Nenabosho and the Woodpecker (1)
Zhigwa bakadewag aapiji, mii sa ezhi-maajaad Nenabosho.
So were they much in need of food, whereupon off went Nenabosho.
Zhigwa, miinawaa odishiwe.
Now, again was he a-visiting.
Mii sa miinawaa ezhi-nawaad anishinaabe, niizhiwa oniijaanisini.
And so again they whom he saw seemed like people, (and) they had two children.
Gaawiin gegoo waabandamawaasiin; wekwaagaan i’iw endaanid.
He saw nothing of what they had; a long lodge they occupied for a home.
“Wegodogwenigish maajiiwaagwen!” inendam.
“Wonder what in the world they eat!” he thought.
“Zhigwa, aaniin dash naa iw giige-aasiwang a’aw gibiiwideminaan?”
“Now, what had we better feed our visitor?”
Mii sa geget zhigwa ozhiitaawan iiniw ininiwan; wawezhi’oowan ogatigwaning, odishishimaani iiniw miskoosaanamanan; miinawaa odoonjibidoonini biiwaabik aapiji gaa-zhi-boodeni.
Thereupon truly the man began getting ready; he painted himself on the forehead, the kind of paint he used was red; furthermore, he took up a piece of metal, with a very keen edge due to filing.
Aaniish, onisitawinaan eyaawaninig, miinangwana i’iw izhichigewaad iiniw okonaasanwiin(2) zhegonaanid i’imaa oshangwanaaning aaniish megwaa go gii-namadabinid.
Now, (Nenabosho) recognized what it was, for the thing that they did was to put the bone-pointed spear into the nostrils while he was seated there.
Apii gaa-giizhi’onid, baanimaa go wanjinawatinaanid iiniw mitigoon bedakisonid i’imaa endaanid; noondaagosiwan.
When he had finished painting himself, he suddenly made for a post that was standing there where they lived; the sound of his cry could be heard.
“Kokok, kokok!” inwewan.
“Kokok, kokok!” was his cry.
Aaniish inaabid Nenabosho, memen owaabamaan; zhigwa odanigwekwenibaabamaani iiniw mitigoon.
Now, when Nenabosho looked, he saw the red-head (woodpecker); and (the bird) kept busily nodding his head to see where to find something on the post.
Zhigo ko odanikojisagawaani; mii go ezhi-gokweninid(3) i’imaa jiigaatig.
At last he began to try pecking the post; and occasionally, cesaing from his work, he held his head close to the post.
Aaniish, biinish igo i’iwidi shpiming ani-ayaawan, abijiinag (abiijinaag) iiniw zhayiigwa maajikwe’igewan.
Now, by degrees he began making his way upward, every now and then he would begin pecking away.
Mii dash ningoding igo, inikwenininid, esibanan bimibatoowan, mii sa miinawaa bezhig bimibisoowan.
And so by and by, as he pecked, (Nenabosho saw) a raccoon come running (out), and then another came falling down.
Mii sa niizh gii-nisaad i’iw esibana, baa-izhi-niisaakwashimoononid.
And so, after killing the raccoons, he came down from the post.
Mii sa ezhi-mamoonid i’imaa gaa-atoonid oshangwanaaning i’iw biiwaabik.
Thereupon he removed the metal which he had placed there in his nose.
Mii sa ezhi-gabadawind i’iw esibana; zhigwa agwaa’amawaa ji-wiisinid.
And then the raccoons were cooked for (Nenabosho); then they were dipped out for him to eat.
Mii sa zhigwa gii-wiisinid, zhigwa ganoonaa; “Aaniish mii sa ge-zhi-kiiwewidawadwaa giniijaanisag minik eshkwanjigeyan,” gii-inaa.
And so then was he eating when he was addressed: “Now, therefore, do you carry back to your children as much as you do not not eat,” he was told.
Mii sa miinawaa wanimook, igo imaa gaa-onji-shegoondaginaad miinawaa i’iw ogii-shoode’ona.
Thereupon again, without being seen, he slipped his mittens (in the balsam boughs under the mat).
Mii sa miinawaa ani-maajaad.
So then again he set out on his way.
