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.
(Ojibwe title not printed in 1919 — left for M.)
THE SPIRIT-WORLD.
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) Mīnawā kägō nindibātcîm kā∙i∙‘kitowād kätäⁱ anicinābäk. Kīcpîn awiga näbudcin nānīngutînū awiya kī∙ā∙bidcībā; mīdạc ‘aᵉa´ᵘ kā‘tîbādcîmut äjināgwạdogwän äjāwād näbōwāt.
Miinawaa gegoo nindibaajim gaa-ikidowaad gete-anishinaabeg. Giishpin awiya nebojin naaningodinoo awiya gii-aabijiibaa; mii dash a’aw gaa-dibaajimod ezhinaagwadogwen ezhaawaad nebowaad.
Something else I (will) relate concerning what the people of old have said. Whenever any one died, it was common for him to rise from the dead; and so he would give an account of what it was like at the place where the dead go.
Miinawaa gegoo nindibaajim (something else I relate) gaa-ikidowaad gete-anishinaabeg (of what the people of old have said). Giishpin awiya nebojin (whenever anyone died) naaningodinoo (it was common that) awiya gii-aabijiibaa (one rose back to life); mii dash a’aw gaa-dibaajimod (and so that one would tell) ezhinaagwadogwen (of what it may be like) ezhaawaad nebowaad (where go those who die).
(2) Ā‘pidci kistcimī‘kạna īnạmᵘ äjāwād näbowāt. Kîstcinībawa owâbạmān pämusänit kwäya‘k nīngābī∙ạ∙nunk inạmu iᵘ mi‘kạna.
Aapiji gichi-miikana inamo ezhaawaad nebowaad. Gichi-niibawa owaabamaan bemosenid gwayak ningaabii’anong inamo iw miikana.
A very large road leads (to the place) where go those who have died. A great many one saw walking straight west, (where) leads the road.
Aapiji gichi-miikana inamo (a very great road leads) ezhaawaad nebowaad (to where go those who have died). Gichi-niibawa owaabamaan (a great many one saw) bemosenid (walking) gwayak ningaabii’anong (straight toward the west) inamo iw miikana (where that road leads).
(3) Ni‘tạm odạnimī‘kän kîstcimīnạn ạgōtanik, mîskwimīnạn kayä. Kīcpîn awiya ạmwāt kāwīn mīnawā tạbikīwäsī.
Nitam odani-mikaan gichi-miinan agoodenig, miskwiminan gaye. Giishpin awiya amwaad gaawiin miinawaa da-bi-giiwesii.
First one found some large blueberries hanging aloft, some raspberries too. If any one ate them, not again would one return home.
Nitam (first) odani-mikaan (one found along the way) gichi-miinan agoodenig (great blueberries hanging aloft), miskwiminan gaye (and raspberries too). Giishpin awiya amwaad (if anyone ate them) gaawiin miinawaa da-bi-giiwesii (never again would one come back home).
(4) Käga‘pī owâbạndān kîstcizībi ayānik, ā‘pidci kîjīdcîwạn. Mīdạc imāⁿ wâbạmāt mi‘tigōn ājawā‘kwạntcininit, nīnamā‘kwāgubu ‘aᵉa´ᵘ mi‘tig. Ā‘pidci nạnīzānạt; ānind imāⁿ pạngīcinōg.
Gegapii owaabandaan gichi-ziibi ayaanig, aapiji gizhijiwan. Mii dash imaa waabamaad mitigoon aazhawaakwanjininid, niinamaakwaagobo a’aw mitig. Aapiji naniizaanad; aanind imaa bangishinoog.
At last one saw where the great river was, very swift was its current. And then there one saw a log lying across the stream, unfastened lay the log. Very dangerous it was; some fell off from (the log) there.
Gegapii owaabandaan (at last one beheld) gichi-ziibi ayaanig (where the great river was), aapiji gizhijiwan (very swift was its current). Mii dash imaa waabamaad mitigoon (and there one saw a log) aazhawaakwanjininid (lying across the stream), niinamaakwaagobo (unsteadily it lay; parse flagged) a’aw mitig (that log). Aapiji naniizaanad (very dangerous it was); aanind imaa bangishinoog (some fell off there).
