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.
Wīndigō Näsint.
Wiindigoo Nesind
When a Wīndigō was Slain.
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 päjik ạnicinābä kī‘pi∙u∙ndcipāgobạn ōwidi Pā∙u∙‘ting; pạngī pō‘kwāwigạnä.
Ningoding bezhig anishinaabe gii-bi-onjibaagoban owidi Baa’oting; bangii bookwaawigane.
Once a certain man came from yonder Sault; he was slightly hunched in the back.
Ningoding bezhig anishinaabe (once a certain man) gii-bi-onjibaagoban (came from) owidi Baa’oting (yonder Sault); bangii bookwaawigane (he was slightly hunched in the back).
(2) Mīdạc¹ omāⁿ kīna∙ā∙ngabigobạnän, i‘kwäwạn ōmā kāwīdigämād mägwā ạnōdc kī∙i∙jictcigäwād ạnicinābäg, kīmạnidōkāsowād.
Mii dash omaanh gii-na’aangabigobanen, ikwewan omaa gaa-wiidigemaad megwaa anooj gii-izhichigewaad anishinaabeg, gii-manidookaazowaad.
And so here¹ he dwelt with his wife’s family; for here he had married a woman at a time when the people were accomplishing all sorts of things, when they did miracles through the manitou.
Mii dash omaanh gii-na’aangabigobanen (and so here he settled and dwelt), ikwewan omaa gaa-wiidigemaad (having married a woman here) megwaa anooj gii-izhichigewaad anishinaabeg (at a time when the people were doing all sorts of things), gii-manidookaazowaad (when they worked wonders through the manitou).
¹ On the north shore of Lake Superior, either at Nipigun or Kaministiqua.
¹ On the north shore of Lake Superior, either at Nipigun or Kaministiqua.
(3) Mōⁿjạg kīkistciwī‘kundiwạg wänicicing mīdcîm; kāwī‘kasa ogī∙a∙cạmāsiwāwān īni‘ᵘ ạnicinābän, kāwī‘kāgạnạgä oginạndumāsiwāwān kägō wā∙i∙jutcigäwādîn.
Moozhag gii-gichi-wiikondiwag wenizhishing miijim; gaa wiikaa sa ogii-ashamaasiwaawaan iniw anishinaaben, gaawiin ganage ogii-nandomaasiwaawaan gegoo waa-izhochigewaadin waa-izhichigewaadin.
Many a great feast they celebrated with food that was choice; yet never did they feed that man, not even did they ever invite him when they were going to bring something to pass.
Moozhag gii-gichi-wiikondiwag (many a great feast they held) wenizhishing miijim (with food that was choice); gaa wiikaa sa ogii-ashamaasiwaawaan iniw anishinaaben (yet never did they feed that man), gaawiin ganage ogii-nandomaasiwaawaan (nor did they ever invite him) gegoo waa-izhochigewaadin [waa-izhichigewaadin] (when they were going to do something).
(4) Ningudingidạc päbōng kī∙ạ∙mạnisōwạg kīstcitcingwänik a‘ki, kīmạmāsi‘kā a‘ki.
Ningoding idash beboong gii-amanisowaag gichi-jiingwenig aki, gii-mamaazikaa aki.
Now, once in the winter-time they became alarmed at a great rumbling in the earth, the earth shook.
Ningoding idash beboong (now once in the winter) gii-amanisowaag (they became alarmed) gichi-jiingwenig aki (at a great rumbling in the earth), gii-mamaazikaa aki (the earth shook).
(5) Mīdạc kīsägisiwād.
Mii dash gii-zegiziwaad.
Thereupon they became afraid.
Mii dash gii-zegiziwaad (thereupon they became afraid).
(6) “Mīsa awä wīndigō,” kī∙i∙‘kidōwạg.
“Mii sa awe wiindigoo,” gii-ikidowag.
“It is the Wīndigō,” they said.
“Mii sa awe wiindigoo,” (“it is the Wiindigoo,”) gii-ikidowag (they said).