Baanimaa go madwe-piibaagi, “Ay!” medwe’ikidowan.
After a while he heard somebody calling aloud: “Hey!” he heard someone saying.
“Giwanishigaagome!” madwe-ikidowan.
“You have forgotten something!” he heard him say.
“Aaniish, wegodogwenigish?” ikidowan ininiwan.
“Why, what in the world is it?”(4) said the man.
Miinangwana gosha geget gaabonid i’iw ogiizhoode’ona.
It was really true that where (Nenabosho) had been were his mittens.
“Waasa go onji-webinamawik.
“From afar do you fling them to him.
Gego wiin i’iwidi beshoshaakegon,” odinaa i’iw oniijaanisa.
Do not go near to him,” he said to (his boys).
“Gaye go debiwebinamaweg mii imaa apii onji-webinamawik,” odinaa i’iw oniijaanisa.
And from as far as you can throw is the distance you fling them to him,” he said to his children.
Anishaa geget zhigwa o’ow idash odinaa i’iw oniijaanisa: “Gaawiin ningodinoo gii-ga-bwaa’igosiiwaa.”
Now, really, for fun only did he say this to his children: “In no way will he refrain from saying something to you.”
Zhigwa sa geget odaanawi-apagidawaawaan, o’ow idash odinaa Nenabosho: “Gego gaawanaagonewebinaawaag.”
When they were really in earnest about throwing them to him, then this Nenabosho said to them: “Do not fling them lest they become lost in the snow.”
Mii dash geget gaa-izhi-miinaawaad.
Whereupon they truly went and handed them to him.
Aanawi bimaajiba’idiwag iigiw gwiiwizhenshag gaa-izhi-inaad: “Akawe, i’imaa ayaayog!”
In the act of starting to run away were the boys when (this) he said to them: “Hold, wait there!”
O’ow dash odinaa: “Geget isa gibakademwaasa,” odinaa.
And this he said to them: “Really, you must be pretty hungry,” he said to them.
“Mii gosha wiini iw bebaadaashiikewaad iigiw giijikiwe’iwaag; mii go bimide bebaa’opagamaaganiwaad bebaadashiikewaad iigiw giijikiweniwaag, i’iw mashkawajibimide.
“That is exactly the way of your brothers wherever they are; it is grease that your brothers give so bountifully wherever they are, the hard frozen grease.
Ambe sa noo, apii waabang koosiwaa da-bii-izhaa,” odinaa.
Pray, when the morrow comes, let your father come over,” he said to them.
Mii sa eni-maajaad.
And then on his way he went.
Degoshing endaawaad, ozhiitaa mitigoon; obadakinaan endaawaad, wekwaagaan ogii-ozhitoon gaye.
When he arrived at where they lived, he made ready for a post; he placed it standing in (the place) where they lived, for he too had made a long lodge.
Mii dash egod iiniw wiiwan: “Indashke miinawaa gaa-izhi-nawaagwen awiya,” odigoon iiniw wiiwan.
And this he was told by his wife: “No doubt but that he must have seen somebody else doing that,” he was told by his wife.
“Amanjig isa, ezhimiwanen gegoo aanawi zhichigeyaanin?” odinaan iiniw wiiwan.
“Now, why should you want to dissuade me from something I wish to do?” he said to his wife.
Aaniish, ogii-oninaan gaye iiniw osaanamanan gaye iiniw okanaasanwiin.
Now, he put in order for use his paint and his bone spear.
Mii sa gii-giizhiitaad zhayiigwa giigidoowa oniijaanisa: “Biiwide!” ikidoowa.
And so by the time he was ready, then he said his children: “A visitor!” they said.
Aaniish mii sa ezhi-piindigaagowaad iiniw biiwiden.
So thereupon in where they were came the visitor.
Miingwana dash iiniw memen, aaniish, miiwaniniw dinowan gaa-odisaad.
It happened to be the red-head, why, the very same one whom he had visited.
Zhigwa sa oganoonaan iiniw wiiwan: “Aaniin dash inaa iw ambe, gige-aasiwang a’aw biiwide?” odinaan iiniw wiiwan.
Then he spoke to his wife saying: “Why is it, pray, we don’t feed the guest?” he said to his wife.
