Governance

TAA Elected Leadership

Doodemaag

From time immemorial, Anishinaabe Peoples organized and governed according to the Doodem (Clan) System.  Individual, family, community and Nation responsibilities and laws were inherent in the Doodemaag System.

One’s Clan, n’Doodem, was held in high regard, and to this day, it is often mentioned as a first or second statement when introducing one’s self within an Anishinaabe context.  Generally, there are 7 main clans: Hoof, Bird, Crane, Turtle, Loon, Bear and Marten. Each of these have 7 Clans. There are 49 clans in total the Anishinaabe Clan System.

Each clan has ties to certain areas of land, specializes in assigned skills and knowledge, and responsibilities to serve the People so that there is a whole and healthy society. The main precept is that all Clan responsibilities are required to function interdependently as a community and in the larger regional or national councils.

Accordingly, the Doodemag held important roles in Anishinaabe government and in forming and strengthening alliances. The word Doodem, has at its root the term “Ode”, which can mean family the family or extended family. “Odey” means heart.

(O)dewe’igan is a drum,  a  sacred  item  that  reproduces  the  sound  of  a  beating  heart.  “Odena” is  often  understood  today  to  mean  “town”,  “Odenaang”,  refers  to  the  physical  place  where  the  town  is.  In Anishinaabemowin, however, the term refers to the people that constitute the village, tied moreso to an extended family, wherever they may be, rather  than  a  static  group  of  dwellings  at  a  particular  location.

The “m”  at  the  end  of  the  word  Doodem,  signifies  that  you  are  a  part of it, the “doo” or “n’doo” also implies an expression of who you are, but also the notion of nurturing. All of these meanings together make this one of the many rather beautiful and eloquent terms in the language. In most cases, one’s doodem is inherited from one’s Father.