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TIP Logo

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What's with that logo anway?

My wife Ellen designed our logo. It represents my combined passions for filmmaking and Native American and Canadian First Nations and Métis cultures. According to the oral stories of the Anishinabe/Ojibway, and other tribes, the North American continent emerged on the back of a turtle after a great flood covered most of the first world.

For most North American Indian Tribes the number four is sacred and figures prominently in their culture, religion, prophecies, and oral traditions or stories. Although there may be some variations from tribe to tribe, the four colors represent the four cardinal or sacred directions North, East, South and West. The four colors also represent the four colors of the human race, and the four elements; Earth, Water, Fire and Air. In addition to the four colors White, Yellow, Red, and Black, the color Green is often used to represent Mother Earth, and the color Blue is used in place of Black or to represent Water.

Each of the four directions holds a special meaning. Briefly, North represents strength, stamina and endurance; East marks the beginning of the life cycle for it is where the Sun first rises, it also symbolizes wisdom and knowledge; South represents change as the southern winds bring forth a seasonal renewal to the Earth; in the West lies the path of souls where the Indian must cross a large body of water or river in order for his or her soul to enter the spirit world, leaving the human form behind to become one with the Earth, thus repeating the cycle of life and death and renewal. Obviously, many variations and interpretations of the Four Directions can be found among the more than 300 American Indian and Canadian First Nation Tribes across Turtle Island.

Turtle Clan (Many of my Ojibway relatives in Canada dscend from the Turtle Clan)

Adapted from The Mishomis Book; The Voice of the Ojibway, by Edward Benton-Banai

In the summer of 1996, during a visit with relatives on the Ojibway Pic River First Nation, located on the northern shore of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada, I learned that my family belongs to the Turtle Clan. Makinak Doidaym, or Turtle Clan, is one of the many family groups which make up the Anishinabe/Ojibway Clan System. After the great flood and the Earth's second people came to be, Kitchi-Manitou remembered the arguments and fights which took place with the Earth's first people. To prevent such fighting and killing from occurring again, Kitchi-Manitou gave the Anishinabeg (plural) a form of government called O-do-i--daym-i-wan', or Clan System. There were seven original Clans: Ah-ji-jawk' (Crane). Mahng (Loon), Gi-goon' (Fish), Mu-kwa' (Bear), Wa-bi-zha-shi' (Martin), Wa-wa-shesh'-she (Deer), and Be-nays' (Bird).

Each Clan was given a special role in the structure and governing of the Anishinabeg. The Crane and the Loons were given the power of chieftainship, and included the people with natural qualities of leadership. By working together, the two Clans provide the people with balanced leadership, with each serving as a check on the other. Between the Crane and Loon Clans stood the Fish Clan, sometimes called the Water Clan. The Fish Clan was made up of the intellectuals of the people. They were sometimes called "star gazers" since they were known for their constant pursuit of meditation and philosophy. The Fish Clan members would settle disputes between the two Chief Clans. The Bear Clan served as the police force for the people. They spent most of their time patrolling the outskirts of the village so as to be prepared for unwanted visitors. Because of the large amount of time they spent in the woods they became very knowledgeable of the herbs and medicinal plants which were then used to heal the Anishinabeg. The Martin Clan served as the warriors for the Anishinabeg, protecting the people at all costs from enemies. The Deer Clan was known as the clan of gentle people. They were the pacifists. They were the poets of the people. The Bird Clan represented the spiritual leaders of the people. They were said to have the characteristics of the eagle, the head of their Clan, because they pursued the higher elevations of the mind just like the eagle pursued the higher elevations of the sky.

So Kitchi-Manitou gave the Anishinabeg the seven original Clans to provide leadership in all areas. One of the natural laws Kitchi-Manitou gave the people was that there could be no intermarriage of people in the same Clan. In this way, the blood of the Earth's second people would be kept pure and strong. It is said that the people of the Deer Clan once violated this natural law and began marrying within their clan. After repeated warnings went unheeded, Kitchi-Manitou destroyed the Deer Clan, and to this day there are no more Ojibway members of the Deer Clan. Many generations later, the seven original clans branched out and sub-clans were created. For example, the Turtle Clan is the head of the Fish Clan and the Eagle Clan is the head of the Bird Clan.

While the Clan System was in power, the Ojibway suffered no famine, sickness, or epidemics. There was said to be no wars and very little violence in these days when the Clan System was strong. In the Clan System was built equal justice, voice, law, and order. It reinforced by its very nature the teachings and principles of a sacred way of life.

 

Special Offers


Book with DP James Fortier for the first time and you'll receive a special introductory package price of $900 for a ten hour day. A $500/day discount.

Package Includes 

Panasonic HPX370
w/17x Fuji Lens
Fuji Remote Zoom
Batteries & Charger
Cartoni Tripod
Panasonic P2 Card Reader
Marshall 7" LCD Monitor
Matte Box
Fiter Set
2x 64GB P2 Cards
2x 32GB P2 Cards
Apple 17" Laptop
Sony 8045Q Monitor
16x9/4:3
5 Light Arri Kit 
Chimeras
Kino Flo Kit (2x 2 ft 4 bank)
Tungsten and Daylight
Four C-Stands
Flag Kit
6x6 Silk & Scrim
Sandbags
Apple Box & Grip Clamps
Stingers & Diffusion
2 Senneheiser Wireless Lavs
Azden Shotgun Mic
Sony Pro Headphones
Award Winning DP
Top Notch Lighting

 

DVDs