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.
Cāngwäci wâbijäci gayä.
SHAANGWESHI WA(A)BIZHESHI GAYE.
THE MINK AND THE MARTEN.
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) Ninguding kīⁿwäⁿ cā´ngwäci; pimājạgāmäba‘tō ninguding idạc owâbạmān kīⁿgōⁿyạn.
Ningoding giiwenh shaangweshi; pimaazhagaamebatoo ningoding idash owaabamaan giigoonyan.
There was once a Mink; he was running along the shore, when of a sudden he saw a fish.
Ningoding giiwenh (once, so the story goes) shaangweshi (a Mink); pimaazhagaamebatoo (he ran along the shore) ningoding idash (and at one point) owaabamaan giigoonyan (he saw a fish).
(2) Ogusānidạc ānawimīgānād; a‘pidci omisawänimān.
Ogosaan idash aanawi miigaanaad; apiji omisawenimaan.
Now, he feared it, but he was loath to fight it; with much desire he longed for (the fish).
Ogosaan idash (now he feared it) aanawi miigaanaad (but was unwilling to fight it); apiji omisawenimaan (greatly he longed for it).
(3) “A‘pägic ạmwạg,” inändạm.
“Apegish amwag,” inendam.
“I wish that I might eat it!” he thought.
“Apegish amwag (“would that I might eat it!”), inendam (he thought).
(4) “Ānīn gädōdạmān tcinisạg?” inändạm.
“Aaniin ge-doodamaan chi-nisag?” inendam.
“What shall I do to kill it?” he thought.
“Aaniin ge-doodamaan (“what shall I do) chi-nisag?” (to kill it?”) inendam (he thought).
(5) Kiga‘kīwäba‘to dạc.
Gi-gakiiwebato dash.
Then he went running across the point of land.
Gi-gakiiwebato dash (then he went running across the point).
(6) Mīnawādạc owâbạmān kistcikinōjän, mī∙i∙dạc änād:
Miinawaa dash owaabaman gichi-ginoozhen, mii idash enaad:
So next he saw a large Pike, and this he said to it:
Miinawaa dash owaabaman gichi-ginoozhen (then next he saw a great Pike), mii idash enaad (and this he said to it):
(7) “Kistci∙ō∙gā ningīwâbạmā o‘māⁿ awạsiga‘kīwe.
“Gichi-oogaa ningii-waabamaa omaanh awasi-gakiiwe.
“A large Pickerel I saw over at the other end of this portage.
“Gichi-oogaa (“a great Pickerel) ningii-waabamaa (I saw) omaanh awasi-gakiiwe (here at the other end of the portage).
(8) Anōdc kidig, kigī‘kāmigîsạgu.”
Anooj kidig, kigiikaamig isa go.”
All sorts of things is he saying about you; indeed, he is telling unpleasant things about you.”
Anooj kidig (all sorts of things he says of you), kigiikaamig isa go.” (indeed he speaks unpleasantly of you.”)
(9) Mēdạc ä‘kidot ‘aᵉaᵘ ōgō:
Me dash ekidot a’aw oogoo:
Thereupon said Pickerel:
Me dash ekidot a’aw oogoo (thereupon said that Pickerel):
(10) “Ānīn äjimid, ‘aᵉaᵘ mayānādisid nāsawädāmi‘kạng?”
“Aaniin ezhimid, a’aw mayaanaadisid naasawedaamikang?”
“Why is he talking about me, that ugly creature of pendulous chin?”
“Aaniin ezhimid (“why does he speak so of me), a’aw mayaanaadisid (that ugly creature) naasawedaamikang?” (with the pendulous chin?”)
(11) Mīnawādec gīga‘kīwäbạ‘to. Mīnawādec kīga‘kīwäba‘tō.
Miinawaa desh gii-gakiiwebato. Miinawaa desh gii-gakiiwebato.
Then he went running back over the portage.
Miinawaa desh gii-gakiiwebato (then again he went running across the portage). Miinawaa desh gii-gakiiwebato (again he went running across the portage).