(7) Äckạmigo päcu’ kī‘pi∙a∙yāwạn.
Eshkam igo besho gii-bi-ayaawan.
Nearer it kept coming.
Eshkam igo besho gii-bi-ayaawan (nearer and nearer it kept coming).
(8) Mīdạc iwa‘pī kī∙a∙‘tōwād anō‘kā‘tcigạn; ānugīgạgwädcindiwād; kāwīn dạc awiya ugīkaskitōsīn tcimīgānād wīndigōn.
Mii dash iw apii gii-atoowaad anookaajigan; aano-gii-gagwejindiwaad; gaawiin dash awiya ogii-gashkitoosiin ji-miigaanaad wiindigoon.
Accordingly then they made an offering of goods; they put questions one to another, but to no purpose; and no one had power to fight against the Wīndigō.
Mii dash iw apii gii-atoowaad anookaajigan (and then they made an offering of goods); aano-gii-gagwejindiwaad (they questioned one another in vain); gaawiin dash awiya ogii-gashkitoosiin (but no one was able) ji-miigaanaad wiindigoon (to fight the Wiindigoo).
(9) Käga‘pī∙i∙gu ā‘pidci kīmạmāsi‘kā a‘ki.
Gegapii igo aapiji gii-mamaazikaa aki.
And at last ever so much did the earth tremble.
Gegapii igo aapiji gii-mamaazikaa aki (and at last ever so much did the earth tremble).
(10) Kāwīn gayä ogaskitōsīnāwa iskotä tcipîskạnäg; ānind gayä ạnicinabäg kāwīn mạmi‘kawisiwạg.
Gaawiin gaye ogashkitoosiinawaa ishkote ji-biskaneg; aanind gaye anishinaabeg gaawiin mamikawisiiwag.
And they were unable to start a fire into a blaze; and some of the people too were (scared) out of their senses.
Gaawiin gaye ogashkitoosiinawaa ishkote ji-biskaneg (and they could not make a fire blaze up); aanind gaye anishinaabeg gaawiin mamikawisiiwag (and some of the people were out of their senses).
(11) Käga‘pī∙i∙dac onạndumāwān īni‘ᵘ ạnicinābän pwā‘kwāwigạnänit.
Gegapii idash onandomaawaan iniw anishinaaben bwaakwaawiganenid.
So finally they sent for the man with the hunch in his back.
Gegapii idash onandomaawaan iniw anishinaaben (so finally they sent for the man) bwaakwaawiganenid (with the hunch in his back).
(12) Ogīpạgidînạmạwāwān ī∙i∙‘ᵘ obạgidcigäwiniwa, ogī∙ī∙guwān idạc:
Ogii-bagidinamawaawaan i’iw obagijigewiniwaa, ogii-igowaan idash:
They presented him with the offerings they had made. And they were told:
Ogii-bagidinamawaawaan i’iw obagijigewiniwaa (they presented him with the offerings they had made), ogii-igowaan idash (and they were told by him):
(13) “Mīna iᵘ pîdcīnạg mi‘kwänimiyäg nōngum sägiziyäg?”
“Mii na iw bijiinag mikwenimiyeg noongom zegiziyeg?”
“Is it only now, when you are scared, that you think of me?”
“Mii na iw bijiinag mikwenimiyeg (“is it only now that you think of me) noongom zegiziyeg?” (now that you are afraid?”)
(14) Kāwīn ogī∙o∙dā‘pinaⁿzīnạn īni‘ᵘ ānumīnint.
Gaawiin ogii-odaapinanziinan iniw aano-miinind.
He did not accept what was vainly offered him.
Gaawiin ogii-odaapinanziinan (he did not accept) iniw aano-miinind (what was offered him in vain).
(15) Gī∙ạ∙nisāga∙ạ∙m, ändāt kī∙i∙jād.
Gii-ani-zaaga’am, endaad gii-izhaad.
He went on out of doors, to where he dwelt he went.
Gii-ani-zaaga’am (he went on out of doors), endaad gii-izhaad (to where he dwelt he went).
