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.
UDĀWĀ‘KWÄᵉ.
ODAAWAAKWE.
OTTAWA-WOMAN.
Narrated by Penesi — Series 2 (Nos. 4–43), Fort William (per Jones Part II Introduction p. ix; not credited on the story page itself).
from Ojibwa Texts collected by William Jones (1919).
(1) Ningudingsa kīⁿwäⁿ kī∙a∙i∙ndā udāwā‘kwä, niji‘käwizi.
Ningoding sa giiwenh gii-ayindaa odaawaakwe, nizhikewizi.
Now, once on a time, it is said, there was an Ottawa-Woman; she was alone.
Ningoding sa giiwenh (now, once it is said) gii-ayindaa odaawaakwe (there lived an Ottawa-Woman), nizhikewizi (she was alone).
(2) Kāwīn ininiwạn udayāwāsīn ạnōdc kägō udōji‘tōn, a‘picimunạn ka‘kina gägōn kā∙i∙jitcigäwād i‘kwäwạg, mạckimudạn kayä; mī∙i∙’ᵘ äniwä‘k kāwin ā‘pidci kạckändạⁿzī nicikäwizit.
Gaawiin ininiwan odayaawaasiin anooj gegoo odoozhitoon, apishimonan gakina gegoon gaa-izhichigewaad ikwewag, mashkimodan gaye; mii iw eniweg gaawiin aapiji gashkendanzii nizhikewizid.
She did not have a husband, yet various things she made, - mats and all the things that women are wont to make, likewise bags; for that very reason was she not so very sad that she was alone.
Gaawiin ininiwan odayaawaasiin (she did not have a husband) anooj gegoo odoozhitoon (yet she made all sorts of things), apishimonan (mats) gakina gegoon gaa-izhichigewaad ikwewag (all the things that women make), mashkimodan gaye (and bags too); mii iw eniweg (and for that reason) gaawiin aapiji gashkendanzii (she was not very sad) nizhikewizid (that she was alone).
(3) Apa‘kwaiyạn gayä udōji∙ā∙n pạ‘kibōdcigä.
Apakwayan gaye odoozhi’aan bakiboojige.
Reed mats she also made, and she spun twine.
Apakwayan gaye odoozhi’aan (reed mats she also made) bakiboojige (and she spun twine).
(4) Ningudingidạc ugi‘kändān abinōdcīyạn ayāwāt wīyawing.
Ningoding dash ogikendaan abinoojiiyan ayaawaad wiiyawing.
Now, once she felt that there was a babe within herself.
Ningoding dash ogikendaan (now once she felt) abinoojiiyan ayaawaad (that she had a child) wiiyawing (within her body).
(5) A‘pī∙i∙dạc cayīgwa wānīgi∙ā∙wạsut, pînäwạn nî‘tạm kīnīgiwạn ga‘kina tạc ạnōdc päbāmisätcig ändạswäwānagiziwāt — pînäwạg ga‘kina gayä pinäsiwạg.
Apii dash zhayiigwa waa-niigi’aawasod, binewan nitam gii-niigiwaan gakina dash anooj bebaamisejig endaswewaanagiziwaad - binewag gaye binesiwag.
And when the time came for her to be delivered, there was born first of all a ruffed grouse, and then all the various creatures of the air, as many as there were, - ruffed grouse and all the birds.
Apii dash zhayiigwa waa-niigi’aawasod (and when the time came for her to give birth), binewan nitam gii-niigiwaan (a ruffed grouse was born first) gakina dash anooj bebaamisejig (and then all the various flying creatures) endaswewaanagiziwaad (as many as there were) - binewag gaye binesiwag (ruffed grouse and all the birds).
(6) Mīwạni´ᵘ kānīgi∙ā∙t ga‘kina ogī∙a∙ninạgạnigō, mīyä‘ta pînäwạn, kāwin ugīnạgạniguzīn.
