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.
USKINAWÄ PABĀMĀDCĪNIGUT UGIMĀNAMÄWAN.
OSHKINAWE BABAA-MAAJIINIGOD OGIMAA-NAMEWAN.
THE YOUTH WHO WAS LED ABOUT BY THE CHIEF OF THE STURGEONS.
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 päᵉjik ạnicinābä kī∙a∙yā imāⁿ Ma‘kadänạmäzībīng nōdci∙ā∙wād nạmäwaᵉ zīgunk. ‘Aᵉawidạc a‘kiwäⁿzi odayāwān ogwisạn, uskinawän. Mōⁿjạg pạgizō aᵘ skinawä. Ninguding ogīwạni∙ā∙n ugwisạn, ka‘kina ogīmi‘kānạn odaya∙ī∙mini, ogidcaya∙ī∙ a‘tänig odaya∙ī∙mạn, mī∙a∙‘pạnä kīwạni∙ā∙t ogwisạn.
Ningoding bezhig anishinaabe gii-ayaa imaa Makade-name-ziibiing noojii’aawaad namewag ziigwang. A’aw idash akiwenzii odayaawaan ogwisan, oshkinawen. Moonzhag bagizo aw oshkinawe. Ningoding ogii-wani’aan ogwisan, gakina ogii-mikaanan odaya’iimini, ogijaya’ii atenig odaya’iiman, mii apane gii-wani’aad ogwisan.
Once a certain man was staying at Black-Sturgeon River when (the people) were hunting sturgeons in the springtime. Now, the old man had a son, a youth. Often in swimming went the youth. Once he lost his son, but he found all his clothes; upon land were his clothes, but he had lost his son.
Ningoding (once), bezhig anishinaabe (a certain man), gii-ayaa imaa (was staying there), Makade-name-ziibiing (at Black-Sturgeon River), noojii’aawaad namewag (when they were hunting sturgeons), ziigwang (in the springtime). A’aw idash akiwenzii (now, the old man), odayaawaan ogwisan (had a son), oshkinawen (a youth). Moonzhag bagizo (often went swimming) aw oshkinawe (that youth). Ningoding ogii-wani’aan ogwisan (once he lost his son), gakina ogii-mikaanan odaya’iimini (all his belongings he found; obviative possessions), ogijaya’ii atenig odaya’iiman (upon land lay his clothes), mii apane gii-wani’aad ogwisan (and for good he had lost his son).
(2) ‘Aᵉa´widạc uskinawä ogīmādcīnigōn nạmäwạn, kayä wīn nạmäng kījināgusi. Miziwä ogī∙i∙jiwinigūn gistcigạmīng; ka‘kina kīⁿgūⁿyạn owâbạmāwān; mōⁿjạg kī‘pạbāwīdcīndiwạg. Miziwä kayä sībiwạn kī‘pạbā∙i∙jāwạg, wīdcīwâwād kīⁿgūⁿyạn; kāwin ningudci pwānawi∙u∙sīwag, miziwä omi‘kānāwa jājībaiyāmi‘kāni‘k. Mīdạc kīmādcāwād, miziwä ki‘tcigạmīng ki‘pạbā∙i∙jāwād; tibickō mạckudänk ijināgwạdini päbā∙i∙jāwād, pīnic kistciki‘tcigạmīng kīpạbā∙i∙jāwāt. Mīdạc kī‘kīwitāskāwāt kistciki‘tcigạmīng. Pāᵉjik idạc ki‘tcizībi ogīmi‘kānāwa, mīdạc ī∙i∙´ᵘ kā‘pini‘ta∙a∙mōwād; mạckudäng pījitigwäyā ī∙i∙´ᵘ zībi. Ninguding idạc ā‘pidci kī∙i∙ska‘täwạn zībiwạn. Ninguding ogạnōnigōn īni´ᵘ wādcīwād: “Pā‘piniziwāgạn, nīdci! mīsa gạnạbạtci pā‘tāwininān. Ạnicinābēg päcu´ pī∙a∙yāwạg.”
A’aw idash oshkinawe ogii-maajiinigoon namewan, gaye wiin nameng gii-izhinaagozi. Miziwe ogii-izhiwinigoon gichigamiing; gakina giigoonyan owaabamaawaan; moonzhag gii-babaa-wiijiindiwag. Miziwe gaye ziibiwan gii-babaa-izhaawag, wiijiiwaawaad giigoonyan; gaawiin ningoji bwaanawi’osiiwag, miziwe omikaanaawaa zhaazhiibaayaamikaanik. Mii dash gii-maajaawaad, miziwe gichigamiing gii-babaa-izhaawaad; dibishkoo mashkodeng izhinaagwadini bebaa-izhaawaad, biinish gichi-gichigamiing gii-babaa-izhaawaad. Mii dash gii-giiwitaashkaawaad gichi-gichigamiing. Bezhig idash gichi-ziibi ogii-mikaanaawaa, mii dash i’iw gaa-bi-nita’amowaad; mashkodeng biijidigweyaa i’iw ziibi. Ningoding idash aapiji gii-iskatewan ziibiwan. Ningoding oganoonigoon iniw waajiiwaad: “Baapiniziwaagan, niijii! mii sa ganabaj baataawininaan. Anishinaabeg beshoo bi-ayaawag.”
