Read the entry note first. Not a fable — an Anishinaabe ontology carried as story. Come in to wonder.
⚠️ Draft — under many eyes. Converted and readable; not yet finally vetted, and it will wear the word draft for a good while, on purpose. Living, not final.
9. Nänabushu and the Wolves, Continued.
Nenabozho gaye ma’iinganag, ani-aabita’igaadeg
9. Nänabushu and the Wolves, Continued.
Narrated by Wâsagunäckạnk — Series 1 (Nos. 1–18), Bois Fort (per Michelson’s roster, Part I Preface p. XX; not credited on the story page itself).
from Ojibwa Texts collected by William Jones (1917).
(1) Ningutingigu i∙i∙māⁿ māmōⁿsu‘käwāt, “Ạmbäsạnōnā, kōsinān ta∙a∙‘kä. Mīgwạntạcināᵉ iᵘ ä‘ta pimisä‘kwät,” ugī∙i∙nāwān īni’ᵘ osiwān.
*Ningoding igo iimaa maamoonzokewaad, “Ambesanoonaa, goosinaan da-age. Miigwan dash inaa’ iw eta bimizekwed,” ogii-inaawaan iniw osiwaan.**
Now once, while they were fixing moose-meat there, “Please let our father boil the broken bones for the marrow. Therefore then let him be the only one to do the cooking,” they said of their father.
Ningoding igo iimaa (once, right there) ∙ maamoonzokewaad (while they were working the moose-meat) ∙ Ambesanoonaa (please, do let) ∙ goosinaan da-age (let our father boil/cook) ∙ iw eta bimizekwed (that he alone do the boiling) ∙ ogii-inaawaan iniw osiwaan (they said it to/of their father).
(2) Mīdạc kägä‘t cigwa kīmādci‘tānit īni’ᵘ ōsiwān. Oᵉōwidạc udiguwān: “Ạmbäsạnō, kägu’ kạnawâbamici‘kägun woᵉo’ᵘ wī∙a∙‘käyān. Ayāngwāmisin, Nänabucu,” udigōn īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīma∙ī∙ngạnan.
Mii dash geget zhigwa gii-maajiitaanid iniw osiwaan. O’ow idash odigowaan: “Ambesanoo, gego ganawaabamishikegon wo’ow wii-ageyaan. Ayaangwaamizin, Nenabozho,” odigoon iniw akiwenzii-ma’iinganan.
Thereupon truly began their father upon his work. So this were they told by him: “I beg of you, watch me not while I am at this work of boiling bones for the marrow. Have a care, Nänabushu,” he was told by the old Wolf.
Mii dash geget zhigwa (and then truly now) ∙ gii-maajiitaanid iniw osiwaan (their father began the work) ∙ o’ow idash odigowaan (and this they were told) ∙ Ambesanoo (please) ∙ gego ganawaabamishikegon (do not watch me) ∙ wo’ow wii-ageyaan (while I am about to do this cooking) ∙ Ayaangwaamizin, Nenabozho (have a care, Nenabozho) ∙ odigoon iniw akiwenzii-ma’iinganan (he was told by the old wolf-man).
(3) Mīdạc kägä‘t.
Mii dash geget.
Thereupon truly (such was what happened).
Mii dash geget (and so it was, truly).
(4) Ānīc Nänabucu u‘kunācic äcikackackīwicink, mīsa pisindawāwāt, indigunạndagu mạdwäganä‘pi‘tcigä. “Tạga pina, ninga∙i∙nāb,” inändạm Nänabucu. Kägä‘t äci∙a∙gwasäiginạnk ‘iᵉi’ᵘ u‘kunācic, cigwa kägä‘t owâbạmān na∙i∙tā i∙i∙ᵘ ubigwā‘kugạnānini na∙i∙tā utōwawicācạnätamini; kägāgu mica‘kīgābīgạgōtäni i∙i∙ᵘ usībickanāmōwinini. Mīdạc kạnawâbạmāt, ningutingigu äciku‘tigwandạminit ā‘pidci i∙i∙māⁿ uckīncigunk äcipạngisininig. Pạnägu, tcōⁿ, tōⁿ kāini‘tạnk. “Cigwadạc, Nänabucu ningwāckwägạnä∙ạ∙mawā!” Mīdạc ä‘kidut ‘aᵉa’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzī: “Ayāwi‘k kimicōmä∙ī∙wā, ta‘kābāwạni‘k!”