Miiw aniw gaa-niigi’aad gakina ogii-ani-naganigoo, miiy eta binewan, gaawiin ogii-naganigoosiin.
Now, by all those to whom she had given birth was she forsaken as fast as they came, save only by the ruffed grouse, by it was she not abandoned.
Miiw aniw gaa-niigi’aad gakina (now all those she had given birth to) ogii-ani-naganigoo (forsook her one after another), miiy eta binewan (save only the ruffed grouse), gaawiin ogii-naganigoosiin (by it she was not abandoned).
(7) ‘Aᵉa´ᵘ bînä gī‘kito:
A’aw bine gii-kido:
The Ruffed Grouse spoke, saying:
A’aw bine gii-kido (the Ruffed Grouse spoke).
(8) “Kāwīn nīn wī‘kā ninganạgạnāsī waᵉa´ᵘ kigạnān; a‘pạnägu mōⁿjạg pä´cu ningạtayā tibitci∙a∙yāgwän kigạnān.”
“Gaawiin niin wiikaa ninga-naganaasii wa’aw giganaan; apane go moozhag besho ningad-ayaa dibi ji-ayaagwen giganaan.
“Never will I leave this mother of ours; for always will I be near by, no matter at what place our mother may continue.”
“Gaawiin niin wiikaa ninga-naganaasii (“never will I leave) wa’aw giganaan (this mother of ours); apane go moozhag besho ningad-ayaa (always will I be near by) dibi ji-ayaagwen giganaan (no matter where our mother may be).”
(9) Mīdạc ‘iᵉi´ᵘ ā‘pidci wändciwângawizit ‘aᵉa´ᵘ pînä.
Mii dash i’iw aapiji wenji-waangawizid a’aw bine.
Such is the reason why so very gentle a ruffed grouse is.
Mii dash i’iw (and this is the reason) aapiji wenji-waangawizid (why so very gentle is) a’aw bine (the ruffed grouse).
(10) Minawā ninguding ugi‘kändān abinōdcīyạn ayāwāt.
Miinawaa ningoding ogikendaan abinoojiiyan ayaawaad.
Another time she felt that she was with child.
Miinawaa ningoding ogikendaan (another time she felt) abinoojiiyan ayaawaad (that she was with child).
(11) A‘pī∙i∙dạc minawā wädcidcisänig tcînīgi∙ā∙wạsut, minawā ugīnigi∙ā∙n ga‘kina ändaswäwānạgisinit awäⁿsīyạn.
Apii dash miinawaa wejijisenig ji-niigi’aawasod, miinawaa ogii-niigi’aan gakina endaswewaanagizinid awesiiyan.
And when the time was come again for her to be delivered, again she gave birth to all the game-folk, as many as there were.
Apii dash miinawaa wejijisenig ji-niigi’aawasod (and when the time came again for her to give birth), miinawaa ogii-niigi’aan (again she gave birth to) gakina endaswewaanagizinid awesiiyan (all the game-folk, as many as there were).
(12) Mīgō∙i∙’ᵘ mīnawā kā∙ạ∙nījinạgạnigut ka‘kina, mīyä‘ta wâbōsōn, kāwin ugīnạgạnigusīn.
Mii go iw miinawaa gaa-ani-izhinaganigod gakina, miiy eta waaboozoon, gaawiin ogii-naganigoosiin.
Now, by them all, too, was she forsaken as fast as they came, save only by the hare, she was not deserted by it.
Mii go iw miinawaa gaa-ani-izhinaganigod gakina (now by them all she was forsaken in turn), miiy eta waaboozoon (save only the hare), gaawiin ogii-naganigoosiin (by it she was not deserted).
(13) Kī∙i∙‘kitō ‘aᵉa´ᵘ wâbōs:
Gii-ikido a’aw waabooz:
Said the Hare:
Gii-ikido a’aw waabooz (said the Hare).
(14) “Kāwīn wī‘kā nīn ninganạgạnāsī waᵉa´ᵘ kigạnān,” kī∙i∙‘kidō.
