04 Mar 23:
How nikan (Hello friend),
Jiman is the Potawatomi word for boat. I learned this recently because I have started an online course to learn one of my ancestral languages, Bodwewadmi, which falls within the languages of the indigenous Algonquin people. So keep an eye out for a few more Bodwewadmi words in the future. And if you remember, we touched on an indigenous word back in 2016, Barbashela, the Choctaw word for friend.
Here is Skipper in a jiman, paddling with her bwe. She also has her sail up, because she is a sailor - napkwaneshi.
A little back story on this language adventure. Since we moved close to Jamestown Island in 2021, we have dug in hard to the history of the first Virginia Company adventurers of 1607. Skipper had ancestors here within the first 2 years of settlement, one even has Ancient Planter status, given to those farmers who had worked land for 10 or more years by 1624. As it turns out he chose the same side of the James River that we did, but about 40 miles Northwest towards Richmond. The area is called Jordan Point, the family name, and modern day there is a marina there and a bridge that crosses the James River.
We have also been digging around to learn more about the small boats, jiman, barges, scows, dugouts, pinnace, sloop, schooner etc... that were so vital for people to travel, trade...and raid. One recent discovery was the dugout canoe from yesterday's post. Canoes could get huge in these areas, 30+ feet, and as is the case with most communities, the size and design would be altered to suit the local water. The 12 footer was probably used for crop cultivation and harvest, hunting, fishing and general all around waterway taxi.
My ancestry has a few indigenous roots, the Potawatomi. Potawatomi were part of the Algonquin tribes, so we cover the Northeast parts of North America. I was excited to hear that the local Powhatan Confederacy of tribes was also Algonqin, and sensed an opportunity to learn more about language, culture and first contact histories. As part of this research I thought it best to learn a bit of our language, and see what parts of the language transferred to small boats. There will be a few fun projects to make jiman parts or maybe even a jiman or two. I'll probably start off with a cedar paddle (bwe). Cedar is our tree of life and one of our four main medicines. The paddle shape was given to us from the beaver tail. The canoe shape itself was inspired by the bottom half of whale as you view the whale from the side. So it is said.
My first focused venture into our language and culture studies was startling. I discovered that the Potawatomi language (Bodewadmi) is listed as being critically endangered, one step from being extinct. We have less than 10 Heritage Speakers, those whose language in the womb was Potawatomi and English was a second language. There are multiple bands of Potawatomi and sister bands with the Algonqin cluster, and all are making effort to protect and restore the language. Objibwe and Odawa are the closest to our language, and we share a lot of words.
For now, bama pi (see you later)
Kent (Kikto Wgwes - Son of She Speaks) and Skipper (La Petite Tyron Lapin - Little Tyrant Bunny)
FMI:
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