The Manitous: The Spiritual World of the Ojibway

Franзois Boudreau is a professor of sociology at Laurentian University
in Sudbury.

The Manitous takes readers on a fascinating journey into the spiritual
world of the Ojibway. Combining stories and commentary, the book
explores the Ojibway understanding of their purpose on earth, as well as
their sense of the universe and of human nature. Manitous are spirits
that pervade the natural world. Featured in this book are
Kitchi-Manitou, the foremost spiritual entity; Mother Earth the giver;
the spirit of the warrior–hunter; the merman and the mermaid; Winonah,
the symbol of fertility; the guardians of children; and the cardinal
points that give direction to people.

It is not always clear where the stories start and where Basil’s
commentary begins. Nor is the reader informed that Ojibway oral history
differs from one place to the next, even within a confined territory
such as Northern Ontario. Problems of methodology aside, The Manitous is
a worthwhile read, particularly for those with an interest in the
Ojibway people.