Birchbark biting facts for kids

Birchbark biting (called Mazinibaganjigan by the Ojibwe people) is a unique art form. It was created by Indigenous peoples like the Anishinaabeg, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa. Other groups, including the Cree and Algonquian peoples, also practiced it. These groups live in the Subarctic and Great Lakes regions of Canada and the United States. Artists make detailed designs by biting small pieces of folded birch bark.

Indigenous artists used birchbark biting for fun, especially when telling stories. They also used the designs as patterns for other crafts, like quillwork. In the 1600s, some European visitors called Jesuits sent examples of this art to Europe. People there had never seen anything like it before. This art form was still common in Saskatchewan, Canada, even into the 1950s.

What is Birchbark Biting Called?

Birchbark biting has a few different names. In Northwestern Ontario, Ojibwe people call it mazinashkwemaganjigan. In Wisconsin, Ojibwe people call it njigan. In English, you might hear it called "birch bark bitings" or "birch bark transparencies."

How Birchbark Biting is Made

Artists carefully choose thin, bendy pieces of birch bark. The best time to find this kind of bark is in early spring. They use their eyeteeth (the pointy teeth next to your front teeth) to bite the bark.

The artist can bite hard enough to make holes, creating a lace-like pattern. Or, they can bite more gently to make certain areas thinner. These thinner spots let light shine through. If the bark is folded carefully before biting, the artist can create designs that are perfectly the same on both sides. This makes a beautiful, balanced pattern.

Why Birchbark Biting is Important

Many of the designs in birchbark biting have special meanings. They can be symbolic or religious for the Ojibwe and other tribes. For a while, this art form almost disappeared. But today, about a dozen artists in Canada and the United States are still practicing it.

These artists often show their work in new ways. This helps to teach others about this amazing, ancient practice. Birchbark bitings can be used in many ways. They are great for storytelling. They also serve as patterns for crafts like quillwork and beadwork. Sometimes, the holes made by biting are filled with colorful threads. This creates beautiful woven designs, making the art even more special.