“Gaawiin wiikaa niin ninga-naganaasii wa’aw giganaan,” gii-ikido.
“Never will I leave this mother of ours,” he said.
“Gaawiin wiikaa niin ninga-naganaasii (“never will I leave) wa’aw giganaan,” (this mother of ours,”) gii-ikido (he said).
(15) “Mī∙o∙māⁿ pạnä tcînạmạdabiyān.”
“Mii omaa pane ji-namadabiyaan.”
“Here in this place will I always sit.”
“Mii omaa pane ji-namadabiyaan.” (“here in this place will I always sit.”)
(16) Ạsîn idạc wâbōzunk ijināguzitug; mī∙i∙´ᵘ äjini‘kādägwän ī∙i∙māⁿ wâbōs nạmạdabit.
Asin idash waaboozoong izhinaagozidog; mii iw ezhinikaadegwen i’imaa waabooz namadabid.
There was a rock, probably in the likeness of a hare; accordingly it may have been called by the name of A-Hare-that-is-seated-there.
Asin idash waaboozoong izhinaagozidog (there was a rock, probably in the likeness of a hare); mii iw ezhinikaadegwen (accordingly it may have been so named) i’imaa waabooz namadabid (A-Hare-that-is-seated-there).
(17) Mōⁿjạg īgi´ᵘ anicinābäᵉg ugītîbādotānāwa ‘iᵉi´ᵘ wâbōs nạmạdabit ijini‘kātäg.
Moozhag igiw anishinaabeg ogii-dibaadodaanaawaa i’iw waabooz namadabid izhinikaadeg.
Always have the people referred to what was called The-hare-that-is-seated.
Moozhag igiw anishinaabeg ogii-dibaadodaanaawaa (always have the people spoken of) i’iw waabooz namadabid izhinikaadeg (what was called The-hare-that-is-seated).
Jones’s footnote (p.105, foot, keyed to “The-hare-that-is-seated¹” in the English): “The seated hare is frequently spoken of in Ojibwa mythology. It generally, though not always as here, is associated with Nänabushu.” Restored per the English gate, page-verified 2026-09-02 (p.105).
(18) Mī∙i∙dạc ‘aᵉa´ᵘ wâbōs mōⁿjạg wändcipimādisiwād anicinābäᵉg; usāgi∙ā∙n īni´ᵘ ugīn, ‘aᵉa´ᵘ wâbōs.
Mii idash a’aw waabooz moozhag wenji-bimaadiziwaad anishinaabeg; ozaagi’aan iniw ogiin, a’aw waabooz.
Therefore such is why the hare is always around where dwell the people; he loved his mother, the hare (did).
Mii idash a’aw waabooz moozhag wenji-bimaadiziwaad anishinaabeg (and this is why the hare is always about where the people live); ozaagi’aan iniw ogiin (he loved his mother), a’aw waabooz (the hare did).
(19) Mīdạc mīnawā kī∙a∙i∙ndāt ‘aᵉa´ᵘ udāwā‘kwä.
Mii dash miinawaa gii-ayindad a’aw odaawaakwe.
And so there continued Ottawa-Woman.
Mii dash miinawaa gii-ayindad (and so on lived) a’aw odaawaakwe (Ottawa-Woman).
(20) Ninguding mīnawā ugi‘kändān ayāwāt abinōndcīyạn.
Ningoding miinawaa ogikendaan ayaawaad abinoojiiyan.
Another time she felt that she was with child.
Ningoding miinawaa ogikendaan (another time she felt) ayaawaad abinoojiiyan (that she was with child).
(21) A‘pī mīnawā nāgi∙ā∙wạsut kīⁿgōⁿyaᵉ ugīnīgi∙ā∙ᵉ, ga‘kinagu ändaswäwānạgisiwād kīⁿgōⁿyag.
Apii miinawaa naagi’aawasod giigoonyan ogii-niigi’aan, gakina go endaswewaanagiziwaad giigoonyag.
