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.
49. NÄNABUSHU AND THE LITTLE FISHERS.
Nanabushu and the Little Fishers
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) Ningudingidạc ạnipabimosäd, ogīmi‘kawaᵉ udcīgänsaᵉ äyānit.
Ningoding idash ani-babimosed, ogii-mikawaan ojiigensan e-yaanid.
And once, when travelling along, he came upon some young Fishers.
Ningoding idash (and once) ani-babimosed (as he was walking along), ogii-mikawaan (he found them) ojiigensan (the little fishers) e-yaanid (who were there).
(2) Mīdạc änād: “Ānīndi gīgiwā?”
Mii dash e-naad: “Aaniindi gigiwaa?”
And this he said to them : “ Where is your mother?”
Mii dash e-naad (and so this he said to them): “Aaniindi (where is) gigiwaa? (your mother?)”
(3) “Pabānạndawändcigä.”
“Babaanandawenjige.”
“She is off somewhere hunting for game.”
“Babaanandawenjige. (She is off somewhere hunting for food.)”
(4) Mī∙i∙dạc kā∙i∙jipōpō‘kutcībināt, ugīmīdcināᵉ.
Mii iw dash gaa-izhi-boobookojiibinaad, ogii-miijinaan.
And when he had broken them in two at the wrist, he eased upon them.
Mii iw dash (and so then) gaa-izhi-boobookojiibinaad (when he had broken them in two at the wrist), ogii-miijinaan (he ate them).
(5) Mīdạc kī∙ạ∙nimādcād.
Mii dash gii-ani-maajaad.
And then on his way he went.
Mii dash (and so) gii-ani-maajaad (then he went off on his way).
(6) A‘pī∙i∙dac tägucing udcīg ugīmi‘kawāᵉ unīdcānesaᵉ nibunit.
Apii dash degoshing ojiig ogii-mikawaan oniijaanesan nibonid.
And when home was come the Fisher, she found that her children were dead.
Apii dash degoshing (and when she came home) ojiig (the Fisher) ogii-mikawaan (she found them) oniijaanesan (her children) nibonid (being dead).
(7) Mīdạc äjinō‘pinạnād Nänabujūn.
Mii dash ezhi-noopinanaad Nenaboozhoon.
Thereupon she pursued Nanabushu.
Mii dash (and so) ezhi-noopinanaad (then she pursued him) Nenaboozhoon (Nanabushu).
(8) A‘pī∙i∙dạc ädimint Nänabujū, ạninạgạmō Nänabujū:
Apii dash edimind Nenaboozhoo, ani-nagamo Nenaboozhoo:
And when Nanabushu was overtaken, he was going along singing a song :
Apii dash edimind (and when he was overtaken) Nenaboozhoo (Nanabushu), ani-nagamo (he was going along singing) Nenaboozhoo (Nanabushu):
(9) “Udcīgänsạg īnā kābōpō‘kudcīpināgwā.
“Ojiigensag inaa gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa.
“Little fishers are the ones that I have broken in two at the wrists.
“Ojiigensag (little fishers) inaa (indeed) gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa (are the ones I broke in two at the wrists).
(10) Udcīgänsạg īnā kābōpō‘kudcīpināgwā.
Ojiigensag inaa gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa.
Little fishers are the ones that I have broken in two at the wrists.
Ojiigensag (little fishers) inaa (indeed) gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa (are the ones I broke in two at the wrists).
(11) Udcīgänsạg īnā kābōpō‘kudcīpināgwā.
Ojiigensag inaa gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa.
Little fishers are the ones that I have broken in two at the wrists.
Ojiigensag (little fishers) inaa (indeed) gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa (are the ones I broke in two at the wrists).
Ojiigensag (little fishers) inaa (indeed) gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa (are the ones I broke in two at the wrists).”
(12) Udcīgänsạg īnā kābōpō‘kudcīpināgwā.”
Ojiigensag inaa gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa.
Little fishers are the ones that I have broken in two at the wrists.”
Ojiigensag (little fishers) inaa (they are the ones) gaa-poopookojiibinagwaa (that I have broken in two at the wrists).”
(13) Udcīganidạc ogạnōnigōn: “Kīnmāwīn, kigīnisāg ninīdcānisạg!”
Ojiigan idash oganoonigoon: “Giin maawiin, gigii-nisaag ni-niijaanisag!”
By the Fisher was he addressed: “Then it was you, you slew my children !”
Ojiigan idash (and the Fisher) oganoonigoon (addressed him): “Giin maawiin (then it was surely you), gigii-nisaag (you killed them) ni-niijaanisag! (my children!)”
(14) “Kāwīn!” i‘kidō Nänabujū.
“Gaawiin!” ikido Nenaboozhoo.
“No!” said Nanabushu.
“Gaawiin! (No!)” ikido (says) Nenaboozhoo (Nanabushu).
(15) A‘pī∙i∙dac ädimint, mi‘tigunk kī∙ā∙‘pạgizo.¹
Apii dash edimind, mitigong gii-apagizo.
And when he was overtaken, he turned instantly into a log. (1)
Apii dash edimind (and when he was overtaken), mitigong (onto a log) gii-apagizo (he threw himself). (1)
(16) Udcīgidạc ugīmīgādān ‘iᵉi’ᵘ mi‘tik, ā‘pidci ugīpīgwạndān ᵉi‘i’ᵘ mi‘tig.
Ojiig idash ogii-miigaadaan i’iw mitig, aapiji ogii-biigwandaan i’iw mitig.
And the Fisher fought the log, ever so much did she tear the log with her teeth.
Ojiig idash (and the Fisher) ogii-miigaadaan (fought it) i’iw mitig (that log), aapiji (ever so much) ogii-biigwandaan (she chewed it to pieces with her teeth) i’iw mitig (that log).
(17) Mēdạc kägä‘t Nänabujū wīsạgändạnk udiyānk.
Mii dash geget Nenaboozhoo wiisagendang odiyaang.
Thereupon truly did Nanabushu suffer pain in his bottom.
Mii dash geget (and so truly) Nenaboozhoo (Nanabushu) wiisagendang (felt pain) odiyaang (in his bottom).
(49) Nanabushu and the Little Fishers
(1) Mitigong gii’aapagizo, “he turned instantly into a log;” literally, “into or on to a log he threw himself,” but the sense is as given in the translation.