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.
KĀGIGAPINÄSI.
GAAGIGE-BINESI.
FOREVER-BIRD.
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) Mī∙i∙wä nīn kā∙i∙jiwäbisiyān mägwa kī∙ạ∙binodcīwiyān. A‘pī nayānupibōnạgiziyān mī∙i∙´ᵘ a‘pī gīkagānzumit nōsibạn tcîma‘kadä‘käyān. Kigicäp kāwīn ningī∙ạ∙cạmigōsī; ma‘kadä ningī∙a∙‘tōn ckījigunk. Ningudci pina‘kạmigānk ningīpabā∙i∙jā. A‘pī∙i∙dạc wänāgucigin ningī‘kīwä pa‘kạdäyān; mīdec pạngī nindacạmigo. Mīgu iᵘ mōⁿjạg kā∙i∙jigạgānzumigōyān tcîma‘kạdä‘käyān, käga‘pī ningīkạcki‘tōn ningogījik ningotibi‘k kayä kīwīsinisīwān.
Mii iwe niin gaa-izhiwebiziyaan megwaa gii-abinoojiiwiyaan. Apii naayano-biboonagiziyaan mii iw apii gii-gagaanzomid noosiban ji-makadekeyaan. Gigizheb gaawiin ningii-ashamigoosii; makade ningii-atoon shkiizhigong. Ningoji binakamigaang ningii-babaa-izhaa. Apii idash wenaagoshigin ningii-giiwe bakadeyaan; mii dash bangii nindashamigoo. Mii go iw moonzhag gaa-izhi-gagaanzomigooyaan ji-makadekeyaan, gegapii ningii-gashkitoon ningo-giizhig ningo-dibik gaye gii-wiisinisiiwaan.
Now, this is the way it was with me while I was a child. At the time when I was five winters old, then did my father urge me to blacken (myself for a fast). In the morning I was not given food; black I placed over the eyes. In a certain part of the forest, where it was clean and open, I wandered about. And as soon as evening came on, back home I went hungry; and so a little food I was given to eat. Therefore it was a constant thing for me to be urged to fast, till at last I was able to go a day and a night without eating food.
Mii iwe niin (now, this is the way) gaa-izhiwebiziyaan (it was with me) megwaa gii-abinoojiiwiyaan (while I was a child). Apii naayano-biboonagiziyaan (when I was five winters old) mii iw apii (that was when) gii-gagaanzomid noosiban (my father urged me; -ban: spoken of as no longer living) ji-makadekeyaan (to blacken for the fast). Gigizheb (in the morning) gaawiin ningii-ashamigoosii (I was not fed); makade ningii-atoon shkiizhigong (black I placed over the eyes). Ningoji binakamigaang (somewhere on clean, open ground) ningii-babaa-izhaa (I wandered about). Apii idash wenaagoshigin (and whenever evening came on) ningii-giiwe bakadeyaan (I went home hungry); mii dash bangii nindashamigoo (and then a little was I fed). Mii go iw moonzhag (so it was that constantly) gaa-izhi-gagaanzomigooyaan (I was urged) ji-makadekeyaan (to fast), gegapii (till at last) ningii-gashkitoon (I was able) ningo-giizhig ningo-dibik (one day and one night) gaye gii-wiisinisiiwaan (to go without eating).
(2) A‘pī∙i∙dạc änimindidōyān nānīngutinū ningīnījugunī kāwīn pīndi‘k wīgiwâming ningīnibāsī; ningudci pīna‘kạmigānk ningī∙a∙winibā. Käga‘pī anōdc kägōn ningī∙ai∙nābandạm. A‘pī∙i∙dạc käcki‘tōyān nīyogun wīsînîsiwān kāwīn ä‘ta adcina ‘iᵉi´ᵘ ningī∙i∙jitcigäsi a‘panägu mōⁿjạg mōⁿjạg ningīki∙i∙gwicim. Kaga‘pī ningīwâbamāk anicinābänk äjināguziwat. “Nōjis, kibicawanimin,” ningī∙i∙gōg.
