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.
MĪGISI.
MIGIZI.
BALD-EAGLE.
Narrated by Wāsāgunäckạnk — Series 3 (Nos. 44–61), Bois Fort (per Jones Part II Introduction p. ix; not credited on the story page itself).
from Ojibwa Texts collected by William Jones (1919).
(1) Migisimī a∙ī∙ntā.
Migizi mii ayindaa.
Bald-Eagle was abiding at the place.
Migizi (Bald-Eagle) mii ayindaa (there she dwelt).
(2) Unīdcānisaᵉ nīciwaᵉ.
Oniijaanisag niizhiwag.
Her children were two (in number).
Oniijaanisag (her children) niizhiwag (were two).
(3) Cigwa wīnōniwaᵉ utcīting udini‘kwänā; kābakaskạmigutigu, pinäwītcīt …
*Zhigwa wii-nooniwag ojiiding odinikwenaa; gaa-bakaskamigod igo, binewi-jiid …**
When they desired to suck, down to her buttocks she put their heads; and when the sound of their mouths was heard while she was being sucked, then the buttocks of the ruffed grouse …
Zhigwa wii-nooniwag (when they wanted to nurse) ojiiding (down at her rump) odinikwenaa (she put their heads); gaa-bakaskamigod* igo (and when the sound of their mouths was heard while she was being sucked), binewi-jiid (the ruffed grouse’s rump) … (the closing that leaves the story to the listener’s wondering).