Nanabushu Pretends to be a Woman
Mii sa eni-izhi-maajaad babimosed.
And then away he started upon his journey, travelling afoot.
Mii sa ogii-debitawaa’ ikwewa’ manisenid; aaniish ogiimitawaa’:
And so he came within the sound of some women who were gathering fire-wood; now he secretly overheard them saying:
“Amanjigish ge-izhchige’ongobanen ji-wiidigemang a’aw inini?” ikidowa’.
“(I) wonder how we can bring it to pass so that we can marry that man!” they said.
“Ambe sa noo, wawiyazh ninga-doodawaag awegweniwigwenag,” gii-inendam Nenaboozhoo
“Now, a trick I am going to play on them, whoever they are,” thought Nanabushu.
Ogikenimaan ge-mawinid wegwisisinid.
He knew that the mother (of the man) would cry.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-wawezhi’od gaa-izhi-ikwekaazod.
And so he got into gay attire after he had taken on the form of a woman.
Mii dash adikoo’obiinisagosiin mii dash iniw gaa-aawechiged i’iw ikweng.
There was a caribou spleen which he turned into a woman’s thing.
Gaa-izhinaagwo’od, gaa-izhi-naazikawaad i’iw ikwewa’, o’ow idash ogii-inaa’ apii gaa-odisaad:
After he had taken on the form (of a woman), (and) after he had gone over to where the women were, this he then said to them when he came upon them:
“Aaniindi ayaad a’aw inini zhiingenimaad i’iw ikwewa’ gaa-inind?”
“Where is the man who is said to be a hater of women?”
Mii dash gaa-igod: “Mii omaa naaw-oodena ayaad,” ogii-igoo’.
Whereupon he was told: “Here in the centre of the town he is,” he was told.
“Gagwaanisagizi, endogwen ji-inendang.”
“He is hopelessly impossible, it is uncertain what his feeling would be (concerning you).”
“Daga shkomaa, awii-inik,” odinaa’; “Nin-bi-izhi-nisha’ogoo ni-niigi’igoog,’” odinaa’ iw ikwewa’.
“Then pray, do you go and give him a message,” he said to them; “I have been sent hither by my parents,” he said to the women.
Mii sa geget gaa-izhi-giiwed bezhig, gaa-izhi-wiindamawind wa’aw mindimooyenh wegosisid.
And so truly, when back one (of them) went, then was the old woman who was mother (to the man) given the message.
E-kidod a’aw ikwe mayaajii’aajimod: “Biiwide omaa ayaa.”
Then said the woman who had conveyed the message: “A stranger is here.”
O’ow dash ikido: “Nimbi-izhinizha’ogoo ni-niigi’igoog,” ikido.
And this she said: “I have been sent hither by my parents,” she said.
“Mii dash gaa-pi-izhi-maajinizha’od, ‘awi-dibaajimon,’ nindig.
“And so when I was set upon my way hitherward, ‘Go give the news,’ I was told.
Ni-zhaagwenim. ‘Daa-bi-izhaawag nindaangwayag.’(1)”
I was loath (to go). ‘Let my friends come hither.’ (said the woman(1)).”
Mii dash e-kidod aw mindimooye(2): “Aaniin dash i’iw andawaabamaasiweg,(1)” odinaa’ i’iw odaanisa’.
Thereupon said the old woman(2): “Why do you not go look for her(1)?” she said to her daughters.
Mii dash geget ba-izhi-nandawaabamaawaad igiw ikwewag, mii sa gaa-giiwewiijiiwaawaad igiw ikwewag. (1)
And so truly came the women seeking for her, whereupon back home the women went, taking her(1) with them.
Mii dash gaa-izhi’onoode’ind iwidi wendabinid iniw niniwan. (3)
And then a place was made for her there where the man(3) was seated.
Mii sa zhigwa gii-onaabemid. (1) (4)
Therefore she(1) now had a husband(4).
Zhigwa owiishaamaa’ odaangweya’ ji-manisewaad(5).
By and by she wished her sisters-in-law to go with her to gather firewood(5).
Aaniish ajina go gii-mamadwe’igewan, aazha niibiwa misan.
So in a little while after the sound of her chopping was heard, already (was there) much firewood.