Apii idash eni-mindidoyaan naaningodinoo ningii-niizhogonii gaawiin biindig wiigiwaaming ningii-nibaasii; ningoji binakamigaang ningii-awi-nibaa. Gegapii anooj gegoon ningii-ayinaabandam. Apii idash gashkitooyaan niiyogon wiisinisiwaan gaawiin eta ajina i’iw ningii-izhichigesii apane go moonzhag moonzhag ningii-giigwishim. Gegapii ningii-waabamaag anishinaabeng ezhinaagoziwaad. “Noozhis, gibi-zhawenimin,” ningii-igoog.
And while I was growing up, I sometimes went for two days without sleeping inside the wigwam; in a certain part of the forest, where it was clean and open, I went to sleep. At last of all sorts of things I dreamed. And when I was able to go without food for four days, then I ceased doing this for a short time only, but all the while was I continually fasting. In the end I beheld them who looked like people. “My grandchild, I come to pity you,” I was told by them.
Apii idash eni-mindidoyaan (and as I was growing up) naaningodinoo (sometimes) ningii-niizhogonii (I went two days) gaawiin biindig wiigiwaaming ningii-nibaasii (without sleeping inside the wigwam); ningoji binakamigaang (somewhere on clean, open ground) ningii-awi-nibaa (I went and slept). Gegapii (at last) anooj gegoon (of all sorts of things) ningii-ayinaabandam (I dreamed). Apii idash gashkitooyaan (and when I was able) niiyogon wiisinisiwaan (to go four days without eating) gaawiin eta ajina i’iw ningii-izhichigesii (not for a short while only did I do this) apane go moonzhag moonzhag (but all the while, ever so often; moonzhag printed twice, carried as printed) ningii-giigwishim (I dream-fasted). Gegapii (in the end) ningii-waabamaag (I beheld them) anishinaabeng ezhinaagoziwaad (who looked like people). “Noozhis (my grandchild), gibi-zhawenimin (I come to pity you),” ningii-igoog (I was told by them).
(3) Miziwä ningīpạbā∙i∙jiwinigōg; kī‘pạbāwâbanda∙i∙gōyān miziwä a‘ki âjināgwa‘k, kistcigạmi gayä. A‘pī∙i∙dạc kākạcki‘tōyān cwāsugun kīwīsînîsîwān mī∙i∙wä a‘pī käᵉgä‘t miziwä kiki‘kändạmān äjināgwa‘k kījigunk.
Miziwe ningii-babaa-izhiwinigoog; gii-babaa-waabanda’igooyaan miziwe aki ezhinaagwak, gichigami gaye. Apii idash gaa-gashkitooyaan zhwaasogon gii-wiisinisiwaan mii iwe apii geget miziwe gii-gikendamaan ezhinaagwak giizhigong.
Everywhere roundabout was I conveyed; roundabout was I shown what the earth everywhere was like, and likewise the great deep. And when I was able to go without food for eight days, then was the time that I truly learned everything about how the sky looked.
Miziwe (everywhere) ningii-babaa-izhiwinigoog (was I conveyed about by them); gii-babaa-waabanda’igooyaan (I was shown round about) miziwe aki ezhinaagwak (what the earth everywhere was like), gichigami gaye (and the great water/the great deep). Apii idash gaa-gashkitooyaan (and when I was able) zhwaasogon gii-wiisinisiwaan (to go eight days without eating) mii iwe apii (that was the time) geget (truly) miziwe gii-gikendamaan (I came to know everything) ezhinaagwak giizhigong (of how it looks in the sky).
(4) Mīsa ‘iᵉi’ᵘ kā∙i∙jiwâbandạmān ā‘pidci kistcimîstcāmạgạt îwä gījik. Kāwīn ningudci wäkweyāsinōn ka‘kina ānạngōg ayāwād; ningīwâbạnda∙i∙gō ga‘kina äjiwäbạ‘k anạngōg ayāwād. Nībiwa pämādizitcig iwidi ayāwạg anạngunk. Mīgu iᵘ ka‘kina anạngōk ayāwād äjiwäba‘k.
