"Doodem" or clan literally would translate as the expression of, or having to do with one's heart; in other words doodem refers to the extended family.According to oral tradition, the Anishinaabe were living along the Atlantic Ocean coast and the great "Miigis" beings appeared out the sea and taught the Mide way of life to the Waabanakiing peoples, six of the seven great "Miigis" beings that remained to teach established the "odoodeman" for the peoples in the east.