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.
58. NÄNABUSHU OBSCENELY JESTS WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER.
58. Nenabozho Obscenely Jests with His Grandmother.
58. Nanabushu Obscenely Jests with His Grandmother.
Narrated by Mrs. Syrette — Series 8 (Nos. 57–63), 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) Mīdạc kīwäⁿ ninguting Nänabucō pạbimiba‘tōd, kāwīn wī‘kā kibisi‘kāsī; ningutingdạc kīwäⁿ ạnipạbimiba‘tōd Nänabucu ogạnōnigōn ō‘kumisạn: “Nōjic, nīwīsāga∙ạ∙m,” udigōn.
*Mii dash giiwenh ningoding Nenabozho babimibatood, gaawiin wiikaa gibisikaasii; ningoding dash giiwenh ani-babimibatood Nenabozho oganoonigoon ookomisan: “Noozhish, niwii-zaaga’am,” odigoon.**
And now they say that once while Nänabushu was travelling about on the run, never did he come to a halt; and once they say that when he was running along, Nänabushu was addressed by his grandmother saying: “My grandson, I wish to go out,” he was told.
mii dash giiwenh — and now they say ∙ ningoding — once ∙ Nenabozho babimibatood — Nanabushu running about ∙ gaawiin wiikaa gibisikaasii* — never did he stop ∙ ningoding dash giiwenh — and once they say ∙ ani-babimibatood — as he was running along ∙ oganoonigoon ookomisan — he was addressed by his grandmother ∙ Noozhish — my grandson ∙ niwii-zaaga’am (I wish to go out; to relieve myself) ∙ odigoon — he was told by her.
(2) Nänabuc kayä wīn i‘kito: “Pä‘kädiyänin,” udinān ō‘kumisạn.
*Nenabozh gaye wiin ikido: “bekediyenin,” odinaan ookomisan.**
And Nänabushu in reply said: “Simply lean aside with your buttocks,” he said to his grandmother.
Nenabozh gaye wiin ikido — and Nanabushu for his part says ∙ bekediyenin* (simply lean aside with your buttocks; flagged: form not in lexicon, sense per Jones’s English) ∙ odinaan ookomisan — he says it to his grandmother.
(3) “Kāwīn, nōjis,” udinān, “niwīmīsī,” udinān ōjisạn.
“Gaawiin, noozhis,” odinaan, “niwii-miizii,” odinaan oozhisan.
“Nay, my grandson,” she said to him, “I have need of relief,” she said to her grandson.
Gaawiin — no ∙ noozhis — my grandson ∙ odinaan — she says to him ∙ niwii-miizii (I have need of relief; I wish to defecate) ∙ odinaan oozhisan — she says it to her grandson.
(4) “Mīgu imā mīsīn,” udinān o‘kumisạn.
“Mii go imaa miizin,” odinaan ookomisan.
“Then do it there,” he said to his grandmother.
mii go imaa — then right there ∙ miizin (defecate; imperative) ∙ odinaan ookomisan — he says it to his grandmother.
(5) Ānīc, mī wīn kägä‘t mindimōyä äjimīzīgubạnän imā. Mīdạc minawā aᵘ mindimōyä änāt ujicäⁿyạn: “Nōjis!” udinān, “tcīgā‘kwā ạni∙a∙yạba‘tōn. Nīwī∙ạ∙niudā‘pinān wâkisīndimä∙o∙yān,” udigōn.
Aaniish, mii wiin geget mindimooye ezhi-miiziigobanen imaa. Mii dash minawaa a’aw mindimooye enaad ozhishenyan: “Noozhis!” odinaan, “jiigaakwaa ani-aya-batoon. Niwii-ani-odaapinaan waa-gisiindime’oyaan,” odigoon.**
Well, it was so that the old woman relieved herself at the time in that position. And so again the old woman said to her grandson: “O my grandson!” she said to him, “by the edge of the woods do pass along as you run. I wish to get hold of something on the way to wipe myself at the anus,” he was told.
Aaniish, mii wiin geget — well, so it was indeed ∙ mindimooye ezhi-miiziigobanen imaa — the old woman relieved herself there as related ∙ mii dash minawaa a’aw mindimooye enaad ozhishenyan* — and so again the old woman said to her grandson ∙ Noozhis — my grandson ∙ odinaan — she says to him ∙ jiigaakwaa ani-aya-batoon — by the edge of the woods run along ∙ niwii-ani-odaapinaan — I wish to get hold of something along the way ∙ waa-gisiindime’oyaan* — with which to wipe myself at the anus ∙ odigoon — he was told by her.
