Nanabushu and the Woodpecker (1)

Weyaabaninig miinawaa aano-kiiyose, mii sa onjida gaawiin gegoo onitoosiin.

Miinawaa go ani-maajaa; mii onjida gaawiin gegoo onitoosiin.

Gegapii ezhi-kiigidod wiiwan: “Geget gii-goopadis.  Awashime indawaa gisjikii-oodeyan; mii eta ge-izhi-wiisiniyangiban, mii eta ji-waabanishiyang.”



Gigizheb ezhi-maajaad Nenaboozhoo.

Gomaago apii degwishing, zaaga’igan owaabandaan.

Ayinaabid, awiiya owaabamaan bebaamaadagaakonid.


Eni-izhaad, owaabamaan ininiwan.

“Daga, ga-ani-wiijiiwin wii-kiiweyan.”

Zhigwa owaabandaan wiigiwaam; ani-piindigewan gaye wiin gaa-onabid owaabamaan ikwewan dazhi-mashkimodikenid.

Naanaa gego zhigwa genoonimaawan: “Daga naa, agoozh a’aw akik.”

Geget ikwe akikwan odoonagoonaan.

Gaa-kiizhiitaad, baanimaa go namadabinid onji-pasigwa’owan, abazhing abagizowan noondaagoziwan: “Gwo, gwo, gwo, gwo!” inwewan.


Mii nangwana memen wedisaad.

Zhigwa, gaa-tagwishininid iwidi soowaaganing, maatigwe’igewan.

Naagaj igo mandaamina’ bi-siigisewa’ mii imaa akikong, mii dash iw ezhi-mooshkinaanid iniw odakikoowaan.

Ba-izhi-niisigwaashkwaninid, mii sa naasaab anishinaabe.

Aaniish, mii go miinawaa iw gii-wawenabinid iniw ikwewan mashkimodikenid, giigidonid iniw: “Wegonesh ina ge-yapaabooweyang? Mii na zhigwo naa iw?”

Goniginiin, ogaa-kaakaasiiyaabikinaan i’iw mookomaan.

Goniginiin, ezhi-maadagwashaabinaad iniw wiiwani, gonigosha bikwanaaning ezhi-maadishwaad, gomaa go minik obakweshwaan.

Gaa-pakweshwaad, mii dash i’iw ozikoon ezhi-sinigwonamawaad imaa gii-pakweshwed.

Mii dash imaa odakikowaang ezhi-poodaakwe’amowaad i wiiyaas.

Ezhi-onzonid odakikowaang.

Zhigwa gaa-kiizhidenig, ezhi-agwaabiiga’ang; Nenaboozhoo bagidinamawaa ji-wiisinid gaye i mandaamina’.

Etawaa, mii dash geget Nenaboozhoo mino-wiisinid!

Aapiji gaa-de-wiisinid, mii iw ezhi-aanizhiitang.


Mii sa miinawa ezhi-kaanaad ogishoote’ona’.

“Mii iw maajaayaan giiweyaan.”

Nenaboozhoo inaa: “Mii go iw ji-giiwewidaw.”


Miinawaa, gomaago apii eni-dagwishing, biipaagi Nenaboozhoo: “Giwanichigaagime!”

Gaawiin aano-debwetawaasii.

Eshkam enigok biipaagi, gegapii, “Maanoo, izhiwidawik Nenaboozhoo ogiishoote’ona’.”

Geget gwiiwizensag odi-shiiwinaawaa.

Aaniish, waasa go odashaapagidawaawaa ezhi-ganoonaad: “Ni-shiimisha, besho go bi-izhaayok.  Gi-bakadem awa sa giinawaa.  Waabang goosiwaa da-bi-izhaa, naawakweg oga-pi-naadin ge-miijiyeg.”


Mii sa ezhi-kiiwed Nenaboozhoo gaa-tagwishing endaawaad, mii sa naa miinawaa wiisiniwaad.

Mii wi iniw gii-kanoonaad wiiwan: “Nashkenaa! mashkimodiken.”

Ezhi-kanoonigod Nenaboozhoo wiiwan: “Indaskaa miinawaa iw awiya gegoo gii-shinawaawaden.  Edadagwashako gii-menishi ishkwaakamik gii-doodanziiwan!”

Nenaboozhoo ezhi-kiigidod: “Maanoo! mashkimodiken.”


“Wegonesh ina ge-aabajitooyaan i’iw ji-mashkimodikeyaan?”

Aaniish, wiigobiizh odayaan aw ikwe, mii sa naa iw wenaabiiginang.

Aaniish baabii’od Nenaboozhoo.

Zhigwa naawakwenig dagwishinoon iniw ininiwan.

Baapiindigenid, “Wegonesh ina ge-ishangeyang?”


Nenaboozhoo biiwaabikozh ogiikaashiboodoon.

Gaa-piindigenid, Nenaboozhoo bazigonjise.

“Gwo, gwo, gwo, gwo!” inwed.

Ezhi-ishisidood obiiwaabikoni imaa oshingwanaang, zhigwa akwaandawe.

Zhigwa iwidi gashki’o disawaaganing.


Zhigwa obakii’aan odabanzhiiwa’.

Etawaa! wendago geget waasa inaakwijid bangishing, “joen!” inweweshin Nenaboozhoo.


Etawe! onawadinaan abiiwide.

Maanoo, indawaa owiikobidawaan iw biiwaabik.

Bangii wiin go ganage miskwiiwan, gaasiiyaabanaawaad miskwiiwinid.


Nenaboozhoo zhigwa ani-pagakaadizi ezhi-kiigidod: “Maanoo go, mashkimodiken!” odinaan iniw wiiwan.


