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.
53. NÄNABUSHU AND THE WOODPECKER.
Nänabushu and the Woodpecker (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) Kī∙ạ∙nimādcādạc Nänabujū.
Gii-ani-maajaa dash Nenaboozhoo.
So on his way went Nänabushu.
Gii-ani-maajaa dash Nenaboozhoo (so on his way went Nänabushu).
(2) Mīnawā ogī∙ạ∙ni∙o∙disān mämäᵉn tāᵃnit wīmbina‘kadōnk.
Miinawaa ogii-ani-odisaan memen daanid wiimbinakadoong.
Next he went to visit the red-head at where he was in the hole of a tree.
Miinawaa ogii-ani-odisaan (and next he went off to visit him) memen daanid (the red-head, where he was) wiimbinakadoong (in the hollow of a tree).
(3) Mīdạc kī‘pindigāt ändānit.
Mii dash gii-biindiged endaanid.
And so he went into where the (red-head) lived.
Mii dash gii-biindiged (and so he went inside) endaanid (where he lived).
(4) Mämäᵉdec kī∙a∙‘kwāndawä īmāⁿ pā‘täcīngwā‘kung.
Meme dash gii-akwaandawe imaa baate-zhingwaakong.
Now, the red-head climbed up a dead pine-tree.
Meme dash gii-akwaandawe (now the red-head climbed up) imaa baate-zhingwaakong (there on a dead pine-tree).
(5) Ogạnawâbạmān ändōdạminit īni’ᵘ mämäᵉn.
Oganawaabamaan endoodaminid iniw memen.
He watched what the red-head was doing.
Oganawaabamaan (he watched him) endoodaminid iniw memen (what that red-head was doing).
(6) Ạnigagwäti‘kwä∙u∙ imāⁿ mi‘tigung; ā‘pidcidạc spîmīng kitci∙ä∙nigu‘k mạdwä’kwä∙u∙t mī∙i∙māⁿ wändcipạngicininit äsibạnạn.
Ani-gagwedikwe’o imaa mitigong; aapiji dash ishpiming gichi-enigok madwekwe’od mii imaa wenji-bangishininid esibanan.
(The red-head) kept testing where to peck on his way up the tree; and when very high up was heard the sound of him pecking with all his might, then down from there came falling a raccoon.
Ani-gagwedikwe’o (he kept testing where to peck — stem flagged) imaa mitigong (there on the tree); aapiji dash ishpiming (and very high up) gichi-enigok (with all his might) madwekwe’od (the sound of him pecking was heard — stem flagged) mii imaa wenji-bangishininid esibanan (then from there came falling a raccoon).
(7) Mīwạnini kā‘kījiswād kī∙a∙cạmād Nänabujūn.
Miiwanini gaa-kiizhizwaad gii-ashamaad Nenaboozhoon.
That was what he cooked when he fed Nänabushu.
Miiwanini gaa-kiizhizwaad (that was the very thing he cooked) gii-ashamaad Nenaboozhoon (when he fed Nänabushu).
(8) Äckwāwīsinit Nänabujū, “Kayä nīn nīngạtacạmāⁿ mämä.”
Eshkwaa-wiisinid Nenaboozhoo, “Gaye niin ningad-ashamaa meme.”
When Nänabushu was done eating, “I too will feed the red-head.”
Eshkwaa-wiisinid Nenaboozhoo (when Nänabushu was done eating), “Gaye niin ningad-ashamaa meme.” (“I too will feed the red-head.”)
(9) Nīⁿjidạc u‘kạnạn ogī∙u∙dā‘pinānạn.
Niizh dash okanan ogii-odaapinaanan.
Now, two bones he took.
Niizh dash okanan (now, two bones) ogii-odaapinaanan (he took up).
(10) Mēdạc kā∙i∙jikāciga∙ạ∙ng nänīdawaya∙ī∙, mīdạc kīa‘tōd udänigumāng.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-gaashiga’ang neniidawaya’ii, mii dash gii-atood odenigomaang.**
And so when he had sharpened them at both ends, he accordingly placed them in his nostrils.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-gaashiga’ang* neniidawaya’ii* (and so when he had sharpened them at both ends — stem flagged), mii dash gii-atood (then he placed them) odenigomaang (in his nostrils).
(11) Mēdạc a‘kwāndawät imāⁿ mi‘tigung käya wīn kagwäti‘kwäᵘ.
Mii dash akwaandawed imaa mitigong gaye wiin gagwedikwe.
And when he climbed up the tree, he also tested where to peck.
Mii dash akwaandawed imaa mitigong (and so when he climbed up the tree) gaye wiin gagwedikwe (he too tested where to peck — stem flagged).
(12) Ā‘pidcidạc icpimīng äyāt, mī∙i’∙ᵘ ki‘tci∙ä∙nigu‘k ajimạdwä‘kwä∙u∙t.
Aapiji dash ishpiming e-yaad, mii iw gichi-enigok ezhi-madwekwe’od.
And when very high up he was, he then heard pecking with all his might.
Aapiji dash ishpiming e-yaad (and when he was very high up), mii iw gichi-enigok (then with all his might) ezhi-madwekwe’od (he was heard pecking — stem flagged).
(13) Mīidạc äjinisitizut.
Mii dash ezhi-nisidizod.
Thereupon, he killed himself.
Mii dash ezhi-nisidizod (and thereupon he killed himself).
(14) Kāwīn ogīnisāsīn äsibạnạn.
Gaawiin ogii-nisaasiin esibanan.
He did not kill a raccoon.
Gaawiin ogii-nisaasiin esibanan (he did not kill a raccoon).
(15) Mämändạc ogīpimādci∙i∙gōn.
Memen dash ogii-bimaaji’igoon.
And by the red-head was he brought back to life.
Memen dash ogii-bimaaji’igoon (and by the red-head he was brought back to life).
(16) Mī∙i’∙ᵘ kī∙ạ∙nimādcad.
Mii iw gii-ani-maajad.
And so on his way he went.
Mii iw gii-ani-maajad (and so on his way he went).
(17) Mīsạgunā ä‘kōzịt.
Mii sa go naa ekoozid.
And that is as far as (the story) goes.
Mii sa go naa ekoozid (and that is as far as it goes).
(1) For other versions see Nos. 35 (p. 305) and 42 (p. 357).