Now, the youth had been carried away by a sturgeon, and he had taken on the form of a sturgeon as well. Everywhere in the sea¹ was he led; all the fishes he saw; always were (he and the sturgeon) together in their wanderings from one place to another. And into every river they wandered, going in company with the fishes; nowhere did they find it difficult to go, everywhere they found sunken places on the floor of the sea. And so they went, roundabout everywhere in the sea they went; like a plain was how it looked to where they had strayed, even (so did it continue) till they wandered into the great sea.² Thereupon they journeyed about the limits of the great sea. Now, a certain great river they found, and so up that stream they went; out over a plain came the course of the river. Now, once very dry were the rivers. Once he was addressed by his companion saying: “Alas, my friend! perhaps I have now led you into danger. Some people are approaching not far away.”
A’aw idash oshkinawe (now, that youth), ogii-maajiinigoon namewan (had been carried away by the sturgeon), gaye wiin nameng gii-izhinaagozi (and he too looked like a sturgeon). Miziwe ogii-izhiwinigoon (everywhere was he led), gichigamiing (in the sea); gakina giigoonyan owaabamaawaan (all the fishes he saw); moonzhag gii-babaa-wiijiindiwag (always they went about together). Miziwe gaye ziibiwan (and into every river), gii-babaa-izhaawag (they wandered), wiijiiwaawaad giigoonyan (going in company with the fishes); gaawiin ningoji bwaanawi’osiiwag (nowhere were they unable to go), miziwe omikaanaawaa (everywhere they found them), zhaazhiibaayaamikaanik (the sunken passages on the floor). Mii dash gii-maajaawaad (and so off they went), miziwe gichigamiing gii-babaa-izhaawaad (roundabout everywhere in the sea); dibishkoo mashkodeng izhinaagwadini (like a plain was how it looked), bebaa-izhaawaad (where they strayed), biinish gichi-gichigamiing gii-babaa-izhaawaad (till they wandered into the great sea). Mii dash gii-giiwitaashkaawaad (thereupon they journeyed about the limits of) gichi-gichigamiing (the great sea). Bezhig idash gichi-ziibi (now, a certain great river), ogii-mikaanaawaa (they found), mii dash i’iw gaa-bi-nita’amowaad (and so up that stream they came); mashkodeng biijidigweyaa i’iw ziibi (out over a plain came the course of the river). Ningoding idash aapiji gii-iskatewan ziibiwan (now, once very dry were the rivers). Ningoding oganoonigoon iniw waajiiwaad (once he was addressed by his companion): “Baapiniziwaagan, niijii! (alas, my friend!), mii sa ganabaj baataawininaan (perhaps I have now led you into danger). Anishinaabeg beshoo bi-ayaawag (some people are approaching not far away).”
¹ Lake Superior. ² The ocean. — notes of the printed 244/245 spread, one under each foot; the markers print in the English layer, at “sea¹” (= gistcigạmīng) and “the great sea.²” (= kistciki‘tcigạmīng — Jones’s fused great-great-sea word). The sea-word prints three shapes on one page: gistcigạmīng, ki‘tcigạmīng, kistciki‘tcigạmīng — all preserved.
(3) Mēdạc käᵉgä‘t ạnicinābēg sāgēwa∙ō∙wād; ā‘pidci iska‘tä i∙i∙´ᵘ zībi. A‘pī∙i∙dạc imāⁿ pāyāwād ạnicinābēg, owâbamāwa nīⁿj nạmäwạn ayānit. Mēdạc ä‘kitowād: “Naskä kuca´ ogōᵘ namäwạg cängicinuwāt! Käᵉgä‘tigunā kīgawīsinimin.” Mēdạc adā‘pinạmowād odạni‘tīᵒwān.
Mii dash geget anishinaabeg zaagewa’owaad; aapiji iskate i’iw ziibi. Apii idash imaa bayaawaad anishinaabeg, owaabamaawaan niizh namewan ayaanid. Mii dash ekidowaad: “Nashke gosha ogow namewag zhengishinowaad! Gegetigonaa giga-wiisinimin.” Mii dash adaapinamowaad odanitiiwaan.
Thereupon, sure enough, came some people paddling into view (round a point); very shallow was the river. And when the people were come at the place, they saw two sturgeons there. Thereupon they said: “Why, look at those sturgeons lying there! Verily, now we shall have something to eat.” Accordingly they reached for their spears.
