a scholar of Ojibwe language, Native American history, and Indigenous education—and as someone who has officiated traditional Ojibwe funerals—I have seen firsthand the power of these teachings. They offer not only comfort, but practical tools for moving forward.
In this article, I share some of the broader Ojibwe teachings about grief that can be discussed publicly, while respecting the boundaries of what is traditionally shared only within ceremony.
Grief as a Shared Experience
One of the first teachings in Ojibwe culture is simple but powerful:
You are not alone.
When someone passes away:
The loss is shared by family, friends, and the broader community
Grief is collective, not isolated
Support is built into the structure of community life
In Anishinaabe ways, people are encouraged to bring their grief into community spaces rather than hide it. This shared experience helps distribute the emotional burden and reinforces connection.
Understanding Life, Death, and the Spirit
Ojibwe teachings emphasize a different understanding of life and death:
We are not humans having a spiritual experience
We are spirits having a temporary human experience
The body is temporary. The spirit continues.
When someone dies:
The body returns to the earth
The spirit continues on a journey to the spirit world
Even in language, this perspective is reflected. Rather than saying goodbye, Ojibwe speakers often say:
Giga-waabamin — “I’ll see you again”
This reflects a worldview in which death is not an end, but a transition.
Honoring Loved Ones Through Living Well
One of the most important teachings about grief is how to honor those who have passed.
The teaching is clear:
The best way to honor your loved ones is to live well.
This means:
Living a long, healthy life
Seeking happiness and balance
Continuing forward, even through pain
Grief can feel overwhelming and disorienting. But these teachings encourage movement—not being stuck in darkness, but gradually returning to life.
Tools for Navigating Grief
Ojibwe culture provides practical tools to help people process grief.
1. Tobacco Offerings
Tobacco is used as a spiritual tool:
To make prayers
To release grief gradually
To restore clarity
Making an offering—by placing tobacco on the ground, in water, or near a tree—helps ease emotional burden over time.
2. Ceremony and Community
Participation in ceremony is strongly encouraged.
One example is the “washing of the tears” ceremony, which:
Supports grieving individuals
Helps them re-enter community life
Symbolically and emotionally releases grief
Ceremony provides structure, support, and healing.
3. Medicines
Traditional medicines are also used, including:
Cedar tea (for drinking or bathing)
Plant-based remedies
These practices support both emotional and physical well-being.
4. Time and Process
Grieving is understood as a process that takes time—often about a year.
During that time:
There are specific practices and stages
Individuals are supported by community
Healing happens gradually
Cultural Practices Around Loss
Ojibwe teachings include specific practices that help people move forward.
These may include:
Putting away photos of the deceased for a period of time
Giving away clothing and personal items
Rearranging living spaces
These actions help individuals:
Accept change
Avoid becoming stuck in grief
Transition into a new phase of life
Living Carefully After Loss
After a death, people are encouraged to be especially mindful.
Teachings emphasize:
Kindness toward others
Spending time with family
Avoiding harmful behaviors
People are specifically cautioned against:
Substance abuse
Addictive behaviors
Violence or conflict
Instead, they are encouraged to use healthy tools for healing.
The Role of Empathy and Spirit
Ojibwe teachings emphasize that:
The spirits empathize with those who are grieving
They observe how individuals carry themselves after loss
Positive actions invite support and blessing
This creates a framework where:
Healing is supported spiritually
Behavior matters
Community and connection are reinforced
Continuing Relationships
Although loved ones pass on, relationships do not disappear.
In Ojibwe practice:
Food can be offered to the spirit of the deceased
Names can be spoken
Memories are honored
At the same time, there is an important teaching:
Those who pass on do not return
Offerings are sent to them, not received from them
This maintains a respectful boundary between worlds.
Why This Matters for Indigenous Education
These teachings are often missing from mainstream education.
When Indigenous perspectives on grief are excluded:
Students lose access to culturally grounded tools
Communities lose continuity
Understanding of Native American history becomes incomplete
Effective Indigenous education should:
Include cultural teachings about life and death
Recognize community-based healing practices
Respect different worldviews
Common Questions About Ojibwe Teachings on Grief
How long does grieving last in Ojibwe tradition?
Grieving is often understood as a process that takes about a year, with different stages and practices throughout.
Why are items like clothing given away?
Giving away belongings helps individuals accept loss and avoid becoming emotionally stuck.
What is the purpose of tobacco offerings?
Tobacco offerings help release grief, focus prayer, and support emotional clarity.
The Connection to My Work
In my work on Ojibwe language, Native American history, and Indigenous education, I focus on how cultural teachings provide practical tools for navigating life.
In The Cultural Toolbox, I explore how Indigenous knowledge offers strategies for resilience, identity, and well-being.
In The Language Warrior’s Manifesto, I emphasize the importance of preserving language and cultural knowledge as living systems that guide future generations.
These teachings about grief are part of a broader system of knowledge that continues to support individuals and communities today.
Conclusion
Ojibwe teachings about grief offer a powerful framework for understanding loss—not as an endpoint, but as a transition.
Through community, ceremony, language, and cultural practice, individuals are given tools to move forward while honoring those who have passed.
In a world where many struggle to navigate grief, these teachings remain deeply relevant and profoundly helpful.