chimookomaan
The Ojibwe word for white person is chimookomaan.
The term chimookomaan refers to a person with light skin, typically of European descent. Another word, zhaaganaash, originally meant an English person and in some regions refers to British or Canadian white people. Usage varies by dialect.
Did you know?
- Ojibwe has several words for 'white' depending on whether the object is a living being, a mineral, or a cloud.
- Ojibwe uses a complex system of animacy where nouns are divided into animate and inanimate. The word chimookomaan is an animate noun, meaning it follows specific grammar rules for people and living things.
- The term chimookomaan is often used to describe anyone who is not part of the Anishinaabe people, regardless of their specific skin tone.
The term I know for white person is zhaaganaash, and I’ve learned misko to mean red, and waabishki to mean white.
Miigwech! Zhaaganaash first meant an English person and in some places still points to British or Canadian folks. I’ve added it to the page next to chimookomaan.