NANABUSHU AND HEWER OF HIS SHIN
[[ANISHINAABEMOWIN->NISH1]]
[[ENGLISH->INTRO ONE]]
After many months, Nanabushu returned to the home of his grandmother once more. Though a joyous reunion it was, Nanabushu was plagued with thoughts of questions gone unanswered.
"Grandmother, I must leave you again soon. Still now I have not found the ones who has slain all my [[relatives->INTRO TWO]]"
Alas, the truth of the matter could not be delivered any kinder than by a grandmother.
"My grandson, you are to be pitied. To get to where he who orphaned you resides is an [[impossible->INTRO THREE]] task"
[[TAKE HER TRUTH AT FACE VALUE->END1]]
[[ENQUIRE ABOUT THE HOME OF THE BRUTE->EXPLAIN1]]
Surely grandmother wouldn't have a reason to exaggerate her claims. If she truly believes that this place is unreachable, Nanabushu will take her at her word.
[[REPLAY?->Title]]
Grandmother could always be trusted, but Nanabushu could not standby while he who killed his family went unpunished. He faced her with earnesty.
"Grandmother, where is this [[place->EXPLAIN2]]?"
Grandmother sighed; certainly Nanabushu's persistance was never a surprise.
"At the centre of the great sea is an [[island->EXPLAIN3]]"
"No one has ever gone there. And he who tries will not return. I don't know whether any have ever arrived at the island, or if they simply died on the [[way->EXPLAIN4]]"
"On this island there is a manitou called Hews-upon-his-Shin, for it is said that he is forever hewing upon his shin. It is said that if any one would approach the island, they would hear the sound he makes upon his shin from halfway through their [[journey->EXPLAIN5]]"
WILL YOU PERSUE THE BRUTE?
[[YES->BEGIN1]] / [[NO->END2]]
Despite his grandmother's somber tone, Nanabushu had made up his mind: he would persue the brute. After bidding her farewell, he readied himself for his journey - preparing three days worth of spear-pointed arrows.
Once his supplies were in order, Nanabushu packed up his canoe and headed out to [[sea->BEGIN2]].
If it is true that no one returns from this island in the great sea, is there any sake in going? Without him, Nanabushu thought, there would be no one to care for his grandmother. Better to stay where it's safe.
[[REPLAY?->Title]]
As Nanabushu made his way towards the island, a sound began to reverberate across the water... he let his canoe float quietly while he listened. Thereupon he thought: this must have been what my grandmother told me, the sound of the a hewing upon a shin.
[[HURRY ALONG->BEGIN3]]
Paddling further into the great sea, Nanabushu noted that the sound of the hewing began to seem closer. A chill ran up his spine.
[[KEEP GOING->BEGIN4]]
After a long while spent paddling, Nanabushu spotted the island along the horizon. It was not unlike a line drawn across his course. His destination was finally coming into view.
[[ALMOST THERE->BEGIN5]]
The sound of the hewing rang in Nanabushu's ears. As he came upon the island, the water began to tremble from the volume of the manitou hewing upon his shin.
[[HEAD TO SHORE->ISLAND1]]
After heading ashore, he followed a path up from the beach onto the island. As he made his way through the brush he came upon a small [[wigwam->ISLAND2]].
Peering into the wigwam, Nanabushu saw an old man seated in a squatting pose, facing him. Nanabushu watched him striking upon his shin. It was like a hewing upon a log, and when he struck it made a frightful [[sound->ISLAND3]].
After a while spent observing, Hewer-of-his-Shin turned around and spotted Nanabushu peering into his wigwam.
"Aha, aha, aha, Nanabushu! Have you come to make war upon me?"
Nanabushu nodded, replying with a curt "[[Yes->ISLAND4]]".
"Very well then!" Hewer-of-his Shin made no secret of his contempt for Nanabushu. He laughed, a deliberate sneer. He had no doubt that he would prevail over the foolhardy Nanabushu. Certainly Nanabushu thought samely.
"Come, make [[haste->ISLAND5]]!"
The pair left the wigwam without delay and sought out a place to do battle. As they took their places, Nanabushu gazed into the air while Hewer-of-his-Shin survayed the space between [[them->ISLAND6]].