Mii sa i’iw gaa-izhi-waabandamaan aapiji gichi-michaamagad iwe giizhig. Gaawiin ningoji wekweyaasinoon gakina anangoog ayaawaad; ningii-waabanda’igoo gakina ezhiwebak anangoog ayaawaad. Niibiwa bemaadizijig iwidi ayaawag anangong. Mii go iw gakina anangoog ayaawaad ezhiwebak.
Now, such was the way I saw how so very big was the sky. Nowhere was there an angular space where all the stars were; I was shown how all things were among the stars. Many living beings are there among the stars. And so that is the way it is where all the stars are.
Mii sa i’iw gaa-izhi-waabandamaan (now, that was how I saw it) aapiji gichi-michaamagad iwe giizhig (so very big is that sky). Gaawiin ningoji wekweyaasinoon (nowhere does it come to a corner) gakina anangoog ayaawaad (where all the stars are); ningii-waabanda’igoo (I was shown) gakina ezhiwebak (all that happens) anangoog ayaawaad (where the stars are). Niibiwa bemaadizijig (many living beings) iwidi ayaawag anangong (are there among the stars). Mii go iw (and so that is the way it is) gakina anangoog ayaawaad (where all the stars are) ezhiwebak (how things are).
(5) Kayädạc icpîmīng äyāt mạnidō ningīwâbạmā. Nibāyān wäwäni ānawi ningīgạgạnōni‘k; mīgo iᵘ ka‘kina kījik änigu‘kwāk mīgō iᵘ mạnidō wīya´ᵘ. Kāwīn ga‘kina kidäpapamāsīnānig anạngōg kayä kīcisōg; kāwīn pīdcini‘kāsīwạg, ō∙o∙wä tạc a‘ki kījibā‘kā.
Gaye dash ishpiming eyaad manidoo ningii-waabamaa. Nibaayaan weweni aanawi ningii-gaganoonig; mii go iw gakina giizhig enigokwaak mii go iw manidoo wiiyaw. Gaawiin gakina gidebabamaasiinaanig anangoog gaye giizisoog; gaawiin biijinikaasiiwag, o’owe dash aki giizhibaakaa.
And likewise the manitou that exists above I beheld. While I slept, I was forsooth spoken to with pleasing words; and as large as the full extent of the sky was the size of the manitou.¹ We cannot see all the stars and suns; they do not move, but this earth moves.²
Gaye dash ishpiming eyaad manidoo (and the manidoo that is above) ningii-waabamaa (I beheld). Nibaayaan (while I slept) weweni aanawi ningii-gaganoonig (with care indeed was I spoken to); mii go iw gakina giizhig enigokwaak (as the whole extent of the sky) mii go iw manidoo wiiyaw (so is the manidoo’s body). Gaawiin gakina gidebabamaasiinaanig (we do not see the whole of them) anangoog gaye giizisoog (the stars and the suns); gaawiin biijinikaasiiwag (they do not move; parse flagged — see Jones’s note 2), o’owe dash aki giizhibaakaa (but this earth revolves).
¹ A way of saying that all space is manitou. This same idea is often expressed by the term “all the manitous;” still another is to call it “The Great Manitou,” a term used for the God of the missionaries; but, whatever the form of expression employed, the idea of mystic power is paramount. — Jones, printed at the foot of p. 304; the markers of this spread print in the English layer. ² This sentence was probably not caught correctly; for there seems to be some mistake, either in the sentence as a whole or in the second or third phrases. — Jones, same foot. Resolved 2026-09-02 per M.’s ruling: flag 33-H1 (pīdcini‘kāsīwạg, “stem unattested”) — evidence: the stem IS attested, once, elsewhere in the corpus, in the obviative singular: pīdcini‘kāsīwạn → biijini’kaasiiwan. That witness settles the reading; the record’s own hand governs the style, so the fortis ‘k is written plain here as it is throughout this record (ningii-gashkitoon for ningīkạcki‘tōn), giving biijinikaasiiwag. What remains open is not this word but the whole sentence, and that doubt is Jones’s own, printed as his footnote ² at the foot of p. 304 and carried verbatim above; it is the edition’s doubt, not the pipeline’s, and it is not ours to resolve.
