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.
50. NÄNABUSHU AND THE RUFFED GROUSE.
Nänabushu and the Ruffed Grouse
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) Menawā kī∙ạ∙nimādcā Nänabujū ā‘pidci kāgīdcidīyät.
Miinawaa gii-ani-maajaa Nenaboozhoo aapiji gaagiijidiiyed.
On his way continued Nänabushu with a bottom exceedingly sore.
Miinawaa (again) gii-ani-maajaa (he went on his way) Nenaboozhoo (Nänabushu) aapiji (very much) gaagiijidiiyed (being sore in the rear-end).
(2) Mīnawā pinänsaᵉ umi‘kawāᵉ nạmạdạbinit. “Ānīn äjini‘kāsud kigiwā?”
Miinawaa binensan omikawaan namadabinid. “Aaniin e-zhinikaazod gi-giwaa?”
Next some young Ruffed Grouse he found, that were sitting down. “What is the name of your mother?”
Miinawaa (again) binensan (some young Ruffed Grouse) omikawaan (he found them) namadabinid (as they were sitting). “Aaniin (what) e-zhinikaazod (is named) gi-giwaa? (your mother?)”
(3) “Kuckungäsi.”
”Goshkogesi.”
A Frightener.”
“Goshkogesi.” (Goshkogesi — ‘A Frightener.’)
Goshkogesi (a frightener — the name carried as spoken).
(4) “Nābisa∙a∙ kuckungäsi!” i‘kidō Nänabujū.
“Naabisa’a goshkogesi!” ikido Nenaboozhoo.
„The deuce! she is a frightener,” said Nänabushu.
“Naabisa’a (the deuce!) goshkogesi! (a frightener!)” ikido (said) Nenaboozhoo (Nänabushu).
(5) Mēdạc kā∙i∙jimīdcinād, mīdạc kī∙ạ∙nimādcād.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-miijinaad, mii dash gii-ani-maajaad.
And so when he had eased himself upon them, then on his way he went.
Mii dash (and so) gaa-izhi-miijinaad (when he had eased himself upon them), mii dash (then) gii-ani-maajaad (on his way he went).
(6) A‘pī∙i∙dạc tägucing kîstcipinä owâbạmāᵉ unīdcānisaᵉ mōwiwinit. “Awänän kā‘tōtōnäg?”
Apii idash degoshing gichi-bine owaabamaan oniijaanisan moowiwinid. “Awenen gaa-toodooneg?”
Now, when home was come the old Ruffed Grouse, she saw her children covered with dung. “Who did that to you?”
Apii idash (now, when) degoshing (she arrived home) gichi-bine (the old Ruffed Grouse) owaabamaan (she saw them) oniijaanisan (her children) moowiwinid (being covered with dung). “Awenen (who) gaa-toodooneg? (did that to you?)”
(7) “Nänabuju ningīmīdcinigunān.”
“Nenaboozhoo ningii-miijinigonaan.”
“By Nänabushu were we eased upon.”
“Nenaboozhoo (Nänabushu) ningii-miijinigonaan. (eased himself upon us.)”
(8) Kinickādizi ‘aᵉa’ᵘ pinä.
Gii-nishkaadizi a’aw bine.
Angry was the Ruffed Grouse.
Gii-nishkaadizi (she was angry) a’aw (that) bine (Ruffed Grouse).
(9) Ogīnō‘pinạnān idạc Nänabujūn, nīgānidạc änī∙i∙jānit kī‘pōni a pinä.
Ogii-noopinanaan idash Nenaboozhoon, niigaan idash ani-izhaanid gii-poonii a bine.
So she followed after Nänabushu, and in the path ahead of him the Ruffed Groused alighted.
Ogii-noopinanaan idash (so she followed after him) Nenaboozhoon (Nänabushu), niigaan idash (and ahead) ani-izhaanid (where he was going) gii-poonii (she alighted) a bine (that Ruffed Grouse).
