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By Root 450 0

she is asked to lend her skills and knowledge of the Ojibwe language to assist in the instruction of reservation youth at language camps and in other forums. The second of her stories in this anthology is a recording of one of her sessions, designed to teach reservation youth about the art of snaring rabbits—from dressing for a walk in the woods to eating the victuals after harvest.

With an easy laugh and a positive outlook, Susan is great company. Wajebaadiziwin, however, is only one of her endearing qualities. Humble, reserved, honest, and wise, she manifests the fruits of traditional culture and lifeways. As her knowledge of Ojibwe language and culture and her example of traditional virtue are increasingly recognized, Susan has come to be highly valued as a cultural resource for her family, community, reservation, and people.

Chi-achaabaan Naanaagadawendamaan

[1] Inger ingii-tazhi-ondaadiz, Chi-achaabaaning ezhinikaadeg. Mii iwidi nimaamaa, miinawaa nimbaabaa gii-ayaawaad. Mii iwidi ondakaaneziwaad, gaa-onji-gikendamaan akina gegoo gii-pizindawagwaa nimaamaa miinawaa nookomis, gaye gegoo gii-kagwejimagwaa gegoo waa-izhi-gikendamaan gii-izhichigeyaan gii-ani-mindidoyaan. Miish onow namanj gii-kikendamaan gegoo i’iw.

[2] Miinawaa go ingii-kagiibaadiz gii-agaashiinyiyaan iidog. Gaawiin gegoo dibishkoo go ingii-pizikendanziin ji-wii-kikendamaan. Baamaash naagaj i’iwe maagizhaa gaye niizhwaasobiboonagiziyaan, miish o’ow dibishkoo gii-naanaagadawendamaan ji-bizindawagwaa gegoo ekidowaad miinawaa go gegoo gikinoo’amaagooyaan ji-ani-gikendamaan.

[3] Gaawiish wiin ingii-kikinoo’amaagoosii gegoo ji-gikendamaan gegoo, akina gegoo. Ingii-wiidookawaa gaa-maamaayaan aseked gaye. Mii imaa gii-kanawaabamag gii-wiidookawag. Mii imaa gaa-onji-gikendamaan i’iw waa-izhichigeyaan. Akina gegoo ingii-wiidookawaa nimaamaa. Gaawiin wiikaa gegoo gii-anokiisii nimaamaa. Mii eta go gii-chiibaakwed.

[4] Akina gegoo niinawind ingii-nisimin ingiw niiwiijaan, indinawemaag gayesh. Mii imaa ayaad bezhig nimisenh gaye niin dash mii gaa-nisayeyaan. Mii minik gaa-ishkonewaad, gaa-ishkoneyaang i’iw minik.

[5] Akinash gegoo ingii-wiidookawaanaan nimaamaa. Gaawiin gegoo gichi-anokiisii. Miinawaa akina gegoo ingii-izhichigemin. Imaa gaye nimbaabaa gii-anokiid, niinawind akina gegoo ingii-izhichigemin. Ingii-kiishkiboojigemin, biindigenising bigishkiga’iseyaang gaye, akina gegoo bi-naadiyaang gaye akina gegoo. Mii eta go gii-pagidinised a’aw nimaamaa jiibaakwed akina gegoo. Mii izhi-wiidookawag nimaamaayiban gii-pimaadizid. Akina gegoo, gaawiin ingii-pagidinaasiiwaanaan ge-gichi-anokiid gegoo.

[6] Mii eta go gii-anokiid nimbaabaam. Azhigwa nenitaawigid indinawemaa, mii ezhi-wiijiwaad onow nimbaabaayan gaa-anokiinid. Miish i’iw booch dagoshinowaad, mii booch, maagizhaa go onaagoshig, miish i’iw akina gegoo anokiiyaang. Mii gaa-izhi-wiidookawangid nimaamaa, miinawaa nimbaabaayinaan.

[7] Gayesh nimaamaa gii-ishkwaa-ayaad, mii dibishkoo gaawiin aapiji nimaanendanziin gii-wani’ag nimaamaa. Imaa sa akina gegoo ingii-wiidookawaa. Mii gaa-onji-maanendanziwaan aapiji gii-wani’agin nimaamaa. Mii go gaye nimbaabaa gii-ayaadog, noomag gii-ani-bimaadizi niizhwaasimidana ashi niizh ganabaj gii-wani’angid nimbaabaa, mii i’iw. Gaawiin igaye ingii-maanendanziin iye gii-ishkwaa-ayaad nimbaabaa. Akina gegoo ingii-wiidookawaa. Ingii-wiidookawaa gii-pimaadizid. Nizhawenimaa sa go nimbaabaa gii-ayaad.

[8] Mii go noongom bimaadiziwaad miinawaa, gaawiin niin indaa-asaasiig imaa endazhi-ganawenimindwaa gichi-aya’aag. Niin igo indaa-bami’aag. Mii i’iw akiwenzii gaa-ayaawangid, Bezhigoogaabaw gii-izhinikaazo. Niin ingii-kanawenimaa gii-ani-gichi-aya’aawid. Gaye dash gaawiin ingii-pi-maanendanziin apii ishkwaa-ayaad akiwenzii. Mii gii-shawenimag gii-omishoomisinaan akiwenzii. Ingodwaak awashiime gii-taso-biboonagizid gii-nibod. Mii gaa-izhi-zhawenimag; zhawenimag sa go gichi-aya’aa.

[9] Gaawiin gegoo booch igo maajaayaan igo gegoo wiidookawag. Onow gaye niin niizhwaasimidana indaso-biboonagiz. “Gaawiin,” indigoo dash wiin igo. Gaawiin indebwenimigoosii gaye. Niwiindamawaa endaso-biboonagiziyaan.