(6) Ānawi mī∙i∙´ᵘ kā∙i∙jiwâbạndạmān kistcimī‘kạnạn inamạnūn äjāt kīzis, kayä tibi‘kigīzis; ga‘kina gayä anạngōk äjāwāt. Kayä anōdc kägōn ningīwâbạndān icpîmīng äyāmạga‘k.
*Aanawi mii iw gaa-izhi-waabandamaan gichi-miikanan inamanoon ezhaad giizis, gaye dibiki-giizis; gakina gaye anangoog ezhaawaad. Gaye anooj gegoon ningii-waabandaan ishpiming eyaamagak.**
And, besides that, I beheld where lead the great roads along which the sun goes, likewise the moon; and where all the stars go. I also saw how all things were in the sky.
Aanawi mii iw gaa-izhi-waabandamaan (and besides, this too I beheld) gichi-miikanan (the great roads) inamanoon* (they lead thither; starred — unattested) ezhaad giizis (along which the sun goes), gaye dibiki-giizis (and the night-sun, the moon); gakina gaye anangoog ezhaawaad (and where all the stars go). Gaye anooj gegoon (and all sorts of things) ningii-waabandaan (I saw) ishpiming eyaamagak (that exist above).
(7) Kayädạc kayä nīn ningīki‘kändān ‘iᵉi´ᵘ tcīsa‘kīwin. Niswi ayāwạn īni´ᵘ tcīsa‘kānạn. Ka‘kina wâbandạmowād anicinābäg nībawa gayä nīyawink; nīngītạnändān ‘iᵉi´ᵘ kā‘pawâdamān mägwā ki∙u∙ckinawäwiyān.
Gaye dash gaye niin ningii-gikendaan i’iw jiisakiiwin. Niswi ayaawan iniw jiisakaanan. Gakina waabandamowaad anishinaabeg niibawa gaye niiyawing; ningii-danendaan i’iw gaa-bawaadamaan megwaa gii-oshkinawewiyaan.
And I also became acquainted with divination. There are three (kinds) of lodges of divination. All the many things that people have seen³ (are) also (here) within me;⁴ I ponder over the things that I have dreamed in my youth.
Gaye dash gaye niin (and I too) ningii-gikendaan (came to know) i’iw jiisakiiwin (the jiisakiiwin, divination). Niswi ayaawan (three there are) iniw jiisakaanan (of those divining lodges). Gakina waabandamowaad anishinaabeg (all that the people have seen) niibawa gaye (and much else) niiyawing (is within my body); ningii-danendaan (I ponder) i’iw gaa-bawaadamaan (what I dreamed) megwaa gii-oshkinawewiyaan (while I was a youth).
³ Experienced. ⁴ As knowledge. — Jones, printed at the foot of p. 304; the markers print in the English layer at “have seen³” and “within me;⁴”.
³ Experienced. ⁴ As knowledge. — Jones, printed at the foot of p. 304; the markers print in the English layer at “have seen³” and “within me;⁴”.
(8) Ga‘kina kījā ningīwâbạndān mini‘k kā‘pi∙i∙ciwäbisiyān pā‘kupimādisiyān. Äniwä‘kigu wâwāsa ningīpabā∙a∙i∙jā. Kāwīn ningudci ningīmayạginazīn; a‘ki kījā ga‘kina ningīwâbandān mägwā kī∙u∙ckipîmadisiyān; ōdänawạn gayä.
Gakina giizhaa ningii-waabandaan minik gaa-bi-izhiwebiziyaan baakwo-bimaadiziyaan. Eniwek igo waawaasa ningii-babaa-izhaa. Gaawiin ningoji ningii-mayaginanziin; aki giizhaa gakina ningii-waabandaan megwaa gii-oshki-bimaadiziyaan; oodenawan gaye.
Everything that has happened to me since I was born I have seen in advance. And to rather far-off places have I gone travelling. Nowhere did I find a place looking unfamiliar;⁵ the whole earth I had seen beforehand, while I was yet a youth; so too the towns.
