Susan Elaine Gray

Susan Gray offers a new perspective on missionary-aboriginal encounters among the Berens River Ojibwa and Christian missionaries between 1875 and 1940. I Will Fear No Evil moves beyond a simple chronicle of how Christian elements were introduced and adopted by the Ojibwa; Gray recognizes and highlights a complicated ebb and flow of ideas and beliefs between the two groups. Conversions and the adoption of Christianity had multi-dimensional meanings and were interpreted in a variety of ways by the Berens River Ojibwa. Christian rituals and practices were integrated into their worldview in ways that were meaningful to the participants. Today, both Christian and Ojibwa ideas are interwoven into the lives of Berens River residents, and both traditions hold meaning and are observed with sincerity. Their dynamic, complex, and adaptive religion sheds new light on the understanding of cultural contact and change.

Ojibwa-missionary Encounters Along the Berens River, 1875-1940

I Will Fear No Evil

Offers a new perspective on missionary-aboriginal encounters between the Berens River Ojibwa and Christian missionaries between 1875 and 1940 moving beyond a simple chronicle of the introduction and adoption of Christian elements by the Ojibwa to recognise and highlight the complicated ebb and flow of ideas and beliefs between these two groups.

Jennifer Brown

William Berens

A. Irving Hallowell

Because the elderly chief wanted his visitor to understand the Ojibwe world, and because Hallowell was deeply interested in his subject matter and was such a good listener, Berens freely related his dreams and other stories about encounters with powerful beings. The fact that he also shared traditional myths in summer, when Ojibwe people thought it dangerous to discuss such things, shows the depth of his relationship with Hallowell. Berens' reminiscences and story and myth texts are unparalleled as sources for the life, experiences, and outlook of this important Ojibwe leader, and for the insights they provide into the history and culture of his people. Rooted in the collaboration between Berens as steward of his oral traditions and Hallowell as creator and guardian of their written versions, Memories, Myths, and Dreams of an Ojibwe Leader draws the reader into the world - and world view - of Chief Berens, showing how an Aboriginal Christian of the early twentieth century could simultaneously take part in "modern" and "traditional" Ojibwe life.

Susan Elaine Gray

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