Nenabosho and the Great Fisher
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Ningoding igo babimosed awiiya oonoondawaan madwe-nagamonid.
Aapiji sa ominotawaan. “Etiwe*, ambegish sa waabamag awegweniiwigwen a’aw negamod. Ambe sa, ninga-wiikagwewaabamaa,” inendam. Ezhi-maajaad Nenabosho. Abaapish bayeshodawaad*, onjida sa wiin gaawiin baashigwanong ayaasiidog enitawaad. Zhigwa sa besho owaabandaa gichigami, goniginiin mishiwojiigan ayaazhawikwaashkwaniwan i’iw gichi-gami. Mii dash i’iw zasiiboshkaanig i’iw gichi-gami mii dash imaa ayaazhawikwaashkoninid, bekish idash nagaomoowan: “Gichigami zesipokaag. The shores of the sea meet together, ina’amoon. Geget ominwenimaan. “Ambegish sa gaye niin gashkitooyaan ji-izhichigeyaan. Gaawiin niin nindayaanizhiida-zii. Gaawiin ina, Mishiwojiig, nindaa-kashkitoosiin i’iw ji-izhichigeyembaan?” “Nenabosho, mewizha nimaajitaanaaban i’iwe ondaminoyaan. Aaw, giinitam izhichigen. Aapiji nimpakade. Akawe niiwi-andawendaan i’iw waa-miijiyaan. Giinitam idash gayaayaazhawigwaashkwan. Mii sa i’iw zhigwa ji-maajitaayan, Nenabosho. Gego wiin babiinitagen waa-iininaan. Mii go iw moozhag ji-nagamoyan: “Gichigami zesipokaag. ‘The shores of the sea meet together, ji-ina’aman. Giishpin, “Gichi-gami deshkiikaag, ina’aman, mii dash iw ganabaj gii-ganisaabaawe.” Mii sa iw zhigwa ani-maajaanid. Nenabosho ezhi-maajii’ang: “Gichi-gami zesipokaag, ‘The shores of the sea meet together, Mii go iw geget ezhi-siposhkaanig. Aataa, geget sa minwendam. Mii sa gabe-giizhig gaawiin aanishiitazii aazhawigwaashkwanid. Abaapish debikadinig, mii sa go gaye gabe-dibik; wayaabaninig gaawiin ganage wii-aanashiitazii. Awanjis* baapinendam. Zhigwa onaagoshinini, mii zhigwa ayekozid Nenabosho. Ningoding igo ogii-mikwendaan: “Amanjigish i’iw gaa-wonjii’ikidod, ‘Gego wiin ina’angen.” Wegoneniiwinen* Nenabosho aazhawigwaashkwanid, “Gichi-gami deshkiikaag, “The shores of the sea draw apart, ina’am. Wendago naawagaam bangishin. Aaniish aazhisigwesed. Aano-mooshkamod inaabid, gaawiin ganage bimakamigaasininig. Miinawaa aano-gwekagomo, mii sa onjida gaawiin owaabandaziin i’iw ji-bimakamigaanig. “Babaapiniwaagan, mii sa geget niboyaan!” Wegoneniwinen* ezhi-gashkitood ji-biibaagi: “Mishi-ojiig!”, enigok biibaagi. Megwaa go babaadanakamigizid awiya onoontawaan madwe-biibaaginid. “Mii maawiin a’aw Nenabosho,” inendam. Biinish igo madwemawiwan iiniw Nenaboshoowan. Aataa, indawaa sa maajiibatoo gichi-enigok. Zhigwa madaabiibatoo Mishi-ojiig, edawaa, Nenaboshoowan naanaawi-gichigami madwemawiwan. “Zhizhii (zhisii?), indashkaa mii iw aano-gii-onjibwaamid a’aw Nenabosho.” Aaniish bizaan igo maajii’am Mishi-ojiig. Ezhi-kweshkwanid mii sa onjida ezhi-ayaanig ziposhkaanig. Mii sa zhigwa Nenabosho gii-agwaadaad. Geget minwendam Nenabosho. “Aa, Mishi-ojiig, geget inangwana gi-manidoow. Maagizhaa niin eta nimanidoow nindinendaanaaban. Indawaa sa giin giigazaziikis. Mii sa i’iw ge-zhinaganinaan.” Nenabosho ezhi-maaji’aazhagaamed i’iw gichi-gami. |
And once, while walking about, he heard the voice of someone singing.
Much was he pleased with the tune (of the singer). “Ah, would that I might see who the singer is! I say, I am going to try to see (who it is),” he thought. Then odd went Nenabosho. By the time he was in close hearing distance of him, it seemed by the way he heard him that the being was not in any one place. When he had a near view of the sea, lo, (he saw) a great fisher(1) leaping back and forth across the sea. It was at the coming-together of the shores of the sea where to and fro he leaped, at the same time he sang: Gichi-gami zesipokaag,” the shores of the sea meet together. (Such) was the song he sang. Truly was he pleased with him. Would that I might be able to do that too! I would not cease. Might I not be able, O Great Fisher, to do that?” Nenabosho, long ago I began this that I am playing. Very well, take your turn at doing it. Very hungry am I. In the mean while I want to look for something to eat. So take your turn at leaping across back and forth. Therefore now you may begin, Nenabosho. Do not do otherwise than what I have told you. Therefore always should you sing: Gichi-gami zesipokaag,” the shores of the sea meet together,’ (Thus) you should sing. if Gichi-gami deshkiikaag,” You should sing, then perhaps you might drown.” And then he departed on his way. Nenabosho then began singing: Gichi-gami zesipokaag.” the shores of the sea meet together.’ Whereupon truly the shores came together. Oh, truly happy was he! And so throughout the day he did not cease leaping back and forth across. And when night came on, it was the same the whole night long; when the morning came, not a whit was he anxious to stop. Increasing joy he got from it. When it was growing evening, then was Nenabosho becoming weary. Then he happened on a sudden thought: “Wonder why it is he said, Don’t you sing (the otherway)!” But foolishly, as Nenabosho leaped across, Gichi-gami deshkiikaag,” The shores of the sea draw apart,” He thus sang. And in the very centre of the sea he fell. So down (out of sight) he fell. When on coming up to the surface he tried to look about, there was not a single bit of shore-line to be seen. Again he vainly tried turning the other way, but, just as before, he did not see the shore-line. “Woe is me, for now surely I shall die!” In distress he called out as loud as he could: “O Great Fisher!”, With a loud voice he called. Now, while (the Fisher) was roaming about, he heard the voice of some one calling aloud. “That must be Nenabosho,” he thought. Then presently (he heard) the voice of Nenabosho crying. Ah, accordingly then he started running at full speed. When the Great Fisher came running out upon (the sea), why, there was Nenabosho to be heard crying exceedingly far out on the water. “There, that is on account of Nenabosho’s failing to heed (my words).” So then softly began the Great Fisher to sing. When over he leaped, then back, as it did before, came (the shores of the sea) togther. Thereupon then Nenabosho came out of the water. Truly pleased was Nenabosho. “Ah, Great Fisher really indeed you are a manitou. That perhaps I was the only manitou, was the thought I entertained heretofore. Accordingly you are to be older (than I).(2) Therefore shall I now leave you”. Nenabosho then went his way along the shore of the sea. |
