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.
12. NÄNABUSHU EATS THE ARTICHOKES.¹
Nenaboozhoo eats the Artichokes (1)
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) Mīdạc kā∙ạ∙ni∙i∙cimāmādcāt. Ningutingigu papimusät awiya ugīwâbạmāᵉ.
Mii dash gaa-ani-izhi-mamaajaad. Ningoding igo babimosed awiya ogii-waabamaan.
So then upon his way he slowly went along. And once while travelling along he saw some creatures.
Mii dash gaa-ani-izhi-mamaajaad (so then he went slowly along on his way). Ningoding igo (and once) babimosed awiya (while walking along, someone) ogii-waabamaan (he saw them).
(2) “Ānīn äcini‘kāsuyäg?” ugī∙i∙nāᵉ. “Kunigä kitamugūmwātug?”
“Aaniin ezhinikaazoyeg?” ogii-inaan. “Gonige gidamogoomwaadog?”
“What are you called?” he said to them. “Wonder if you may be eaten for food !”
“Aaniin ezhinikaazoyeg?” (“what are you called?”) ogii-inaan (he said to them). “Gonige (“wonder if) gidamogoomwaadog?” (you might be eaten for food?”)
(3) “Äyeᵉ,” ugī∙i∙gōᵉ. Mīdạc kā∙i∙gut: “Äyeᵉ, kägät nintạmugōmin.”
“Eye’,” ogii-igoon. Mii dash gaa-igod: “Eye’, geget nindamogoomin.”
“Yes,” he was told. Now, this was what he was told: “Yes, truly we are eaten for food.”
“Eye’,” (“yes,”) ogii-igoon (he was told). Mii dash gaa-igod (now this is what he was told): “Eye’, geget (“yes, truly) nindamogoomin.” (we are eaten for food.”)
(4) “Ānīc äni‘kāgäyäg ‘iᵉi’wisa nībiwa ạmugōyäg?”
“Aaniish enikaageyeg i’iw isa niibiwa amogooyeg?”
“What is your effect upon one after a great deal of you has been eaten?”
“Aaniish enikaageyeg (“what effect do you have) i’iw isa niibiwa amogooyeg?” (when a great deal of you has been eaten?”)
(5) “Kāwīnsa winigu kägō nintini‘kāgäsīmin. Mīsa yä‘tagu ‘iᵉi’ᵘ pōgisi‘kāgäyānk.”
“Gaawiin sa wiin igo gegoo nindinikaagesiimin. Mii sa eta go i’iw boogisikaageyaang.”
“No (evil) effect of any sort do we leave. The only thing we do is to make one windy in the stomach.”
“Gaawiin sa wiin igo gegoo (“no, nothing at all) nindinikaagesiimin (do we cause as an effect). Mii sa eta go i’iw (the only thing it is) boogisikaageyaang.” (that we make one windy in the stomach.”)
(6) Mīdạc kā∙i∙ci∙ạ∙mwāt, ānīc ugī∙i∙gōᵉ i∙i∙ᵘ amuntwā; pāmā kā‘tä∙ạ∙mwāt ugī‘pōni∙ā∙ᵉ.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-amwaad, aaniish ogii-igoon i’iw amondwaa; baamaa gaa-de-amwaad ogii-pooni’aan.
Thereupon he ate them, for he was told that they were good to eat ; not till he had had his fill of them did he leave them alone.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-amwaad (thereupon he ate them), aaniish ogii-igoon (for he was told) i’iw amondwaa (that they were eaten); baamaa gaa-de-amwaad (not until he had eaten his fill of them) ogii-pooni’aan (did he leave them alone).
(7) “Kägätsa kīwīngipugusîm,” ugī∙i∙nāᵉ.
“Geget sa gii-wiingipogosiim,” ogii-inaan.
“Truly a pleasing taste you have,” he said to them.
“Geget sa gii-wiingipogosiim,” (“truly you have a pleasing taste,”) ogii-inaan (he said to them).
(8) Mīdạc a‘pī∙a∙nimāmādcāt.
Mii dash apii ani-mamaajaad.
And so then he kept straight on his course of travel.
Mii dash apii ani-mamaajaad (and so then he went on his way again).