Mii dash geget (thereupon, sure enough), anishinaabeg zaagewa’owaad (came people paddling round the point); aapiji iskate i’iw ziibi (very dry-shallow was that river). Apii idash imaa bayaawaad anishinaabeg (and when the people were come at the place), owaabamaawaan niizh namewan (they saw two sturgeons), ayaanid (being there). Mii dash ekidowaad (thereupon they said): “Nashke gosha (why, look!), ogow namewag zhengishinowaad! (at those sturgeons lying there!), Gegetigonaa giga-wiisinimin (verily, now we shall eat).” Mii dash adaapinamowaad (accordingly they took up), odanitiiwaan (their spears).
(4) Mī∙i∙dạc īgi´ᵘ nạmäwạg kā∙i∙jimādci‘tāwād kīpa‘kwäbīkickạmowāt i∙i∙māⁿ pạngī wānāmi‘kānig.
Mii idash igiw namewag gaa-izhi-maajiitaawaad gii-bakwebiikishkamowaad i’imaa bangii waanamikaanig.
And so the sturgeons set to work roiling up the place where there was but a (shallow) pool of water.
Mii idash igiw namewag (and so those sturgeons), gaa-izhi-maajiitaawaad (set to work), gii-bakwebiikishkamowaad (roiling up the water), i’imaa bangii waanamikaanig (there where there was but a small pool).
(5) Kāwīn dạc ogiwâbạmāsiwāwa nạmäwạn īgi´ᵘ ạnicinābäg, ā‘pidci kība‘kwäbīgạt ī∙i∙´ᵘ wānāmi‘kā. Käga‘pī kīmādcāwạg ạnicinābēg kīwạni∙ā∙wad īni’ᵘ nạmäwạn.
Gaawiin dash ogii-waabamaasiwaawaan namewan igiw anishinaabeg, aapiji gii-bakwebiigad i’iw waanamikaa. Gegapii gii-maajaawag anishinaabeg gii-wani’aawaad iniw namewan.
And the people did not see the sturgeons, so exceedingly muddy was the pool. At length away went the people, after they had lost the sturgeons.
Gaawiin dash ogii-waabamaasiwaawaan namewan (and the people did not see the sturgeons), igiw anishinaabeg (those people), aapiji gii-bakwebiigad (so exceedingly muddied was) i’iw waanamikaa (that pool). Gegapii gii-maajaawag anishinaabeg (at length away went the people), gii-wani’aawaad iniw namewan (after they had lost the sturgeons).
(6) Mī∙i∙dạc ‘aᵉa´ᵘ nạmä kā∙i∙nād īni´ᵘ wādciwādin: “Ānīc, mīsa nîndawa tcîgīwäwininān, māgij ā käga‘pī nindugci kạnisigōmin.”
Mii idash a’aw name gaa-inaad iniw waajiiwaadin: “Aanish, mii sa nindawaa ji-giiwewininaan, maagizhaa gegapii ningoji ga-nisigoomin.”
Thereupon the Sturgeon said to his companion: “Well, it is perhaps time that I should be conducting you back home, lest perchance we might at last in some place be slain.”
Mii idash a’aw name (thereupon that Sturgeon), gaa-inaad iniw waajiiwaadin (said to the one he accompanied; obviative participle): “Aanish (well), mii sa nindawaa (it is perhaps time), ji-giiwewininaan (that I take you back home), maagizhaa gegapii (lest perchance at last), ningoji ga-nisigoomin (somewhere we shall be slain; inverse future).”
(7) Mī∙i∙dạc kī‘pimādcī∙i∙nigut. Miziwä cācībāyāmi‘kā o∙o∙wä a‘ki; mī∙i∙māⁿ kā‘pi∙a∙i∙jiwinigut, pīnicgu imāⁿ Ma‘kadänạmäzībīng ogī‘pitạgwicimigōn.
Mii idash gii-bi-maajii’inigod. Miziwe zhaazhiibaayaamikaa o’owe aki; mii imaa gaa-bi-izhiwinigod, biinish go imaa Makade-name-ziibiing ogii-bi-dagwishimigoon.
And so he was headed for home, being led by (the Sturgeon). Everywhere were caverns in under the shore; it was by such a route that he was conveyed, (keeping on) until at length he was fetched home again to Black-Sturgeon River.
Mii idash gii-bi-maajii’inigod (and so he was led off homeward). Miziwe zhaazhiibaayaamikaa o’owe aki (everywhere this land has passages under the shore); mii imaa gaa-bi-izhiwinigod (it was by such a route he was conveyed), biinish go imaa Makade-name-ziibiing (until at length to Black-Sturgeon River), ogii-bi-dagwishimigoon (he was fetched home).
