The various changes of the moon afford them a method of measuring time, very definite as to the periods, but variable in the names they give them. Their old men have many disputes about the number of moons in each year, and they give different names to each of these. Some of the names in common use are the following. The first words are in the Ottawwaw, and the second in the Menomonie dialect.
O-tu-hu-mene kee-zis—O-tai-hai-min ka-zho—Strawberry moon.
Me-nes kee-zis—Main ka-zho—Whortleberry moon.
Menomonie-ka-we kee-zis—Pohia-kun ka-zho—Wild rice gathering moon.
Be-nah-kwaw-we kee-zis—Paw-we-pe-muk ka-zho—Leaves falling moon.
Gush-kut-te-ne kee-zis—Wun-nai ka-zho—Ice moon.
Ah-gim-me-ka-we kee-zis—Wa-si-ko-si ka-zho—Snow shoes, Ojib; bright night, Menom.
Mah-ko kee-zis—Wa-mun-nus-so ka-zho—(Manito o-kee-zis, Ojib.)—Bear moon, Ott.; deer rutting moon, Men.; (Spirit moon, Ojib.)
Kitche-manito o-kee-zis—Ma-cha-ti-wuk wa-mun-nuz-so-wuk—Longest moon, good for hunting.[58]