When the time was come for her to be delivered, to fishes gave she birth, to all kinds of fishes, as many as there were.
Apii miinawaa naagi’aawasod (when the time came for her to give birth) giigoonyan ogii-niigi’aan (to fishes she gave birth), gakina go endaswewaanagiziwaad giigoonyag (to all kinds of fishes, as many as there were).
(22) Mīgu menawā gakina gī∙a∙ninạgạnigut unīdcānisaᵉ, mīyä‘ta ạdi‘kamägwạn, kāwīn ugīnạgạnigusīn.
Mii go miinawaa gakina gii-ani-naganigod oniijaanisan, miiy eta adikamegwan, gaawiin ogii-naganigoosiin.
So again by all her children was she forsaken as fast as they came, save only by the whitefish, she was not left by it.
Mii go miinawaa gakina gii-ani-naganigod oniijaanisan (so again by all her children she was forsaken in turn), miiy eta adikamegwan (save only the whitefish), gaawiin ogii-naganigoosiin (by it she was not left).
(23) Mī∙i∙´ᵘ kā∙i∙‘kitot ‘aᵉa´ᵘ adi‘kamäg:
Mii iw gaa-ikidod a’aw adikameg:
For this was what Whitefish said:
Mii iw gaa-ikidod a’aw adikameg (for this was what the Whitefish said).
(24) “Kāwīn nīn wī‘kā ninganạgạnāsī ‘aᵉa´ᵘ kîgạnān.
“Gaawiin niin wiikaa ninga-naganaasii a’aw giganaan.
“Never will I leave this mother of ours.
“Gaawiin niin wiikaa ninga-naganaasii (“never will I leave) a’aw giganaan (this mother of ours).
(25) Ka‘kina miziwä a‘kīng tîbisāga∙i∙gạn tcî∙a∙yāgwän, pō‘tcîmāⁿ ningạtayā,” kī∙i∙‘kidō.
Gakina miziwe akiing dibi zaaga’igan ji-ayaagwen, boozh imaa ningad-ayaa,” gii-ikido.
In every place upon earth wherever a lake may be, even there will I be,” he said.
Gakina miziwe akiing (in every place upon earth) dibi zaaga’igan ji-ayaagwen (wherever a lake may be), boozh imaa ningad-ayaa (even there will I be),” gii-ikido (he said).
(26) Mīdạc iᵘ käᵉgä‘t äjiwäbạ‘k, miziwa ayāwāt kīⁿgōⁿyạg ka‘kinagu sāga∙i∙gạnīng kīⁿgōⁿi‘kāwạn.
Mii dash geget ezhiwebak, miziwe ayaawaad giigoonyag gakina go zaaga’iganing giigoonyikaawan.
And that, sure enough, has come to pass, everywhere are there fishes, and in all the lakes are there fishes.
Mii dash geget ezhiwebak (and that, sure enough, has come to pass), miziwe ayaawaad giigoonyag (everywhere there are fishes) gakina go zaaga’iganing giigoonyikaawan (and in all the lakes there are fishes).
(27) Mīdạc minawā ạnōdc kägō inạnu‘kīgubạnän.
Mii dash miinawaa anooj gegoo inanokiigobanen.
Thereupon she took up her work again, making all sorts of things.
Mii dash miinawaa anooj gegoo (thereupon all sorts of things) inanokiigobanen (she set herself to working at again).
(28) ‘Aᵉa’ᵘ odāwā‘kwä änāwindubạnän ku‘kumisinān.
A’aw odaawaakwe enaawindobanen gokoomisinaan.
Ottawa-Woman was the name that our grandmother was called.
A’aw odaawaakwe enaawindobanen (Ottawa-Woman was she called) gokoomisinaan (our grandmother).
(29) Ānīc mī ä‘kosit.
Aaniish mii ekoozid.
Well, that is as far as (the story) goes.
Aaniish mii ekoozid (well, that is as far as the story goes).