(16) Ogi∙ạ∙nōnān wīwạn wäwīp oma‘kizinạn tci∙o∙ji‘tōnit.
Ogii-anoonaan wiiwan wewiib omakizinan ji-ozhitoonid.
He had his wife quickly make him some moccasins.
Ogii-anoonaan wiiwan (he had his wife) wewiib omakizinan ji-ozhitoonid (quickly make him moccasins).
(17) ‘Aᵉa’widạc i‘kwä wäwīp kīma‘kizini‘kä.
A’aw idash ikwe wewiib gii-makizinike.
And the woman hurriedly went to work upon the moccasins.
A’aw idash ikwe (and the woman) wewiib gii-makizinike (hurriedly went to work on the moccasins).
(18) Cīgwa ā‘pidci päcu’ pī∙a∙ya wīndigō.
Zhigwa aapiji besho bi-ayaa wiindigoo.
Already very close was the Wīndigō now coming.
Zhigwa aapiji besho bi-ayaa wiindigoo (already very close was the Wiindigoo now coming).
(19) Päpäcigwäg pasgwäginōn.
Bebezhigweg basgweginoon.
There was a dressed skin for each foot.
Bebezhigweg basgweginoon (there was a dressed skin for each foot).
(20) Mīdạc kīmādcād ‘aᵉa’ᵘ pwā‘kwāwigạnk.
Mii dash gii-maajaad a’aw bwaakwaawigang.
Thereupon departed the hunchback.
Mii dash gii-maajaad a’aw bwaakwaawigang (thereupon the hunchback departed).
(21) Āja ānind anicinābäg kāwīngạnạgä mādcīsīwạg.
Aazha aanind anishinaabeg gaawiin ganage maajiisiiwag.
Already some of the people did not even move.
Aazha aanind anishinaabeg (already some of the people) gaawiin ganage maajiisiiwag (did not even move).
(22) “Ayāngwāmisin!” odinān wīwạn.
“Ayaangwaamizin!” odinaan wiiwan.
“Do you take care!” he said to his wife.
“Ayaangwaamizin!” (“do you take care!”) odinaan wiiwan (he said to his wife).
(23) Sāga∙i∙gạn i∙i∙māⁿ kī∙a∙yāni, wä‘kwāgamīng cingwā‘kwạg ayāwạg.
Zaaga’igan imaanh gii-ayaani, wekwaagamiing zhingwaakwag ayaawag.
A lake was over there, at the far end (of which) were some pines.
Zaaga’igan imaanh gii-ayaani (a lake was over there), wekwaagamiing zhingwaakwag ayaawag (at its far end were some pines).
(24) “Wābạng kegicäp pī∙i∙nābi‘kạn i∙i∙māⁿ cingwā‘kwạg kī∙a∙yāwād.
Waabang gigizheb bi-inaabikan imaanh zhingwaakwag gii-ayaawaad.
“To-morrow, in the morning, do you come and look there where the pines are.
Waabang gigizheb (tomorrow in the morning) bi-inaabikan imaanh (do you come and look there) zhingwaakwag gii-ayaawaad (where the pines are).
(25) Ningạwâbạmā.
Ninga-waabamaa.
I am going to watch for him.
Ninga-waabamaa (I am going to watch for him).
(26) A‘pī∙i∙dạc mīgādiyāng, mānū wīni‘kạm tạnōndāguzi.
Apii idash miigaadiyaang, maanoo wiinikam wiinitam da-noondaagozi.
And when we fight, just let the cry of him be heard first.
Apii idash miigaadiyaang (and when we fight), maanoo wiinikam wiinitam da-noondaagozi (just let his cry be heard first).
(27) Pānimānīn iskwātci ningạnōndāguz,” ki∙i∙‘kito.
Baanimaa niin ishkwaaji ninga-noondaagoz,” gii-ikido.
Not till afterwards will my cry be heard,” he said.
Baanimaa niin ishkwaaji ninga-noondaagoz,” (not till afterwards will my cry be heard,”) gii-ikido (he said).
