Nanabushu and Windigo

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Ningoding igo babimaazhagaamed inaabid iwidi agaami-gichi-gami awiya owaabamaan i’iw bimaazhagaamenid, aapiji sa mindidowan.

Gaawiin ganage eko-niingidawidiyenid akoozisiiwan i’iw mitigoon.

Aaniish, mii wa iniw Wiindigo.

Wegoneniiwinen obiibaagimaan: 

“Nishiime sa, wajaka’eaanowan gaa-maamiijidaman!


Bemaazhagaameyan, woii!” 

Aaniish, naa maa waasa inendam Nenaboozhoo.


Aapiji dash onishkimigoon Wiindigo Nenaboozhoowan.

“Geget maamakaaj.

Gonige, ‘Niin eta ni-manidoow,’ inendamodog a’aw Nenaboozhoo.

Ambe sa noo, ninga-giiwitaagaamebatoo.”


Geget maajiibatoo Wiindigoo, gichi-wiiba odoo-ditaan imaa bimaazhagaamenid iniw Nenaboozhoowan.


Wegoneniiwinen ezhi-jaangidiyeshing a’aw Wiindigoo.


Naagaj igo zhigwa bagamaazhagaamewan Nenaboozhoowan.

Zhigwa owaabamigoon; aaniin ge-izhinang awiiya gii-jaangidiyeshinoon.

Mii go iw aanawi-izhi-gaazootawaad omadwe-kanoonigoon Nenaboozhoo: 

“Ondaas, akawe, ninga-nawajiin i’iw giiyaw.


Wewiib, ondaas.”

Etawaa, Nenaboozhoo ani-gaagiimoodademo ani-naazikawaad.

Zhigwa imaa odoo-disaan; geget sa mangijiidiiwan, mizhisha go i’iw ode’ini.

Oganoonigoon: “Nenaboozhoo, manisen.


Ninga-akawe-abwen i’iw giiyaw.”

Geget ezhi-gopiid Nenaboozhoo manised.


Etawaa, moozhag mawi.

Zhigwa sa niibiwa gaa-okwaakwisidood iniw misan, oganoonigoon: 

“Mii iw izhi-boodawen.”

Nenaboozhoo ezhi-boodawed.

Gaa-poodawed oganoonigon:

“Nenaboozhoo, mii i’iw izhi-andawaabandan i’iwe ge-wadabwaanaakoyaan i’iw giiyawizh.

Aapiji wenaakwak, maagizhaa dagidaakwidin i’iw giwiisenshis.”

Geget ani-maajaa Nenaboozhoo.

Aaniish moozhag mawi, epiichi-segizid.

Aapiji go i’iwe wayaaninaakwadinig i’iwe mitig omikaan, gaye iw zesagadikwaniwaninig.

Ezhi-maajaad izhaad ezhi-miinaad; o’ow odinaan: “Dawat, dawat, dawat!”(1)

E’iindijin a’aw Nenaboozhoo.

“Gaawiin ina wiin dagidaakwidin iwe giwiizenshizh?

Bekaanag iwe mitig nandawaabandan, wenaakwak.”

Etawaa Nenaboozhoo.

Mii dash geget ani-mawid, biinish igo waasa ani-dagoshin.

Baamaa go ani-inaabid, detiwe, zhingosan gii-bimibatoowan ezhi-ganoonaad: 


“Nishiime sa, ni-nib noongom.”

Gibichisewan iniw zhingosan.

Odaataganaabamigoon ezhi-ganoonigod:

“Nenaboozhoo, wegonesh waa-onji-niboyan?”

“Atawaa, mii go niin i’iw wii-akawe-nawajiid wa’aw Wiindigoo i’iw niiyaw.

Gaawiin ina gidaa-nisaasii?”

Ezhi-ganoonigod: “Namadabi na go a’aw Wiindigoo?”


“Gaawiin, jaangidiyeshin, mizhisha go iwe ojiid, gaye i’iw ode.”

“Nenaboozhoo, miinooch isa ninga-awi-gagwe-nisaa.

Meshkwad idash wiin giga-pagosenimin gegoo.


Indawaa dash giishpin gegoo doodawisiwan gaawiin nindaa-nisaasii.”

