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.
MĪ∙I∙WE PECIPEJĪ.
MII IWE BESHIBEZHII.
NOW GREAT-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) Mäwija anicinābäk mōⁿjạg ogīwâbạndānāwa mämindagä iᵘ tînunk kīni‘tāpimidciwạnk nibi. Ugīku‘tānāwa anicinābäk. Mī∙i∙dạc iᵘ kā∙u∙ndcitōdạmōwād nāningudinōng kā∙u∙ndci pạgidinạmawāt nîbī‘kāng asämān gayä.
Mewizha anishinaabeg moonzhag ogii-waabandaanaawaa memindage iw dinong gii-nitaa-bimijiwang nibi. Ogii-gotaanaawaa anishinaabeg. Mii idash iw gaa-onji-doodamowaad naaningodinong gaa-onji-bagidinamawaad nibiikaang asemaan gaye.
Long ago people often used to see something in places, especially where the current was swift. The people feared it; and that was the reason of their practice of sometimes throwing offerings to it into the water, even tobacco.
Mewizha anishinaabeg (long ago the people), moonzhag (often), ogii-waabandaanaawaa (they would see it), memindage (especially), iw dinong (in that kind of place), gii-nitaa-bimijiwang (where the current ran strong), nibi (the water). Ogii-gotaanaawaa anishinaabeg (the people feared it). Mii idash iw gaa-onji-doodamowaad (that is why they did as they did), naaningodinong (sometimes), gaa-onji-bagidinamawaad (why they put offerings down for it), nibiikaang (into the water), asemaan gaye (tobacco too; asemaa animate).
(2) Ningudingidạc imāⁿ Pāgwācing¹ kī∙i∙dạming mī∙i∙māⁿ ninguding pimickāwāgubạnän i‘kwäwạg. Mī∙i∙dạc äjiwäbạdining kistcipîmidciwạninik ni’bi, kägā kunạbickāwạg; ā‘pidci sägiziwạg.
Ningoding idash imaa Baagwaashing gii-idaming mii imaa ningoding bimishkaawaagobanen ikwewag. Mii idash ezhiwebadining gichi-bimijiwaninig nibi, gegaa gonabishkaawag; aapiji zegiziwag.
Now, once yonder, at what is called Shallow-Water,1 was where some women were once passing by in a canoe. Accordingly there happened to rise a mighty current of water, nearly were they capsized; exceedingly frightened were they.
Ningoding idash (and once), imaa Baagwaashing (there at Shallow-Water), gii-idaming (as the place is called), mii imaa ningoding (it was there that once), bimishkaawaagobanen (women who were once paddling by; preterite participle), ikwewag (the women). Mii idash ezhiwebadining (then it so happened), gichi-bimijiwaninig nibi (a great current of water rose), gegaa gonabishkaawag (nearly did they capsize); aapiji zegiziwag (greatly were they frightened).
ni’bi — internal-apostrophe print (again at the den passage, p. 260); ci’gwa-family. kistcipîmidciwạninik — kistci- print, attested outside series III (error-vs-habit question, banked). Jones’s footnote ¹ at Pāgwācing: “The name for Ross Port.” — the marker stands in both texts; the note prints at the foot of English p. 259.
(3) Mägwā pimickāwāt änigu‘k owâbandānāwa pîjīpîjī∙o∙su pa‘kidcisänig; ga‘kina nīgān tcīmāning kī∙a∙‘pạgizōwạg sägiziwāt.
Megwaa bimishkaawaad enigok owaabandaanaawaa bizhiibizhii-ozow bakijisenig; gakina niigaan jiimaaning gii-apagizowag zegiziwaad.
While they were paddling with all their might, they saw the tail of a Great-Lynx come up out of the water; all flung themselves up into the forward end of the canoe in their fright.
Megwaa bimishkaawaad enigok (while they paddled with all their might), owaabandaanaawaa (they saw it), bizhiibizhii-ozow (the tail of Great-Lynx), bakijisenig (coming up out of the water); gakina (all of them), niigaan jiimaaning (into the bow of the canoe), gii-apagizowag (flung themselves), zegiziwaad (in their fright).
(4) Päᵉjikidạc i‘kwä imā äyāt owâbạndān tcīmān wī∙ạ∙nikuzābīckānit; mē∙i∙dạc kā∙i∙ji∙i∙jāt imāⁿ udā‘kāning udạbwi ogī∙u∙mbibān wīpa‘kitä∙a∙nk ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mîcīpîjī∙o∙su.