“Awenen dash aw memindage ge-zhi-nshawisid?” odinaawaan, owiindamawaawaan ogiwaan.
“Who is she that is such a remarkable worker?” they said to their mother, they said to her, telling her about it.
“Geget sa gii-zhi-nshawisii a’aw nindaangwewaan.” (6)
“Truly a good worker is our sister in law.” (6)
Aaniish geget sa minwendam a’aw mindimooye, gaye a’aw akiwenzii gii-zhinshawisinid ona’aanganikwemiwaan.(7)
Now, thoroughly pleased was the old woman, as was also the old man, that such a good worker was their daughter-in-law.(7)
Mii dash gaa-izhi-ganoonaad waabizheshiwan:
And then she (Nanabushu) addressed the Marten, saying:
“Ambe sa noo wiidookawishin o’ow ezhichigeyaan,” ogii-inaan.
“I wish you would help me in this that I am undertaking,” she said to it.
Mii dash iniw gaa-oniijaanisid; o’ow idash ogii-inaan:
And so that was the creature she had for child; and this she said to it:
“Ambe sa noo, moozhag mawin,” ogii-inaan.
“Come, now, all the while do you cry,” she said to it.
Mii dash geget gaa-izhichigenid,
And that truly was what (the Marten) did.
dakobinaad ezhichiged mii eta i’imaa shkiinzhigoning zagapinaad; dakobinaad bimoomaawizod.
When she had it strapped to the cradle-board, her arrangement was such that she has it bound up as far as over the eyes; with it bound to the cradle-board, she played the nurse carrying it about on her back.
Mii sa go pane mawinid.
And so all the while did (the Marten) weep.
“Wo’ow idash ikidon,” ogii-inaan.
“Now, this do you say,” she said to it.
“ ‘Dagwaagishoob niwii-amwaa,’ ikidon i’iw ji-mamawiyan,” ogii-inaan.
“Some tenderloin do I wish to eat,’ do you say, so that you may cry,” she said to it.
Mii dash geget enwed a’aw abinoojii.
And that truly was what the infant cried.
“Dagwaagishoob niwii-amwaa!” inwed.
“Some tenderloin do I want to eat!” it cried.
Zhayiigwa nisidotawaa.
Presently they understood what it wanted.
Aaniish zhigwa zaagidoowan ozhinisan, aaniish ogimaawiwan; booch gii-zhichigenid i’iw anishinaabe ge-ikidod a’aw akiwenzii.
Now then out went her father-in-law to cry aloud, for he was chief; for of necessity were the people bound to do whatever the old man should say.
“Aaniish, anishinaabedog, e-kidod wa’aw noozhishenh, ‘dagwaagishoob niwii-amwaa,’” ikido.
“Now, O ye people! Thus says my grandchild, ‘Some tenderloin do I want to eat,’” he said.
Mii dash geget ge-bi-izhi-miinind Nenaboozhoo dagwaagishoobiin.
And so truly was Nanabushu given some tenderloin.
Bizaan apii gaa-onizhishininig maajid.
It hushed while it was given something good to eat.
Mii dash waawiidigemaad iniw ininiwan, zhigwa ogikenimaan bigishkananinid iniw obiinisagosiin.
And so while she (Nanabushu) continues living (as a wife) with the man, she then became aware that the spleen was decaying.
Mii dash gigizheb aazha namadabiwan ozhinisan gaye ozigosisan mii sa zhigwa gikenimaad bigishkanijijaakaamaad.
And so one morning, while her father-in-law and mother-in-law were seated, she then began to realize that she was becoming rotten between the loins.
“Bisoo,” ikidowan ozhinisan.
“Phew!” said her father-in-law.
“Wegonenda gaa-izhimaagwag?” ikidowan ozhinisan.
“What is that which smells so?” said her father-in-law.
Geget mamiidaawendam; e-zhi-bazigwiid, aano-anishigaskabenid.
Truly was she worried about it; when she rose to her feet, in vain she tried to keep it from falling.
Ezhi-bangishimaad ozhinisan e-naasamabinid, ezhi-maajiibatood.
When she dropped it in front of where her father-in-law was seated, then away she started running.
“Gegeti go ikwe inendamoog!” ikidowan Nenaboozhoowan.