Nanabushu bore his shield, so too his bow and arrows. As for Hewer-of-his-Shin, he held in his hand a war-club of stone. Thereupon they now adressed each other:
[[READY?->BATTLE1]]
Nanabushu shot at him, while Hewer-of-his-Shin struck him with his war club. The pair fought with vigor, as Nanabushu dodged his blows he still shot with his bow and [[arrows->BATTLE2]].
While they were now in the thick of their fight, Nanabushu's supply of pointed arrows began to run low. In the midst of it all, he heard the sound of someome calling out to him from above.
"Hey, Nanabushu! Shoot him in the back of the head! Ojishkibonwaaning [[bimo->BATTLE3]]!"
[[IGNORE THE VOICE->END3]]
[[LISTEN TO THE VOICE->BATTLE4]]
In the midst of such a battle, Nanabushu has no time to consider the pleas of voices from the sky. He must concentrate on defeating [[Hewer-of-his-Shin->END3.1]].
Though busily engaged, Nanabushu cried out "What?"
The voice from the sky repeated itself - "Ojishkibanwaaning [[bimo->BATTLE5]]!"
Hewer-of-his-Shin looked upon Nanabushu. "What is the matter? With whom are you speaking?"
Nanabushu laughed, and replied: "Ah, how could you forget my little brothers of the sky who protect me?" With that said, he shot Hewer-of-his-Shin where he was [[told->BATTLE6]].
Hewer-of-his-Shin looked upon Nanabushu with an incredulous expression. "Nanabushu! Is it true that you really intend to kill me?"
"Ah!" Nanabushu called back to him. "You surely do not think that I'm trifiling with you!" Once more he shot him in the crown of the [[head->BATTLE7]].
As he was struck again, Hewer-of-his-Shin called to Nanabushu. "You truly do intend to kill me?"
"Of course!" Nanabushu repeated, "You who slew my parents, you too I shall slay!" It was then that he brought down Hewer-of-his-Shin with his [[arrows->BATTLE8]].
As he lay on the ground, Hewer-of-his-Shin tried to reason with Nanabushu.
"Now, O Nanabushu, leave me alone! In return I will give you [[something->BATTLE9]]..."
This caught Nanabushu's attention. "Hurry and give it to me!" he demanded, "Tell me too, what you did to my father and mother and to all those who used to live in times [[past->BATTLE10]]!"
"Do you see this island where now we have fought each other?" Hewer-of-his-Shin explained to him. "Those trees that you see standing here are those who used to live in times gone by. Such is the form I have made them, that they be as trees".
"Now, if you leave me alone, I will give you something to make them come back to [[life->BATTLE11]]".
Nanabushu was elated, and demand to know what he must do to bring them back. Hewer-of-his-Shin pointed to his wigwam. "Go inside, and you will see there is a small wooden pail. Bring it here to me".
Nanabushu followed his instructions, but did not lay aside his bow and [[arrows->BATTLE12]].
"You see what is contained in this small wooden pail? Contained here is the means by which you may bring back to life your mother and father, and all the others".
"Now, this is what you do. You must peel the bark from the trees until you reach the bare pulp. Then you must rub what is contained in this pail into the raw wood".
"Is that all?" Nanabushu asked.
"[[Yes->BATTLE13]]".
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HEWER-OF-HIS-SHIN?
[[KILL HIM->CONC1]]
[[LET HIM GO->END4]]
With this information garnered Nanabushu shot Hewer-of-his-Shin once more in the crown of the head, killing him.
"There now!" he declaired, "Dog, wretch that you are, who was ever bent upon destroying the earth! So now I will derive from you the source by which the earth will be [[replenished->CONC2]]".
With this knowledge there is certainly no sake in finishing off Hewer-of-his-Knee. Nanabushu heads towards the grove of trees with his pail, intent of recovering all those he has [[lost->END4.1]].
Thus Nanabushu took the flesh of Hewer-of-his-Shin, returning it to the earth to be remade as animal-folk that run upon the earth and fly about the earth.
And then next after Nanabushu took the little pail and did what he had been commanded. As soon as he had done it to one tree, straightaway there stood in the place a man. So then to another he did it, and to many other. Then by and by he found his father and mother, and his elder brother [[Nanapaadaman->CONC3]].
Nanabushu was then told by his older brother, "Did you here me when I spoke to you?" He had a teasing voice, and all the people of the trees laughed.