Bezhig idash ikwe imaa eyaad owaabandaan jiimaan wii-ani-gozaabiishkaanid; mii idash gaa-izhi-izhaad imaa odaakaaning odabwi ogii-ombibaan wii-bakite’ang i’iw mishiibizhii-ozow.
Now, one of the women that was there saw that the canoe was going to sink; accordingly, when she had gone to the stern, she raised the paddle in order to strike the tail of Great-Lynx.
Bezhig idash ikwe (and one woman), imaa eyaad (who was there), owaabandaan jiimaan (saw the canoe), wii-ani-gozaabiishkaanid (that it was going to sink); mii idash gaa-izhi-izhaad (so then she went), imaa odaakaaning (there to the stern), odabwi ogii-ombibaan (she raised her paddle), wii-bakite’ang (in order to strike) i’iw mishiibizhii-ozow (that tail of Great-Lynx).
(5) Mēdạc ä‘kidot: “Mägwa kī∙u∙ckinīgiyān mōⁿjạg ningīma‘kadä‘kä. Mīdạc iwa‘pi animi‘kīg kīmījiwāt upạgamāganiwā.”
Mii dash ekidod: “Megwaa gii-oshkiniigiyaan moonzhag ningii-makadeke. Mii dash iw apii animikiig gii-miizhiwaad obagamaaganiwaa.”
And this she said: “While I was young, often did I fast. It was then that the Thunderers gave me their war-club.”
Mii dash ekidod (and this she said): “Megwaa gii-oshkiniigiyaan (while I was young), moonzhag ningii-makadeke (often did I fast). Mii dash iw apii (it was then that), animikiig (the Thunderers), gii-miizhiwaad (gave me), obagamaaganiwaa (their war-club).”
(6) Mī∙i∙dạc pa‘kitä∙ạ∙nk pîcipîjī∙u∙su, mīdạc kā∙i∙jipō‘kwuganāndạnk ‘iᵉi´ᵘ pîjipijī∙u∙su. Mīdạc kīmō‘kisäg ‘iᵉi´ᵘ tcīmān, mī∙i∙´ᵘ kā∙i∙jimādcīkwạjiwäwāt; mī∙i∙’ᵘ kīpîmādisiwāt.
Mii idash bakite’ang bishibizhii-ozow, mii dash gaa-izhi-bookoganaandang i’iw bizhibizhii-ozow. Mii dash gii-mookiseg i’iw jiimaan, mii iw gaa-izhi-maajiikwazhiwewaad; mii iw gii-bimaadiziwaad.
Thereupon, when she struck the tail of Great-Lynx, she then broke the tail of Great-Lynx in two. Thereupon up to the surface rose the canoe, after which they then started on their way paddling; and so they were saved.
Mii idash bakite’ang (then as she struck), bishibizhii-ozow (the tail of Great-Lynx), mii dash gaa-izhi-bookoganaandang (then she broke it in two with the blow), i’iw bizhibizhii-ozow (that tail of Great-Lynx). Mii dash gii-mookiseg i’iw jiimaan (then up to the surface rose the canoe), mii iw gaa-izhi-maajiikwazhiwewaad (whereupon they paddled off on their way); mii iw gii-bimaadiziwaad (and so they lived).
(7) Pāᵉjikidạc kayä i‘kwägubạn ogī∙u∙dā‘pinigōn īni´ᵘ pîcipîjīn. Mī∙i∙dạc ‘aᵉa´ᵘ täbādcimōgubạnän iwidi ändāwāgubạnän ‘aᵉa´ᵘ mîcipîjī mōⁿjạg ogīmī‘kindci∙ā∙n anicinābän.
Bezhig idash gaye ikwegoban ogii-odaapinigoon iniw bishibizhiin. Mii idash a’aw debaajimogobanen iwidi endaawaagobanen a’aw mishibizhii moonzhag ogii-miikinji’aan anishinaaben.
Now, one of the women was seized by Great-Lynx. Therefore she it was who had told at home that Great-Lynx was continually harassing the people.
Bezhig idash gaye ikwegoban (and one woman — now gone), ogii-odaapinigoon (had been seized by him), iniw bishibizhiin (by that Great-Lynx). Mii idash a’aw (so it was she), debaajimogobanen (who had once told of it; preterite participle), iwidi endaawaagobanen (yonder where they once dwelt), a’aw mishibizhii (that Great-Lynx), moonzhag ogii-miikinji’aan (was constantly harassing), anishinaaben (the people).