(5) ‘Aᵉa´widạc käcki‘tōd ājawādawät mī∙a∙´ᵘ käcki‘tōd tcî∙ī∙jāt iwidi tcībaya‘kīng. Mīnawā udạniwâbamāᵉ ạnimūᵉ ayānit ōwita‘kwạmigō. Ka‘kina gayä kägōn kayācōdäwād owâbạndạnāwa.
A’aw idash gashkitood aazhawaadawed mii a’aw gashkitood ji-izhaad iwidi jiibay-akiing. Miinawaa odani-waabamaag animoog ayaanid wii-dakwamigoo. Gakina gaye gegoon gaa-aazhoodewaad owaabandaanaawaa.
And the one that succeeded in crossing the log was able to go over to the ghostly region. Next one saw dogs there that were eager to bite one. And all sorts of things they (all) saw after they had crawled across.
A’aw idash gashkitood aazhawaadawed (and the one who managed to cross on the log) mii a’aw gashkitood (that one was able) ji-izhaad iwidi jiibay-akiing (to go over there to the jiibay land). Miinawaa odani-waabamaag (next one saw them) animoog ayaanid (dogs that were there) wii-dakwamigoo (eager to bite one; parse flagged). Gakina gaye gegoon (and all sorts of things) gaa-aazhoodewaad (after they had crawled across) owaabandaanaawaa (they saw).
(6) Mīnawā mindimoyäyạn owâbạmān, mi‘tig oda‘kunān ‘aᵉa´ᵘ mindimoyäⁿ. Ka‘kina kägōn ogạgwädcimigōn, ānind kā∙i∙jipîmādisid. Ānind kāwin opạgidînāsīn ‘aᵉa´ᵘ mindimōyä tcipimosänit; ānind opạgi‘tä∙o∙wān; ānind idạc opạgidînān mānū tcī∙i∙jānit tcībaya‘kīng.
Miinawaa mindimooyeyan owaabamaan, mitig odakonaan a’aw mindimooyenh. Gakina gegoon ogagwejimigoon, aanind gaa-izhi-bimaadizid. Aanind gaawiin obagidinaasiin a’aw mindimooye ji-bimosenid; aanind obagite’owaan; aanind idash obagidinaan maanoo ji-izhaanid jiibay-akiing.
Next an old woman one saw, a stick in her hand the old woman held. Concerning all sorts of things one was questioned, some how one had lived. Some of them the old woman did not let pass; some of them she hit; and some without annoyance she let go on to the spirit-world.
Miinawaa mindimooyeyan owaabamaan (next an old woman one saw), mitig odakonaan (a stick she held) a’aw mindimooyenh (that old woman). Gakina gegoon ogagwejimigoon (about all sorts of things was one questioned by her), aanind gaa-izhi-bimaadizid (in part, how one had lived). Aanind gaawiin obagidinaasiin (some she did not let pass) a’aw mindimooye (the old woman) ji-bimosenid (to walk onward); aanind obagite’owaan (some she struck); aanind idash obagidinaan (and some she let go) maanoo ji-izhaanid (freely to go on; maanoo — the permissive pole; ruling record) jiibay-akiing (to the jiibay land).
(7) A‘pī∙i∙dạc awiya ạnidagwicink iwidi ayāwāt tcībayạg kistci∙o∙dä‘tōwạg. Awiya iwidi tạgwicink nībawa owâbạmān änawämā‘pạn. Ā‘pidci kistcinīmi∙i∙diwạg nībātibi‘k. Kwīckwiciwạg, sāsā‘kwäwạg.
Apii idash awiya ani-dagwishing iwidi ayaawaad jiibayag gichi-oodetoowag. Awiya iwidi dagwishing niibawa owaabamaan enawemaapan. Aapiji gichi-niimi’idiwag niibaa-dibik. Gwiishkwishiwag, zaazaakwewag.
And after one had arrived there where the ghosts were, they were (found) living in a great town. When one arrived at the place, one saw many who had been related to one in the past. A very big dance they had together in the silence of the night. They whistled, they whooped.