Nanabushu was dumbfounded, and asked Nanapaademan what he [[meant->CONC4]].
"When the old man was about to prevail over you!"
And so it was by him that Nanabushu was called upon while he and Hewer-of-his-Shin [[fought->CONC5]].
Nanabushu found himself very busy bringing the trees back to life. With each he came upon he would meet another that had lived in a former time. And thus, the island became filled to it's brim with friends old and [[new->CONC6]].
[[END->CONC7]]
A PROJECT FOR LIN 3616
Ojibwe Story from the William Jones Archive, Volume 1, 1917 from the Baadwewedamojig Project (Alan Corbiere and Alana Johns, 2012) http://ojibweproject.weebly.com
Retold by Sam Kacaba as part of the Glendon Ojibwe Language Class 2017
[[REPLAY->Title]]
Alas, poor Nanabushu has run low on arrows and has been overcome by Hewer-of-his-Shin. It seems that he truly was never meant to return from this perilous island.
[[REPLAY?->Title]]
Oh cruel fate! With his back turned to him, Hewer-of-his-Shin snuck up on Nanabushu and killed him with his war club! It seems that Nanabushu's mercy was taken for granted. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say!
[[REPLAY?->Title]]
Mii dash awe mindimooye gichi-minwendang waabamaad miinawaa oozhisheyan. Gaawiin dash wiin igo ogikendanziin bangii nawaj gii-aanji-oskiniigiinid. Mii dash e-naad oozhisan: “Apane awiya ningii-pi’odisigoog; izhi-waad gii-nisigooyan.
Miinawaa aanind indigoog, ‘Nookomis, nin-dagwishin,’ onjida bi-izhiwaad,” odinaan oozhisheyan. Mii dash Nenaboozhoo nishkaadizid, mii dash e-naad ookomisan: “Geyaabi giga-naganin. Gaawiin mashi ni-mikawaasii aweneniidog jaagi’aagwen nin-[[gitiziimag->NISH2]].”
“Aa! noozhis,” odinaan, “gigii-kidimaagis. Gaawiin gidaa-kashki’osii ji-izhaayan iwidi ayaad aw gaa-kiiwooshi’ik” odinaan.
“Aandish [[ayaad->NISH3]]?”
“Mii iwidi ayaamagag naawaya’ii gichi-gichigamiing bezhig minis. Gaawiin dash wiikaa awiya izhaasii iwidi. Mii go aapiisikaad awiya e-zhaajin. Gaawiin dash gikendanziin amanj ji-dagwishinoowaagwen iwidi, gonimaa gaye nwaande-nibowaagwen,” odigoon [[ookomisan->NISH4]].
“Mii dash iwidi ayaad aw manidoo; e-zhinikaazod Gaa-jiigiga’ang-okakwan, mii e-nind mii apane ezhi-jiigiga’ang iw ogakawan, inaa.
Giishpin awiya izhaad iwidi ayaabita izhi-aawang mii debwewe’ang ogakwan,” [[odinaan->NISH5]].
“Oo!” odigoon oozhisheyan. Mii dash geget giizhendang Nenaboozhoo, inendam wii-izhaad. Mii dash e-naad ookomisan: “Booch ninga-nandawaabamaa,” [[odinaan->NISH6]].
Mii dash Nenaboozhoo miinawaa gaa-izhi-ozhiitaad miinawaa gii-ozhitood osaawaanan, nisogon minik ji-aabajitood ogii-izhi-ozhitoonan. Mii dash gaa-kiizhitood miinawaa Nenaboozhoo mamadesidood ojiimaanish. Mii dash maajaad Nenaboozhoo gwayak gaa-ininamaagod [[ookomisan->NISH7]].
Ningoding dash giiwenh Nenaboozhoo ani-babimishkaad, zhigwa geget gegoo onoondam gwayak e-zhaad. Ezhi-agwamod nendotang; zhigwa geget onoondaan.
“Denh denh,” inidam. Mii e-nendang: “Na! mii iwe nookomis gaa-izhid,” inendam.
Mii dash geget maajaad [[enigok->NISH8]].
Nenaboozhoo gomaapii miinawaa nandotam zhigwa miinawaa onoondam. “Dwenh dwenh, dwenh,” initam. Nawaj beshodaagwadini. Miinawaa maajaad [[enigok->NISH9]].
