Chippewa Customs

by Frances Densmore

Overview

 Frances Densmore's Chippewa Customs is a foundational ethnographic study of Ojibwe (Chippewa) life, rituals, and traditions. Compiled from fieldwork in the early 20th century, the book documents ceremonies, social roles, child-rearing, food practices, music, and oral storytelling — offering a rare, respectful portrayal of Indigenous life before widespread cultural disruption. Densmore's work, though framed by her time, strives for accuracy and empathy, preserving valuable cultural knowledge through firsthand accounts and recorded songs. It remains an essential resource for students of Native American history, anthropology, and cultural preservation. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781779791337
Publisher:	Bonhopai Books
Publication date:	06/20/2025
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	356
File size:	54 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

 Frances Densmore, born on May 21, 1867, in Red Wing, Minnesota, and dying on June 5, 1957, in St. Paul, was a pioneering American ethnomusicologist and anthropologist. Best known for her fieldwork with Native American tribes, she worked under the Smithsonian Institution to record songs, languages, and cultural practices. Her book Chippewa Customs is a landmark ethnographic study, combining direct observation with respect for Indigenous worldviews. Densmore's meticulous documentation preserved countless traditional songs and stories that would otherwise have been lost, making her a foundational figure in American ethnology. 

Frances Densmore, born on May 21, 1867, in Red Wing, Minnesota, and dying on June 5, 1957, in St. Paul, was a pioneering American ethnomusicologist and anthropologist. Best known for her fieldwork with Native American tribes, she worked under the Smithsonian Institution to record songs, languages, and cultural practices. Her book Chippewa Customs is a landmark ethnographic study, combining direct observation with respect for Indigenous worldviews. Densmore’s meticulous documentation preserved countless traditional songs and stories that would otherwise have been lost, making her a foundational figure in American ethnology.

 Frances Densmore, born on May 21, 1867, in Red Wing, Minnesota, and dying on June 5, 1957, in St. Paul, was a pioneering American ethnomusicologist and anthropologist. Best known for her fieldwork with Native American tribes, she worked under the Smithsonian Institution to record songs, languages, and cultural practices. Her book Chippewa Customs is a landmark ethnographic study, combining direct observation with respect for Indigenous worldviews. Densmore's meticulous documentation preserved countless traditional songs and stories that would otherwise have been lost, making her a foundational figure in American ethnology.