Children were taught bravery, patience, and self
control from the time they were born.
Sometimes, like everyone,
they needed reminders of good behavior. The Ojibwa had an interesting
way of giving reminders. They used night messages.
At night, when the
camp was quiet, grandfather (an old
man) walked around the circle of wigwams. He called out messages.
No names were ever mentioned, and everyone could hear him. His
messages were a mix of announcements, instructions, and warnings.
For example, he might announce that the men would
meet at a certain place to go hunting when the sun came up. Or, he
might say that if a certain young man was still visiting a certain
young girl, it was time to go back to his wigwam. Or, he might say
something like this: "A little boy told a lie to his mother
today. If it happens again, he will be punished. We cannot have little
boys telling lies."
