Anishinaabe

American  

[uh-nish-uh-nah-be, uh-nish-uh-nah-bee] / əˌnɪʃ əˌnɑˈbɛ, əˌnɪʃ əˈnɑˌbi /

noun

plural

Anishinaabeg, Anishinaabes, Anishinaabe

1. a member of a large tribe of North American Indians found in Canada and the United States from the northern Great Plains to the Great Lakes and surrounding areas, and comprising the Algonquin, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Saulteaux peoples.

2. Also called Anishinaabemowin.  the Algonquian language family, including the languages of the Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Ojibwe, and Mi’kmaq peoples.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Anishinaabe or their language.

Etymology

Origin of Anishinaabe

First recorded in 1985–90; from Ojibwe: literally “original person; good human,” a self-designation

Example Sentences

Mr. Kuitenbrouwer is at his best when he relates some of the most remarkable things about maple syrup: Today it is still made much as the women of the Anishinaabe first made it long ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Faribault Mill, one of the last vertical wool and cotton mills in the country, partnered with Anishinaabe artist Madison Rae Holler to create a series of blankets honoring traditional folklore and storytelling.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025

The Straits are also the site of Anishinaabe creation stories, the waters from which the Great Turtle emerged to create Turtle Island, what is currently called North America.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2023

"What Jully Black did was she shared her power and her opportunity to give us attention," said Niigaan Sinclair, a professor of native studies at the University of Manitoba, who is Anishinaabe.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2023

In their stories, the Creator, before bringing to the earth Anishinaabe, the first Indigenous person, gathered all animals to ask how they could help.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 20, 2022