Ojibway Story of the Birch Tree 

A beautiful story for a departed friend. Every time I make a fire I send up smoke in tribute to those that have gone before as my way of paying my respects, and this is a great way you've done the same and given honor to Joe. Thank you for sharing his words and story.

I love this. I was just comparing growing up on the shores of Lake Nippising, between many nations. The Irish side of my family descended from Druids that revered the Oak tree. My Algonquin side descended from peoples who revered the Birch tree. I realized this morning that in a photo of the north, there will always be a birch in the photo(when I was young). No wonder they revered the trees, they were a companion in every sojourn into the bush.

Meegwetch (Thank YOU) Ojibway Joe, for sharing YOUR traditional story of the Weegwas. I only put it up on RU-vid for you. The story belongs to you and your people, but can now be seen by ALL the people of the world... well, those with access to RU-vid. The story has only been watched around 260 times in the past three weeks. That's not very many but it has generated the most comments of any of the videos I've posted. So again, Meegwetch to you my friend, from Chi Nibi WabaganOgee

People need to hear things like this. The native American people has kept story's among themselves 4 many century's. Thank you 4 sharing

So glad I found this sight! Watching from Lander, Wyoming, just south of Wind River Indian Nation. ❇️

Cool Native people know so much. Like cobwebs in the sky Not now.and so much better without contrails and noise

beautiful story thank you from Michigan.

I love to hear the stories, we can all learn from them.Miigewitch

Gracias, gracias, gracias por subir esta valiosa información. No sabia absolutamente nada de este pueblo. Ni nunca lo habia sentido mencionar. Pero me fue mostrado en un sueño: los ojibwe❤. Desde entonces busco información. En el sueño estaba en cuclichas mirando extasiada um gran salto de agua, a mi derecha un arbusto con frutos rojos. Agradezcó este video, sobre el hermoso abedul. Lamentablemente solo hablo español. Ya me suscribi. Desde Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina ❤🇦🇷

Birch has always been my favorite for most of the reasons you mention and a few more. We only took dead, down or dying to use and were very appreciative. I have seen the fungus but was not aware of its use. Thank you also for the story. It shows our interconnectedness Thank you for sharing.

You teach our children well. Much love and gratitude. 💜🍃🏔️

p.s. the song is perfectly balanced with the sounds of the words in this video.

Beautiful - thank you for sharing

One tree so much it offers... Nature is love Mother Earth. Blessings!

Chii Meegwetch for sharing I am so glad I am here to hear it, to share it with my children.

Thanks Jim ...wonderful lesson :)

Great story. Thanks for sharing it!

I absolutely loved this story. Thank you so much for sharing it. All the best from a UK bushcrafter. Ade

that was a great story.. thank you for sharing it with us

Love learning about Native American culture, especially the culture in and around Michigan

I'll share this one too with the kids. Thanks for sharing B

Many Thanks ;Muskrat Jim, for the great story.we really enjoyed it. Happy Trails From Down The Road A Piece

Really great story, really enjoyed it. It just made the birch tree a even more beautiful tree.

A beautiful story and singing in the background! Thankyou!

Excellent video Jim! Good job!!

Hi Jim! Very nice lesson, I am going to try this tea someday! Great video Jim, Take Care

Dude that is a great story. Good to hear from u.

Thank you for this wisdom,

This is a fascinating story. Thanks so much for posting it.

wow, what an awesome storey Jim!

Merci beaucoup Muskrat Jim Many Thanks 👌✌🤗

Thank you from Atlantic Canada! The Natives of North America have wonderful stories! I just checked out your channel and decided to subscribe to you. Thanks for stopping by :-)

Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to share The Great Work with us.

Thank you. I collected some chaga yesterday. I have always loved the birch.

Love the story. Thanks for sharing, Jim (:

So grateful for this beautiful story. Blessings 🌻

Blessing you kind sirs for the story and sharing it

thank you for sharing these wonderful stories with us

Thanks Shifty! The Native Americans here really have GREAT stories which were passed on from generation to generation around the camp fire. All the ones I've ever heard are to teach the younger generations from an early age to fully appreciate the resources around them. To be thankful and respectful of their natural surroundings. All the best to you and your too, Shifty.

That was a beautiful teaching from Ojibway Joe. Thank you for sharing it. 'Ordinary' trees take on new dimensions as we learn to see them through these teachings

My favorite tree- lovely story!

Outstanding, thank you for sharing

Thanks! I enjoyed that a lot and will share it with my grandson.

Subscribed. Thanks for the story of the Birch tree!

Thank you for sharing. My children enjoyed watching all three of your story videos (Origin of Fire, Picking Up Trash, and The Birch Tree)

Wow! beautiful story! We have much to learn from native stories and wisdom. Am interested in learning more from your channel. take care.........Sue from Wales UK

Thank you 😊💜

Thank u for this

Miigwetch, for reminding me...love to you for keeping our stories alive!

Thanks Jim, God bless Paul

very awesome story about my ancestors love it

I am glad that you made this

Thanks. I liked the story very much and shall tell it to my daughters, 8 and 9, who are fond of indigenous and tribal ways and stories. Very sincerely from Germany Guy-Harald

Thank you for such a beautiful story!