(28) Wayābạngidạc kegijäp ki∙a∙wi∙i∙nābi ‘aᵉa´ᵘ i‘kwä.
Wayaabang idash gigizheb gii-awi-inaabi a’aw ikwe.
So on the morrow, in the morning, thither went the woman to look.
Wayaabang idash gigizheb (so on the morrow in the morning) gii-awi-inaabi a’aw ikwe (the woman went there to look).
(29) Mī∙i∙dạc äjikīwâbạmād sāgi‘kwäninit, mīdạc mīnawā kīcạgaski‘tānit.
Mii dash ezhi-gii-waabamaad zaagikweninid, mii dash miinawaa gii-zhagashkitaanid.
Thereupon she saw his head sticking out (from where he was in hiding), and then (she saw) him bob down again.
Mii dash ezhi-gii-waabamaad zaagikweninid (thereupon she saw his head sticking out), mii dash miinawaa gii-zhagashkitaanid (and then she saw him bob down again).
(30) Mīdạc imāⁿ kī‘pī∙ā∙t tcîbi∙u∙disigut ‘aᵉa’ᵘ wâmīgānād.
Mii dash imaanh gii-bii’aad ji-bi-odisigod a’aw waa-miigaanaad.
And so there he waited for the coming of the one he was to fight.
Mii dash imaanh gii-bii’aad (and so there he waited) ji-bi-odisigod a’aw waa-miigaanaad (for the coming of the one he was to fight).
(31) Pīwâbik sa‘ka∙u∙n ubita‘kunān ‘aᵉa’ᵘ wīndigō.
Biiwaabik-zaka’on obi-dakonaan a’aw wiindigoo.
A metal staff the Wīndigō came holding in the hand.
Biiwaabik-zaka’on obi-dakonaan a’aw wiindigoo (a metal staff the Wiindigoo came holding in hand).
(32) Mīdạc kipạsigwīt ‘aᵉa’ᵘ pwā‘kwāwigạng.
Mii dash gii-bazigwiid a’aw bwaakwaawigang.
And then up stood the hunchback.
Mii dash gii-bazigwiid a’aw bwaakwaawigang (and then up stood the hunchback).
(33) Āna‘kwạt ä‘pītāsing kī∙a∙‘kōziwạg.
Aanakwad epiitaasing gii-akooziwag.
Up as far as the clouds was how high they stood.
Aanakwad epiitaasing gii-akooziwag (up as far as the clouds was how high they stood).
(34) Nī‘tạm ogīma‘kamān ī∙i∙‘ᵘ sa‘ka∙u∙n, ogī∙a∙‘pạgidōn imāⁿ säga∙i∙gạning iᵘ sa‘ka∙u∙n; ka‘kina kī‘twāsä ī∙i∙‘ᵘ sāga∙i∙gan.
Nitam ogii-makamaan i’iw zaka’on, ogii-apagidoon imaanh zaaga’iganing iw zaka’on; gakina gii-dwaase i’iw zaaga’igan.
First he took the staff from (the Wīndigō), he flung the staff into yonder lake; all the ice of the lake was crushed.
Nitam ogii-makamaan i’iw zaka’on (first he took the staff away from him), ogii-apagidoon imaanh zaaga’iganing iw zaka’on (he flung the staff into yonder lake); gakina gii-dwaase i’iw zaaga’igan (all the ice of the lake was crushed).
(35) Mīdạc kīnōndāguzit wīndigō, ka‘kina kīwạnimi‘kawiwạg ạnicinābäg.
Mii dash gii-noondaagozid wiindigoo, gakina gii-wanimikawiwag anishinaabeg.
And so when the cry of the Wīndigō was heard, all the people fainted away.
Mii dash gii-noondaagozid wiindigoo (and so when the Wiindigoo’s cry was heard), gakina gii-wanimikawiwag anishinaabeg (all the people fainted away).