(12) Mīdạc mīnawā änād ogāwạn:
Mii dash miinawaa enaad ogaawan:
And so again he said to Pickerel:
Mii dash miinawaa enaad ogaawan (and so again he said to Pickerel):
(13) “Kistciginōjä ayā omāⁿ awäsiga‘kīwe.
“Gichi-ginoozhe ayaa omaanh awesi-gakiiwe.
“There is a big Pike over at the other end of this portage.
“Gichi-ginoozhe ayaa (“a great Pike is) omaanh awesi-gakiiwe (here at the other end of the portage).
(14) Anōdc gidig mayānādisid wä‘kạniwid.”
Anooj gidig mayaanaadisid wekaniwid.”
All sorts of things is the ugly bony creature saying about you.”
Anooj gidig (all sorts of things he says of you) mayaanaadisid wekaniwid.” (that ugly bony creature.”)
(15) Nībawa nībawatạsing kīga‘kiwäbạ‘to, ạnōdc kī∙a∙i∙nādcimud.
Niibawa niibawatasing gii-gakiiwebato, anooj gii-ayinaajimod.
Many a time back and forth he went running over the portage, all sorts of things was he reporting.
Niibawa niibawatasing (many times over and over) gii-gakiiwebato (he ran across the portage), anooj gii-ayinaajimod (all sorts of things reporting).
(16) Käga‘pī∙i∙dạc kī∙i∙‘kido:
Kegapii idash kii-ikido:
And then finally (Pike) said:
Kegapii idash kii-ikido (and finally he said):
(17) “Ningạdawimīgānā.”
“Ningad-awi-miigaanaa.”
“I will go fight him.”
“Ningad-awi-miigaanaa.” (“I will go and fight him.”)
(18) Mīdạc kînōjä kā∙i∙jikīwitā‘kuciwäd.
Mii dash ginoozhe kaa-izhi-kiiwitaakoshiwed.
And so Pike swam around to the place,
Mii dash ginoozhe kaa-izhi-kiiwitaakoshiwed (and so Pike swam around to the place).
(19) Kayä wīnidạc cāngwäci kīga‘kīwäbạ‘to, mēidạc mīgādiwād kînōjä ōgāgayä.
Gaye wiin idash shaangweshi gii-gakiiwebato, me idash miigaadiwaad ginoozhe oogaa gaye.
[And Mink went running over the portage,] whereupon with each other fought Pike and Pickerel.
Gaye wiin idash shaangweshi gii-gakiiwebato (and Mink for his part ran across the portage), me idash miigaadiwaad (whereupon they fought one another) ginoozhe oogaa gaye (Pike and Pickerel).
(20) Cāngwäcidạc ōgạnawâbạmān mīgādînit.
Shaangweshi dash ooganawaabamaan miigaadinit.
Now, Mink watched them as they fought.
Shaangweshi dash ooganawaabamaan (now Mink watched them) miigaadinit (as they fought).
(21) A‘pī∙i∙dạc wäyabạmād nisidinit, mī∙i´∙we äjinạgạmud:—
Apii idash weyabamaad nisidinit, mii iwe ezhi-nagamod: —
And when he saw them killing each other, this was the song he sang: —
Apii idash weyabamaad nisidinit (and when he saw them killing each other), mii iwe ezhi-nagamod (this is the song he sang): —
(22) “Pōnī∙i∙dīyu‘k, kāmîskwiwāpînạnitîm!”
“Poonii’idiyok, kaa-miskwiwaapiinanitiim!”
“Leave each other alone, you will draw blood.”
“Poonii’idiyok (“leave one another be), kaa-miskwiwaapiinanitiim!” (you will draw blood from each other!”)
(23) A‘pī∙i∙dạc kānisidinit mī∙i´∙ᵘ kī∙a∙yạgwādābānād, wiba‘kạmigāng ogipābīndigạnān.
Apii idash kaa-nisidinit mii iw kii-ayagwaadaabaanaad, wibakamigaang ogi-paabiindiganaan.
And after they had killed each other, he then drew them out of the water, into a little hold he fetched and put them.
