Did the Ojibwas descend from animals?
Many cultures have traditions and creation mythologies in which they identify themselves as physically or spiritually descending from or being associated with animals and even plants, minerals and other aspects of the natural world (like stars, water, lightning, etc.) The Ojibwa (or Chippewa) believe that their various clans are descended from 5 of the 6 “animal spirits” who joined the earliest people on earth. See the link below for a synopsis of that tradition. http://www.coppercountry.com/article_112… We know scientifically that humans, though descended from common anscestors to all living things over millions of years, are NOT direct descendants of animals living today. But the religious traditions of human groups associating themselves with the strengths and character of animals that they admire is a valid and useful spiritual practice.