(9) Ningutingigu ạnipạpimusät pāmāgu tātānāming, “Pōⁿᵉ!” inwänit. Äcimādcīpa‘tōt,
Ningoding igo ani-babimosed baamaa go daadaanaaming, “Boo’!” inwenid ezhi-maajiibatood,
Now, once as he was travelling along, of a sudden at the rear, “Po!” came a sound. As he started running,
Ningoding igo (now once) ani-babimosed (as he was walking along) baamaa go daadaanaaming (suddenly from behind him), “Boo’!” inwenid (“Po!” something sounded), ezhi-maajiibatood (then he started running),
(10) “Awänän kā∙i∙nwät?” kī∙i∙nändạm.
“Awenen gaa-inwed?” gii-inendam.
“Who was it made that noise?” he thought.
“Awenen gaa-inwed?” (“who was it that made that sound?”) gii-inendam (he thought).
(11) Wāsa pägạmi‘pa‘tōt.
Waasa begamibatood.
Afar was he now getting while on the run.
Waasa begamibatood (far off was he getting as he ran).
(12) Mägwāgu mīnawā ạnipạpimusät, “Pōᵉ!” inwäwạn awiya, äci∙ā∙pạmipạgisut, “Awänän kā∙i∙nwät?” kī∙i∙näntạm.
Megwaa go miinawaa ani-babimosed, “Boo’!” inwewan awiya, ezhi-abamibagizod, “awenen gaa-inwed?” gii-inendam.
And while again he was walking along, “Po!” was the sound something uttered; when round he whirled, “Who was it made that sound?” he thought.
Megwaa go miinawaa ani-babimosed (and while again he was walking along), “Boo’!” inwewan awiya (“Po!” something sounded), ezhi-abamibagizod (when he whirled around), “awenen gaa-inwed?” (“who was it that made that sound?”) gii-inendam (he thought).
(13) Mägwāgu mīnawā ạnipạpimusät, pānimāgu wäntcipōgitit äcimādcīpa‘tōt.
Megwaa go miinawaa ani-babimosed, baanimaa go wenji-boogidid ezhi-maajiibatood.
And while again he was walking along, suddenly from the place where he broke wind he started running.
Megwaa go miinawaa ani-babimosed (and while again he was walking along), baanimaa go wenji-boogidid (suddenly from where he broke wind) ezhi-maajiibatood (he started running).
(14) “Ạmbäsạnō, ningagagwänạganā ‘aᵉa’ᵘ kā∙i∙nwät,” kī∙i∙nändạm.
“Ambe sa noo, ninga-gagwenaganaa a’aw gaa-inwed,” gii-inendam.
“Well, now, I will try to leave behind the one that is making the sound,” he thought.
“Ambe sa noo (“well now), ninga-gagwenaganaa (I will try to leave behind) a’aw gaa-inwed,” (the one that made the sound,”) gii-inendam (he thought).
(15) Kwätciku‘ku äninanāwạtcisät pāmāgu mīnawā, “Pōⁿᵉ!” änwänit.
Gwejikoko eninanaawajised baamaa go miinawaa, “poonh’!” enwenid.
Just as he was about to slacken his speed, then suddenly again, “Po!” was the sound something made.
Gwejikoko eninanaawajised (just as he was about to slacken his speed) baamaa go miinawaa (then suddenly again), “poonh’!” enwenid (“Po!” something sounded).
(16) Mīsa’ sägisit. “Ạmbäsạnō, ninga∙ā∙‘kạmawā ‘aᵉa’ᵘ kā∙i∙nwät,” kī∙i∙nändạm.
Mii sa zegizid. “Ambe sa noo, ninga-akamawaa a’aw gaa-inwed,” gii-inendam.
Thereupon he became afraid. “Well, now, I will watch for the one that uttered the sound,” he thought.
Mii sa zegizid (thereupon he became afraid). “Ambe sa noo (“well now), ninga-akamawaa (I will lie in wait for) a’aw gaa-inwed,” (the one that made the sound,”) gii-inendam (he thought).
(17) Aci∙a∙‘kandwādạnk ‘iᵉi’ᵘ umī‘kana; mīsạgu kīci∙a∙cägīwä, mīdạc imāⁿ wänsābạndạnk ‘iᵉi’ᵘ umī‘kạna.