(6) “Kitōskun kisīndimä∙u∙n,” udinān ō‘kumisạn.
“Gidooskon gisiindime’on*,” odinaan ookomisan.
“With your elbow wipe your anus,” he said to his grandmother.
gidooskon — your elbow ∙ gisiindime’on* (wipe yourself at the anus; imperative) ∙ odinaan ookomisan — he says it to his grandmother.
(7) Mīdạc kägä‘t aᵘ mindimōyä äjikisindimä∙u∙t odōskun. Mīdạc minawā aᵘ mindimōyä änāt ōcisạn: “Sạgā‘kwāng ạni∙i∙cān; niwī∙ạ∙nikisīyā‘kwisitōn nintōskun,” udinān ōcîcäⁿyạn.
Mii dash geget a’aw mindimooye ezhi-gisiindime’od odooskon. Mii dash minawaa a’aw mindimooye enaad oozhisan: “Zaagaakwaang ani-izhaan; niwii-ani-giziiyaakwizitoon* nindooskon,” odinaan ozhishenyan.**
And it was true that the old woman wiped herself at the anus with her elbow. Thereupon again the old woman said to her grandson: “Into the thick woods do you go; for, as I go I wish to clean my elbow with the limbs,” she said to her grandson.
mii dash geget a’aw mindimooye ezhi-gisiindime’od* odooskon — and it was true the old woman wiped herself at the anus with her elbow ∙ mii dash minawaa a’aw mindimooye enaad oozhisan — thereupon again the old woman said to her grandson ∙ zaagaakwaang* ani-izhaan — into the thick woods go along ∙ niwii-ani-giziiyaakwizitoon* nindooskon (I wish to clean my elbow as I go; with the branches) ∙ odinaan ozhishenyan — she says it to her grandson.
(8) Mīdạc minawā Nänabucu änāt ō‘kumisạn: “Sōbạndạn,” udinän.
*Mii dash minawaa Nenabozho enaad ookomisan: “soobandan,” odinaan.**
Whereupon again Nänabushu said to his grandmother: “Lick it with your tongue,” he said to her.
mii dash minawaa Nenabozho enaad ookomisan — whereupon again Nanabushu said to his grandmother ∙ soobandan* (lick it, with your tongue; flagged: Jones Sōbạndạn; sense per English) ∙ odinaan — he says it to her.
(9) Ānīc, mī wīn minawā äjisōbạndạnk ōtōskun, mīdạc aᵘ mindimōyä änāt ōcicäⁿyạn: “Nōjis! nawạtc pạngī i‘ku‘kwänîn.”
Aaniish, mii wiin minawaa ezhi-soobandang odooskon, mii dash a’aw mindimooye enaad ozhishenyan: “Noozhis! nawaj bangii ikokwenin.”**
Well, it was the same again, for she licked her elbow with her tongue, whereupon the old woman said to her grandson: “O my grandson! just raise your head a little.”
Aaniish, mii wiin minawaa ezhi-soobandang* odooskon — well, it was the same again, she licked her elbow ∙ mii dash a’aw mindimooye enaad ozhishenyan — whereupon the old woman said to her grandson ∙ Noozhis — my grandson ∙ nawaj bangii ikokwenin* (just raise your head a little; flagged: ikokwenin — form not in lexicon, sense per Jones’s English).
(10) “Ānic?” i‘kito Nänabucu.
“Aaniish?” ikido Nenabozho.
“Why?” said Nänabushu.
aaniish — why ∙ ikido Nenabozho — says Nanabushu.
(11) “Nīwīskwātcigä,” i‘kito mindimōyä. Nänabucu i‘kito: “Kuntạn.”
“Niwii-zikwaachige*,” ikido mindimooye. Nenabozho ikido: “Goondan.”
“I want to spit,” said the old woman. Nänabushu said: “Swallow it.”
niwii-zikwaachige* — I want to spit ∙ ikido mindimooye — says the old woman ∙ Nenabozho ikido — Nanabushu says ∙ goondan (swallow it; imperative).