Adik Doodem - Ogimaa Songab ᓱᐣᑲᑊ - Chippewa & Mayan Deer Clan Chief
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Recognized by the Anishinaabe 8th Fire Lodge and Maya-Quetzal Grand Council
1789 Treaty of Harmar - 1863 Pembina Treaty of Old Crossing
Authorized Congressional Representative of the
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Boozhoo! Hello! The Good Way of Kindness calls us to appreciate the metaphorictii. 'drop of water' in every person, even if it seems found isolated in a vast desert.
We must let go of our preoccupations with our own experiences. Rooted in the third grandfather teaching, Dabasendiziwin, Humility, is encouragement to us to humbly lower ourselves, honor others' lives, and place their value above our own. Immerse yourself in the Anishinaabe tradition, where those following the virtuous way of life see the world anew. They witness the interconnectedness of all life forms —sky, earth, or sea; plant, animal, insect, or aquatic entity. Beyond our differences, we share the ability to observe, move, interact, build memory, experience, and make choices.
-Midegah Ogichidaa
Join us for a powerful speech by Chief David Midegah titled "Return the Indian His Soul." Chief Midegah emphasizes reclaiming sacred records and cultural heritage taken from Indigenous peoples. He calls for healing through truth and partnership, urging a path of reconciliation.
This is a call for justice and a vision for a future where faith and freedom coexist. Watch this inspiring speech and be part of the movement to restore dignity to Indigenous communities.
The Circle Foundation of the Midewiwin faith release the Last Midegah children's book and will do a volume per month.
Follow this series as the timeless teachings of the Midew are shared for the current and next generation.
Episode 1:
Teachings from Midegah's travels around Abya Yala (The Americas as a whole).
From his birth at the confluence of the Snake River and Clearwater rivers, to his journeys from the artic to the antarctic, the Pacific shores to the Atlantic coast, as he brings the original peoples to a remembrance of what their grandfathers and grandmothers knew.
"The teachings are not the past. They are the instruction manual for the future."
This is not a story to read—it is a covenant to remember.
ORDER TODAY
Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership and Cultural Heritage
Welcome to our website! We are honored to share the profound history and vibrant legacy of our family, whose influence and leadership have traversed centuries and continents.
A Rich Trading Heritage
Our ancestors established and ran extensive trade routes that spanned from the Yucatan Peninsula to Colombia and up to Lake Winnipeg. As a family of Maya and Anishinaabe descent, we played a pivotal role in the founding of historic trading enterprises, including the Hudson Bay Company, XY Trading Company, and Northwest Trading Company. However, following the 1701 Treaty of Montreal, our family found themselves navigating new challenges in the north.
Recognition by the Maya-Quetzal Grand Council
In 2024, our enduring connection to our heritage was honored by the Maya-Quetzal Grand Council, the governing body for sacred sites and ceremonies across the Maya world. This esteemed recognition acknowledges our role in preserving and leading significant cultural traditions.
In June 2025, I had the privilege of officiating the Solstice Ceremony in Colombia at the request of local chieftains, furthering our commitment to cultural stewardship. Additionally, during the March 2025 Equinox Ceremony at Sisbichen, I was recognized as a heritage member of the Maya-Quetzal Grand Council, becoming the 13th member and assuming the role of Head Male Chief of the Deer Family.
Leadership and Collaboration
I am honored to work alongside the Female Head of the Deer Family, Nana Mima Irma Estrada, who serves as the Chair of the Maya-Quetzal Grand Council. Together, we are dedicated to fostering respect, understanding, and collaboration in the preservation and celebration of our shared cultural heritage.
Thank you for visiting our website. We invite you to learn more about our history and join us in honoring a legacy that continues to shape our present and future.
Statement of Authority and Qualification
The Red Bear Band of the Pembina Chippewa Tribe is recognized as a qualified treaty group with the qualified authority to speak as the Red Bear Chieftaincy who maintain protected treaty rights under the provisions and by right of lineal signatories from the 1789 Treat of Harmar and the 1863 Pembina Treaty of Old Crossing. This authority is reaffirmed in the U.S. Court of Claims rulings of 1964 and 1965 and the Indian Claims Commission in 1971 related to the Pembina Chippewa, separate enduring bands and their locations even when dispersed in multiple locations and the subsequent 1971 U.S. House of Representatives Bill House Resolution 6072, Report No. 142-92, which pertains to matters involving the Pembina Chippewa and identifies authorized representatives and families of The Red Bear Chieftaincy as a continuing signatory family, and its representor heirs hold this protected Congressional authority.
In addition, the Red Bear Band exercises sovereign authority as traditional Ogimaas (Chiefs) of the Adik Doodem (Caribou-Senior Deer family) and as well fill senior leadership positions in traditional Midewiwin faith. They are acknowledged as traditional governance lodge-appointed chiefs and grand chiefs, representing tribal groups on collective Americas tribal councils.
This recognition is supported by historical legal precedents, including Peoria Tribe of Indians v. United States, 169 Ct. Cl. 1009 (1965), and Thompson v. United States, 122 Ct. Cl. 348, 357-58, 359-61 (1952), cert. denied, 344 U.S. 856.
The rights of the Red Bear Band and their traditional roles are protected under:
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United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which affirms the rights to self-determination and traditional governance.
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American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978, safeguarding the practice of traditional religions.
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Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, supporting sovereignty in governance.
Wild Oak Leather has donated the following one-of-a-kind specialized tribal artworks to assist in fundraising for the Indian Council of the Americas, representing the Quetzal, Colibri, Eagle, and Condor Union. Help support Chief Midegah's Mission today and receive a unique masterpiece.
Details: Each artwork is an original piece crafted with genuine real leather layering to create a stunning 3-D effect, enhanced by precision nylon stitching. The frame is made from 100% hardwood Red Oak with a 1/4-inch plywood backing."
