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.
PĪJYᵘ.
BIZHIW.
THE LYNX.
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) Nīguding isa kīⁿwäⁿ, ā∙ī∙ndāgobạn pījyᵘ.
Ningoding isa giiwenh, ayindaagoban bizhiw.
Now, once on a time, they say, there used to live a Lynx.
Ningoding isa giiwenh (now, once upon a time, they say), ayindaagoban bizhiw (there used to dwell a Lynx).
(2) Mī∙i∙māⁿ ändạjinạndawändcigäd, ạnōdcigägōn onî‘tōn—wâbōzōn pinäwạn kayä cīcībạn kayä ninguding onisān.
Mii imaa endazhi-nandawenjiged, anooji gegoon onitoon - waaboozoon binewan gaye zhiishiiban gaye ningoding onisaan.
There at the place where he hunted, every kind of thing he killed, - hares and ruffed grouse and ducks he sometimes killed.
Mii imaa endazhi-nandawenjiged (and there at the place where he hunted), anooji gegoon onitoon (every kind of thing he killed) — waaboozoon binewan gaye zhiishiiban gaye (hares and ruffed grouse and ducks) ningoding onisaan (he sometimes killed).
(3) Ningudingidạc ogī∙u∙disigōn wīdcipijiwạn, mī∙i∙dạc änādcimu‘tāgud:
Ningoding idash ogii-odisigoon wiiji-bizhiwan, mii dash enajimotaagod:
Now, once he was visited by a fellow-Lynx. And this was what he was told:
Ningoding idash (and once) ogii-odisigoon wiiji-bizhiwan (he was visited by a fellow Lynx), mii dash enajimotaagod (and this was what he was told):
(4) “Päji‘k wạdciᵘ i´widi ayāmạdgạd, kīckā‘pi‘kā, gäga‘tsa ki‘tci∙u∙nicicin inābing wāsa a‘ki täbābạmināgwạd.
“Bezhig wajiw iwidi ayaamagad, giishkaabikaa, geget sa gichi-onizhishin inaabing waasa aki debaabaminaagwad.
“There is a mountain off yonder, it has steep sides, and truly a very fine view of distant country can be seen.
“Bezhig wajiw iwidi ayaamagad (there is a mountain off yonder), giishkaabikaa (it has steep, sheer rock sides), geget sa gichi-onizhishin (truly it is very fine), inaabing (when one looks) waasa aki debaabaminaagwad (the far-off country can be seen at a distance).
(5) Nạckä ijān kawâbạndān.”
Nashke izhaan ga-waabandaan.”
Better go and see it.”
Nashke izhaan (go ahead, go) ga-waabandaan (and you will see it).”
(6) “Äⁿᵉ, nīngạdija,” i‘kido ‘aᵉaᵘ pījyᵘ.
“Enh’, ningad-izhaa,” ikido a’aw bizhiw.
“Yes, I will go,” said Lynx.
“Enh’, ningad-izhaa (yes, I will go),” ikido a’aw bizhiw (said that Lynx).
(7) Mī∙i∙dạc wayābạng kīmādcād pījyᵘ.
Mii dash wayaabang gii-maajaad bizhiw.
And so on the morrow away started Lynx.
Mii dash wayaabang (and so on the morrow) gii-maajaad bizhiw (away started Lynx).
(8) A‘pī∙i∙dạc kāsāgạtciwäd mī∙i∙´ᵘ kīwâbạndạng wāsa´ a‘ki täbināgwạdinig.
Apii dash gaa-zaagajiwed mii iw gii-waabandang waasa aki debinaagwadinig.
And when he came out upon the mountain, he thereupon saw afar the country that could be seen at a distance.
Apii dash gaa-zaagajiwed (and when he came up out onto the mountain), mii iw gii-waabandang (thereupon he saw) waasa aki debinaagwadinig (the far-off country that could be seen at a distance).
(9) Mī∙i∙dạc kā∙i∙ji∙o∙nạbid inābit, pä‘kic nīskīngwänit.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-onabid inaabid, bekish niiskiingwenid.
And so, after he was seated, he looked, and at the same time he was squinting.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-onabid (and so, after he sat down) inaabid (he looked), bekish niiskiingwenid (and at the same time he was squinting).
(10) Mīsa∙ⁱ∙ ä‘kōsit.
Mii sa ekoozid.
That is as far as (the story) goes.
Mii sa ekoozid (that is as far as the story goes).