(Thirteen Moons Calendar)
Welcome to the Ojibwe Thirteen Moons Calendar. As of 2026, the idea for this type of calendar has been in various stages of development on the White Earth Indian Reservation and other communities in northern Minnesota for about 7 years. It is a consolidation of several different ideas from numerous individuals and sources. Because of this vastness, and the seasonal and dialectical differences of Ojibwe homelands, this calendar is centered on the geographical area that now includes the Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth Indian Reservations of northern Minnesota.
The calendar presented here is an effort at creating something that has several goals while at the same time remaining relevant in day-to-day usage. This is an early effort to get something to communities that will get people thinking about content and hopefully give some feedback. It will also serve as a framework that will encompass a significant body of Indigenous and science-based knowledge will accumulate over a period of time. Also, within this designated geographical area, there are differences in language interpretation and usage, as well as seasonal timing and methods. What is presented here is one version of the many differences in language, seasons, seasonal customs, and the many beautiful and diverse gifts of Creation across the Ojibwe Nation.
Decolonize time keeping - Indigenous Peoples, including Ojibwe, on Turtle Island (North America) had methods of time keeping long before the coming of the Europeans. Methods include changing of the seasons, phases of the moon, events in nature; return of migratory birds, maple trees began to produce sweet sap, plants flowering, ocean tides, weather patterns, constellations, and more. These events are indicators of not only what is happening during a specific period of time but also indicators of what will occur during days or phases of the moon in the future.
The Thirteen Moons Calendar is designed to incorporate as much of these different measurements of time into what is usable in the world we live in today. We identify solstices, equinoxes and changing of the seasons, we use seasonal activities and phenological events to identify moons. The date of the New Year has been changed to the spring equinox which more closely aligns with the life-giving sap that flows from the maple trees during early spring. We also renamed the days of the week.
Renew relationships with seasons. Contemporary housing, the 40-hour work week, the digital age and other colonial influences have disrupted the ability to track time through seasonal changes and many of the actions that accompany these changes. As more information is added to this calander, it will help with naturel time keeping mechanisms and reminders of what is happening on the land and in the sky.
Create a calendar with 12 twenty-eight-day cycles and one 29-day cycle. The cycles of the moon do not follow an exact pattern of days from new moon to the next new moon. The Thirteen Moons Calander is based upon 12 twenty-eight-day cycle’s and 1 twenty-nine-day cycle. Combined, they add up to 365. The extra day is added onto Aandego Giizis, the last moon of the thirteen-moon cycle. In 2028 and 2032 and successive leap years, an additional day will be added midyear to compensate for the leap years.
Renew Ojibwe relationships with planets and Odoodemaking (solar system). Previous labeling of the days of the week on Ojibwemowin have mirrored colonial constructs, created in boarding and residential schools in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. They refer to praying day, various days of the work week and house cleaning day. Of these names, very little, reflects the lifeways of the Anishinaabeg.
Because of the impacts of colonialism, many have forgotten or have paid little attention to our celestial relatives who play a significant role in our lives. Sun, moon, planets, stars, constellations and others may have stories about their role in the universe and life on Earth. While it is not our intent to take a deep dive into all of that, we will do our best to share relevant information about the ones in our solar system.
Rename the days of the week. Long before the coming of the white man to North America, days of the week had no name. Based on the need to keep time and track of the work week and other needs, the days of the week are enumerated and have been renamed. The names used here are based upon the sun, moon, and some of the planets in Odoodemaking (the solar system. Odoodemaking - “In the Clan World"
The intent is to engage people with these relatives and some of the functions they perform. There is some cultural appropriation here, some of these Ojibwe names mirror names for the same relatives from Norse, Greek and Roman cultures. The names of the days of the week and the way they are constructed may change in the future as more information becomes available.
Day of the Sun – Sunday – Gimishoomisinaan Giizis - Grandfather Sun
Day of the Moon – Monday – Gookomisinaan Dibike Giizis - Grandmother Moon
Day of Mercury – Tuesday – Gezhiibatood Oshkaabewis – Mercury – Refers to a fast-moving ceremonial attendant or messenger. A pipe bearer
Day of Venus – Wednesday – Waaseyasiged-azhebaashkaabizod aki – The bright planet that spins backward
Day of Mars – Thursday – Ogichidaa – Not named for a celestial being. Day of the one who leads with a good heart. Also, warrior.
Day of Neptune – Friday – Gichigami Aki – Land of the Big Water
Day of Saturn – Saturday – Ditibininjiibizon Gitigaani Aki – Ring around the garden world
Build Ojibwe language skills
The calendar is primarily in Ojibwemowin. This is to encourage students of the language to search for translations and deeper meaning of the words.
Familiarize learners with Ojibwe counting pattern. The days of the moons are written out so learners can familiarize themselves with the patterns of counting in Ojibwemowin.
Make something that is usable in the context of today’s life ways. The calander is a combination of many different things. One of the goals is to keep it useful in the busyness of the lives we live today. To avoid confusion, the 1st and the 15th of each calander month is marked in each 28-day moon. New moons, full moons, equinoxes and solstices are identified and color coded.
As the moons pass, more will be added to the calendar.
Input and constructive feedback is welcome. Please contact; extension@wetcc.edu