Apii idash awiya ani-dagwishing (and when one arrived) iwidi ayaawaad jiibayag (there where the jiibayag were) gichi-oodetoowag (a great town they dwelt in). Awiya iwidi dagwishing (when one arrived there) niibawa owaabamaan (many one saw) enawemaapan (who had been one’s relatives; preterite participle). Aapiji gichi-niimi’idiwag (a very great dance they had together) niibaa-dibik (in the dead of night). Gwiishkwishiwag (they whistled), zaazaakwewag (they whooped).
(8) Kīcpîn awiya mi‘kwänimāt änawämā‘pạn omāⁿ äyāt a‘kīng, kīcpîn mīdcîm a‘tōd unāgạning ckudänk pạgidînạnk, mī∙i∙´widi tạgwicinōmạga‘k ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mīdcîm ạcạmāt änawämā‘pạn.
Giishpin awiya mikwenimaad enawemaapan omaa eyaad akiing, giishpin miijim atood onaaganing ishkodeng bagidinang, mii iwidi dagwishinoomagak i’iw miijim ashamaad enawemaapan.
If any one here on this earth became mindful of one whom one was related to in the past, (and) if one placed food in a vessel (or) put it on the fire, then over there would arrive the food which one fed to one that had been a relative.
Giishpin awiya mikwenimaad (if anyone became mindful of) enawemaapan (one who had been a relative) omaa eyaad akiing (while here on this earth), giishpin miijim atood onaaganing (if one placed food in a vessel) ishkodeng bagidinang (or set it on the fire), mii iwidi dagwishinoomagak (then over there would arrive) i’iw miijim (that food) ashamaad enawemaapan (which one fed to the one who had been a relative).
(9) Ạnōdc ijināguziwạg nāmiwād, ạdcidcigābawiwạg nīmiwād.
Anooj izhinaagoziwag naamiwaad, ajijiigaabawiwag niimiwaad.
In various forms appeared they who danced, (even) upon their heads they stood when they danced.
Anooj izhinaagoziwag (in various forms they appeared) naamiwaad (they who danced), ajijiigaabawiwag (upon their heads they stood) niimiwaad (when they danced).
(10) Mīdạc ‘iᵉ´ᵘ kā∙u∙ndci∙i∙‘kidowād kä‘tä∙a∙nicinābäg awiya kānibutin: “Kägu awiya wījāmā‘kän.” Udinō∙a∙mawāwān kwaya‘k ningābi∙a∙nunk. “Mī∙i∙´ᵘ kwaya‘k ijān,” udināwān. “Mī∙i∙widi tci∙o∙di‘tạmạn ändaji∙o∙dä‘tōwāt tcībayạg.” Ga‘kina kägōn omīnāwān; tibickō awiya ningudci wā∙i∙jādin mī∙i∙’ᵘ ā∙jī∙ā∙wād. Mō‘kumān, asämān, a‘pwāgạn, ckudä, pạngi gayä mīdcîm odạ‘tōnāwa.
Mii dash i’iw gaa-onji-ikidowaad gete-anishinaabeg awiya gaa-nibodin: “Gego awiya wiijaamaaken.” Odinoo’amawaawaan gwayak ningaabii’anong. “Mii iw gwayak izhaan,” odinaawaan. “Mii iwidi ji-oditaman endazhi-oodetoowaad jiibayag.” Gakina gegoon omiinaawaan; dibishkoo awiya ningoji waa-izhaadin mii iw ezhi’aawaad. Mookomaan, asemaan, opwaagan, ishkode, bangii gaye miijim odatoonaawaa.
And this was why the people of old used to say whenever anybody died: “Don’t ask anybody to accompany you.” They pointed out to one the way straight towards the west. “Now, straight in that direction do you go,” they said to one. “There in that place you will come to where the ghosts have a town.” All (kinds of) things they gave to one; in the same manner as when one was fitted out for a journey, so they fitted one out. A knife, tobacco, pipe, fire, and a little food, they placed (there for the dead).
