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.
48. NÄNABUSHU BREAKS THE NECKS OF THE DANCING GEESE.¹
Nenabozho odoozhowanikaanaa’ zhingibisa
Nanabushu Breaks the Necks of the Dancing Geese (3)
Narrated by Penessi — Series 7 (Nos. 44–56), Fort William (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) Ningudingisa´ Nänabujū anipapimusät nō‘pîmīng. Ninguding umạdābīn sāga∙i∙gạn, mīdạc imāⁿ wâbạmāt nībawa ni‘kaᵉ. Ā‘pidci omisawänimāᵉ wī∙a∙mwāt. Mīdạc änād: “Ictä´, nicīmä∙i∙dug, ondās, ōmāⁿ, pījāyu‘k!” Ānawidec kī‘pījāwạg ni‘kạg, kāwīn ā‘pidci päcu pīcāsīwạg. Minawāgu ogạnōnāᵉ: “Nicīmä∙i∙dug! ōmāⁿ pīcāyu‘k, ka∙ō∙dcīmininim!” Ogusigō päcu´ tcîbīcānît. Käga‘pī nō‘pimīng kī∙i∙jā Nänabujū; mi‘tigōnsạn ugīnāsi‘kānạn. Mī∙i∙dạc kā∙i∙ji∙u∙ji‘tōd wīgiwāmäns, mīnawā ogạnōnān ni‘kan: “Ạmbä ōmāⁿ, udaminodā, kanīmimin!” Kägạpī ogīwayäjimān ni‘känsa´. Mēdạc kā∙i∙jipīndigäwād wīgiwāmänsing, mī∙i∙dạc äjikạnōnāt Nänabujū: “Ka‘kina pạsạngwābicimuyu‘k.” Mīdac äjinagamut:
Ningoding isa Nenabozho ani-babimosed noopiming. Ningoding omadaabiin zaaga’igan, mii dash imaa waabamaad niibawa nika. Aapiji omisawenimaa wii-amwaad. Mii dash enaad: “Ishte, nishiime-i-dog, ondaas, omaa, biizhaayok!” Aanawi dash gii-biizhaawag nikag, gaawiin aapiji besho biizhaasiiwag. Minawaa go oganoonaa*: “Nishiime-i-dog! omaa biizhaayok, ga-oojimininim!” Ogosigoo* besho ji-biizhaanid. Gegapii noopiming gii-izhaa Nenabozho; mitigoonsan ogii-naazikanan. Mii dash gaa-izhi-oozhitood wiigiwaamens, minawaa oganoonan nikan: “Ambe omaa, odaminodaa, ganimimin!” Gegapii ogii-wayezhimaan nikensa. Mii dash gaa-izhi-biindigewaad wiigiwaamensing, mii dash ezhi-ganoonaad Nenabozho: “Gakina bazangwaabishimoyok.” Mii dash ezhi-nagamod:**
Once on a time Nanabushu was travelling about inland. By and by he came out upon a lake, and so there he saw numerous Geese. Very keen was his desire to eat them. Thereupon he said to them: “Look, my little brothers! Hither, come here!” And although hitherward came the Geese, yet not so very close did they come. And again he addressed them, saying: “O my little brothers! come hither, I want to kiss you.” They were afraid to come close. At last up inland went Nänabushu; some osiers he went to get. And when he had put up a small wigwam, again he spoke to the Geese, saying: “Come hither, let us play, we will dance!” At last he persuaded the goslings. And so when they had gone inside of the little wigwam, thereupon to them spoke Nänabushu, saying: “All shut your eyes when you dance.” And then he sang:
Ningoding isa (once upon a time) — Nenabozho ani-babimosed noopiming (Nenabozho was walking along inland). Ningoding omadaabiin zaaga’igan (once he came out to the lake), mii dash imaa waabamaad niibawa nika* (and there he saw many geese). Aapiji omisawenimaa* (very much he desired them) wii-amwaad (wanting to eat them). Mii dash enaad (then he said to them): “Ishte, nishiime-i-dog (Look, my little brothers), ondaas, omaa, biizhaayok! (come, here, come!)” Aanawi dash gii-biizhaawag nikag (but the geese did come), gaawiin aapiji besho biizhaasiiwag (they did not come very close). Minawaa go oganoonaa* (and again he called to them): “Nishiime-i-dog! omaa biizhaayok (My little brothers! come here), ga-oojimininim! (I will kiss you!)” Ogosigoo* besho