  In Ojibwe the Morning Star is called Ikew Anung, which means the Womens Star.
In Lakota the same planet Venus is called Anpetu Luta, the Red Day Star. Bother
cultures have rich and interesting understandings of Venus that relate to other
Indigenous cultures throughout the world. Venus is so often related to the
feminine because native peoples carefully watched the movement of the star and
saw it in the east at sunrise for nine months and then in the west at sunset
for the following nine months. Nine months is exactly the time for human
gestation. Yet, tragically, the native star knowledge is disappearing as elders
pass. The Native Skywatchers project focuses on understanding the Ojibwe and
Dakota importance of this and other celestial connections. Working closely with
a team of culture teachers and language experts we are building community
around the native star knowledge.