Aaniish Nenabozho okonaazhish ezhi-gashkashkiiwizhing, mii sa bizindawaawaad, indigo nandago madwe-ganepichige. “Daga bina, ninga-inaab,” inendam Nenabozho. Geget ezhi-agwaaze’iginang iw okonaazhish, zhigwa geget owaabamaan naa idaa iw obigwaakoganaanini naa idaa odoowawizhaazhaanedamini; gegaa go mizhakii-gaabiigagoodeni iw oziibishkanaamoowinini. Mii dash ganawaabamaad, ningoding igo ezhi-godigwandaminid aapiji iimaa oshkiinzhigong ezhi-bangisininig. Banaa go, tcōⁿ, tōⁿ gaa-initang. “Zhigwa dash, Nenabozho ningwaashkwegane’amawaa!” Mii dash ekidod a’aw akiwenzii: “Ayaawik gimishoomewaa, da-gaabaawanik!”
Now, as Nänabushu lay wrapped in his old soiled blanket, and as they listened to (their father), it seemed by the sound as if he were gnawing upon a bone. “I say, now, I will take a look,” (thus) thought Nänabushu. Truly, as he quietly lifted his old soiled blanket, he saw him at the very moment when he was biting on an ulna, but at just the time when it slipped from his mouth; and nearly to the ground was stringing the (old Wolf’s) saliva. And now, as he was watching him, then of a sudden (the old Wolf) lost his hold (on the bone) in his mouth, (and) straight yonder into (Nänabushu’s) eye it struck. Then nothing but tcōⁿ, tōⁿ, was the sound he heard. “Oh, to Nänabushu slipped a bone from my mouth!” Whereupon said the old (Wolf): “Attend to your uncle, cool him with water!”
Aaniish Nenabozho okonaazhish (now Nenabozho, his old soiled blanket) ∙ ezhi-gashkashkiiwizhing (as he lay wrapped up) ∙ mii sa bizindawaawaad (and so they listened to him) ∙ indigo nandago madwe-ganepichige (as if, by the sound, he were gnawing on something) ∙ Daga bina, ninga-inaab (I say now, I will take a look) ∙ inendam Nenabozho (thought Nenabozho) ∙ geget ezhi-agwaaze’iginang iw okonaazhish (truly, as he lifted up that old blanket) ∙ zhigwa geget owaabamaan (now truly he saw him) ∙ iw obigwaakoganaanini (the ulna/arm-bone) ∙ odoowawizhaazhaanedamini (as it slipped from his mouth) ∙ gegaa go mizhakii-gaabiigagoodeni iw oziibishkanaamoowinini (nearly to the ground hung his saliva) ∙ mii dash ganawaabamaad (and so as he watched him) ∙ ningoding igo ezhi-godigwandaminid (suddenly he lost his hold in his mouth) ∙ aapiji iimaa oshkiinzhigong ezhi-bangisininig (right there into his eye it fell) ∙ banaa go (nothing but) ∙ tcōⁿ, tōⁿ gaa-initang (was the sound he heard) ∙ Zhigwa dash, Nenabozho ningwaashkwegane’amawaa (now then, to Nenabozho a bone slipped from my mouth) ∙ mii dash ekidod a’aw akiwenzii (and so said the old man) ∙ Ayaawik gimishoomewaa (attend to your uncle) ∙ da-gaabaawanik (cool him with water).
(5) Mīdạc kägä‘t kī‘ta‘kābāwinint, mīdạc kā∙i∙cimi‘kawit. Mīdạc kā∙i∙gut īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīyạn: “Nänabucu, kanawâbạmiwambạnsa.”
Mii dash geget gii-da-gaabaawinind, mii dash gaa-izhi-mikawid. Mii dash gaa-igod iniw akiwenziiyan: “Nenabozho, ganawaabamiwaambanza.”
And so they truly cooled him off with water, whereupon he was then revived. Accordingly was he then told by the old (Wolf): “Nänabushu, really you were looking at me.”
Mii dash geget gii-da-gaabaawinind (and so truly he was cooled off with water) ∙ mii dash gaa-izhi-mikawid (and then he came to / was revived) ∙ mii dash gaa-igod iniw akiwenziiyan (and then he was told by the old man) ∙ Nenabozho, ganawaabamiwaambanza (Nenabozho, you really were watching me).
(6) “Kāwīn, kāwīn!”
“Gaawiin, gaawiin!”
“No, no!”
Gaawiin, gaawiin (no, no).