(10) Kīckābi‘kāng ạnī∙i∙jābạn Nänabujū, pinädạc kī‘kāzu cingubī‘kāng.
Giishkaabikaang ani-izhaaban Nenaboozhoo, bine dash gii-kaazo zhingobiikaang.
By the edge of a cliff was Nänabushu going, and the Ruffed Grouse was hidden among the balsams.
Giishkaabikaang (at the edge of a cliff) ani-izhaaban (was going) Nenaboozhoo (Nänabushu), bine dash (and the Ruffed Grouse) gii-kaazo (was hidden) zhingobiikaang (among the balsams).
(11) A‘pī∙i∙dạc imāⁿ pämusät Nänabujū, pînä tcäse‘kā kīpạsigu∙u∙, änīgu‘k gita‘tawāngä.
Apii idash imaa bemosed Nenaboozhoo, bine jesekaa gii-bazigwii, enigok gidatawaange.**
And when by the place Nänabushu passed, the Ruffed Grouse suddenly flew up; with all her might she flapped her wings.
Apii idash (and when) imaa (there) bemosed (as he walked by) Nenaboozhoo (Nänabushu), bine (the Ruffed Grouse) jesekaa* (suddenly — stem flagged) gii-bazigwii (flew up), enigok (with all her might) gidatawaange* (she flapped her wings — stem flagged).
(12) Ā‘tā! mī a‘panä Nänabuju kā∙i∙jikā‘kābi‘kisä.
*Aataa! mii apane Nenaboozhoo gaa-izhi-gaakaabikise.**
Ah! then off tumbled Nänabushu over the precipice.
Aataa! (ah!) mii apane (then off) Nenaboozhoo (Nänabushu) gaa-izhi-gaakaabikise* (tumbled over the precipice).
(13) Mēdạc kītcīcābi‘kitiyäcink.
Mii dash gii-jiishaabikidiyeshing.
And then, alighting upon his buttocks, down he slid.
Mii dash (and then) gii-jiishaabikidiyeshing (landing on his buttocks, he slid down the rock — stem flagged).
(14) Kī∙i∙nābit imāⁿ kīckābi‘kānk, owâbạndānạn umīgīn agu‘känik imāⁿ asînīng.
Gii-inaabid imaa giishkaabikaang, owaabandaanan omiigiin agokenig imaa asiniing.
On looking up at the precipice, he beheld his sores sticking there to the rock.
Gii-inaabid (when he looked) imaa (there) giishkaabikaang (at the precipice), owaabandaanan (he saw them) omiigiin (his sores) agokenig (sticking) imaa (there) asiniing (to the rock).
(15) “Wā‘kunạg kīgạtigōm,” udidān.
“Waakonag giga-digoom,” odidaan.
„Lichens shall you be called,” he said to them.
“Waakonag (lichens) giga-digoom (you shall be called),” odidaan (he said to them).
(16) Mīdạc īgi’ᵘ wā‘kunạg Nänabujū udūmigiwidiyān.
Mii dash igiw waakonag Nenaboozhoo odoomigiiwidiyaan.
And so the lichens were sores from Nänabushu’s bottom.
Mii dash (and so) igiw (those) waakonag (lichens) Nenaboozhoo (Nänabushu’s) odoomigiiwidiyaan (were the sores of his bottom).
(17) Mīnawā mi‘tigōnsạn ugī∙ạ∙nimindciminānạn. “Mîskwābimạgōg kīgạtigōm tciạni∙a∙‘kīyunk.”
*Miinawaa mitigoonsan ogii-ani-minjiminaanan. “Miskwaabiimagoog giga-digoom ji-ani-akiiyong.”**
Next he went grabbing hold of the shrubs as he passed among them. “Red willows shall you be called till the end of the world.”
Miinawaa (again) mitigoonsan (the shrubs) ogii-ani-minjiminaanan* (he went grabbing hold of as he passed). “Miskwaabiimagoog (red willows) giga-digoom (you shall be called) ji-ani-akiiyong (till the end of the world).”