Walter James Hoffman
The Mide'wiwin or "Grand Medicine Society" of the Ojibwa
Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1885-1886, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1891, pages 143-300
"The Mide'wiwin or 'Grand Medicine Society' of the Ojibwa" by W. J. Hoffman is an ethnographic study written in the late 19th century. The work examines the spiritual practices, rituals, and organizational structure of the Mide'wiwin, a significant society among the Ojibwa people, focusing on their medicinal and spiritual traditions. The text seeks to document and preserve the knowledge surrounding this society amidst a time of cultural change and assimilation. At the start of the book, the author introduces the Ojibwa tribe, its geographical distribution, and cultural characteristics. The text details the tribe's connection to the land and their reliance on natural resources for sustenance. Hoffman outlines the complexities of tribal organization and spiritual practices, providing historical context and references to past documents and observations of other researchers. He highlights the important role that society members, such as shamans and herbalists, play in the community, detailing their rituals, healing practices, and the significance of oral traditions within the Mide'wiwin, while noting the societal transformations faced by the Ojibwa amid external influences and pressures.