Killarney
History
The Ojibwe Clan System
The clan system operated as a form of government, a method of organizing work, and a way of defining the responsibilities of each community member. Working together, the clans attended to the physical, intellectual, psychological, and spiritual needs of the community. Each was known by its totem (animal emblem).
Some sources speak of five original clans, including the Bear, Catfish, Loon, Marten, and Crane. Other sources include the Hoof and Bird clans as part of an original group of seven. A brief description of seven clans follows. Eventually, the number of clans grew to at least twenty-one, listed at the bottom of this page.
Crane
Loon
Bear
Catfish
Marten
Bird
Hoof
leaders of the clan acted as Chiefs, in conjunction with the Loon clan
leaders of the clan acted as Chiefs, in conjunction with the Crane clan
police, guardians, formulated medicines
teachers, scholars, mediators in disputes between leaders of the chieftan clans
hunters, food gatherers, warriors
spiritual leaders
cared for individuals and the needs of the community (e.g., housing)
Twenty-One Clans
Crane
Loon
Bear
Catfish
Marten
Gull
Hawk
Moose
Rattlesnake
Goose
Sucker
Sturgeon
Whitefish
Beaver
Wolf
Pike
Merman
Reindeer
Lynx
Eagle
Black Duck or Cormorant
![[Createyourownwebsiteatpages.sprint.ca!]](/~partnerImages/SprintCanadaFooter.gif)