Apii idash kaa-nisidinit (and after they had killed each other) mii iw kii-ayagwaadaabaanaad (then he drew them out of the water), wibakamigaang (into a little hollow) ogi-paabiindiganaan (he fetched and put them).
(24) Mīdạc îmāⁿ ka∙ī∙ndād kînwäⁿj.
Mii dash iimanh ka-iindaad ginwenzh.
And so there in that place he lived for a long time.
Mii dash iimanh ka-iindaad ginwenzh (and so there he lived for a long time).
(25) A‘pī∙i∙dạc änipîbōnining, ninguding ogīnạgickawān wâbijäciwạn, mī∙i∙dạc ä‘kidōwād māmawi tcidāwād pîpōninig.
Apii idash eni-piboonining, ningoding ogii-nagishkawaan waabizheshiwan, mii idash ekidoowaad maamawi chi-daawaad piipooninig.
And when winter came on, he once met Marten, whereupon they declared that they would live together during the winter.
Apii idash eni-piboonining (and as winter was coming on), ningoding ogii-nagishkawaan waabizheshiwan (once he met Marten), mii idash ekidoowaad (whereupon they agreed) maamawi chi-daawaad piipooninig (to live together for the winter).
(26) Mēdạc kägä‘t kī∙u∙ci‘tōwād ändāwād; mē∙i∙dạc îmāⁿ kā∙u∙ndcimāmādcāwād nạndawändcigäwād.
Me dash keget kii-oshitoowaad endaawaad; me idash iimanh kaa-onji-maamaajaawaad nandawenjigewaad.
So thereupon, indeed, they built a place where to dwell; and so from thence they departed when they went to hunt for game.
Me dash keget kii-oshitoowaad endaawaad (so indeed they built where they would dwell); me idash iimanh kaa-onji-maamaajaawaad (and so from there they set out) nandawenjigewaad (when they went hunting for game).
(27) Wâbijäci wīn, wâbōzōn onōdci∙ā∙n, pînäwạn, ạdcidạmōn, awâbigạnōdcī∙ạ∙n.
Waabizheshi wiin, waaboozoon onooji’aan, piinewan, ajidamoon, awabiganoojii’an.
As for the Marten, he killed the hares, ruffed grouse, squirrels, rats.
Waabizheshi wiin (Marten for his part), waaboozoon onooji’aan (hunted hares), piinewan (ruffed grouse), ajidamoon (squirrels), awabiganoojii’an (rats).
(28) Wīndạc cāngwäⁿji, kīⁿgōⁿyạn ä´‘ta onōdcī∙ā∙n.
Wiin dash shaangwenzhi, kiingoonyan eta onoojii’aan.
And as for Mink, fishes only he killed.
Wiin dash shaangwenzhi (and Mink for his part), kiingoonyan eta onoojii’aan (only fish he hunted).
(29) Ānāwidạc ạcạndīwạg, pạngī wâbijäci, kā´wī‘ka odạcạmāzīn cāngwaciwạn wâbōs uctîgwān.
Aanaawi dash ashandiiwag, pangii waabizheshi, kaa wiika odashamaaziin shaangwashiwan waaboos oshtigwaan.
Even though they gave each other food, yet but a little did Marten (give), never did he give Mink a rabbit’s head to eat.
Aanaawi dash ashandiiwag (even though they fed each other), pangii waabizheshi (Marten only a little), kaa wiika odashamaaziin shaangwashiwan (never did he feed Mink) waaboos oshtigwaan (a rabbit’s head).
(30) Cāngwäci idạc mindawä.
Shaangweshi idash mindawe.
And so Mink became discontented.
Shaangweshi idash mindawe (and so Mink grew discontented).
(31) Kayäwīnidạc cāngwäci kāwīn odạcạmāsīn wâbijäcīwạn ojigwạnạn.
Gaye wiin idash shaangweshi gaawiin odashamaasiin waabizheshiiwan ozhigwanan.
And now Mink did not even feed Marten a fish-tail.
Gaye wiin idash shaangweshi (and Mink for his part) gaawiin odashamaasiin waabizheshiiwan ozhigwanan (did not feed Marten so much as a fish-tail).