Mii dash i’iw gaa-onji-ikidowaad (and this was why they used to say) gete-anishinaabeg (the people of old) awiya gaa-nibodin (whenever anyone died; the t-print — the die-verb’s dc/t shapes both carried): “Gego awiya wiijaamaaken (do not ask anyone to go along with you; -aaken prohibitive).” Odinoo’amawaawaan (they pointed the way out to one) gwayak ningaabii’anong (straight toward the west). “Mii iw gwayak izhaan (go straight that way),” odinaawaan (they said to one). “Mii iwidi ji-oditaman (there you will come to) endazhi-oodetoowaad jiibayag (the place where the jiibayag have their town).” Gakina gegoon omiinaawaan (all kinds of things they gave to one); dibishkoo awiya ningoji waa-izhaadin (just as when one is about to journey somewhere) mii iw ezhi’aawaad (so they fitted one out; ā-print, flagged). Mookomaan (a knife), asemaan (tobacco), opwaagan (a pipe), ishkode (fire), bangii gaye miijim (and a little food) odatoonaawaa (they placed there).
(11) Mīdạc imāⁿ nānīgutînū pōdawäwād tcībā‘kwäwād mi‘kwänimāwād īni’ᵘ kānibunit. Mīdcim, asämān kayä ckudänk udạsāwān. Mīdạc iwidi tcībayạg ayāwād tạgwicinūmạga‘k ‘iᵉi´ᵘ mīdcîm.
Mii dash imaa naaningodinoo boodawewaad jiibaakwewaad mikwenimaawaad iniw gaa-nibonid. Miijim, asemaan gaye ishkodeng odasaawaan. Mii dash iwidi jiibayag ayaawaad dagwishinoomagak i’iw miijim.
And then there (at the grave) they sometimes kindled a fire (and) cooked food, when they were mindful of one that had died. Food, tobacco, and fire they placed there. And then over there at the place where the ghosts were arrived the food.
Mii dash imaa naaningodinoo (and there sometimes) boodawewaad (they kindled a fire) jiibaakwewaad (and cooked) mikwenimaawaad (when they were mindful of) iniw gaa-nibonid (the one who had died). Miijim, asemaan gaye (food and tobacco) ishkodeng odasaawaan (they placed on the fire). Mii dash iwidi jiibayag ayaawaad (and over there where the jiibayag are) dagwishinoomagak i’iw miijim (that food arrived).
(12) Päᵉjik ayā kîstcitcībäwinini känawänimāt tcībayaᵉ, mī∙i∙’ᵘ kā∙i∙jinōndạmān kä‘tä∙ạ∙nicinābäᵉk kā∙i∙‘ketōwād. Nānīngutînō ‘aᵉa´ᵘ kistcitcībäwinini ugīwänajawān. “Kāmạci kidînändāguzī umāⁿ tcîbī∙i∙jaiyạn.” Mīdạc i‘ku´ iᵘ nānīngudînū awiya ābidcībāt.
Bezhig ayaa gichi-jiibay-inini genawenimaad jiibayag, mii iw gaa-izhi-noondamaan gete-anishinaabeg gaa-ikedowaad. Naaningodinoo a’aw gichi-jiibay-inini ogii-wenazhawaan. “Gaa mashi gidinendaagozii omaa ji-bi-izhaayan.” Mii dash iko iw naaningodinoo awiya aabijiibaad.
There was one great ghostly person who watched over the ghosts, for such was what I have heard people of old say. Sometimes the great ghostly man sent one back (to the earth). “Not yet is your time up to come to this place.” And this was the occasion when one sometimes came back to life.
Bezhig ayaa gichi-jiibay-inini (there is one great jiibay person) genawenimaad jiibayag (who watches over the jiibayag), mii iw gaa-izhi-noondamaan (for such is what I have heard) gete-anishinaabeg gaa-ikedowaad (the people of old say). Naaningodinoo (sometimes) a’aw gichi-jiibay-inini (that great jiibay man) ogii-wenazhawaan (sent one back; parse flagged). “Gaa mashi gidinendaagozii (not yet are you so destined) omaa ji-bi-izhaayan (to come here).” Mii dash iko iw (and that, as a rule, is why) naaningodinoo awiya aabijiibaad (sometimes one came back to life).