chippewa
chippewa Lexical Profile
• noun
A member of a large Indigenous Anishinaabe people of North America, historically inhabiting the region around the Great Lakes across the northern United States and southern Canada.
"Many Chippewa in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin continue to practice traditional wild rice harvesting."
The Algonquian language spoken by the Chippewa (Ojibwe) people.
"Community elders are working with local schools to teach Chippewa to a new generation of speakers."
• adjective
Relating to the Chippewa (Ojibwe) people, their culture, or their Algonquian language.
"The museum features an extensive collection of traditional Chippewa beadwork and birchbark canoes."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'Chippewa' remains widely used in official U.S. government treaties and tribal designations, 'Ojibwe' (or 'Anishinaabe') is often preferred by many members of the community, particularly in Canada.
Word Origin & Etymology
Adapted from the Algonquian ethnonym 'Ojibwe', traditionally interpreted as referring to the puckered seams of their distinctive moccasins.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.