(7) “Nänabucu, kanawâbamiwambạnsạgu.”
“Nenabozho, ganawaabamiwaambanza go.”
“Nänabushu, really you were looking at me.”
Nenabozho, ganawaabamiwaambanza go (Nenabozho, you really were watching me indeed).
(8) Ānīc cigwa kigicäp, ānīn äyā‘pītcisigwānig pimidä? Ānīc udạcạmiguwān kigicäp ‘iᵉi’ᵘ uda‘kānini.
Aaniish zhigwa gigizheb, aaniin eyaapiichisigwaanig bimide? Aaniish odazhamigowaan gigizheb iw odakaanini.
So when (came) the morning, how thick was the grease frozen! So they were fed in the morning upon the grease made by boiling the bones.
Aaniish zhigwa gigizheb (now then in the morning) ∙ aaniin eyaapiichisigwaanig bimide (how thick the grease was frozen) ∙ Aaniish odazhamigowaan gigizheb (so they were fed in the morning) ∙ iw odakaanini (that bone-grease of his).
(9) Cigwa udinān: “Ạmbäsạnō, nīn ni‘tạm ninga∙a∙‘kä,” udināᵉ. Mīdạc kägä‘t a‘kät. “Ānīc mīgu gayä nīn, kāwīn wī‘kā ninganawâbạmigōsī ‘iᵉi’ᵘ a‘käyān. Ānīc mīcigwa tcigackackīwicinäg.” Ānīc tca∙ī∙gwa umādcīpīsiganäānạn īni’ᵘ a‘kạnạn. Kägätsa pimitäwikanạgạtiniwạn. Mīgunā ạnisīwäganātạnk ‘iᵉi’ᵘ mini‘k pämitäwikanagạtini‘k, cigwa kumāa‘pī pīti‘kwäcinōn kackackīwicininit īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīma∙ī∙ganan. Wäwänigu ugī∙u∙nābạndān ‘iᵉi’ᵘ mängikanagạtinig u‘kạn kā∙i∙ci∙ā∙cōganä∙a∙nk, kā∙i∙cipaki‘tä∙o∙wāt īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīma∙ī∙ngạnạn. Ānīc mīsa’ äcinīwạnawāt. Oᵉōdạc ugī∙i∙nāᵉ ‘iᵉi’ᵘ utōcimaᵉ: “Nackäna, ta‘kābāwạni‘k!” ugī∙i∙nān. Mēdạc kā∙i∙nāt: “Kạnawâbamīwāmbạnisa nītcizạzī‘kisi. Mīsa’ äci∙a∙yāyān awīya känawâbamitcin.”
Zhigwa odinaan: “Ambesanoo, niin nitam ninga-age,” odinaag. Mii dash geget aged. “Aaniish mii go gaye niin, gaawiin wiikaa ninganawaabamigoosii iw ageyaan. Aaniish mii zhigwa ji-gashkashkiiwizhineg.” Aaniish ja-iigwa omaajiibiisiganeaanan iniw akanan. Geget sa bimidewikanagadiniwan. Mii go naa anisiiwegaanaatang iw minik bemidewikanagadinik, zhigwa gomaa-apii biidikweshinoon gashkashkiiwizhininid iniw akiwenzii-ma’iiganan. Weweni go ogii-onaabandaan iw mengikanagadinig okan gaa-izhi-aazhoogane’ang, gaa-izhi-bakite’owaad iniw akiwenzii-ma’iinganan. Aaniish mii sa ezhi-niiwanawaad. O’oo idash ogii-inaag iw odoozhimaag: “Nashke naa, da-gaabaawanik!” ogii-inaan. Mii dash gaa-inaad: “Ganawaabamiiwaambaniza niijizaziikisi. Mii sa ezhi-ayaayaan awiya genawaabamijin.”
Now (Nänabushu) said to them: “Pray, let me have a turn at making grease from bones broken and boiled,” he said to them. Thereupon truly he made some grease. “Now, it is the same with me too, never should I be watched while at work making grease from broken bones. So therefore cover yourselves up.” Now began he upon the work of cracking the bones. Truly very greasy were (the bones). Now, while he sucked the marrow from as many bones as had grease in them, at some distance away, with his head towards (Nänabushu and) rolled up in his blanket, lay the old Wolf. With care he selected a bone of great size which he had split crosswise, (and) with it he hit the old Wolf. So he then killed (the old Wolf). Now, this he said to his nephews: “Mercy, cool him off with some water!” he said to them. And this was what he said of him: “My old friend was certainly looking at me. That is the way I behave whenever any one is watching me.”
