Living Our Language_ Ojibwe Tales & Oral Histories - Anton Treuer [39]
[16] Mii sa go i’iw, mii sa go i’iw gaa-izhid a’aw akiwenzii, “Mii go naagaj igo ji-ani-gashkitooyan.” Gegoo a’aw bezhig akiwenzii imaa gaa-tewe’iganid iniw, Waabishki-bines ge-bimiwinaad iniw dewe’iganan. Negwanebii gii-izhinikaazowag. Negwanebii, mii a’aw akiwenzii gii-tibenimaad iniw jibwaa-dibenimaad a’aw Waabishki-bines. Mii gii-wiindamawid a’aw akiwenzii iwidi Waawiyegamaag. Ingii-izhaamin. Mii i’iw oshki-bimiwinag a’aw dewe’igan, ingii-wiijiiwaag iwidi gegoo. Gaawiin igo ingii-kikendaagozisiin awashiime Medwe-ganoonind, ikwe, miinawaa-sh a’aw Negwanebii gaa-inind, miinawaa a’aw Wewanabi. Mii niiwiwaad ingiw dayewe’iganjigejig gii-izhaawaad iwidi. Gayesh goshkoziwaad inindwaa ingiw niiwin, ingiw dewe’iganag, owidi gii-izhaawaad. Gayesh a’aw Bezhigoogaabaw gii-izhinikaazod a’aw akiwenzii. Iwidi Moose gaa-inind, Bezhigoogaabaw gii-izhinikaazo. Oon Niibaa-giizhig, mii a’aw gaa-waawiindamawid. Awegwesh a’aw gaa-wiindamaagoogwen a’aw akiwenzii. Ganabaj a’aw bezhig akiwenzii gaa-tewe’iganinijin ogii-pi-wiindamaagoon, gii-wiindamawaad iniw gii-pazhitoonigooyaan imaa. Onishkaad a’aw akiwenzii. “Ambe omaa. Niwanichige omaa,” ikido. “Ambe sa go naadig a’aw bezhig imaa dewe’iganid bemiwinjiged aya’aa gaa-pezhigoo’oonang,” gii-ikido akiwenzii. Mii sa go omaa maajaawaad akina ingiw, akina ongow gaa-piindigewaad endashiiwaad akina go anishinaabeg, akina ingiw biitoowaajigan bi-dagoshinowaad waa-ani-aabideg, waa-ani-gwapideg i’iw gaa-apwakozidamaagooyaan niin eta go, ji-niibawid. Niibawi minik gaye, minik wiinawaa niiwin gaa-tewe’iganijig. Mii genoozhid-sh gaa-pibideg iwidi gii-wanenimigooyaan imaa. Inashke gii-ikidowag. “Gaawiin dash indizhaasiin iwidi. Gaawiin ingikenimaasiig ingiw dayewe’iganijig iwidi,” gii-ikido a’aw akiwenzii.
[17] Miish a’aw Negwanebii, niwiidabimaa imaa, nimamaag iniw asemaan wiindamawag, “Haa, gaagiigidotamawishin.” Wa, gichi-ganawaabamid a’aw akiwenzii. “Tayaa! Gidoodoon-sh ji-gaagiigidoyan,” indig. “Gaagiigidon gaye waa-izhi-miigwechiwitaagoziyan igo.” Mii sa i’iw gaa-izhi-bazigwiiwaad dash i’iw baapish gii-maajii-giigidoyaan. Gaawiin dash wiikaa ingii-kaganoonaasiig ingiwejig, akiwenzii gaa-toodawid. “Atoon gaye gidayaan ji-gaagiigidoyan,” indig. Gegaa anooj ingii-toodawaa a’aw akiwenzii, booch igo, booch igo gaye. “Mii sa i’iw baa-wiindamawad maajaayang.” Niin eta ishkwaa akawe. “Iwidi izhichigeyan weweni i’iw ji-miigwechiwi’ad giijanishinaabe gegoo memwech. Gego gaganoonaaken,” ikido. “Akeyaa gaye gigaganoonig, gaganoonik ji-aaniikanootawad. Wii-miinag asemaan, gego wiin inaaken. Wewiib igo ge-izhi-bazigwiiyan igo ji-wiindamawad. Mii i’iw ge-izhi-gikendaagwak i’iw waa-ikidoyan,” ingii-pi-wiindamaag a’aw akiwenzii.
[18] Mii go gaye baa-wiindamawid. Mii sa wenji-baa-gashkitooyaan ji-gaagiigidoyaan dibishkoo go giin igo. Gii-kaagiigidoyaan imaa, “Gaa gidaa-gaagiigidotamaagoosiin,” indig. Gaawiin gii-ayaasiin go apii gii-maajii-inenimag. Ganabaj igo miinawaa go niin nitam ingii-taso-biboonagiz i’iw apii ganabaj igo. Gaawiin nisimidana gii-taso-biboonagizisiin apii gaa-bimiwinaad dewe’iganan. Gaye niin nisimidana ashi ningodwaaso-biboonagiziyaan gii-maajii-bimiwinag