ji-biizhaanid (they were afraid to come close). Gegapii noopiming gii-izhaa Nenabozho (at last Nenabozho went inland); mitigoonsan ogii-naazikanan (he went to fetch some little sticks/osiers). Mii dash gaa-izhi-oozhitood wiigiwaamens (and so he made a little lodge), minawaa oganoonan nikan (again he called to the geese): “Ambe omaa, odaminodaa (Come here, let us play), ganimimin! (we will dance!)” Gegapii ogii-wayezhimaan nikensa (at last he fooled the little geese). Mii dash gaa-izhi-biindigewaad wiigiwaamensing (and when they went inside the little lodge), mii dash ezhi-ganoonaad Nenabozho (then Nenabozho spoke to them): “Gakina bazangwaabishimoyok (All of you dance with your eyes shut).” Mii dash ezhi-nagamod (and then he sang):
1 For other versions see Nos. 11 (p. 101) and 20 (p. 169).
1 For other versions see Nos. 11 (p. 101) and 20 (p. 169).
(2) “Pạsạngwābicimōwinạn nimbīdōnạn.
Pạsạngwābicimōwinạn nimbīdōnạn.
Pạsạngwābicimōwinạn nimbīdōnạn.
Pạsạngwābicimōwinạn nimbīdōnạn.”
“Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan.
Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan.
Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan.
Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan.”
“A dance with eyes closed do I bring (to you).
A dance with eyes closed do I bring (to you).
A dance with eyes closed do I bring (to you).
A dance with eyes closed do I bring (to you).”
Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan (eyes-closed dances I bring) — song carried verbatim. Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan — song carried verbatim. Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan — song carried verbatim. Bazangwaabichimoowinan nimbiidoonan — song carried verbatim.
(3) Mīdạc käᵉgä‘t äjipasạngwābiwād nīmiwād. A‘pī∙i∙dạc ka‘kina päsạngwābiwād, ogītäbibinān ni‘kạn: mīdạc kīpō‘kugwäbinād. Nījidạc näsād, ugīki‘känimigōn; mi∙i∙dạc äjipībāgiwād: “Äᵉē´ⁱ, Nänabujū kinisigunān!” Mīdạc kā∙i∙jisāgidcisäwād wīgiwāmänsing. Nījä‘ta kānisāt.
Mii dash geget ezhi-bazangwaabiwaad niimiwaad. Aapii dash gakina bezangwaabiwaad, ogii-debibinaan nikan: mii dash gii-bookogwebinaad. Niizh idash nesaad, ogii-gikenimigoon; mii dash ezhi-biibaagiwaad: “Aye’, Nenabozho ginisigonaan!” Mii dash gaa-izhi-zaagijisewaad wiigiwaamensing. Niizh eta gaa-nisaad.
Thereupon they really closed their eyes when they danced. And when all had closed their eyes, he seized a Goose; whereupon he broke her neck. And when he had slain two, he was found out; upon which they cried aloud, “Hey, by Nänabushu are we being slain!” And then they flew out of the little wigwam. Only two he had killed.
Mii dash geget ezhi-bazangwaabiwaad niimiwaad (and then indeed they shut their eyes as they danced). Aapii dash gakina bezangwaabiwaad (and when all had their eyes shut), ogii-debibinaan nikan (he took hold of a goose): mii dash gii-bookogwebinaad (and then he broke her neck). Niizh idash nesaad (and when he had killed two), ogii-gikenimigoon (he was found out by them); mii dash ezhi-biibaagiwaad (and then they cried out): “Aye’, Nenabozho ginisigonaan! (Hey, Nenabozho is killing us!)” Mii dash gaa-izhi-zaagijisewaad wiigiwaamensing (and then they rushed out of the little lodge). Niizh eta gaa-nisaad (only two he had killed).