Ezhi-akandwaadang i’iw omiikana; mii sa go gii-zhi-azhe-giiwe, mii dash imaa wenzaabandang i’iw omiikana.
Then he lay in wait for it beside the path; and then a short ways back he went, and so from there by the road he watched for it.
Ezhi-akandwaadang i’iw omiikana (then he lay in wait for it by his path); mii sa go gii-zhi-azhe-giiwe (and so back a ways he went), mii dash imaa (and then from there) wenzaabandang i’iw omiikana (he watched along his path).
(18) Pānimāgu mīnawā upi‘kwạnāng uwīya nwāntawāt.
Baanimaa go miinawaa obikwanaang owiya nwaandawaad.
Suddenly again at his back some creature he heard.
Baanimaa go miinawaa (suddenly again) obikwanaang owiya (at his back, someone) nwaandawaad (he heard).
(19) Mīsa’ untcita änwänit. “Pōⁿᵉ!” Äcipạsiguntcisät.
Mii sa onjida enwenid, “poonh’!” ezhi-bazigonjised.
And as before, it uttered the same “Po!” Then up he leaped to his feet.
Mii sa onjida enwenid (and as before, the same it sounded), “poonh’!” ezhi-bazigonjised (“Po!” then up he sprang to his feet).
(20) “Tabā‘pinisiwāgạn, awänäc waᵉa’ᵘ päminica∙o∙gwän! Kä‘tcimạnitōwigwän,” kī∙i∙nändạm äcimādcīpa‘tōt kiˢtci∙ä∙nigu‘k.
“Da-baapiniziwaagan, awenesh wa’aw beminisha’ogwen! Gechi-manidoowigwen,” gii-inendam ezhi-maajiibatood gichi-enigok.
“For goodness sake! wonder who it is that may be following me! It must be a great manitou being,” he thought as he started running at the very top of his speed.
“Da-baapiniziwaagan (“for goodness sake), awenesh wa’aw (who is this) beminisha’ogwen! (that may be following me!) Gechi-manidoowigwen,” (it must be a great manidoo being,”) gii-inendam (he thought) ezhi-maajiibatood gichi-enigok (as he started running at full speed).
(21) Mägwāgu ạnipimipa‘tōt, pāmāgu mīnawā, “Pōⁿᵉ!”
Megwaa go ani-bimibatood, baamaa go miinawaa, “Poonh!”
And while he was running along, suddenly again, “Po!”
Megwaa go ani-bimibatood (and while he was running along), baamaa go miinawaa (suddenly again), “Poonh!” (“Po!”)
(22) Ki‘tciwāsa pạngicin, āpamipạgisut; ānīc, kāwīn owābamāsīn ānu∙a∙swạgạnät.
Gichi-waasa bangishin, aabamibagizod; aaniish, gaawiin owaabamaasiin aano-aswaganed.
A great distance off he landed, when round he whirled; why, he did not see the one at whom he tried in vain to aim a blow.
Gichi-waasa bangishin (a great distance off he landed), aabamibagizod (when he whirled around); aaniish, gaawiin owaabamaasiin (why, he did not see him) aano-aswaganed (the one at whom he tried in vain to aim a blow).
(23) Pānimāgu mīnawa ‘iᵉi’witi upi‘kwạnāng wäntcinōntāgusinit, “Pōⁿ!”
Baanimaa go miinawaa i’iwidi obikwanaang wenji-noondaagozinid, “Poonh!”
And later again, from yonder at his back, was heard the sound of some one saying, “Po!”
Baanimaa go miinawaa (and later again) i’iwidi obikwanaang (from yonder at his back) wenji-noondaagozinid (where the sound of someone was heard), “Poonh!” (“Po!”)
(24) “Tabā‘pinisiwāgan!” inändạm äcimādcīpa‘tōt.
“Da-baapiniziwaagan!” inendam ezhi-maajiibatood.
“For goodness sake!” he thought as he started running.
“Da-baapiniziwaagan!” (“for goodness sake!”) inendam (he thought) ezhi-maajiibatood (as he started running).