Zhigwa oganoonigoon: “Wegoneshi iw eyaayang gegiige’iweyang?”
Then he was answered: “What on earth have we to feed him?”
Aaniish onishkimigoon iiniw wiiwan.
Naturally he was angered by his wife (for speaking so).
“Zhayiigwa sa biija’onagoosh a’aw akik,” odinaan iiniw wiiwan.
“Now, you hang up the kettle,” he said to his wife.
Mii sa geget a’aw ikwe anagoonaad iiniw odakikoon.
Thereupon truly the woman hung up her kettle.
Aaniish, mii sa zhayiigwa waweshi’od Nenabosho, ezhi-miskonang i’iw oshangwan.
So it was then that Nenabosho began painting himself, painting his nose red.
Aaniishi, zhigwa, miinawaa oshegwanaan i’iw biiwaabik i’imaa ashangwanaang.
Now, then, next he stuck the metal in his nose.
Megwaa sa go namadabid weji-basingwijised nawadinaad iiniw mitigoon gaa-padakinaad; ani-akwaandawed.
And while seated, up from there he leaped, seizing the post that he had put up; on up the post he went.
Zhayiigwa noondaagozi: “Gokok, gokok, gokok, gokok,” inwe.
Presently he was heard uttering: “Gokok, gokok, gokok, gokok,” (such) was the cry he uttered.
Zhayiigwa sa aaniish gaa-izhi-nawaadigo izhichige, zhigwa sa owiipaakwewaan iiniw mitigoon.
Now, what he had previously seen them do he was doing now, he was now pecking the post.
Bijiinag aabiding enikwenid, ezhi-padakishkaagod, pane mii igo gii-bimibizo; bangishing pane go gaa-bidigokamigishing.
At the first peck he made, he was pierced by the metal, whereupon down he fell; when he fell; he struck the ground with a thud.
Aaniish, miskwi oshangwanaang.
Well, his nose was bleeding.
Mii sa ekidonid iiniw obiiwidemiwaan: “Aaniinaa iw mayaawibinaasiwaad?” iiniw maawan iiniw ikwewan.
Thereupon said their visitor: “Why do you not lift and set him up?” was what he said to the woman.
Mii sa geget ezhi-mayaawibinaad a’aw ikwe.
Thereupon truly the woman lifted and set him up.
O’ow idash odigoon iiniw biiwidemiwaan: “Odishkonaan maawiin iiniw osaanamanan.
And this she was told by their visitor: “Doubtless he may have left unused some of his paint.
Ambe sa noo biish,: odigoon.
Pray give it to me,” she was told.
Mii dash geget, ezhi-miinaad, ezhi-miskonamid i’iw ogatigoni.
And so truly, when she gave it to him, he painted the forehead (of her husband) red.
Miinawaa odibaabandamowaanini gaa-giizhegonang imaa shingwanaang.
Furthermore, she examined what he had stuck into his nose.
Geget, ezhi-wiikobidawaad, ezhi-miinaad iiniw biiwidemiwaan.
Truly, when she pulled it out, she then gave it to their visitor.
Megwaa go namadabinid, baanimaa go onji-noondaagozinid memen; ezhi-nawadinaanid iiniw mitigoon, mii sa odanikwekwenibaabamaani, aandigwago* ani-gakwaadigwe’igewan.
And while seated, of a sudden the red-head began calling; when he seized the post, he examined place after place as if, as he went along, he was testing where to peck.
Zhigwa sa maadikwe’igewan, esibanan gii-bimibizoowan aazha miinawaa bezhig; mii sa niizh gii-nisaanid, ba-izhi-niisaakoshimoonanid.
Presently, when he beginning to peck, a raccoon came tumbling out, then later another; whereupon, on killing two of them, he then came down from the post.
Aaniish mii iw zhigwa gii-mikawid Nenabosho odigoon: “Mii iw da-zhi-wiisiniyug giniijaanisag,” odigoon.
Well, so when back to consciousness came Nenabosho, he was told: “Therefore do you and your children eat,” he was told.
Mii sa geget ani-zhi-maajaanid, mii sa naa gii-wiisiniwaad.