Ningoding igo miinawaa ani-ayinaabid, gego owaabandaan oniigaaniimi; indigo gegoo bemibeshibii’igaadeg; mii dash ayinaabid, “Mii maawiin i’iw zhayiigwa dayebinaagwak minis e-zhaayaan,” inendam.
Mii dash geget enigok [[bimishkaad->NISH10]].
Gomaapii dash miinawaa nandotam, mii geyaapi enitang. “Dwiinh dwiinh,” initam. Mii imaa gwayak endanitang bi-midii bi-naagwadinig aki. Mii nangwana geget iw [[gaa-izhinang->NISH11]].
Mii dash miinawaa maajaad, zhayiigwa owaabandaan weweni aki; mii dash miinawaa ezhi-nandotang, mii miinawaa noondang.
“Dwiinh dwiinh,” initam.
Mii go ezhi-koshkwaagamiseg nibi epiichi-kizhiiweganaandang iw ogakwan aw [[manidoo->NISH12]].
Mii dash giiwenh Nenaboozhoo zhayiigwa ani-jegised imaa gwayak endanitang; geget eni-gabaad owaabandaan ondamoninig miikana.
Mii dash eni-zhi-kopa’adood, owaabandaan wiigiwaamens badakidenig; mii dash giimooj eni-zhi-naazikang; eni-zhi-dapaabandang, owaabamaan akiwenziiyan nenaange-naasamabinid, mii dash dakonaminid [[gegoo->NISH13]].
Mii dash ezhi-waabamaad bakite’aminid ogakwan, dibishkoo jiigiga’igeng mii endoodang. Gagwaanisagakamig dash epiitwewekanaadang. Mii dash wiin Nenaboozhoo, imaa niibawid [[ganawaabamaad->NISH14]].
Gomaapii dash bi-gwekitaawan mii dash e-god: “A-a-a Nenaboozhoo! Gi-bi-nandopanidaw ina?” odigoon.
“Aye’,” odinaan Nenaboozhoo.
“Awawasa!” Bekish baapikaazod, epiichi-maanimaad Nenaboozhoon; gaawiin giiwaadendanzii ji-shaagooji’aad.
Mii dash gaye wiin Nenaboozhoo, “Ahaaw, [[wewiib->NISH15]]!”
Mii dash geget biiwanaangiid, bi-pazigwiid gaye; mii dash ezhi-pi-saaga’ang.
“Aaniish, giga-onaabandaamin ge-dazhikotaadiyang,” odigoon.
“Ahaaw,” [[odinaan->NISH16]].
Mii dash geget wawenaabandamowaad. “Mii omaa,” ikidowag. Ayinaabi Jaagaga’ang-ogakwan. Dedaataganaabid gaye wiin Nenaboozhoo; gii-owenigaabawi, odashwiiwin dakonam, mitigwaabiin gaye. Wiin dash Jaagaga’ang-ogakwan, odakonaan asiniin bagamaagan.
Mii dash zhigwa ganoonidiwaad, “Ahaaw [[dash->NISH17]]!”
Geget Nenaboozhoo gaye wiin obimwaan, gaye wiin dash Jaagaga’ang-ogakwan bakitewaan obagamaagan. Mii dash geget gichi-ojaanimii’idiwaad. Nenaboozhoo gegaa go mii eta e-nanokiid dabazid, geget odoo-jaanimii’igoon. Mii dash gaye wiin Nenaboozhoo, [[bepimojiget->NISH18]].
Megwaa dash zhigwa gichi-baapiniikotaadiwaad, gaye wiin Nenaboozhoo zhayiigwa agaasinaadiniwan odasaawaanan.
Megwaa sa go Nenaboozhoo awiya onoondawaan biibaagimigod ishpiming inakakeyaa, igod: “E, Nenaboozhoo, ojishkibonwaaning bimo!” initam Nenaboozhoo.
Nanaakawezh biibaagi gaye wiin: “Waa!” ikido Nenaboozhoo.
“Ojishkibanwaaning [[bimo->NISH19]]!”
Mii dash e-god Jaagaga’aminid-ogakwan: “Aaniin, Nenaboozhoo? Awenen genoonad?” odigoon.