I enjoyed this. Thanks!

Hello jim, love canada, & michigan, love birch tree canoes

Thanks for sharing that story of the Ojibwe. The birch tree has so many uses, an amazing gift. God bless.

Thank you! I'm using your stories to teach our children the stories of their country and the living things we see around us. There's nothing in the regular curriculum that covers this!

Deeply appreciated Thank you. The Wisdom of the indigenous peoples of North America have a lot to teach modern America. If they had listened and respected the Ancient Peoples, how different life may have been . I am learning and am touched in my heart and mind and spirit. We all have One Great Creator in whom we exist and have our very being. May i be taught by this Gracious Spirit Thank you

Thank you for your story. It means more now than ever. May our Father in Heaven Bless you

Anii from miigiiziiekwe (Eagle Woman from Turtle clan). Thank you for continuing to share our stories of old to help remind our youth

Ho wah this made me shed tears of Joy..

Thank you and best wishes.

Miigwetch. It is beautiful to hear this story, and inspiring to see you chose the red road

Wow, I didn't know, thank you for sharing.

go raibh maith agat, (from ireland) meegwetch...so lovely to be reminded of our relationship with our brother and sister trees....

Thanks I used this story for my social project and it really helped!

Thank you to share your knowledge

Thank you Martin! It's a little different from my other bushcraft videos, but I did enjoy making it. Thanks for watching!!

Thank you for sharing

An amazing video.

amazing video keep it up!

You have an incredible wisdom in the way you see things... like someone a thousand or ten thousand years old. We don't 'own' things... we are like the fleas on a dog. We don't 'own' the earth, the earth owns us. Peace to you my friend.

Namaste... and blessings!🙏✌❤💝

Amazing story Jim! I have selected it to use for a school assignment... In the process, I found that I love your channel!! This past year I have gained a lot of interest in bushcraft and more traditional hunting/trapping so it seems like divine intervention that I found your channel :) Keep making awesome videos and Miigwetch for sharing.

Thanks for dropping by to watch it! I'd like to do more like that if I get some good material :-)

Used for headaches as well. Thank you.

No wonder why I love birch trees so much

Wanendam nibwaakaawin. Miigwech.

Good story love from Australia

Native American stories ARE awesome :-) I'm glad you liked it.

Heard from my grandfather , thank you

I drink chaga tea every day , great video and story, thank you

Great story Jim. Love these.

Hello Sue from Wales :) This is my first attempt at sharing Native American Wisdom through their stories. I've contacted some people in the hopes of sharing more of their stories here on RU-vid. Thanks for watching and stay tuned!!!

many thanks!

Thank you for the story. I'am a South Sudanese Canadian woman from the Kakwa Tribe of the Republic of South Sudan (Kuluba Clan) now married to a Metis Canadian Man, from Nipawyn, Saskatchewan. In 2018 I had a dream of some Ojibway Warriors and Elders walking with me through a forest as I was searching for something. I came across another tribe of indigenious peoples that tried to attack me and the company of indigenous Ojibway warriors, Elders and Medicine Man, that was guiding me along the path, but then the Medicine Man who was with company of Elders and Warriors raise his sweat grass, while holding a bowl and said something to the other tribe of warriors who had their bows and arrows ready and the other tribes stopped and allowed us to safely pass through their territory. Listening to this story brought back the memory of that dream of the Ojibway Warriors, Elders and Medicine Man that was walking with me and accompanying me through the Forest. Our dream came true from Treaty 6 region to treaty 7. A Dream Love story 27 years in the making. From 1993-2020. My husband Jesse and I are now married Traditionally in the Republic of South Sudan on June, 21st, 2020 which happens to be National Indigenious Peoples Day. Part two of our church wedding is in September 2020. I remembered my Grandmother Laiya , Aunts and Uncles(Elders) used to tell us stories of our people around the fire after we ate supper, while we roast fresh corns (maize) and Fresh Peanuts(ground nuts) over the fire and before bed time as desert. Our grandfather Mamara Joseph died before I was born. My adopted parents also relatives brought me and my siblings to Canada on October, 16th, 1992, Regina, Sasktchewan, then Calgary, Alberta.

Beautiful artwork

That was awesome

I loved watching this video and can't wait for more. I wish that more stories can be made public so that we can learn from them. My family comes from the Oglala. I don't know if we still have family on the rez or not. It has been difficult to track down ancestry especially when if you wrote on the census that you were "Indian" you were sent to the rez or at least that is what I was told. I was told that family wrote that they were "White" to stay off the rez which is why it is so hard to track down the line.

Just wow!

Thanks im 60 and when 10 was told that birch was sacred, never cut . but never heard the story or reason why. now i Know why

Thanks!!

Thank you ❤️

Thanks for sharing

Incredible

Liked it ❤

Awesome, you got a new sub. My grandfather was from a tribe in Central Michigan. Which I know is a combination of two tribe inhabiting the great lakes area.

Thanks for watching, Lilly. I'm glad you stopped by ;-)

Gratitude 🙏