Nänabushu and the Woodpecker (1)

Gii-ani-maajaa dash Nenaboozhoo.

Miinawaa ogii-ani-odisaan memen daanid wiimbinakadoong.

Mii dash gii-piindiged endaanid.

Meme dash gii-akwaandawe imaa baate-zhingwaakong.

Oganawaabamaan endoodaminid iniw memen.

Ani-gagwedikwe’o imaa mitigong; aapiji dash ishpiming gichi-enigok madwekwe’od mii imaa wenji-pangishininid esiban.


Mii wa nini gaa-kiizhizwaad gii-ashamaad Nenaboozhoon.

Eshkwaa-wiisinid Nenaboozhoo, “Gaye niin ningad-ashamaa meme.” 

Niizh dash okanan ogii-odaapinaanan.

Mii dash gaa-izhi-zhiga’ang eyiidawaya’ii, mii dash gii-atood odenigomaang.

Mii dash akwaandawed imaa mitigong gaye wiin gagwedikwe.

Aapiji dash ishpiming e-yaad, mii iw gichi-enigok ezhi-madwekwe’od.

Mii dash ezhi-nisidizod.

Gaawiin ogii-nisaasiin esibanan.

Memen dash ogii-pimaaji’igoon.

Mii iw gii-ani-maajad.

Mii sa go naa ekoozid.
So on his way went Nänabushu.

Next he went to visit the red-head at where he was in the hole of a tree.

And so he went into where the (red-head) lived.

Now, the red-head climbed up a dead pine-tree.

He watched what the red-head was doing.

(The red-head) kept testing where to peck on his way up the tree; and when very high up was heard the sound of him pecking with all his might, then down from there came falling a raccoon.

That was what he cooked when he fed Nänabushu.


When Nänabushu was done eating, “I too will feed the red-head.”

Now, two bones he took.

And so when he had sharpened them at both ends, he accordingly placed them in his nostrils.

And when he climbed up the tree, he also tested where to peck.

And when very high up he was, he then heard pecking with all his might.

Thereupon, he killed himself.

He did not kill a raccoon.

And by the red-head was he brought back to life.

And so on his way he went.

And that is as far as (the story) goes.