Connection to Identity
Today, craft making in Ojibwe culture is a way of connecting to tradition, self, nature, and the Ojibwe community collectively. Practices of craft making are passed down and serve as a connection between generations(Hadjiyanni). As many people continue to work with the same patterns they learned from their teacher, and pass down these patterns when they teach, a genealogy of patterns can commonly be traced back between teachers and students through generations(Walker Keshick).
The giving of handcrafted gifts holds a special place in Ojibwe culture. Gift giving creates a significant bond between giver and receiver that strengthens collective identity. Handmade gifts are seen as having much more personal value and are commonly exchanged in both non formal as well as formal occasions and ceremonies(Hadjiyanni).
Through the processes of colonization, so much has been taken from the Ojibwe and today, craft making is a way of reclaiming the past.
With the addition of European materials and markets, craft makers have created artforms that are uniquely their own and have been incorporated into thier culture in a way that is distinctly Ojibwe. While crafting has evolved and changed, the fundamental meanings and values have remained and have served as a medium for connection with Ojibwe identity throughout time.