(4) Mīdạc kī∙a∙nimādcīnāt īniᵘ ni‘känsan. Kī‘pōdawā tcīgibīg, mīdạc imāⁿ wīkīciswāt ni‘känsaᵉ. Kīningwa∙a∙bwä, uzidänsạn ogīsāgisidōnạn. Mī∙i∙dạc kā∙i∙jikawicimut wīnîbāt, kīmitcidiyäcin. Mīdạc änāt udiyän: “Kīcpîn ạnicinābäg sāgäwa∙ō∙wāt, wīndamawicin.” Kägā cīgwa näbāt ogạnōnigōn: “Ictä, anicinābäg sāgäwa∙a∙mōg.”
Mii dash gii-ani-maajiinaad iniw nikensan. Gii-boodawe jiigibig, mii dash imaa wii-giziswaad nikensan. Gii-ningwa’abwe, ozidensan ogii-zaagizidoonan. Mii dash gaa-izhi-gawishimod wii-nibaad, gii-michidiyeshin. Mii dash enaad odiyen: “Gishpin anishinaabeg zaagewa’oowaad, windamawishin.” Gega zhigwa nebaad oganoonigoon: “Ishte, anishinaabeg zaagewa’amoog.”
Thereupon he carried the goslings away. He made a fire by the edge of the water, and it was there he intended to cook the goslings. He baked them in the embers, their little feet he left sticking out. And when he lay down to go to sleep, he lay with his bottom exposed. Thereupon he said to his bottom: “If any people come in view round the point, then you notify me.” When he was nearly asleep, he was addressed: “Ah! some people are coming into view round the point.”
Mii dash gii-ani-maajiinaad iniw nikensan (and then he carried off those goslings). Gii-boodawe jiigibig (he built a fire by the edge of the water), mii dash imaa wii-giziswaad nikensan (and there he meant to cook the goslings). Gii-ningwa’abwe (he baked them in the ashes), ozidensan ogii-zaagizidoonan (their little feet he left sticking out). Mii dash gaa-izhi-gawishimod wii-nibaad (and then he lay down to sleep), gii-michidiyeshin (he lay with his rump exposed). Mii dash enaad odiyen (and then he said to his rump): “Gishpin anishinaabeg zaagewa’oowaad (If people come into view round the point), windamawishin (tell me).” Gega zhigwa nebaad oganoonigoon (when he was nearly asleep he was spoken to): “Ishte, anishinaabeg zaagewa’amoog (Look, people are coming round the point).”
(5) Nänabujū onickābạ‘tō inābit, kāwīn awiya owâbạmäsīn. Minawa ki‘kawicimō. Pīnic nīⁿjing ogītcīcimigōn. Käga‘pī kīnîbā Nänabujū.
Nenabozho onishkaabatoo inaabid, gaawiin awiya owaabamaasiin. Minawaa gii-gawishimo. Biinish niinzhing ogii-jiijimigoon. Gegapii gii-nibaa Nenabozho.
Nanabushu leaped up from where he lay to look, but he saw no one. Again he lay down to sleep. Even a second time he was deceived. Finally to sleep went Nänabushu.
Nenabozho onishkaabatoo inaabid (Nenabozho sprang up to look), gaawiin awiya owaabamaasiin (he saw no one). Minawaa gii-gawishimo (again he lay down). Biinish niinzhing ogii-jiijimigoon (even a second time he was deceived). Gegapii gii-nibaa Nenabozho (at last Nenabozho fell asleep).
(6) Ạnicinābäg kīsāgäwa∙ō∙wāt owâbamāwān awiya mitcidiyäcininit. “Nạckä! ku´ca awä´, mīmawīn Nänabuju.” Kī‘kạbā päᵉjik ‘aᵉa´ᵘ anicinābä; owâbandānạn ni‘kī´wizidạn sāgadānwạngizinunig. Mēdạc äji∙ạ∙ndawāwāngā∙i∙gät, mīdạc kā∙i∙ji∙o∙dā‘pinād īni´ᵘ ni‘känsan. Ogīkīckijānạn uzidänsạn; äjisininigibạn, ogī∙i∙jisitōn ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mî‘tawāng. Mīdạc kī∙a∙nimādcāwād ạnicinābäg.