(8) ‘Aᵉa´widạc a‘kiwäⁿzimîcipîjī ānawi mōjạⁿg ogīkạnōnān ogwisạn: “Kägu ‘iᵉi´ᵘ tōtawā‘kän anicinābäk tcîmī‘kindci∙ạ∙twā.” Kāwīn ugīpîzindawāsīn ōsạn.
A’aw idash akiwenzii-mishibizhii aanawi moonzhag ogii-ganoonaan ogwisan: “Gego i’iw doodawaaken anishinaabeg ji-miikinji’adwaa.” Gaawiin ogii-bizindawaasiin oosan.
And though the master of the Great-Lynxes would always speak to his son, saying, “Do not plague the people,” yet he would never listen to his father.
A’aw idash akiwenzii-mishibizhii (and that old-man Great-Lynx; the master), aanawi moonzhag (though always), ogii-ganoonaan ogwisan (he spoke to his son): “Gego i’iw doodawaaken (do not so do to them) anishinaabeg (the people) ji-miikinji’adwaa (harassing them).” Gaawiin ogii-bizindawaasiin (he did not listen to) oosan (his father).
(9) Ninguding i∙i∙māⁿ Pā∙u∙‘ting māmạwi tāgwâbạn anicinābäk. Ninguding päᵉjik wīgiwâming āswā‘kwicinugubạn ạbinōdcī ta‘kupisut ti‘kināgạning; mīdạc ‘aᵉa´ᵘ kā∙u∙ndciwanicink awabinodcī.
Ningoding i’imaa Baawiting maamawi daawagoban anishinaabeg. Ningoding bezhig wiigiwaaming aaswaakwishinogoban abinoojii dakobizod dikinaaganing; mii dash a’aw gaa-onji-wanishing aw abinoojii.
Once, yonder at the Sault, together in a body were the people living. Once against a certain wigwam was leaned a child bound to a cradle-board; and then the child was missed from that place.
Ningoding i’imaa Baawiting (once there at the Sault), maamawi daawagoban (together they once dwelt), anishinaabeg (the people). Ningoding bezhig wiigiwaaming (once against a certain wigwam), aaswaakwishinogoban (there once leaned), abinoojii dakobizod (a child bound), dikinaaganing (to a cradle-board); mii dash a’aw gaa-onji-wanishing (and from there went missing), aw abinoojii (that child).
(10) Ugīwâbandānāwa ani∙ä∙nadawângising ti‘kināgan mi‘tāwạngānk. Mīwidạc nōndawâwāt mạdwämạwinit īni’ᵘ abinōdcīyạn anāmaya∙ī∙ pi‘kwadināng.
Ogii-waabandaanaawaa ani-enadaawangising dikinaagan mitaawangaang. Mii idash noondawaawaad madwe-mawinid iniw abinoojiiyan anaamaya’ii bikwadinaang.
They saw the sign of the cradle-board where it had been dragged along in the sand. Thereupon they heard the voice of the child crying beneath a rugged hill.
Ogii-waabandaanaawaa (they saw it), ani-enadaawangising (the trail it left dragging through the sand), dikinaagan (the cradle-board), mitaawangaang (on the sand). Mii idash noondawaawaad (thereupon they heard), madwe-mawinid (crying somewhere within), iniw abinoojiiyan (that child), anaamaya’ii bikwadinaang (beneath the rugged hill).
(11) Ānawi kīpagidāsowạg ạnicinābäk tcîpạgidînāt īni´ᵘ ạbinōdcīyạn ‘aᵉa´ᵘ mîcīpîjī, kabäya∙ī∙ ānawi ugīkagāⁿzumāwān, kāwīndec ugīpạgidināsīn.
Aanawi gii-bagidaasowag anishinaabeg ji-bagidinaad iniw abinoojiiyan a’aw mishiibizhii, gabeya’ii aanawi ogii-gagaanzomaawaan, gaawiin dash ogii-bagidinaasiin.
Even though the people made offerings in the hope that Great-Lynx might set the child free, even though for a long while they besought him with prayers, yet he would not let it go.
Aanawi gii-bagidaasowag (though they made offerings), anishinaabeg (the people), ji-bagidinaad (that he might release), iniw abinoojiiyan (the child), a’aw mishiibizhii (that Great-Lynx), gabeya’ii (for a long while), aanawi ogii-gagaanzomaawaan (though they kept urging him with speech), gaawiin dash ogii-bagidinaasiin (yet he would not release him).