Giigidoowan Nenaboozhoowan: “Meshkwad giishpin nisad, ji-pishigendaman i’iw giiyaw giga-izhiyin.”

Ezhi-kanoonind Nenaboozhoo: “Mii i’iw izhi-piindoomon i’iwe niiyawizh.”

Aatayaa, geget minwendam Nenaboozhoo.

I’iw abwaanaak wenizhishininig i’iwe mitig andawaabandang, gaye aapiji wenaakwadinig; mii dash i’iw gaa-kiizhka’ang.

Eni-izhi-maajiidood, geyaabi gii-jaangidiyeshinoon iniw Wiindigoon.

Oganoonaan: “O’owe odabwaanaakon.”

Mii dash imaa ezhi-gijibagwiid iniw zhingosan, bane go eni-odaanawesenid.


“Etawaa, ambe sa noo giinitam giga-ozhitoon abwaanaak.”

“Gaawiin,” odigoon iniw Wiindigoon: “giin igo ozhitoon.”

Nenaboozhoo odoo-daapinaan i’iwe mitig; bijiinag igo wedaapinang oganoonigoon: 

“Gaawesa, Nenaboozhoo, nin-gichi-sesegide’e.

Nindigo awiya owii-pakandaan i’iwe ninde’eyaab.”


Nenaboozhoo oganoonaan: “Geshidine onakaako’ojin.


Wewiib igo abwen iw niiyaw.

Gemaa gaye wii-saasakokwaadaman iwe niiyaw.”

Miinawaa giigidowan: “Iii, gaawesa, Nenaboozhoo!

gaawesa gosha. Mii gosha geget i’iw wii-wanendamaan.”

Nenaboozhoo omaa odani-gaakigaabiwitawaan.

“O’o’o, geshidine onakaako’ojin!”

Inaabid Nenaboozhoo, ezhi-kawaakwidiyesenid; mii sa go i’iw geget gii-ani-nibonid.


Gaa-nibonid bi-onji-saagijisewan zhingosan.


“Etawaa, ni-shiime sa! Amanji go aapiji ge-izhi-maamooyaawagendamogobanen?

Indawaa sa ninga-wawezhi’aa.”

Nenaboozhoo odoo-daapinaan ezhi-giziibiigawaad.


Aapiji sa gaa-piinaabaawanaad, wegoneniiwinen waabaabiganan onandawaabamaan.

Gaa-mikawaad nawaj ojaagizwaan iniw waabaabiganan.

Aapiji gaa-izhi-waabishkizinid gaa-kiizhi’aad, mii dash i’iw miziwe ezhi-wawezhi’aad zhingosan; wanakwaano omakadewaanawenaan.

“Ningadaga [nindigo?] gagwejibatoon.”

Geget zhingos gagwejibatoo.

Etiwe, geget bishigenimo. Nenaboozhoo oganoonaan:


“Mii sa go naa iw e-zhi-maamooyawaminaan.

Ni-nibonaaban zhingos.

Mii dash iw ge-izhinaagoziyan beboongin eta.

Mii dash i’iw minik ge-akiiwang ge-izhinaagoziyan.


Ambe dash giga-bakewinin.”

Nenaboozhoo ezhi-maajiiyaazhagaamed i’iw gichigami.

And once, while walking along the shore (and) looking towards the other side of the sea, he saw one passing along the coast, tremendously huge was the being. 

Nowhere near to his buttocks were the trees in their height. 

Well, of course it was Wīndigo. 

Like a fool he called aloud to him : 

" O my younger brother ! upon the dry tail of a beaver did you ease yourself. 

You passer along the shore, halloo !" 

Well, at a safe distance away Nänabushu thought (he was). 

Now, very angry was Wīndigo made by Nänabushu. 

"It is really absurd. 

‘Perhaps I am the only manitou existing’, may be Nänabushu’s thought. 

Well, I will run round (to where he is), keeping to the shore." 

Truly off went running Wīndigo, in a very little while he arrived at the place where Nänabushu was coming along the shore. 

What did Wīndigo do but get down and lay with his bottom up. 

It was but a short while when up came Nänabushu to where he was on the shore. 

Then (by Nänabushu) was he observed ; what was he to see but somebody lying with bottom pointing up. 

Accordingly, when he made an attempt to hide from him, Nänabushu heard (Wīndigo) saying to him: 

"Come hither, wait, I want to make a small meal out of you. 