(36) Ic‘kwātcidạc wīn kīnōndāguzi ‘aᵉa’ᵘ pwā‘kwāwigạng, nawạdc wīn kī‘kijīwä; tibickō kījik pīguskāg mī∙i∙‘ᵘ ka∙i∙nwäg.
Ishkwaaj idash wiin gii-noondaagozi a’aw bwaakwaawigang, nawaj wiin gii-gizhiiwe; dibishkoo giizhig biigoshkaag mii iw gaa-inweg.
And afterwards was heard the cry of the hunchback, louder still was the sound of his voice; as if the sky were rent asunder, such was the sound of the cry.
Ishkwaaj idash wiin gii-noondaagozi a’aw bwaakwaawigang (and afterwards the hunchback’s cry was heard), nawaj wiin gii-gizhiiwe (louder still was the sound of his voice); dibishkoo giizhig biigoshkaag (as if the sky were rent asunder) mii iw gaa-inweg (such was the sound of the cry).
(37) Mīdạc kīmīgādiwād āniwä‘k igu kînwäⁿj.
Mii dash gii-miigaadiwaad aaniweg igo ginwenzh.
Thereupon they fought with each other for some time.
Mii dash gii-miigaadiwaad (thereupon they fought one another) aaniweg igo ginwenzh (for some time).
(38) Udayạn owīdciwâbạnin ‘aᵉa’ᵘ wīndigō.
Odayan owiijiwaabanin a’aw wiindigoo.
With (her) pet dog was the Wīndigō.
Odayan owiijiwaabanin a’aw wiindigoo (with her pet dog was the Wiindigoo).
(39) Ki∙u∙cimo ‘aᵉa’ᵘ ạnimoc.
Gii-ozhimo a’aw animoosh.
Away fled the dog.
Gii-ozhimo a’aw animoosh (away fled the dog).
(40) A‘pī∙i∙dạc pä‘kitä∙u∙nt ‘aᵉa’ᵘ wīndigō, “Yōᵒᵒ, nisayäⁿ, ninîsigō!”
Apii dash bekite’ond a’aw wiindigoo, “Yoo, nisayenh, ninisigoo!”
And when (the Wīndigō) was struck, “Yō, my elder brother, I am being slain!”
Apii dash bekite’ond a’aw wiindigoo (and when the Wiindigoo was struck), “Yoo, nisayenh, ninisigoo!” (“Yo, my elder brother, I am being slain!”)
(41) Mi∙i∙´ᵘ kīnisind ‘aᵉa’ᵘ wīndigō.
Mii iw gii-nisind a’aw wiindigoo.
Then was the Wīndigō slain.
Mii iw gii-nisind a’aw wiindigoo (then was the Wiindigoo slain).
(42) I‘kwä ‘aᵉa’ᵘ!
Ikwe a’aw!
It was a woman!
Ikwe a’aw! (it was a woman!)
(43) Mōⁿjạgidạc kinạnīsānändamōg anicinābäg tcibitạgwicininit usayäⁿyạn.
Moozhag idash gii-naniisaanendamoog anishinaabeg ji-bi-dagwishininid osayenyan.
And ever were the people in fear that her elder brother would come.
Moozhag idash gii-naniisaanendamoog anishinaabeg (and ever were the people in fear) ji-bi-dagwishininid osayenyan (that her elder brother would come).
(44) Miziwä omāⁿ kī‘täbwäwidạm kīnōndāgusit a‘pī näsind ‘aᵉa’ᵘ wīndigō.
Miziwe omaanh gii-debwewidam gii-noondaagozid apii nesind a’aw wiindigoo.
Everywhere over this region was the sound of her voice heard when she, the Wīndigō, was slain.
Miziwe omaanh gii-debwewidam (everywhere over this region the sound was carried) gii-noondaagozid (when her voice was heard) apii nesind a’aw wiindigoo (when she, the Wiindigoo, was slain).
(45) Mīsaⁱ ä‘kōsit.
Mii sa ekoozid.
That is as far as (the story) goes.
Mii sa ekoozid (that is as far as the story goes).