Gakina giizhaa ningii-waabandaan (everything have I seen beforehand) minik gaa-bi-izhiwebiziyaan (as much as has happened to me) baakwo-bimaadiziyaan (since I have lived; parse flagged). Eniwek igo waawaasa (and to rather far-off places) ningii-babaa-izhaa (have I gone travelling). Gaawiin ningoji ningii-mayaginanziin (nowhere did I find a place strange); aki giizhaa gakina ningii-waabandaan (the whole earth I had seen beforehand) megwaa gii-oshki-bimaadiziyaan (while my life was yet new); oodenawan gaye (the towns too).
⁵ Because it had been made familiar when seen in dreams. — Jones, printed at the foot of p. 304; the marker prints in the English layer at “looking unfamiliar;⁵”. Flag 33-H2 (pā‘kupimādisiyān) STANDS OPEN for M., 2026-09-02, with the page evidence added: the print is confirmed at 12× on p.304 l.19 — pā‘ku- with a macron on the ā and a fortis ‘k, no worn or broken sort — so the Layer 1 is not in question. What is in question is the stem, and the corpus cannot settle it: the pa‘ku- family is bakobii-/bakon- (‘into the water’, ‘skin it’), 44 lexicon rows, and the pā‘ku- family is doopaakoniz- (‘table’), 4 rows; neither carries a birth sense, and baakwo- is unattested anywhere in the corpus. Jones’s English witnesses “since I was born.” Draft baakwo-bimaadiziyaan carried unchanged, never guessed into the lexicon.
(9) Ka‘kina gayä pämādisitcig kāwī‘kā awiya ningīmayagänimāsī. Ā‘pidci ningīsāgi∙i∙gōk pämādisitcig mini‘k kā‘pạbāwâbạmagwa; i‘kwäwạg gayä ā‘pidci nīsāgi∙i∙gōk, ā‘pidci gayä ningīni‘tā∙ạ∙ndawändcigä. Kāwīn kägōn ningī∙ạ∙gāwādạnzīn mägwā kīkạcki‘tōyān kī∙ạ∙ndawändcigäyān.
Gakina gaye bemaadizijig gaawiikaa awiya ningii-mayagenimaasii. Aapiji ningii-saagi’igoog bemaadizijig minik gaa-babaa-waabamagwaa; ikwewag gaye aapiji nisaagi’igook, aapiji gaye ningii-nitaa-andawenjige. Gaawiin gegoon ningii-agaawaadanziin megwaa gii-gashkitooyaan gii-andawenjigeyaan.
And all (kinds of) people have I never found looking unfamiliar. Very much have I been liked by all the people that I have seen; by the women also have I been very much liked,⁶ for I was also an excellent hunter. For nothing did I wish in vain while I was able to hunt for game.
Gakina gaye bemaadizijig (and all the living people) gaawiikaa awiya ningii-mayagenimaasii (never did I find anyone strange). Aapiji ningii-saagi’igoog (very much was I loved/liked by them) bemaadizijig (the people) minik gaa-babaa-waabamagwaa (as many as I saw in my travels); ikwewag gaye (the women too) aapiji nisaagi’igook (very much love me; printed without the past gii- — carried), aapiji gaye ningii-nitaa-andawenjige (for I was a skilled hunter of game). Gaawiin gegoon ningii-agaawaadanziin (for nothing did I wish in vain) megwaa gii-gashkitooyaan gii-andawenjigeyaan (while I was able to hunt).
⁶ This is not the empty remark of a dandy: the phrase has to be taken with the one following. One of the best things a youth can have said of himself is that he is a good hunter; this ability catches the attention of calculating parents who have daughters to marry off. A lodge with plenty of food is a lodge to be desired; and an Ojibwa woman is envious of the position of being mistress of such a lodge. And the ideal wife is not the plaything, but the one who knows how to dress the skins, bring in the wood and water, do all the household work, and who can be a mother. Beauty is subordinate to all these qualifications. Hospitality is one of the great Ojibwa virtues. — Jones, printed at the foot of p. 305 (the English side of the spread); the marker prints in the English layer at “very much liked,⁶”. Page confirmation 2026-09-02 (re-crop audit): nīsāgi∙i∙gōk is printed as the record has it — read at 7× across the p.304/306 seam (p.304 l.24 ends “i‘kwäwạg gayä ā‘pidci”, p.306 l.2 opens “nīsāgi∙i∙gōk, ā‘pidci gayä”). Whether the short form is a dropped -ngī- or a present-tense ni- stays M.’s call; carried as printed.
