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