Aaniish, geget maajitaa a’aw ikwe mashkimodaakaad.


Mii iw zhigwa gii-odaapinang iw mookomaan, zhigwa omanibidawaan i’iw obabiinzikawaaganishini.

Ezhi-maadishwaad bikwanaaning, bane go noondaagozinid aapiji owiisagishwen.


“Bizaan! mii gosha ko iw endoodamaan waakiige’iweyaan.”

Mii dash ezhi-kanoonigod biiwiden: “Bekaa! ganabaj giga-nisaa gi-mindimooyemish.  Indawaa biidoon iw mookomaan.”

Ezhi-pakweshomind iniw wiiwan, ezhi-poodaakwe’aminid imaa odakikoowaang.

Miinawaa, bazigwa’onid imaa disowaaganing, mii dash imaa maadikwe’igenid.

Naagaj igo mandaamina’ bi-siigibizowa’, odakikoowang i’imaa ezhi-siigibizonid.

Gaa-mooshkinenid iniw odakikoowaan, mii sa iw Nenaboozhoo izhi-wiisinid.

“Mii iw nin-giiwe.”

Mii sa iw binewijiid (egoodeg). (2)
On the morrow he went on another fruitless hunt for game, and it was just his luck not to kill a thing.

An other time he set out ; but, as ill luck would have it, he did not kill a thing.

At last then up spoke the woman: "Really, you are of no use. It would therefore be much better for you to go on a visit among (your friends); for only by such means shall we obtain food to eat, only in that way shall we live through the winter."

In the morning then departed Nanabushu.

When some distance away he was come, a lake he saw.

While looking around, he saw somebody walking about on the ice.

When he started hitherward, he saw a man.

"Pray, let me go with you when you depart for home !"

Presently he saw a wigwam ; when in the other went, so then (did) he. When he was seated, he saw a woman busily making a bag.

After a while she was then spoken to: "Please hang up the kettle."

Truly, the woman arranged (the kettle) so as to hang.

When she had finished, then of a sudden he that was seated flew up, a-lighting yonder on the lodge-pole, (and) could be heard saying: "Kwu, kwu, kwu, kwu!" such was his cry.

It happened to be the Red- Head that he was visiting.

Now, when (the Red-Head) was come at the meeting of the lodge-poles, he then began pecking.

And after a while some corn came pouring into the kettle there, whereupon full of it became their kettle.

Down he came hopping ; and when (he was come), then back again (was he in) human (form).

Well, and so another time was the woman seated, making her sack, when she said: "What shall we put (into the corn) for seasoning, or shall it be just so?"

Lo, he now wiped the blade of his knife.

Behold, when he uncovered his wife, plump on her very back he then began slicing her, rather large pieces he sliced off.

When he had done with carving her, he then rubbed his spittle over (the place) where he had carved her.

And then into their kettle they put the meat to boil.


Then their kettle began boiling.

Now, after the food was done cooking, then out she dipped it ; and in front of Nanabushu, that he might eat, she placed (the meat) and the corn.

Oh, but Nanabushu truly had a pleasant time eating!

After he was quite satisfied with food, he accordingly ceased eating.

And then again he hid his mittens.

"Now I should start back home."

Nanabushu was told: "Therefore do you take them home (some food)."

Again, after some distance he was come, out called Nanabushu: "I have forgotten something!"

But in vain was he not listened to.

Louder still he shouted, till finally, "Well, then do you take to Nanabushu his mittens."

To be sure, the boys took them to him.

Now, from afar were they throwing them to him, when he said to them: "My little brothers, up close do you come. You must be hungry. To-morrow let your father come over, at noon let him come to get some food for you to eat."

And so it is said that when Nanabushu was come at where they lived, then the poor things ate again.

There upon he spoke to his wife, saying : " Now, come and make a bag!"

Then was Nanabushu answered by his wife saying: "No doubt but that you have again seen somebody doing something. Oh, how you make me ashamed in your trying always to do everything !"

Nanabushu then spoke up: "Never you mind! just you make the bag."

"Pray, what shall I use to make the bag?"


Now, some bast did the woman have, and so with that she began weaving (a bag).

In the mean while waited Nanabushu.

When it was noon, then came the man.

When he entered within, "Pray, what shall we offer (him) to eat?"

Nanabushu sharpened an old piece of metal.

After the other had come in, Nanabushu then sprang up.

"Kwu, kwu, kwu, kwu !" was the sound he uttered.

When he placed the metal into his nose, then up he climbed.

Presently he was able to reach the meeting of the lodge-poles.

Then he pecked at their lodge-poles.

Alas ! right straight in for a long way it truly entered.  When he dropped, "ten!" was the sound Nanabushu made.

Poor thing! him the visitor grabbed.

However, he then pulled out the metal.

And (he saw that Nanabushu) had nevertheless bled a little, (whereupon) he then washed him where he was bloody.

Nanabushu was now becoming conscious when he said : "Never you mind, but make the sack!" he said to his wife.

Now, truly the woman started upon the work of making the sack.

Then, when he took up the knife, he began removing her old jacket.

When he began carving her at the back, straightway she began to be heard (crying aloud). Very painfully did he hurt her with the knife.

"Hush! for this is what I always do whenever I wish to entertain."

Then was he addressed by the guest saying: "Stop! perhaps you will kill your old woman. Therefore fetch hither the knife."

When (the visitor) sliced off a piece from the wife of (Nanabushu), he put it into their kettle to boil.

Next, flying up to the meeting of lodge-poles, (the visitor) then began to peck.

After a while some corn came pouring out, into their kettle it poured.

After their kettle was full, then did Nanabushu eat.

"Now I am going home."

Whereupon the buttocks of the ruffed grouse (hang aloft).