Thereupon truly when the other set forth on his way, then did they eat.
So were they much in need of food, whereupon off went Nenabosho.
Zhigwa, miinawaa odishiwe.
Now, again was he a-visiting.
Mii sa miinawaa ezhi-nawaad anishinaabe, niizhiwa oniijaanisini.
And so again they whom he saw seemed like people, (and) they had two children.
Gaawiin gegoo waabandamawaasiin; wekwaagaan i’iw endaanid.
He saw nothing of what they had; a long lodge they occupied for a home.
“Wegodogwenigish maajiiwaagwen!” inendam.
“Wonder what in the world they eat!” he thought.
“Zhigwa, aaniin dash naa iw giige-aasiwang a’aw gibiiwideminaan?”
“Now, what had we better feed our visitor?”
Mii sa geget zhigwa ozhiitaawan iiniw ininiwan; wawezhi’oowan ogatigwaning, odishishimaani iiniw miskoosaanamanan; miinawaa odoonjibidoonini biiwaabik aapiji gaa-zhi-boodeni.
Thereupon truly the man began getting ready; he painted himself on the forehead, the kind of paint he used was red; furthermore, he took up a piece of metal, with a very keen edge due to filing.
Aaniish, onisitawinaan eyaawaninig, miinangwana i’iw izhichigewaad iiniw okonaasanwiin(2) zhegonaanid i’imaa oshangwanaaning aaniish megwaa go gii-namadabinid.
Now, (Nenabosho) recognized what it was, for the thing that they did was to put the bone-pointed spear into the nostrils while he was seated there.
Apii gaa-giizhi’onid, baanimaa go wanjinawatinaanid iiniw mitigoon bedakisonid i’imaa endaanid; noondaagosiwan.
When he had finished painting himself, he suddenly made for a post that was standing there where they lived; the sound of his cry could be heard.
“Kokok, kokok!” inwewan.
“Kokok, kokok!” was his cry.
Aaniish inaabid Nenabosho, memen owaabamaan; zhigwa odanigwekwenibaabamaani iiniw mitigoon.
Now, when Nenabosho looked, he saw the red-head (woodpecker); and (the bird) kept busily nodding his head to see where to find something on the post.
Zhigo ko odanikojisagawaani; mii go ezhi-gokweninid(3) i’imaa jiigaatig.
At last he began to try pecking the post; and occasionally, cesaing from his work, he held his head close to the post.
Aaniish, biinish igo i’iwidi shpiming ani-ayaawan, abijiinag (abiijinaag) iiniw zhayiigwa maajikwe’igewan.
Now, by degrees he began making his way upward, every now and then he would begin pecking away.
Mii dash ningoding igo, inikwenininid, esibanan bimibatoowan, mii sa miinawaa bezhig bimibisoowan.
And so by and by, as he pecked, (Nenabosho saw) a raccoon come running (out), and then another came falling down.
Mii sa niizh gii-nisaad i’iw esibana, baa-izhi-niisaakwashimoononid.
And so, after killing the raccoons, he came down from the post.
Mii sa ezhi-mamoonid i’imaa gaa-atoonid oshangwanaaning i’iw biiwaabik.
Thereupon he removed the metal which he had placed there in his nose.
Mii sa ezhi-gabadawind i’iw esibana; zhigwa agwaa’amawaa ji-wiisinid.
And then the raccoons were cooked for (Nenabosho); then they were dipped out for him to eat.
Mii sa zhigwa gii-wiisinid, zhigwa ganoonaa; “Aaniish mii sa ge-zhi-kiiwewidawadwaa giniijaanisag minik eshkwanjigeyan,” gii-inaa.
And so then was he eating when he was addressed: “Now, therefore, do you carry back to your children as much as you do not not eat,” he was told.
Mii sa miinawaa wanimook, igo imaa gaa-onji-shegoondaginaad miinawaa i’iw ogii-shoode’ona.
Thereupon again, without being seen, he slipped his mittens (in the balsam boughs under the mat).
Mii sa miinawaa ani-maajaad.
So then again he set out on his way.
Baanimaa go madwe-piibaagi, “Ay!” medwe’ikidowan.
