The 'Ultimate' Warrior

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The Ojibwe were always prepared for Battle

​A warrior who wished to lead a war party against the enemy of the Anishinaabe sent a messenger with tobacco to ask the other warriors to join the expedition. This messenger traveled to each village and requested the warriors to assemble. He then explained the purpose of the expedition, filled a pipe, and holding the bowl of the pipe, offered the stem to one warrior after another.

​All who were willing to join the expedition did so by smoking the pipe. In a short time the warriors assembled and camped near the lodge of the leader, who gave a feast, explaining more fully the proposed expedition, and receiving the final pledge of the warriors.

Prior to the use of guns as the main tools of war, the weapons used by the Ojibwe in battle were the bow and arrow, a knife, a war-club, and a stone wrapped in leather and fastened by a thong to a short stick. 
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​The bow used was the standard ‘war bow’ which was made with the outer surface rounded and the inner surface flat. The club used was a ‘ball club’ made from knobbed knotted hickory or ash. This club might also be fitted with a stone point secured in a socket with pitch.  The ball stick could be thrown at the shoulder of a fleeing enemy so that the ball would swing down and strike him in the stomach; then he could be dispatched easily with the club. Warriors might also wear ‘armor’ made of moosehide, and would often carry round or oblong shields that were usually made of moose rawhide or turtle shell. 

The warriors would often paint streaks of white clay on their faces, or use red and black paint mixed with “medicines” to bring themselves power in battle. Rather than paint individual designs, the warriors would all carefully paint their faces alike so that they could recognize each other during fighting.
 
The perfect warrior was supposed to be very light of foot and so good at creeping stealthily and hiding himself that his presence was never suspected.
 
Learn more: Densmore, Frances. 1929. “Chippewa Customs.” Bulletin. Washington: U.S. Govt. print. off. and Jenness, Diamond. 1935. “Ojibwa Indians Of Parry Island, Their Social And Religious Life.” Bulletin. Ottawa: National Museum of Canada, J. O. Patenaude, printer.