Zhigwa odinaan (now he said to them) ∙ Ambesanoo, niin nitam ninga-age (please, let me be the one to cook this time) ∙ odinaag (he said to them) ∙ mii dash geget aged (and so truly he cooked) ∙ Aaniish mii go gaye niin (now, it is the same with me too) ∙ gaawiin wiikaa ninganawaabamigoosii iw ageyaan (I should never be watched while I cook) ∙ mii zhigwa ji-gashkashkiiwizhineg (so now wrap yourselves up) ∙ omaajiibiisiganeaanan iniw akanan (he began cracking the bones) ∙ geget sa bimidewikanagadiniwan (truly the bones were greasy) ∙ mii go naa anisiiwegaanaatang iw minik bemidewikanagadinik (as he sucked the marrow from all the greasy bones) ∙ zhigwa gomaa-apii biidikweshinoon (now some distance off lay with head toward) ∙ gashkashkiiwizhininid iniw akiwenzii-ma’iiganan (the old wolf, rolled up in his blanket) ∙ weweni go ogii-onaabandaan iw mengikanagadinig okan (carefully he chose a large bone) ∙ gaa-izhi-aazhoogane’ang (that he had split crosswise) ∙ gaa-izhi-bakite’owaad iniw akiwenzii-ma’iinganan (with it he struck the old wolf) ∙ mii sa ezhi-niiwanawaad (and so he killed him) ∙ o’oo idash ogii-inaag iw odoozhimaag (and this he said to his nephews) ∙ Nashke naa, da-gaabaawanik (mercy, cool him with water) ∙ mii dash gaa-inaad (and this is what he said) ∙ Ganawaabamiiwaambaniza niijizaziikisi (my old friend really was watching me) ∙ mii sa ezhi-ayaayaan awiya genawaabamijin (that is how I am whenever anyone watches me).
(10) Ānīc mī∙i∙ᵘ cigwa kīmi‘kawit waᵉa’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīma∙ī∙ngạn. Woᵉōwidạc ki∙i∙‘kito: “Nänabucu nimpạki‘tä∙u∙‘k,” kī∙i∙‘kito; “untcitạgu nimpaki‘tä∙u∙‘k,” kī∙i∙‘kito wa∙a∙ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīma∙ī∙ngạn. “Kāwīn kuca ānawi ningạnawâbamāsībạn,” kī∙i∙‘kito waᵉaᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīma∙ī∙ngạn. “Ānīc pāmāsạna kayä nīn kīga∙a∙cạmininim.”
Aaniish mii iw zhigwa gii-mikawid wa’aw akiwenzii-ma’iingan. Wo’ow idash gii-ikido: “Nenabozho nimbakite’ok,” gii-ikido; “onjida go nimbakite’ok,” gii-ikido wa’aw akiwenzii-ma’iingan. “Gaawiin gosha aanawi ninganawaabamaasiiban,” gii-ikido wa’aw akiwenzii-ma’iingan. “Aaniish baamaa sa naa gaye niin giga-ashamininim.”
So then presently was the old Wolf revived. And this he said: “By Nänabushu was I struck,” he said; “purposely was I hit by him,” said the old Wolf. “No attempt whatever did I make to watch him,” said the old Wolf. “So not till after a while will I feed you.”
Aaniish mii iw zhigwa gii-mikawid wa’aw akiwenzii-ma’iingan (so now the old wolf came to / revived) ∙ wo’ow idash gii-ikido (and this he said) ∙ Nenabozho nimbakite’ok (Nenabozho struck me) ∙ gii-ikido (he said) ∙ onjida go nimbakite’ok (on purpose he hit me) ∙ Gaawiin gosha aanawi ninganawaabamaasiiban (I made no attempt at all to watch him) ∙ Aaniish baamaa sa naa gaye niin giga-ashamininim (well, only after a while will I feed you).
(11) Mīdạc kägä‘t kigicäp. Cigwa ānīc nā īni’ᵘ uda‘ki‘kōn kanạbạtc wīgwāsạba‘kwāng a‘pī‘tcisigwāni ‘iᵉi’ᵘ upimitä‘kān. Cigwasa minawā udạcamā ‘iᵉi’ᵘ udōcimaᵉ. Ānīc mīsa’ cigwa kidạmwāwāt īni’ᵘ umōⁿzumiwān, “Mīmāwīn cigwa tcigusīyang,” utigōn īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīyạn. Mīdạc ägut īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzīyạn: “Päcik kimīnin waᵉa’ᵘ ningwisis,” utigōn.
