Bad Banana

Charles Grolla's Ojibwe name is Ogimaagiizhig (Boss of the Sky) and he is of the Adik (Caribou) clan or totem.  He is an enrolled member of the Bois Forte reservation in Minnesota and was raised mainly on the Red Lake reservation in Minnesota.  While growing up in the Bikwaakwaang (West End) area of the Red Lake reservation, Charles became a contending player of Ojibwe style moccasin game before the age of 14.  Charles graduated from Red Lake High School and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Ojibwe Language at Bemidji State University.  Retiring after 17 years of service from the Red Lake Police Department, first as a police officer then as a conservation officer, he started a new career and is currently a teacher at Cass Lake – Bena High School where he teaches Ojibwe language, culture, and moccasin game. Charles is a lifetime hunter, trapper, fisherman, and moccasin game player.  As a child, besides moccasin ga...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ojibwe-Style Moccasin Game latest release by Blue Hand Books GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS (2017) --- Blue Hand Books Collective in Western Massachusetts has just released a new book by first-time author Charles Grolla (Ojibwe) of Bemidji, Minnesota.  His Ojibwe name is Ogimaagiizhig Odoodeman Adikwan. “The purpose of this new book is to make sure this beautiful game is handed down to new generations,” Ojibwe author Charles Grolla said.  “T raditionally played by men only, it’s probably our oldest Ojibwe men’s game, and moccasin game has been and is still a big part of our Ojibwe culture even to this day.  “The Ojibwe style of moccasin game is my understanding and what I learned growing up playing this beautiful game, mainly on the Red Lake Reservation,” Grolla said.    Ojibwe style moccasin game is still played on the Red Lake, Mille Lacs, Nett Lake, White Earth, Leech Lake, Roseau River, and Lac La Croix Reserv...