After a while he heard somebody calling aloud: “Hey!” he heard someone saying.
“Giwanishigaagome!” madwe-ikidowan.
“You have forgotten something!” he heard him say.
“Aaniish, wegodogwenigish?” ikidowan ininiwan.
“Why, what in the world is it?”(4) said the man.
Miinangwana gosha geget gaabonid i’iw ogiizhoode’ona.
It was really true that where (Nenabosho) had been were his mittens.
“Waasa go onji-webinamawik.
“From afar do you fling them to him.
Gego wiin i’iwidi beshoshaakegon,” odinaa i’iw oniijaanisa.
Do not go near to him,” he said to (his boys).
“Gaye go debiwebinamaweg mii imaa apii onji-webinamawik,” odinaa i’iw oniijaanisa.
And from as far as you can throw is the distance you fling them to him,” he said to his children.
Anishaa geget zhigwa o’ow idash odinaa i’iw oniijaanisa: “Gaawiin ningodinoo gii-ga-bwaa’igosiiwaa.”
Now, really, for fun only did he say this to his children: “In no way will he refrain from saying something to you.”
Zhigwa sa geget odaanawi-apagidawaawaan, o’ow idash odinaa Nenabosho: “Gego gaawanaagonewebinaawaag.”
When they were really in earnest about throwing them to him, then this Nenabosho said to them: “Do not fling them lest they become lost in the snow.”
Mii dash geget gaa-izhi-miinaawaad.
Whereupon they truly went and handed them to him.
Aanawi bimaajiba’idiwag iigiw gwiiwizhenshag gaa-izhi-inaad: “Akawe, i’imaa ayaayog!”
In the act of starting to run away were the boys when (this) he said to them: “Hold, wait there!”
O’ow dash odinaa: “Geget isa gibakademwaasa,” odinaa.
And this he said to them: “Really, you must be pretty hungry,” he said to them.
“Mii gosha wiini iw bebaadaashiikewaad iigiw giijikiwe’iwaag; mii go bimide bebaa’opagamaaganiwaad bebaadashiikewaad iigiw giijikiweniwaag, i’iw mashkawajibimide.
“That is exactly the way of your brothers wherever they are; it is grease that your brothers give so bountifully wherever they are, the hard frozen grease.
Ambe sa noo, apii waabang koosiwaa da-bii-izhaa,” odinaa.
Pray, when the morrow comes, let your father come over,” he said to them.
Mii sa eni-maajaad.
And then on his way he went.
Degoshing endaawaad, ozhiitaa mitigoon; obadakinaan endaawaad, wekwaagaan ogii-ozhitoon gaye.
When he arrived at where they lived, he made ready for a post; he placed it standing in (the place) where they lived, for he too had made a long lodge.
Mii dash egod iiniw wiiwan: “Indashke miinawaa gaa-izhi-nawaagwen awiya,” odigoon iiniw wiiwan.
And this he was told by his wife: “No doubt but that he must have seen somebody else doing that,” he was told by his wife.
“Amanjig isa, ezhimiwanen gegoo aanawi zhichigeyaanin?” odinaan iiniw wiiwan.
“Now, why should you want to dissuade me from something I wish to do?” he said to his wife.
Aaniish, ogii-oninaan gaye iiniw osaanamanan gaye iiniw okanaasanwiin.
Now, he put in order for use his paint and his bone spear.
Mii sa gii-giizhiitaad zhayiigwa giigidoowa oniijaanisa: “Biiwide!” ikidoowa.
And so by the time he was ready, then he said his children: “A visitor!” they said.
Aaniish mii sa ezhi-piindigaagowaad iiniw biiwiden.
So thereupon in where they were came the visitor.
Miingwana dash iiniw memen, aaniish, miiwaniniw dinowan gaa-odisaad.
It happened to be the red-head, why, the very same one whom he had visited.
Zhigwa sa oganoonaan iiniw wiiwan: “Aaniin dash inaa iw ambe, gige-aasiwang a’aw biiwide?” odinaan iiniw wiiwan.
Then he spoke to his wife saying: “Why is it, pray, we don’t feed the guest?” he said to his wife.