(12) Käga‘pī∙i∙dạc anicinābäg kī∙i∙‘kidōwạg nindawātc tcinîsāwāt īni´ᵘ mîcīpîjīn. Mī∙i∙dạc kā∙i∙jimādci‘tāwāt kīmūni‘käwāt kwaya‘k imāⁿ abinōdcī ändạni‘tāgusit.
Gegapii idash anishinaabeg gii-ikidowag nindawaaj ji-nisaawaad iniw mishiibizhiin. Mii idash gaa-izhi-maajiitaawaad gii-mooniikewaad gwayak imaa abinoojii endanitaagozid.
So at length the people said that therefore they might as well slay Great-Lynx. Accordingly they began digging straight for the place from whence the sound of the child could be heard.
Gegapii idash (then at last), anishinaabeg gii-ikidowag (the people said), nindawaaj (they might as well), ji-nisaawaad (kill him), iniw mishiibizhiin (that Great-Lynx). Mii idash gaa-izhi-maajiitaawaad (so then they set to work), gii-mooniikewaad (digging), gwayak imaa (straight to the place), abinoojii endanitaagozid (where the child could be heard).
(13) Wī‘kādec ugīpạgwanä∙a∙nāwa ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mîcīpîjīwāc. Owâbạndānāwa ni´bi pāpīdāgạmickānig.
Wiikaa dash ogii-bagwane’aanaawaa i’iw mishiibizhiiwaazh. Owaabandaanaawaa nibi baabiidaagamishkaanig.
And after a while they had a hole dug to the den of Great-Lynx. They saw water coming in and out (like the tide).
Wiikaa dash (and at long last; wiikaa here in its at-long-last sense), ogii-bagwane’aanaawaa (they broke a hole through to it), i’iw mishiibizhiiwaazh (the den of Great-Lynx). Owaabandaanaawaa nibi (they saw the water), baabiidaagamishkaanig (coming in and going out; like the tide).
(14) Mīdạc imāⁿ käᵉgä‘t wäwäni ānukạnōnāwāt īni’ᵘ mîcīpîjīn, kāwīndạc opạgidînāsīn abinōdcīyạn. Käyābi unōndawāwān mạdwämawinit. Mīdạc ä‘kidōwāt: “Nindawā mōnawātā tcînisạnk.”
Mii dash imaa geget weweni aano-ganoonaawaad iniw mishiibizhiin, gaawiin dash obagidinaasiin abinoojiiyan. Geyaabi onoondawaawaan madwe-mawinid. Mii dash ekidowaad: “Nindawaa moonawaadaa ji-nisang.”
It was true that even then they spoke kindly to Great-Lynx, yet he would not let the child go. Still yet they could hear the voice (of the child) crying. Accordingly they said: “Therefore let us dig to where he is, that we may kill him.”
Mii dash imaa geget (and then there truly), weweni (kindly), aano-ganoonaawaad (in vain did they speak to him; aano- in-vain), iniw mishiibizhiin (that Great-Lynx), gaawiin dash obagidinaasiin (but he would not release), abinoojiiyan (the child). Geyaabi onoondawaawaan (still they could hear him), madwe-mawinid (crying within). Mii dash ekidowaad (so they said): “Nindawaa (therefore), moonawaadaa (let us dig for him), ji-nisang (that we may kill him).”
(15) Käᵉgä‘t ugīnōswāni‘kānāwān. Ninguding pīdāpōtä ti‘kināgạn, abinōdcī gayä ta‘kupisut. A‘pī∙i∙dạc näwadinạmuwāt ti‘kināgạn owâbamāwān abinōdcīyạn pō‘kindipäcink; kīnîsāgwän aᵘ mîcīpîjī.
Geget ogii-nooswaanikaanaawaan. Ningoding biidaaboode dikinaagan, abinoojii gaye dakobizod. Apii idash newadinamowaad dikinaagan owaabamaawaan abinoojiiyan bookondibeshing; gii-nisaagwen aw mishiibizhii.
Truly they dug after him, following him up. By and by out came the cradle-board floating on the water, together with the child that was bound to it. And when they caught hold of the cradle-board, they observed that the child had a hole crushed into its head; Great-Lynx must have slain it.