(10) Kayädạc a‘pī ayāmạga‘k ō∙o∙ạnō‘kīwīn mämindagä mōⁿjạg ningī∙ạ∙nōnigō tcîbạbāmādisiyān. Miziwä kägō kī∙i∙jiwîtcîgādä ä∙ī∙ndagu‘k pîbōnicīwînōn, äniwä‘k kayä ningīmạckawizī mägwā kī∙i∙ninīwiyān. Nānạn mạckimudạn ningīkạcki‘tōnạn kīpîmōndạmān.
Gaye dash apii ayaamagak o’o anokiiwin memindage moonzhag ningii-anoonigoo ji-babaamaadiziyaan. Miziwe gegoo gii-izhiwijigaade endagok biboonishiiwinoon, eniwek gaye ningii-mashkawizii megwaa gii-ininiiwiyaan. Naanan mashkimodan ningii-gashkitoonan gii-bimoondamaan.
And also, when there was work here to be done, I was often employed in preference to all others to go off on a journey.¹ Things were carried to every place where there were winter camps,² and pretty strong I was while I was a man.³ Five sacks was I able to carry on my back.
Gaye dash apii ayaamagak (and when there was) o’o anokiiwin (this work), memindage moonzhag ningii-anoonigoo (especially often was I hired) ji-babaamaadiziyaan (to go journeying about). Miziwe gegoo gii-izhiwijigaade (everywhere were things carried) endagok biboonishiiwinoon (to wherever the winter camps were), eniwek gaye ningii-mashkawizii (and pretty strong was I) megwaa gii-ininiiwiyaan (while I was a man). Naanan mashkimodan (five sacks) ningii-gashkitoonan (was I able) gii-bimoondamaan (to carry on my back).
¹ Employed by the factor of a Hudson Bay Company post to go after furs. ² Where the Indians were trapping. ³ In the possession of the full strength of a man. — Jones, spread 306/307: note 1 prints at the foot of p. 306, notes 2 and 3 at the foot of p. 307; the markers print in the English layer.
(11) Ạnicāgu nindibātcîm kā‘pi∙i∙jiwäbisiyān. Nōngumidạc Kāwīn käyābi ‘iᵉi´ᵘ nindijimạckawipimādisī; agāwa nōngum ningacki‘tōn wändcipimādidiyān. Anicā ānind weyābickīwätcig mäwija kā‘kikänimiwāt päpạngī kägō nimīnigōg pāsi‘kạmān.
Anishaa go nindibaajim gaa-bi-izhiwebiziyaan. Noongom idash gaawiin geyaabi i’iw nindizhi-mashkawi-bimaadizisii; agaawa noongom ningashkitoon wenji-bimaadiziyaan. Anishaa aanind weyaabishkiiwejig mewizha gaa-gikenimiwaad bebangii gegoo nimiinigoog biizikamaan.
I am simply relating what has happened to me. But I am not now so strong as I used to be; hardly am I now able to provide a living. In fact, some of the whites who have known me since long ago provide me little by little with the things that I wear.
Anishaa go nindibaajim (I am simply relating) gaa-bi-izhiwebiziyaan (what has happened to me). Noongom idash (but now) gaawiin geyaabi i’iw nindizhi-mashkawi-bimaadizisii (no longer do I live so strong a life); agaawa noongom ningashkitoon (hardly now am I able) wenji-bimaadiziyaan (to get my living; printed wändcipimādidiyān — carried; printer suspect). Anishaa aanind weyaabishkiiwejig (in fact some of the white people) mewizha gaa-gikenimiwaad (who have known me since long ago) bebangii gegoo nimiinigoog (little by little give me things) biizikamaan (that I wear; parse flagged).
(12) Ānīc mī∙i∙’ᵘ.
Aanish mii iw.
So that is all.
Aanish (well, so) mii iw (that is all).