‘Breaking bread’: Metaphor and ritual in Odawa religious practice

Abstract

The Odawa (Ottawa) Indians of the Great Lakes region metaphorically interpret the meaning of ritual feasts as one focus of social activism and self-determination. The contemporary Gi-Be Feast (‘Ghost Supper’, or Gi-Be Wiikonge) is historically derived from the 17th-century Feast of the Dead and communicates underlying traditional religious values metaphorically. Metaphors that can be delineated within contemporary Gi-Be Feasts include: Time Is A Changer, Life Is Fluid, Purposes Are Destinations, and Events Are Actions. Sharing creates solidarity because such actions voice the traditional value placed on establishing proper relationships to mediate interpersonal distance and overcome a sense of dangerous otherness. By attributing metaphorical meaning to ritual, the Odawa adapt to changing circumstances by reinforcing ethnic cohesion. The Odawa retain, reinforce, and revitalize culture by metaphorically interpreting and applying traditional values to current needs.