What Did the Native American Indians Call Lake Superior?

The Great Lakes, particularly Lake Superior, have rich indigenous histories and names that are closely tied to the cultures and languages of the Native American Indians. Among these lakes, Lake Superior holds a prominent place, with various indigenous cultures holding unique and significant names for it.

The Ojibwe and Chippewa Names for Lake Superior

The Ojibwe, also known as Chippewa, are one of the largest indigenous groups living around the Great Lakes region. The Chippewa name for Lake Superior has been popularized as "Gitche Gumee." This form has become a standard in American culture, featured in pivotal works such as Song of Hiawatha by Henry Longworth Longfellow and singer Gordon Lightfoot's famous 1976 hit The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Today, the Ojibway spellings of the name are closer to “giche-gami,” “gitche-gami,” or “kitche-gami.” These spellings are derived from the Ojibwe language and refer to the lake as "Big Sea" or "Huge Water," a name that nearly always points to Lake Superior. This reflects the immense size and vastness of the lake, which spans an impressive area of 31,700 square miles.

Understanding the Ojibwe Language

“Chippewa” and “Ojibway” or “Ojibwe” are commonly used names for a group of Algonquin-speaking indigenous people who self-identify as "Anishinaabe." This term means "the original people" and signifies the cultural and linguistic ties of these indigenous groups to the land and water around the Great Lakes. The language used to name Lake Superior reflects the deep connection these tribes had with the natural environment.

Exploring Other Native American Names for Lake Superior

While the Ojibwe name is well-known, other indigenous groups around the Great Lakes region also had their own names for Lake Superior. For example, the Potawatomi tribe referred to the lake as "Gitchi Gami," which means "Big Water."

The Odawa (or Ottawa) tribe called the lake "Kichigami," a name similar in meaning to "Big Water" or "Great Lake."

The Potawatomi and Odawa tribes, along with the Ojibwe, all recognized the immense size and importance of Lake Superior in their daily lives and traditions. These names reflect the reverence and respect these tribes had towards the natural world.

Conclusion

The indigenous names for Lake Superior are not just words, but they represent the rich history and cultural heritage of the Native American people who lived around the Great Lakes. Names like “Gitche Gumee,” “Gitchi Gami,” and “Kichigami” encapsulate the vastness and importance of Lake Superior in the lives of these indigenous peoples. These names continue to be a part of the cultural identity and historical legacy of the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Odawa, and other Native American tribes who call the Great Lakes region home.