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.
52. NÄNABUSHU IS MIRACULOUSLY FED BEAR-GREASE.
Nanabushu is Miraculously fed Bear-Grease (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’ ạnipa pimōsägubạn Nänabujū, mē∙i∙dạc a‘pī wädisāt adcidamōn tānit; kī‘pīndigädạc ändānit.
Ningoding isa ani-babimosegoban Nenaboozhoo, mii dash apii wedisaad ajidamoon daanid; gii-piindige dash endaanid.
Now, once upon a time on his way went Nänabushu walking, and it was then that he came where a squirrel lived; and he went into where (the squirrel) lived.
Ningoding isa (now, once upon a time) ani-babimosegoban Nenaboozhoo (along Nänabushu went walking), mii dash apii (and it was then) wedisaad ajidamoon daanid (that he came upon the squirrel where he dwelt); gii-piindige dash (and he went inside) endaanid (where (the squirrel) lived).
(2) Mī∙i∙dạc änändạng adcidạmō: “Ningatacạmā Nänabujū.”
Mii dash enendang ajidamoo: “Ningad-ashamaa Nenaboozhoo.”
Now, this thought the squirrel: “I will feed Nänabushu.”
Mii dash enendang ajidamoo (now, this is what the squirrel thought): “Ningad-ashamaa Nenaboozhoo (I will feed Nänabushu).”
(3) Mēdạc pā‘täwīyās kī∙a∙‘tōd onāgạning, mīnawādec päᵉjik onāgāns ogīmạmōn wī∙a∙‘tōd pîmidä.
Mii dash baate-wiiyaas gii-atood onaaganing, miinawaa dash bezhig onaagaans ogii-mamoon wii-atood bimide.
And so when some dry meat he had placed into a bowl, he next took a small vessel in which to put some fat.
Mii dash baate-wiiyaas (and so some dried meat) gii-atood onaaganing (when he had placed it into a bowl), miinawaa dash bezhig onaagaans (and next a small dish) ogii-mamoon wii-atood bimide (he took, to put some grease in it).
(4) Mēdạc kā∙i∙ji∙a∙dā‘pinād udisinīmạn, mīdạc mō‘komān äjipajiba∙o∙dizut.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-adaapinaad odisiniiman, mii dash mookomaan ezhi-bazhiba’odizod.
Accordingly, taking hold of his stone (2), he then pierced himself (there) with a knife.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-adaapinaad odisiniiman (accordingly, when he took hold of his stone), mii dash mookomaan (then with a knife) ezhi-bazhiba’odizod (he pierced himself).
(5) Medac imāⁿ pimidä wändcidciwạninig, pä‘kic nōndāguzi: “Tcī tci tci tcī tci tcī, ma‘ku pimidä!”
Mii dash imaa bimide wenjijiwaninig, bekish noondaagozi: “Jii ji ji jii ji jii, mako-bimide!”
Whereupon from thence flowed some grease, at the same time he was heard saying: “Tci tci tci tci tci tci, bear-grease!”
Mii dash imaa bimide (whereupon from there grease) wenjijiwaninig (flowed out), bekish noondaagozi (at the same time he was heard sounding): “Jii ji ji jii ji jii, mako-bimide!” (“Jii ji ji jii ji jii, bear-grease!”)
(6) Medac kī∙a∙cạmād Nänabijūn.
Mii dash gii-ashamaad Nenaboozhoon.
Thereupon he fed Nänabushu.
Mii dash gii-ashamaad Nenaboozhoon (thereupon he fed Nänabushu).
(7) Kā∙i∙skwāwīsinit Nänabujū, “Kayä nîn nīngatacạmā adcidạmō,” inändạm.
Gaa-ishkwaa-wiisinid Nenaboozhoo, “Gaye niin ningad-ashamaa ajidamoo,” inendam.
After Nänabushu had finished eating, “So will I too feed the squirrel,” he thought.
Gaa-ishkwaa-wiisinid Nenaboozhoo (after Nänabushu had finished eating), “Gaye niin ningad-ashamaa ajidamoo (I too will feed the squirrel),” inendam (he thought).
(8) Mēdạc mō‘komān odō‘pinạng, mīdạc äji∙u∙dā‘pinät udạsinīmạn.
Mii dash mookomaan odoopinang, mii dash ezhi-odaapinaad odasiniiman.
Thereupon taking a knife, he reached hold of his stone.
Mii dash mookomaan odoopinang, (thereupon he took up a knife), mii dash ezhi-odaapinaad odasiniiman (and then he took hold of his stone).
(9) Mēdạc kā∙i∙jipajigibawād udạsinīmạn, mī∙i’∙ᵘ kīnisīdizut.
*Mii dash gaa-izhi-bazhigibawaad odasiniiman, mii iw gii-nisidizod.**
And so when he had pierced his stone, he accordingly killed himself. (3)
Mii dash gaa-izhi-bazhigibawaad* odasiniiman (and so when he had pierced his stone — stem flagged), mii iw gii-nisidizod (he accordingly killed himself).
(10) Ạdcidạmōdạc ogīpāpōdānān Nänabujūn, mī∙i’∙ᵘ kī‘pîmādci∙ā∙d.
Ajidamoo dash ogii-baapoodaanaan Nenaboozhoon, mii iw gii-pimaaji’aad.
Now, the squirrel breathed upon Nänabushu, whereupon he fetched him back to life.
Ajidamoo dash ogii-baapoodaanaan Nenaboozhoon (now, the squirrel breathed upon Nänabushu), mii iw gii-pimaaji’aad (whereupon he brought him back to life).
(1) For other versions see Nos. 36 (p. 311) and 40 (p. 341).
(2) A synonyme for “testes.”
(3) It is common with the Ojibwas of Canada to have Nänabushu die and then be fetched back to life, as here; the same, too, with his grandmother. This element is rather out of keeping with the tales of other Ojibwas.