The Mississippi River is one of the great rivers in North America, and has played an important role in the lives of many people. In particular, various Native American tribes have had a long relationship with the river, and were the first to give it a name. This article focuses on What did the Native Americans call the Mississippi River?
Returning back to history, The Mississippi River was given the name “Misi-ziibi” by the Ojibwe or Chippewa. The word comes from the Algonquian language, and translates roughly to “Great River.” This name is likely related to the days of the tribe’s grand discovery of the Mississippi. This same term was later used by the Sauk and Fox, who are also of Algonquian descent.
Notably, the Mi’kmaq tribes of North America also referred to the river as “Misigamig” or “Great Waterway”. This term is slightly different from the Ojibwe’s “Misi-ziibi” which described the scale of the river only, without a specific reference to its nature. The Mi’kmaq were particularly inspired to give it a poetic name when the river provided an invaluable resource, allowing them to hunt and fish in a new way.
The Mississippi River appears to have had a variety of names during the next centuries, depending on which tribe we look at. The Siouan-speaking Dakota tribes, who lived near and around it, called it “Hahatonwan”, which means “Lake of the Long Canoe”. The Chickasaw, another Siouan-speaking tribe, called it “Okhissa”, meaning “Singing River”. In other parts of the Mississippi River basin, too, different tribes have referred to it by distinct terms – the Natchez and the Quapaw, for instance, have both had their own name for the river.
Interestingly, the names associated with the Mississippi River are often reflective of its importance and impact among the Native Americans. This also showcases their spiritual connection with nature, often referring to it in their own languages, in contrast with the easily-understandable English term. This makes them truly valuable records, as they fly us all the way to the past, allowing us to contemplate the magic and power of this boundary-breaking river, the monumental river of many cultures, including those of the Native Americans.
Impact of the Mississippi on Native Americans
The Mississippi River served as an important source of sustenance for the Native Americans. Historically many Native American tribes had settlements along the banks of the river and its tributaries, relying on the rich waters for fishing, drinking, and washing.
The huge watershed of the Mississippi River initially provided an ideal environment for the cultivation of multiple crops, including legumes, maize, squash, pumpkin, sunflower, and others. The river was also a perfect site for Native American to engage in hunting and fishing, as well as for trading between different tribes. Evangelico et al. (2011) explain that from as early as the twelfth century, Native American communities began to use the river for transportation, trading, and social networks. Inevitably, the tribes relied on it for the exchange of goods, customs, and languages.
This constant communication between the different tribes was made easier by the need to negotiate access to the fishing grounds, as well as using the river as a transport corridor and trading route. The overall impact of the Mississippi River on Native American’s lives was immense and indelible, serving as an integral part of the ecosystem and the spiritual identity of the different tribes.
Native American Spirituality
Native American spirituality is a central part of the culture, and it is reflected in the sacred names for the Mississippi River. In essence, the Native Americans believed in the power of vital spirits, as part of their spiritual understanding of the universe. As such, there were spiritual pressures to treat the river with respect and caution, preserve its beauty, and even refer to it by its sacred name, to honor its legacy.
It is interesting to consider the deep spiritual connection of the Native Americans with the natural environment, particularly the Mississippi River. It is clearly reflected in their unique understanding of the nature and its spiritual aspects, along with the symbolic and sanative powers of its various elements. For example, some tribes referred to the river as “Singing River” due to the almost soporific sound of its waters.
Native American Customs and Rituals
As a sacred object, the Mississippi River has long been part of the Native Americans’ customs and rituals. They have practiced communal ceremonies in which dances and songs were offered to their gods, like one of the most famous Sioux songs known as “O Yanktonai”, honoring the Mississippi.
There were also tribes that celebrated their merriments near river sites, such as the Powhatan tribe of Virginia, who would celebrate the Green Corn Dance. This consisted in a liturgy of prayer and offerings, to give thanks to the spiritual energies of the corn and the Mississippi.
Adding to this, the St. Francis Indians celebrated the Flutemaker’s Dance by performing spiritual rituals near the river. This ceremony involved thanksgiving offerings to their Creator, as well as honoring their ancestors, asking for the blessings and wellbeing of the tribe.
Native American Legends and Myths
Finally, the Mississippi River has been the inspiration for countless Native American legends and myths, often shaped around embodying the complex and profound relationship between the river and its surrounding wildlife. For instance, the Ho-Chunk tribe of Wisconsin tells the legend of the Ah-kwa’-ee and the Great Flood, which is about a special white deer that managed to save many from the waters of the river, when the river was trying to reclaim all living creatures.
In a similar way, this legend and others like it, underline the spiritual connection that the different tribes had with the river. The Native Americans venerated the energies of the Mississippi, in a ritualistic interaction which sought to maintain balance with the environment and pay homage to the spiritual guardians of the riverbanks.
Native American Arts and Crafts
Native Americans traditions and customs were also marked by shared beliefs and practices, such as the making of tools, crafts, and artwork. In this regard, the Mississippi has been the source of numerous materials, such as river mussel shells, that were used to craft traditional items and tools. Furthermore, the Native Americans also crafted unique potteries and weavings, often decorated with experiences and tales about the river.
This type of craft was especially important for women, where the tradition of pottery was used to express their spiritual connection with the river. In this sense, the river landscapes, ridges, trees and animals, were embodied in the pottery features, reflecting the deep relationship between the Native Americans and the Mississippi River.
Native American Clothing
In addition to pottery, weaving, and crafting, clothing was also a central element in representing the Native American culture. The Mississippi River provided Great Plains tribes with materials used to weave blankets and robes, and even decorative beads. Tribes such as the Aztecs, Inca, and the Mayans made use of these materials, to craft their traditional garments. Notably, the beadwork was commonly used in garment decorations, as each bead represented a story and a spiritual belief linked to the river.
It is clear that the Mississippi River has had an extensive influence on the life of many Native Americans’ tribes. From being an important economic and spiritual resource, to inspiring many of their artworks and customs, this mighty river has an invaluable importance in the Native American’s culture and history. Consequently, the river was the recipient of many special names, each of which conveyed the significance of the Great River to the tribes.