Zhigwa oganoonigoon: “Wegoneshi iw eyaayang gegiige’iweyang?”
Then he was answered: “What on earth have we to feed him?”
Aaniish onishkimigoon iiniw wiiwan.
Naturally he was angered by his wife (for speaking so).
“Zhayiigwa sa biija’onagoosh a’aw akik,” odinaan iiniw wiiwan.
“Now, you hang up the kettle,” he said to his wife.
Mii sa geget a’aw ikwe anagoonaad iiniw odakikoon.
Thereupon truly the woman hung up her kettle.
Aaniish, mii sa zhayiigwa waweshi’od Nenabosho, ezhi-miskonang i’iw oshangwan.
So it was then that Nenabosho began painting himself, painting his nose red.
Aaniishi, zhigwa, miinawaa oshegwanaan i’iw biiwaabik i’imaa ashangwanaang.
Now, then, next he stuck the metal in his nose.
Megwaa sa go namadabid weji-basingwijised nawadinaad iiniw mitigoon gaa-padakinaad; ani-akwaandawed.
And while seated, up from there he leaped, seizing the post that he had put up; on up the post he went.
Zhayiigwa noondaagozi: “Gokok, gokok, gokok, gokok,” inwe.
Presently he was heard uttering: “Gokok, gokok, gokok, gokok,” (such) was the cry he uttered.
Zhayiigwa sa aaniish gaa-izhi-nawaadigo izhichige, zhigwa sa owiipaakwewaan iiniw mitigoon.
Now, what he had previously seen them do he was doing now, he was now pecking the post.
Bijiinag aabiding enikwenid, ezhi-padakishkaagod, pane mii igo gii-bimibizo; bangishing pane go gaa-bidigokamigishing.
At the first peck he made, he was pierced by the metal, whereupon down he fell; when he fell; he struck the ground with a thud.
Aaniish, miskwi oshangwanaang.
Well, his nose was bleeding.
Mii sa ekidonid iiniw obiiwidemiwaan: “Aaniinaa iw mayaawibinaasiwaad?” iiniw maawan iiniw ikwewan.
Thereupon said their visitor: “Why do you not lift and set him up?” was what he said to the woman.
Mii sa geget ezhi-mayaawibinaad a’aw ikwe.
Thereupon truly the woman lifted and set him up.
O’ow idash odigoon iiniw biiwidemiwaan: “Odishkonaan maawiin iiniw osaanamanan.
And this she was told by their visitor: “Doubtless he may have left unused some of his paint.
Ambe sa noo biish,: odigoon.
Pray give it to me,” she was told.
Mii dash geget, ezhi-miinaad, ezhi-miskonamid i’iw ogatigoni.
And so truly, when she gave it to him, he painted the forehead (of her husband) red.
Miinawaa odibaabandamowaanini gaa-giizhegonang imaa shingwanaang.
Furthermore, she examined what he had stuck into his nose.
Geget, ezhi-wiikobidawaad, ezhi-miinaad iiniw biiwidemiwaan.
Truly, when she pulled it out, she then gave it to their visitor.
Megwaa go namadabinid, baanimaa go onji-noondaagozinid memen; ezhi-nawadinaanid iiniw mitigoon, mii sa odanikwekwenibaabamaani, aandigwago* ani-gakwaadigwe’igewan.
And while seated, of a sudden the red-head began calling; when he seized the post, he examined place after place as if, as he went along, he was testing where to peck.
Zhigwa sa maadikwe’igewan, esibanan gii-bimibizoowan aazha miinawaa bezhig; mii sa niizh gii-nisaanid, ba-izhi-niisaakoshimoonanid.
Presently, when he beginning to peck, a raccoon came tumbling out, then later another; whereupon, on killing two of them, he then came down from the post.
Aaniish mii iw zhigwa gii-mikawid Nenabosho odigoon: “Mii iw da-zhi-wiisiniyug giniijaanisag,” odigoon.
Well, so when back to consciousness came Nenabosho, he was told: “Therefore do you and your children eat,” he was told.
Mii sa geget ani-zhi-maajaanid, mii sa naa gii-wiisiniwaad.
Thereupon truly when the other set forth on his way, then did they eat.