List of Algonquin ethnonyms explained

See main article: Algonquin people. This is a list of various names the Algonquins have been recorded.

Endonyms

Abitibiwinni(k)

Namesake of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Québec, the Abitibiwinni First Nation mostly centred on Pikogan use "Abitibiwinni(k)" in reference to their being situated around Lake Abitibi. Abitibi means "halfway across the water," combined with inini meaning "man."

Anishinaabe(g)

The most general name for the Algonquins is Anishinaabe. Though several definitions are given for this name, the most common one is "spontaneous men", referring to their creation as being ex nihlo, thus being the "Original men." When syncoped, the name appears as "Nishnaabe".

Odishkwaagamii(g)

Among the Anishinaabe peoples, the Nipissings and the Algonquins are collectively called Odishkwaagamii(g) (syncoped as Dishkwaagmii(g)), meaning "[those] at the end of the lakewater," but Jean Cuoq translates the name as "[those] at the last water," from ishkwaa ("end") and gami ("lakewater"). Chamberlain prefers "[people] on the otherside of the lake" though Chamberlin's translation would be for the Odagaamii(g) — the Fox. Among the Nipissings, though, they call themselves Odishkwaagamii(g) and call the Algonquins Omaamiwinini(wag) — the "downstream man (men)".

Omaamiwinini(wag)

Omaamiwinini(wag) — the "downstream man (men)" — is a name generally used by the Nipissings and some Algonquins to describe themselves.

Exonyms

Algonquin(s)

The term "Algonquin" has been suggested to derive from the Maliseet word elakómkwik (pronounced as /alg/), "they are our relatives/allies".[1] [2]

Akwanake

The general name for any unspecified non-Iroquoian groups, including the Algonquins, were called "Akwanake"—"Strangers"—by the Iroquoian peoples.

Other

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Campbell (1997:401 n. 133, 136)
  2. Bright, William (2004). Native American Place Names of the United States. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, pg. 32