Geget ogii-nooswaanikaanaawaan (truly they dug along after him). Ningoding biidaaboode (by and by came floating out on the water), dikinaagan (the cradle-board), abinoojii gaye dakobizod (and the child bound to it). Apii idash newadinamowaad (and when they took hold of), dikinaagan (the cradle-board), owaabamaawaan abinoojiiyan (they saw the child), bookondibeshing (its head broken in); gii-nisaagwen (he must have slain it), aw mishiibizhii (that Great-Lynx).
(16) Mīdạc kā∙i∙jinōswāni‘kānāwāt; päᵉjikidạc anicinābä mäckawändāguzit kī∙i∙‘kido wīn wīnîsāt mîcipîjīn. A‘pī ädimāni‘kānāwāt, pigwä‘ki‘tā ‘aᵉa´ᵘ mîcīpîjī. Mīdạc kīpa‘ki‘täᵒwāt ‘aᵉa´ᵘ kā∙i∙‘kidot wīnisāt. Käᵉgä‘t ugīnisān.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-nooswaanikaanaawaad; bezhig idash anishinaabe meshkawendaagozid gii-ikido wiin wii-nisaad mishibizhiin. Apii edimaanikaanaawaad, bi-gwekitaa a’aw mishiibizhii. Mii dash gii-bakite’waad a’aw gaa-ikidod wii-nisaad. Geget ogii-nisaan.
Thereupon they followed him up, digging after him; and one man that was famed for his strength said that he would kill Great-Lynx. When drawing upon him, as they dug after him, round towards them turned Great-Lynx. Thereupon him struck he who said that he would kill (Great-Lynx). Sure enough, he slew him.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-nooswaanikaanaawaad (then they went on digging after him); bezhig idash anishinaabe (and one man), meshkawendaagozid (held to be strong), gii-ikido (said), wiin wii-nisaad (that he himself would kill), mishibizhiin (Great-Lynx). Apii edimaanikaanaawaad (when their digging drew upon him), bi-gwekitaa (round this way turned), a’aw mishiibizhii (Great-Lynx). Mii dash gii-bakite’waad (then him struck), a’aw gaa-ikidod (the one who had said), wii-nisaad (he would kill him). Geget ogii-nisaan (sure enough, he slew him).
(17) A‘pī∙i∙dạc wā‘kubināwāt ugīwâbamāwān kīckānowänit. Mī∙a∙´ᵘ Pāgwācing kāpa‘kidä wāwindibạnän; i‘kwäwạn ạbwi kāpa‘tä∙u∙gut.
Apii idash waakobinaawaad ogii-waabamaawaan giishkaanowenid. Mii aw Baagwaashing gaa-bakide’waawindibanen; ikwewan abwi gaa-bakite’ogod.
And when they pulled him out, they saw that his tail was cut off. That was the one that had been struck at Shallow-Water; by a woman with an oar had he been struck.
Apii idash waakobinaawaad (and when they pulled him out), ogii-waabamaawaan (they saw him), giishkaanowenid (with his tail cut off). Mii aw (that was the one), Baagwaashing (at Shallow-Water), gaa-bakide’waawindibanen (who had once been struck); ikwewan (by a woman), abwi (with a paddle), gaa-bakite’ogod (had he been struck).
(18) Mī∙i∙´ᵘ kā∙i∙jiwäba‘k. Käyābi nānūmaya kī∙i∙nāgwạt ī∙i∙´māⁿ kīmūni‘käwâgubạnän anicinābäk; Ketcimō‘kumāna‘kīng¹ ina‘ka‘käyā imāⁿ Pāwi‘ting. Mīsai.
Mii iw gaa-izhiwebak. Geyaabi naanoomaya gii-inaagwad i’imaa gii-mooniikewaagobanen anishinaabeg; Gechi-mookomaanakiing inakakeyaa imaa Baawiting. Mii sa.
That was what happened. Only not long ago was seen the place where the people had once dug the hole; (it is) over toward the Big-Knife country,1 over by the Sault. That is all.
Mii iw gaa-izhiwebak (that is what happened). Geyaabi naanoomaya (still just recently), gii-inaagwad (it could be seen), i’imaa gii-mooniikewaagobanen (there where they had once dug; preterite participle), anishinaabeg (the people); Gechi-mookomaanakiing (toward the Big-Knife country; the United States), inakakeyaa (in that direction), imaa Baawiting (there by the Sault). Mii sa (that is all).
Jones’s footnote ¹ at Ketcimō‘kumāna‘kīng: “The United States.” — prints at the foot of English p. 261.
Jones’s footnote ¹ at Ketcimō‘kumāna‘kīng: “The United States.” — prints at the foot of English p. 261.