Anishinaabeg gii-zaagewa’oowaad owaabamaawan awiya michidiyeshininid. “Nashke! gosha awe, miimawin Nenabozho.” Gii-gabaa bezhig a’aw anishinaabe; owaabandanan nikiiwizidan zaagadaanwangizinonig. Mii dash ezhi-andawaawangaa’iged*, mii dash gaa-izhi-oodaapinaad iniw nikensan. Ogii-gishkizhaanan ozidensan; ezhisininigiban, ogii-izhisitoon i’iw* mitawang. Mii dash gii-ani-maajaawaad anishinaabeg.**
Some people paddling into view round the point saw some one lying with his bottom exposed. “Why, look! yonder is some one, it must be Nänabushu.” Ashore went one of the men; he saw gosling-legs sticking out of the ashes. And so, when scratching among the ashes, he thereupon picked up the goslings. He cut off their little legs with a knife; as (the feet) were before, so back in the ashes he placed them. Thereupon the people continued on their way.
Anishinaabeg gii-zaagewa’oowaad (people came paddling round the point), owaabamaawan awiya michidiyeshininid (and they saw someone lying with his rump exposed). “Nashke! gosha awe (Look! there now), miimawin Nenabozho (it must be Nenabozho).” Gii-gabaa bezhig a’aw anishinaabe (one of the men went ashore); owaabandanan nikiiwizidan* zaagadaanwangizinonig* (he saw gosling-legs sticking out of the ashes). Mii dash ezhi-andawaawangaa’iged* (and so as he scratched about in the ashes), mii dash gaa-izhi-oodaapinaad iniw nikensan (then he picked up those goslings). Ogii-gishkizhaanan ozidensan (he cut off their little feet); ezhisininigiban (as they had lain before), ogii-izhisitoon i’iw* mitawang (he set them back so in the sand/ashes). Mii dash gii-ani-maajaawaad anishinaabeg (and then the people went on their way).
(7) A‘pī∙i∙dạc kwäskuzit Nänabujū, owâbạndānạn keyābi a‘tänig uzidänsạn. “Mīsa´ cīgwa tcîwīsiniyān,” i‘kido. Mī∙i´∙ᵘ äji∙o∙dā‘pinạng ni‘kiwizit, mī ä‘ta uzidäns mä‘kạng; minawā bäᵉjik odōdā‘pinān, mīnawā ogīmạnibidōn. “Tiwäᵉ! mäwīja∙ī∙dug kāminuzuwāt nini‘känsumạg,” i‘kidō. Mīdạc äjiạndwā∙ā∙nga∙i∙gät, kāwīn awiya äyāsīwạn nikänsimaᵉ. Mī∙i∙ạdc änād udīyạn: “Māgicā ạnicinābēg kī‘kimōdiwạg nini‘känsimaᵉ.”
Aapii dash gweshkozid Nenabozho, owaabandaanan geyaabi atenig ozidensan. “Mii sa zhigwa ji-wiisiniyaan,” ikido. Mii i’iw ezhi-oodaapinang nikiwizid, mii eta ozidens mekang; minawaa bezhig odoodaapinaan, minawaa ogii-manibidoon. “Diwe! mewizha-i-dog gaa-minozowaad ninikensomag,” ikido. Mii dash ezhi-andawaawangaa’iged*, gaawiin awiya eyaasiiwan nikensima*. Mii dash enaad odiyaan: “Maagizhaa anishinaabeg gii-gimoodiwag ninikensiman.”**
And when from slumber awoke Nänabushu, he saw (that) the little legs were still there. “Therefore now shall I eat,” he said. So when he took hold of a gosling-leg, it was a little leg only that he found; another he took up, another he pulled out. “I declare! it must have been long since my goslings were thoroughly cooked,” he said. Thereupon he searched about in the ashes, but there was nothing of his goslings. And so he said to his bottom: “Perhaps some people have stolen my goslings.”
