Charlotte Johnston McMurray was born in 1806 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. She was the fifth child of Ozhaawshcodaewikwe (Green Prairie Woman) and fur trader John Johnston. Her Anishinaabe name was Ogenebugoquay which has been translated by some as The Woman of the Wild Rose, but may have other meanings for fluent speakers. She began doing missionary work when she was 21 years old. From 1828-1829, she worked as interpreter for the Rev. Abel Bingham, a missionary at the Sault. Her work for Bingham included translating sermons to Anishinaabemowin. Charlotte continued to do missionary work in Sault Ste. Marie, both independently and in conjunction with other missionaries who came to the area. In 1833 Charlotte married the Rev. William McMurray. Following several years spent on the Canadian side of the Sault, they moved to Dundas, Ontario in the late 1830s. Charlotte spent her entire adult life sharing Christianity with her Anishinaabe communities through the medium of Anishinaabemowin.

Charlotte wrote this prayer in 1828, and it survives as a written example of her teachings. University of Michigan History and Native Studies student, Kayla Gonyon, has been conducting historical research on Charlotte and other members of the Johnston family. She coordinated the transcription and translation of the prayer with assistance from Alphonse Pitawanakwat and Margaret Noodin. The prayer is currently located with other Johnston materials in the manuscript collection of the Chippewa County Historical Society.

On September 8, 2024, Leslie Wilson, great-great-great-granddaughter of Charlotte Johnston, used this prayer as part of a Celebration of Life for her mother, Charlotte’s great-great-granddaughter, Catharine Charlotte Warren Chapman. The event took place at the Cincinnati Nature Center where Catharine devoted many years volunteering as a naturalist and nurturing the earth.

Note: To see the prayer as Charlotte wrote it in her notebook, take a look at the image below. Keep in mind she was transcribing Anishinaabe sounds using the conventions of her time. The text below conforms to the way we teach students today.

Namewin Prayer Charlotte

Gizhemanidoo! Waawaasamigooyan giin igo ozhitooyan Aki,
Creator! Brightness upon you, you made the Earth,

Giizhik-giizis, Dibik-giizis, Anangoog gaye gakina bimaadizijig,
the Sun, the Moon, the Stars and all living beings.

Giin gaa-ozhitooyan Noodinan gaye ji-Animikiikaag.
You made the Winds and Thunder.

Giin gigikendaan awegonen waa-onizhishing gaa-ezhewebziiyaang.
You know how to find goodness in what we do.

Miizhishin ezhi-minwenendamaan
Grant me the grace to be happy

gaye miizhishin ji-minobimaadiziyaan.
and grant me the grace to live my life’s journey well.

Apii dash niboyaan zhaawenimishin chi-aawe’odesiinoon.
Then when I die bless and forgive the ways I have not been like you.

Zhaawenim enawemaajig gaye gakina bimaadizijig
Bless and forgive all (my) relatives and everyone living

epiitenimaad gibezhigogwis.
who respects your only son.

Gakina igo! Gakina!
Everyone all together!