“Truly a real woman they thought!” said Nanabushu.
And then away he started upon his journey, travelling afoot.
Mii sa ogii-debitawaa’ ikwewa’ manisenid; aaniish ogiimitawaa’:
And so he came within the sound of some women who were gathering fire-wood; now he secretly overheard them saying:
“Amanjigish ge-izhchige’ongobanen ji-wiidigemang a’aw inini?” ikidowa’.
“(I) wonder how we can bring it to pass so that we can marry that man!” they said.
“Ambe sa noo, wawiyazh ninga-doodawaag awegweniwigwenag,” gii-inendam Nenaboozhoo
“Now, a trick I am going to play on them, whoever they are,” thought Nanabushu.
Ogikenimaan ge-mawinid wegwisisinid.
He knew that the mother (of the man) would cry.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-wawezhi’od gaa-izhi-ikwekaazod.
And so he got into gay attire after he had taken on the form of a woman.
Mii dash adikoo’obiinisagosiin mii dash iniw gaa-aawechiged i’iw ikweng.
There was a caribou spleen which he turned into a woman’s thing.
Gaa-izhinaagwo’od, gaa-izhi-naazikawaad i’iw ikwewa’, o’ow idash ogii-inaa’ apii gaa-odisaad:
After he had taken on the form (of a woman), (and) after he had gone over to where the women were, this he then said to them when he came upon them:
“Aaniindi ayaad a’aw inini zhiingenimaad i’iw ikwewa’ gaa-inind?”
“Where is the man who is said to be a hater of women?”
Mii dash gaa-igod: “Mii omaa naaw-oodena ayaad,” ogii-igoo’.
Whereupon he was told: “Here in the centre of the town he is,” he was told.
“Gagwaanisagizi, endogwen ji-inendang.”
“He is hopelessly impossible, it is uncertain what his feeling would be (concerning you).”
“Daga shkomaa, awii-inik,” odinaa’; “Nin-bi-izhi-nisha’ogoo ni-niigi’igoog,’” odinaa’ iw ikwewa’.
“Then pray, do you go and give him a message,” he said to them; “I have been sent hither by my parents,” he said to the women.
Mii sa geget gaa-izhi-giiwed bezhig, gaa-izhi-wiindamawind wa’aw mindimooyenh wegosisid.
And so truly, when back one (of them) went, then was the old woman who was mother (to the man) given the message.
E-kidod a’aw ikwe mayaajii’aajimod: “Biiwide omaa ayaa.”
Then said the woman who had conveyed the message: “A stranger is here.”
O’ow dash ikido: “Nimbi-izhinizha’ogoo ni-niigi’igoog,” ikido.
And this she said: “I have been sent hither by my parents,” she said.
“Mii dash gaa-pi-izhi-maajinizha’od, ‘awi-dibaajimon,’ nindig.
“And so when I was set upon my way hitherward, ‘Go give the news,’ I was told.
Ni-zhaagwenim. ‘Daa-bi-izhaawag nindaangwayag.’(1)”
I was loath (to go). ‘Let my friends come hither.’ (said the woman(1)).”
Mii dash e-kidod aw mindimooye(2): “Aaniin dash i’iw andawaabamaasiweg,(1)” odinaa’ i’iw odaanisa’.
Thereupon said the old woman(2): “Why do you not go look for her(1)?” she said to her daughters.
Mii dash geget ba-izhi-nandawaabamaawaad igiw ikwewag, mii sa gaa-giiwewiijiiwaawaad igiw ikwewag. (1)
And so truly came the women seeking for her, whereupon back home the women went, taking her(1) with them.
Mii dash gaa-izhi’onoode’ind iwidi wendabinid iniw niniwan. (3)
And then a place was made for her there where the man(3) was seated.
Mii sa zhigwa gii-onaabemid. (1) (4)
Therefore she(1) now had a husband(4).
Zhigwa owiishaamaa’ odaangweya’ ji-manisewaad(5).
By and by she wished her sisters-in-law to go with her to gather firewood(5).
Aaniish ajina go gii-mamadwe’igewan, aazha niibiwa misan.
So in a little while after the sound of her chopping was heard, already (was there) much firewood.
“Awenen dash aw memindage ge-zhi-nshawisid?” odinaawaan, owiindamawaawaan ogiwaan.