(8) ‘Aᵉa´widạc a‘kiwäⁿzi kawạni∙ā∙‘pạn ugwisạn mōⁿjạg i∙i∙māⁿ kī∙i∙nābitasing pämiskādin. Ningudingidạc ‘aᵉa´ᵘ nạmä ugīkanōnān īni´ᵘ ạnicinābän wādcīwād: “Ạmbä, mī∙i∙´ᵘ iji∙ạ∙gwā‘tān! Nạmạdabin imāⁿ ugidcaya∙ī∙ asinīng!” Mīdạc kī∙ạ∙gwā‘tād. A‘pī∙i∙dac pạsāgäwa∙u∙d ‘aᵉa´ᵘ a‘kiwäⁿzi owâbạmāwān ạnicinābän nạmạdabinit imāⁿ asînīng. Mīwaniᵘ ogwisạn kāwani∙ā∙pạn, näyāp ogī∙o∙disigōn!
A’aw idash akiwenzii gaa-wani’aapan ogwisan moonzhag i’imaa gii-inaabi dasing bemishkaadin. Ningoding idash a’aw name ogii-ganoonaan iniw anishinaaben waajiiwaad: “Ambe, mii i’iw izhi-agwaataan! Namadabin imaa ogijaya’ii asiniing!” Mii dash gii-agwaataad. Apii idash bi-zaagewa’od a’aw akiwenzii owaabamaawaan anishinaaben namadabinid imaa asiniing. Mii aw iniw ogwisan gaa-wani’aapan, neyaab ogii-odisigoon!
Now, the old man who had lost his son always looked at the place every time that he passed by (in his canoe). Now, once the Sturgeon spoke to the human being he was with: “Therefore do you now go forth from the water! Do you sit on the top of yonder rock!” Accordingly out of the water he went. And when (round the point) came the old man (in his canoe), he saw a person seated on yonder rock. It was his son whom he had lost, back to him again had come (his son)!
A’aw idash akiwenzii (now, that old man), gaa-wani’aapan ogwisan (who had lost his son; preterite participle), moonzhag i’imaa gii-inaabi (always looked at that place), dasing bemishkaadin (every time he paddled by). Ningoding idash a’aw name (now, once the Sturgeon), ogii-ganoonaan iniw anishinaaben waajiiwaad (spoke to the human being he was with): “Ambe (therefore now), mii i’iw izhi-agwaataan! (go forth from the water!), Namadabin imaa ogijaya’ii asiniing! (sit on top of yonder rock!).” Mii dash gii-agwaataad (accordingly out of the water he went). Apii idash bi-zaagewa’od a’aw akiwenzii (and when round the point came the old man), owaabamaawaan anishinaaben (he saw a person), namadabinid imaa asiniing (seated there on the rock). Mii aw iniw ogwisan gaa-wani’aapan (it was the son he had lost), neyaab ogii-odisigoon! (back to him again had he come!)
(9) Ningotwāswibibōn ogīpapāwīdcīwād īni´ᵘ nạmäwan ‘aᵉa´ᵘ uskînawä. Mīdạc kī‘tibādcimud ‘aᵉa´ᵘ uskinawä kā‘pabā∙a∙i∙jiwäbiziwād. Ugimā nạmäwạn īniᵘ kā‘pabāwīdcīwigut ‘aᵉa´ᵘ uskinawē miziwē kayä zībing kī‘pạbāwīdciwāwād kīⁿgōⁿyạn. Misaⁱ.
Ningodwaaswi-biboon ogii-babaa-wiijiiwaad iniw namewan a’aw oshkinawe. Mii dash gii-dibaajimod a’aw oshkinawe gaa-babaa-izhiwebiziwaad. Ogimaa-namewan iniw gaa-babaa-wiijiiwigod a’aw oshkinawe miziwe gaye ziibiing gii-babaa-wiijiiwaawaad giigoonyan. Mii sa i.
For six winters the youth had wandered from place to place with the Sturgeon. Thereupon the youth related what had happened to them on their wanderings. It was by the chief of the Sturgeons that the youth was accompanied on the journey, and here and there in every river were they with the fishes. That is all.
Ningodwaaswi-biboon (for six winters), ogii-babaa-wiijiiwaad iniw namewan (he went about with the Sturgeon) a’aw oshkinawe (that youth). Mii dash gii-dibaajimod a’aw oshkinawe (thereupon the youth told of) gaa-babaa-izhiwebiziwaad (what had happened to them in their wanderings). Ogimaa-namewan iniw (it was the chief of the Sturgeons), gaa-babaa-wiijiiwigod a’aw oshkinawe (by whom the youth was accompanied), miziwe gaye ziibiing (and everywhere in the rivers), gii-babaa-wiijiiwaawaad giigoonyan (were they about with the fishes). Mii sa i (that is all).