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Assinibwan Indians of Montana
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A group of Native Americans living primarily in eastern Montana. They are an admixture of Algonquian and Dakota. The whites, however, have favored the Dakotas over the Algonquians since the establishment of the two Montana Reservations. Origins of the Name Assinibwan is of Ojibwa origins. The correct pronounciation for Assiniboine is Assinibwan. The first Ojibwa word in Assinibwan is Assini. The second is Bwan. Assini means rock and stone in Ojibwa. Bwan is much more difficult to ascertain. Historians tend to theorize Bwan means Dakota or Sioux. However, if you remove the n sound in Bwan we get Bwa. If you remove the Oji in Ojibwa, we get Bwa. It has an almost silent Ba-Wa sound. The Ojibwa word Bwa may have several meanings. Since it is included in Ojibwa, it must represent a people or just people, in the Ojibwa Language. So far the only Ojibwa words i have learned that could be related to Bwa, are the Ojibwa words for before which is jib-bwa and Guardian Spirit Plant which is Ba-Wa-Ji-Gan Ma-Ya-Ji-Ging. Who knows maybe Assinibwan means Rock Spirit or Stone Spirit or Spirit Rock and Spirit Stone. Ojibwa Conquest Long ago the Dakotas lived in southern Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, and the north of Minnesota. This be before 1492. The northern Ojibwa's or the Swampy People, bordered them in northwestern Ontario and northeastern Manitoba. To their east were the southern Lake Superior Ojibwa's, the Cheyenne, the Fox, and the Illini. That be in northern and western Wisconsin. Possible 16th Century Campaigns Ojibwa soldiers from around Lake Superior very likely first launched military campaigns against the Dakotas who lived in northwestern Ontario in the mid or late 16th century. They fiercely battled the Dakotas for control of land in what is now northwestern Ontario and southern Manitoba. Sometime in the mid or late 16th century, Ojibwa soldiers had forced their way into the south of Manitoba and brought many of the Dakotas under their control. Ojibwa soldiers were motivated to expand westwards by the Seven Fires Prophecy and the white invasion. Many of the Dakotas refused to accept subjugation and continued fighting the prophecy weary Ojibwa people. It only enraged the Ojibwa's all the more. Minnesota Campaigns A series of Ojibwa military campaigns in Minnesota were fought in the 17th century which brought nearly all of the Dakotas under their control. These Ojibwa military campaigns included the Mille Lacs Campaign and the St. Croix River Campaigns. By the early 18th century the Ojibwa military had subjugated most Dakotas. Many Dakotas, however, remained defiant and continued to battle the prophecy weary Ojibwa People. Ojibwa Westward Expansion Starting in either the 17th or 18th century, the Ojibwa's and the Dakotas they subjugated, commenced an exodus to the west. The first were obviously from southern Manitoba. They forced their way into southern Saskatchewan and northern North Dakota. From there, they forced their way into eastern Montana and Alberta. The Ojibwa's who forced their way into central Minnesota from Wisconsin, commenced an exodus to the west with the Dakotas they subjugated. They invaded South Dakota then Montana and Wyoming. It is the Ojibwa's and the Dakotas who invaded the plains of southern Canada and northern Montana, who are at issue. The Establishment of the Confederacy With prophecy the force leading the Ojibwa's and Dakotas to the west, the union of the two peoples was of the utmost concern to the leaders of the Ojibwa's who knew of the intentions of the white invaders. Those Dakotas who remained defiant, developed a great hatred for the Dakotas who willingly joined Ojibwa soldiers to fight them. A new people eventually emerged who were a mixture of Ojibwa and Dakota. The Assinibwan Those Dakotas who lived in Manitoba, were subjugated by the prophecy weary Ojibwa's and had no choice but to abide by the confederation laws. They were surrounded by many angry Ojibwa's. Most assimilated into Ojibwa society, while many kept their Dakota culture alive including their language. They did migrate to the Montana, Saskatchewan, and Alberta region. Some even lived in their own Dakota villages. After the whites commenced to venture out to the plains of Montana, Saskatchewan, and Alberta they found an Ojibwa people who had subjugated many Dakotas, Dene, and Salish peoples. The first whites to venture out to the plains of Montana, Saskatchewan, and Alberta were fur traders who were allowed to establish posts within Ojibwa Territory. They were closely watched by Ojibwa soldiers however, whose leaders were very aware of the intentions of the whites. Soon after the whites established a presence in the Montana, Saskatchewan, and Alberta region, they did attempt to corrupt the Assinibwan Confederation but met with little success. Some Dakotas in extreme southern Montana and Wyoming, willingly joined the whites, and some Salish people in western Montana as well. However, the Assinibwan Confederation was strong and were among the last Native Americans in the United States to be subjugated by the United States. That occurred in the early 1880s. In Canada, the Assinibwan Confederation was defeated in 1885, or in the Northwest Rebellion. Most of the Assinibwan in Montana accepted peace in 1877. Reserves and Reservations In the United States the Assinibwan have two Reservations. In Canada, the Assinibwan have numerous Reserves in Alberta and Saskatchewan. On some of the Assinibwan Reserves in Canada, the Ojibwa's have retained their tribal identity but through identity theft. The northern most Ojibwa's William W. Warren learned, were named the Swampy People or the Mushkegowuk. The whites commenced to calling the Swampy People, the Swampy Cree very long ago. Both the Plains Cree and Woodland Cree are extensions of the Muskegoes. The Ojibwa's on the Assinibwan Reservations in the United States, were not allowed to retain their tribal status. In fact, many of the Ojibwa's refused to take treaty. Among them were chiefs Thomas Little Shell and Ahontoay. They are non treaty Indians. The United States has no jurisdiction over them. See Also
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