(25) Mīgu∙i∙māⁿ mādcīpa‘tōt, mīnawā, “Pōⁿᵉ!”
Mii go imaa maajiibatood, miinawaa, “Poonh!”
And there where he started running, again, “Po!”
Mii go imaa maajiibatood (and there where he started running), miinawaa, “Poonh!” (again, “Po!”)
(26) “Tabā‘pinisiwāgan!” inändạm änigu‘k äjimādcīpa‘tōt;
“Da-baapiniziwaagan!” inendam enigok ezhi-maajiibatood;
“For goodness sake!” he thought as with speed he started running.
“Da-baapiniziwaagan!” (“for goodness sake!”) inendam enigok (he thought) ezhi-maajiibatood (as with speed he started running);
(27) kägu‘pī∙î∙gu päcu’ ạba‘tō, pimipa‘tōt änigu‘k.
Gegapii igo besho apatoo, bimibatood enigok.
Then at last a short way he ran; as he went, he ran with speed.
Gegapii igo besho apatoo (then at last a short way he ran), bimibatood enigok (running along with speed).
(28) Mīsa’ undcita äni‘tạnk utạckwäyāming, “Pōⁿᵉ!”
Mii sa onjida e-nitang odashkweyaaming, “Poonh!”
But what he heard behind him was still the same sound, “Po!”
Mii sa onjida e-nitang (but still the same he heard) odashkweyaaming (behind him), “Poonh!” (“Po!”)
(29) Kägu‘pīgu äntasupạngicink, “Pōⁿᵉ, pōⁿᵉ, pōⁿᵉ, pōⁿᵉ, pōⁿᵉ!”
Gegapii go endaso-bangishing, “poonh, poonh, poonh, poonh, poonh!”
Then finally at every step he took it was, “Po, po, po, po, po !”
Gegapii go endaso-bangishing (then finally at every step he took), “poonh, poonh, poonh, poonh, poonh!” (“Po, po, po, po, po!”)
(30) — “Mīdạc ‘iᵉi’ᵘ mī‘tagīni’ᵘ kā∙i∙ciwāt nicīmäyạgsa kībiwâbamạgwā īgi’ⁿ ackipwāg.¹ ‘Nimpōgisi‘kākämin,’ ningī∙i∙gōg.
Mii dash i’iw miitagiiniw gaa-izhiwaad nishiimeyag sa gii-bi-waabamagwaa igin ashkipwaag. ‘nimboogizikaagemin,’ ningii-igoog.
“Why, this was just what my little brothers told me when I saw the artichokes.¹ ‘We make people windy in the stomach,’ I was told.
Mii dash i’iw miitagiiniw (why, this is just the very thing — particle flagged) gaa-izhiwaad nishiimeyag (that my little brothers said) sa gii-bi-waabamagwaa igin ashkipwaag (when I came and saw those artichokes). ‘nimboogizikaagemin,’ (‘we make people windy in the stomach,’) ningii-igoog (I was told by them).
Ackipwāg, “artichokes;” literally, “raw objects.”
(31) Takīn, ēi, nimpōgit! mīsa’ kä∙i∙‘kitowāt ạnicinābäg nicijäyag, tcini∙a∙‘kīwank.”
Dakiin, eei, nimboogid! Mii sa ge-ikidowaad anishinaabeg nizhisheyag, ji-ani-akiiwang.”
Oh, why, I am breaking wind! That is what the people, my uncles, shall say till the end of the world.”
Dakiin, eei, nimboogid! (oh, why, I am breaking wind!) Mii sa ge-ikidowaad anishinaabeg (that is what the people will say) nizhisheyag (my uncles), ji-ani-akiiwang.” (until the end of the world.”)
(32) Mägwāgu ạnipạpimusät, pānimāgu mīnawā, “Pōⁿᵉ!” — “Ēi, nimpōgit!”
Megwaa go ani-babimosed, baanimaa go miinawaa, “Poonh!” “Eei, nimboogid!”
And while he went walking along, then of a sudden again, “Po!” – “Why, I am breaking wind!”
Megwaa go ani-babimosed (and while he was walking along), baanimaa go miinawaa (then of a sudden again), “Poonh!” (“Po!”) “Eei, nimboogid!” (“why, I am breaking wind!”)