(32) Kayä wīndạc wâbijäci mîndawä.
Gaye wiin dash waabizheshi miindawe.
And as for himself, Marten grew sulky.
Gaye wiin dash waabizheshi miindawe (and Marten for his part grew sulky).
(33) Pānimādạc kîstcikīwädininig mī∙i∙´ᵘ kạbā‘tōd uctigwânạn, kāwīndạc udạcạmāsīn cāngwäciwạn ujigwạnạn.
Paanimaa dash gichi-giiwedininig mii iw kabaatood oshtigwaanan, gaawiin dash odashamaasiin shaangweshiwan ozhigwanan.
Now, after a while a great wind blew from the north, and that was when he was cooking some heads, but he did not feed Mink with a tail.
Paanimaa dash gichi-giiwedininig (now after a while a great north wind blew) mii iw kabaatood oshtigwaanan (that was when he was cooking heads), gaawiin dash odashamaasiin shaangweshiwan ozhigwanan (but he did not feed Mink a tail).
(34) Ningudingidạc kistcikīwädīninig, mē∙i∙dạc sāga∙ạ∙ng cāngwäci.
Ningoding idash gichi-giiwediininig, me idash saaga’ang shaangweshi.
Now, once a great wind was blowing from the north, when out of doors went Mink.
Ningoding idash gichi-giiwediininig (now once a great north wind was blowing), me idash saaga’ang shaangweshi (whereupon out of doors went Mink).
(35) “‘Äˢē, ki‘tcinōdîn!” i‘kido.
“E’e, gichi-noodiin!” ikido.
“Oh, a great wind!” he said.
“E’e, gichi-noodiin!” (“oh, a great wind!”) ikido (he said).
(36) “Ānindi wändîng?” i‘kido wâbijäci.
“Aanindi wendiing?” ikido waabizheshi.
“From whence is the wind blowing?” said Marten.
“Aanindi wendiing?” (“from where is it blowing?”) ikido waabizheshi (said Marten).
(37) “Pạndābuctigwāningîsa´ undānimạt.”
“Pandaaboshtigwaaning iisa ondaanimat.”
“From the hare’s head, of course, blows the wind.”
“Pandaaboshtigwaaning iisa ondaanimat.” (“from the hare’s head, of course, the wind blows.”)
(38) Ningunding idạc gayä wīn wâbijäci ạgwadcīng ijā,
Ningonding idash gaye wiin waabizheshi agwajiing izhaa,
And presently Marten too went outside.
Ningonding idash gaye wiin waabizheshi (and presently Marten too) agwajiing izhaa (went outside).
(39) “‘Äˢä ki‘tcinōdin!”
“E’e gichi-noodin!”
“Oh, a big wind!” (said he).
“E’e gichi-noodin!” (“oh, a great wind!”)
(40) “Ānindiwänding?”
“Aanindi wending?”
“From whence is the wind blowing?”
“Aanindi wending?” (“from where is it blowing?”)
(41) “Ujigwạnäsạn sa´‘kᵘ kīmīdcing mī∙i∙widi wändānima‘k,” i‘kido wâbijäci.
“Ozhigwanesan sa ko kiimiijing mii iwidi wendaanimak,” ikido waabizheshi.
“From that part of the fish-tail (usually) eaten is of course the place from whence the wind is blowing!” said Marten.
“Ozhigwanesan sa ko kiimiijing (“from the little fish-tail that’s usually eaten) mii iwidi wendaanimak,” (that’s where the wind blows from!”) ikido waabizheshi (said Marten).
(42) A‘pī∙i∙dac änininībininig mī∙i∙´ᵘ gīpa‘käwinidīwād.
Apii idash eni-niniibininig mii iw gii-pakewinidiiwaad.
Now, when summer came on, they separated from each other.
Apii idash eni-niniibininig (now when summer was coming on) mii iw gii-pakewinidiiwaad (then they parted from each other).
(43) Mīsaⁱ ä‘kōsit.
Mii sa ekoosit.
That is as far as (the story) goes.
Mii sa ekoosit (that is as far as it goes).