Mii dash geget gigizheb. Zhigwa aaniish naa iniw odakikoon ganabaj wiigwaasabakwaang aapiichisigwaani iw obimidekaan. Zhigwa sa minawaa odazhamaa iw odoozhimaag. Aaniish mii sa zhigwa gidamwaawaad iniw omoonzomiwaan, “Mii maawiin zhigwa ji-goziiyang,” odigoon iniw akiwenziiyan. Mii dash egod iniw akiwenziiyan: “Bezhig gimiinin wa’aw ningwisis,” odigoon.
Thereupon truly was it now morning. According to the story, the grease in his kettle was frozen as thick as a sheet of birch-bark covering of the lodge. Now, again he fed his nephews on it. So by the time they had eaten up their moose, “It must be time for us now to move camp,” he was told by the old (Wolf). And so he was told by the old (Wolf): “One of my sons I give to you,” he was told.
Mii dash geget gigizheb (and so truly it was morning) ∙ zhigwa aaniish naa iniw odakikoon (now then, in his kettle) ∙ ganabaj wiigwaasabakwaang aapiichisigwaani (frozen about as thick as a birch-bark lodge-covering) ∙ iw obimidekaan (that bone-grease of his) ∙ zhigwa sa minawaa odazhamaa iw odoozhimaag (now again he fed his nephews) ∙ mii sa zhigwa gidamwaawaad iniw omoonzomiwaan (so when they had eaten up their moose) ∙ Mii maawiin zhigwa ji-goziiyang (it must now be time for us to move camp) ∙ odigoon iniw akiwenziiyan (he was told by the old man) ∙ mii dash egod iniw akiwenziiyan (and this he was told by the old man) ∙ Bezhig gimiinin wa’aw ningwisis (one son I give to you) ∙ odigoon (he was told).
(12) Ānīc unanā‘kumān. “Mīsadạc īzạn i∙i∙ᵘ kä∙u∙ndcimino ayayāyān. Intawā mīgu omā kä∙u∙ndcīt,” udinān īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzyạn.
Aaniish onanaakomaan. “Mii sa dash izan iw ge-onji-mino-ayaayaan. Indawaa mii go omaa ge-onjiid,” odinaan iniw akiwenziiyan.
Now, (Nänabushu) uttered assent (while the old Wolf spoke). “This, indeed, will be the source from which I shall obtain good sustenance. Accordingly from this place he should go forth (to hunt),” he said to the old (Wolf).
Aaniish onanaakomaan (now he assented to him) ∙ Mii sa dash izan iw ge-onji-mino-ayaayaan (this indeed is what I will fare well from) ∙ Indawaa mii go omaa ge-onjiid (so then from here he should set out) ∙ odinaan iniw akiwenziiyan (he said to the old man).
(13) “Ānīc, mīsạgu iᵘ wābạnk tcigusīyāng,” utigōn īni’ᵘ a‘kiwäzīyạn.
“Aaniish, mii sa go iw waabang ji-goziiyang,” odigoon iniw akiwenziiyan.
“Well, it is on the morrow that we will move,” he was told by the old (Wolf).
Aaniish, mii sa go iw waabang ji-goziiyang (well, it is tomorrow that we will move camp) ∙ odigoon iniw akiwenziiyan (he was told by the old man).
(14) Ānīc mīsa gägät cigwa kusiwāt. “Nāmāguna ayā ‘aᵉa’ᵘ käwâbanicimi‘k,” ugī∙i∙gōn īniᵘ a‘kiwäziyạn.
Aaniish mii sa geget zhigwa goziwaad. “Naa maagonaa ayaa a’aw ge-waabanizhimik,” ogii-igoon iniw akiwenziiyan.
So it was true that then they moved. “I am leaving you one who will keep you supplied with food throughout the winter,” he was told by the old (Wolf).
Aaniish mii sa geget zhigwa goziwaad (so truly then they moved camp) ∙ Naa maagonaa ayaa a’aw ge-waabanizhimik (here, there is the one who will see you through the winter) ∙ ogii-igoon iniw akiwenziiyan (he was told by the old man).
(15) Mīdạc kägä‘t.
Mii dash geget.
And it was true.
Mii dash geget (and so it was, truly).