Jim Dumont is Onaubinisay (Walks Above the Ground), an Ojibway-Anishinabe
of the Waubezhayshee (Marten) Clan. He is a 4th Degree Midewiwin of the Three
Fires Midewiwin Lodge, originally from the Shawanaga First Nation on Eastern
Georgian Bay.
Since 1970 Jim has pursued the cultural and spiritual roots of the traditional
Anishinabe Way of Life. From 1974, this pursuit has involved him thoroughly in
the exploration, participation and learning of the Ojibway-Anishinabe Midewiwin
Tradition, which has resulted in the achievement of 4th Degree Midewiwin, sweatlodge
rites, ceremonial leadership, and traditional-teacher responsibility. Jim (Onaubinisay)
has been raised up as Chief at the Eastern Doorway of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge,
and as such, is the keeper of the sacred Waterdrum and leader in the Eastern part of
Anishinabe Midewiwin Territory.
Since 1975, Jim has been professor of Native Studies at the University of Sudbury
of Laurentian University. He is one of the founders of the Department and serve for
four years as its Chair from 1984 to 1988. In his tenure there, he has created and
taught courses in Tradition and Culture, Native Psychology, Native Way of Seeing,
Native Education, and Issues of Indigenous Peioples in the International Context.
He retired in 2000 after 25 years of professorship in Native Studies. Jim now teaches
in the Indigenous Masters Program with the Seven Generations Institute.