Make haste, come!" 

Alas ! Nänabushu began weeping silently on his way over to where (Wīndigo) was. 

Presently he came to where (Wīndigo) was ; truly big was his anus, and in plain view was his heart. 

By him was he addressed, saying: "Nanabushu, go gather some fire-wood. 

I will first roast your body." 

Truly then up from the shore went Nänabushu to gather fire-wood. 

Poor fellow! all the while was he crying. 

After he had piled up much fire-wood, he was addressed: 

"Now, do you kindle a fire." 

Nänabushu then kindled the fire. 

After he had kindled the fire, he was addressed: 

"Nänabushu, now go you hence to seek for something which I can use for a spit to roast your old body on. 

(Let it be) very straight, else perhaps your old spleen might be forced out." 

Truly away went Nänabushu. 

Now, all the time was he weeping, he was so scared. 

So a stick with a very big curve he found, and it had many twigs. 

Then he started going over to give it to (Wīndigo); this he said to him: "Oh, oh, oh!"­­(1)

Such was the way Nänabushu acted. 

"Would not your old spleen be forced out by that? 

For a different one do you seek, one that is straight." 

Hapless Nänabushu! 

Thereupon truly off he went crying, (going) till he a long way off was come. 

And suddenly, while looking about as he went, why, here was a Weasel whom he addressed as it went running past: 

"My little brother, I am now going to die." 

In its flight stopped the Weasel. 

By it was he gazed up at when by it he was addressed: 

"Nänabushu, why are you going to die?" 

"Alas! because a light meal does that Wīndigo intend to make of my body. 

Could you not kill him?" 

Then he was addressed by it saying : " And is the Wīndigo sitting down ?" 

"No, he lies with bottom pointing upward, and in full view is his anus, likewise his heart." 

"Nänabushu, nevertheless I will try to slay him. 

And as a reward for myself I shall expect some kind of blessing from you. 

So, therefore, if you fail to do something for me, I would not kill him." 

Up spoke Nänabushu: "As your reward for killing him, I will make you proud of yourself." 

Then was Nänabushu told: "Therefore do you put me in the bosom of your garment." 

Ah, truly pleased was Nänabushu. 

The roasting-spit which he sought to find was of excellent wood and very straight ; and that was what he had cut. 


When he went thither taking it to him, still yet was Wīndigo lying with bottom pointing up. 

He spoke to him, saying: "Here is your spit." 

Then it was that he pulled the Weasel forth from the bosom of his garment, and away whirled its tail as it flew in. 

"Oh, well! then do you take a turn at making a roasting-spit." 

"No," he was told by Wīndigo: "do you make it." 

Nänabushu took up the stick ; as soon as he picked it up, he was addressed by the other saying: 

"Impossible, Nänabushu, my heart beats with great fear. 

It seems as if something is about to bite off the cord of my heart." 

Nänabushu addressed him, saying: "Make haste and impale me upon (the spit)! 

Hurry and roast my body! 

Or, if you wish, you may fry my body."

Again he spoke: "Oh, impossible, Nänabushu! 

Impossible really ! Perhaps, indeed, I am now growing unconscious." 

Nänabushu then went up close and stood beside him. 

"Oh, do hurry and impale me upon (the spit)!" 

While Nänabushu looked on, then down to the ground fell (Wīndigo) with his bottom ; thereupon truly was he dying.

When he was dead, then out from thence came the Weasel running. 

"How now, my little brother! Wonder what (I can do) so that he may be very thankful ! 

Therefore then will I paint him." 

Nänabushu took him up (and) then washed him in water. 

After he had made him thoroughly clean, what should he do but seek for white clay. 

After he had found it, whiter still he burned the white clay. 

After it was made exceedingly white, then he had it finished, whereupon all over he painted the Weasel ; at the end of the tail he painted it black. 

“Now, just you try and see how you run." 

To be sure, the Weasel started running. 

Oh, how really proud he was! Nänabushu spoke to him, saying: 

"Therefore in this manner do I render thanks to you. 

I was dying at the time, Weasel. 

And that is the way you shall look only in the winter-time. 

And as long as the world lasts, this is the way you shall look. 

Therefore I now take leave of you." 

Nänabushu then departed, keeping along the shore of the sea.