“Who is she that is such a remarkable worker?” they said to their mother, they said to her, telling her about it.
“Geget sa gii-zhi-nshawisii a’aw nindaangwewaan.” (6)
“Truly a good worker is our sister in law.” (6)
Aaniish geget sa minwendam a’aw mindimooye, gaye a’aw akiwenzii gii-zhinshawisinid ona’aanganikwemiwaan.(7)
Now, thoroughly pleased was the old woman, as was also the old man, that such a good worker was their daughter-in-law.(7)
Mii dash gaa-izhi-ganoonaad waabizheshiwan:
And then she (Nanabushu) addressed the Marten, saying:
“Ambe sa noo wiidookawishin o’ow ezhichigeyaan,” ogii-inaan.
“I wish you would help me in this that I am undertaking,” she said to it.
Mii dash iniw gaa-oniijaanisid; o’ow idash ogii-inaan:
And so that was the creature she had for child; and this she said to it:
“Ambe sa noo, moozhag mawin,” ogii-inaan.
“Come, now, all the while do you cry,” she said to it.
Mii dash geget gaa-izhichigenid,
And that truly was what (the Marten) did.
dakobinaad ezhichiged mii eta i’imaa shkiinzhigoning zagapinaad; dakobinaad bimoomaawizod.
When she had it strapped to the cradle-board, her arrangement was such that she has it bound up as far as over the eyes; with it bound to the cradle-board, she played the nurse carrying it about on her back.
Mii sa go pane mawinid.
And so all the while did (the Marten) weep.
“Wo’ow idash ikidon,” ogii-inaan.
“Now, this do you say,” she said to it.
“ ‘Dagwaagishoob niwii-amwaa,’ ikidon i’iw ji-mamawiyan,” ogii-inaan.
“Some tenderloin do I wish to eat,’ do you say, so that you may cry,” she said to it.
Mii dash geget enwed a’aw abinoojii.
And that truly was what the infant cried.
“Dagwaagishoob niwii-amwaa!” inwed.
“Some tenderloin do I want to eat!” it cried.
Zhayiigwa nisidotawaa.
Presently they understood what it wanted.
Aaniish zhigwa zaagidoowan ozhinisan, aaniish ogimaawiwan; booch gii-zhichigenid i’iw anishinaabe ge-ikidod a’aw akiwenzii.
Now then out went her father-in-law to cry aloud, for he was chief; for of necessity were the people bound to do whatever the old man should say.
“Aaniish, anishinaabedog, e-kidod wa’aw noozhishenh, ‘dagwaagishoob niwii-amwaa,’” ikido.
“Now, O ye people! Thus says my grandchild, ‘Some tenderloin do I want to eat,’” he said.
Mii dash geget ge-bi-izhi-miinind Nenaboozhoo dagwaagishoobiin.
And so truly was Nanabushu given some tenderloin.
Bizaan apii gaa-onizhishininig maajid.
It hushed while it was given something good to eat.
Mii dash waawiidigemaad iniw ininiwan, zhigwa ogikenimaan bigishkananinid iniw obiinisagosiin.
And so while she (Nanabushu) continues living (as a wife) with the man, she then became aware that the spleen was decaying.
Mii dash gigizheb aazha namadabiwan ozhinisan gaye ozigosisan mii sa zhigwa gikenimaad bigishkanijijaakaamaad.
And so one morning, while her father-in-law and mother-in-law were seated, she then began to realize that she was becoming rotten between the loins.
“Bisoo,” ikidowan ozhinisan.
“Phew!” said her father-in-law.
“Wegonenda gaa-izhimaagwag?” ikidowan ozhinisan.
“What is that which smells so?” said her father-in-law.
Geget mamiidaawendam; e-zhi-bazigwiid, aano-anishigaskabenid.
Truly was she worried about it; when she rose to her feet, in vain she tried to keep it from falling.
Ezhi-bangishimaad ozhinisan e-naasamabinid, ezhi-maajiibatood.
When she dropped it in front of where her father-in-law was seated, then away she started running.
“Gegeti go ikwe inendamoog!” ikidowan Nenaboozhoowan.
“Truly a real woman they thought!” said Nanabushu.