Aapii dash gweshkozid Nenabozho (and when Nenabozho awoke), owaabandaanan geyaabi atenig ozidensan (he saw the little feet were still there). “Mii sa zhigwa ji-wiisiniyaan,” ikido (“Now then I shall eat,” he said). Mii i’iw* ezhi-oodaapinang nikiwizid* (so when he took hold of a gosling-leg), mii eta ozidens mekang (it was only a little foot that he found); minawaa bezhig odoodaapinaan (another he took up), minawaa ogii-manibidoon (another he pulled out). “Diwe! mewizha-i-dog gaa-minozowaad ninikensomag,” ikido (“I declare! it must be long since my goslings cooked through,” he said). Mii dash ezhi-andawaawangaa’iged* (then he searched about in the ashes), gaawiin awiya eyaasiiwan nikensima* (nothing of his goslings was there). Mii dash enaad odiyaan (and so he said to his rump): “Maagizhaa anishinaabeg gii-gimoodiwag ninikensiman (Perhaps people have stolen my goslings).”
(8) “Kāwīn,” udigōn.
“Käᵉgä‘t, awiya kī‘kîmōti. Nōngum kīgạtānimis.” Mēdạc kā∙i∙jikistcipōdawäd, mīdạc imāⁿ äjidiyänit. A‘pī∙i∙dạc tcayāgisut, “Tcīⁱ, tcīⁱ, tcīⁱ!”
“Gaawiin,” odigoon.
“Geget, awiya gii-giimoodi. Noongom giga-daanimiz.” Mii dash gaa-izhi-gichi-boodawed, mii dash imaa ezhi-diyenid. Aapii dash jayaagizod, “Tcīⁱ, Tcīⁱ, Tcīⁱ!”
“No,” he was told.
“To be sure, somebody has stolen (them). This moment shall you be punished.” Thereupon, when he had built up a great fire, he accordingly turned his bottom towards it. And when he was burning, “Ouch, ouch, ouch!” (his bottom) said.
“Gaawiin,” odigoon (“No,” he was told). “Geget, awiya gii-giimoodi (To be sure, someone has stolen them). Noongom giga-daanimiz (Now you shall be punished).” Mii dash gaa-izhi-gichi-boodawed (then when he built up a great fire), mii dash imaa ezhi-diyenid (he turned his rump there toward it). Aapii dash jayaagizod (and when it was burning), “Tcīⁱ, Tcīⁱ, Tcīⁱ!” (“Ouch, ouch, ouch!” — vocable carried verbatim).
(9) “E∙ä∙ᵉe, ‘Tcī, tcī, tcī,’ kā∙i∙nwäyạn kā‘kimotimigōwiyāⁿ ninikänsimạg.”
Wī‘kādạc kī∙a∙nipasigwī, kī∙a∙nimādcā nō‘pîmīng; ā‘pidci wīsạgändạm udīyạn.
“Ee-e-e, ‘Chii, chii, chii,’ gaa-inweyan gaa-gimoodimigoowiyaan* ninikensimag.” Wiika dash gii-ani-bazigwii, gii-ani-maajaa noopiming; aapiji wiisagendam odiyaan.
“Oh, ‘Ouch, ouch, ouch!’ is what you would say after I have been robbed of my goslings.” Now, a long while afterwards he rose to his feet, he started off inland; a very severe pain he suffered at his bottom.
“Ee-e-e, ‘Chii, chii, chii,’ gaa-inweyan gaa-gimoodimigoowiyaan* ninikensimag (“Oh, ‘Ouch, ouch, ouch’ is what you say after I was robbed of my goslings”). Wiika dash gii-ani-bazigwii (a long while afterward he rose to his feet), gii-ani-maajaa noopiming (he started off inland). Aapiji wiisagendam odiyaan (very severely his rump hurt him).