Nenaboozhoo dash ikido: “E-e-e-ii, agaasiinawag na ni-shiimeyag giizhigong sayaasiidwaabamiwaad?” odinaan.
Mii dash geget Nenaboozhoo ezhi-pimwaad iniw Jaagaga’aminid-ogakwan imaa gaa-inind ji-pimwaad, anzapidenig obikwanaang wiinizisan; mii dash [[ezhi-mizhwaad->NISH20]].
Mii dash e-god: “Waa, Nenaboozhoo, mii nangwana giin geget wii-nshiyan?” odigoon.
“A-a-a-a-aa!” odinaan. “Mii nange gi-pabaapini’in!” odinaan Nenaboozhoo.
Miinawaa bimwaadin [[ojishkibanwaanining->NISH21]].
Mii go miinawaa naasaab e-god: “Waa, Nenaboozhoo! mii nangwana giin igo geget wii-nishiyan?” odinaan.
“Mii naange kaa!” ikido Nenaboozhoo. “Giin gaa-nisadwaa niigi’igoog,” odinaan, “gaye giin dash giwii-nisin!” odinaan. Bekish Nenaboozhoo a’iin danwewetoo gaye babimojiged. Mii dash zhayiigwa [[gawinawaad->NISH22]].
Mii dash e-god miinawaa: “Mii, Nenaboozhoo, izhi-pooni’ishin! Meshkod gegoo giga-miinin.”
“Wewiib miishin!” odinaan. “Wiindamawishin gaye aaniindi gaa-doodawadwaa noos ninga gaye gakina gaye bemaadisiwaapan!” [[odinaan->NISH23]].
Mii dash geget e-god: “Gi-waabandaan na owe noongom endazhikotaadiyang minis? Ingiw idash mitigoog wayaabamadwa bedakizowaad mii igiw bemaadiziwaapan. Mii dash iwe gaa-izhi’agwaa ji-mitigoowiwaad,” odigoon.
“Giishpin dash booni’yan, giga-miinin ged-aabajitooyan ji-aabijiibaa’awaa,” [[odigoon->NISH24]].
“Wewiib wiindamawishin aaniin ge-doodamaan ji-aabijiibaa’iweyaan.”
“Imaa izhaan biindig gaa-pi-onji-pazigwiiyaan, giga-waabandaan imaa mitigoo-makakoons; biidoon dash [[omaa->NISH25]].”
Mii dash geget Nenaboozhoo naazikang; gaawiin gaye opagidinaasiin [[omitigwaabiin->NISH26]]...
Mii dash e-god: “Gi-waabandaan o’ow ateg omaa makakoonsing, mitigoo-makakoonsing; mii omaa eteg ge-onji-aabijiibaa’ad goos giga gaye,” odinaan, “miinawaa aanind bakaan.
Mii dash ge-doodaman: giga-baazagwaakowaa aw mitig biinish ji-waabamad mitigoowid; mii dash mitigoons gedizhi-jekinaman o’ow omaa makakoonsing eteg; mii dash ged-izhi-shishoo’aman imaa gii-paazkaanagekowad aw mitig,” odinaan.
“Oo! mii na gakina?” odinaan.
“Mii sa [[gakina->NISH27]].”
Mii dash miinawaa ezhi-pimwaad ojishkibanwaanining, mii dash nisaad.
“Owa!” odinaan. “Aaniin giin apane waa-ishkaatooyan aki! Noongom idash giga-dishi’in ji-onji-pimaadag aki,” odinaan.
Mii dash gaa-izhi-maajitaad gii-pi-giishkizhwaad. Mii dash ezhi-saswewebinaad, bebakaan gakina ezhi-ayapaginaad; dash waawiinaad gedaawinidi, bebaamiba’idiwaad akiing aya’awashensag, gaye bebaamisejig, gichi-awesiiyag [[gaye->NISH28]].
Mii dash miinawaa Nenaboozhoo gaa-ishoo-daapinang iw omakakoons, gii-izhichiged gaa-igod. Bijiinag igo bezhig gaa-toodawaad mitigoon, baabige gii-niibawi imaa inini. Mii dash miinawaa bezhig gii-toodawaad. Miinawaa niibiwa [[gii-izhichige->NISH29]].
Ningoding idash igo mii gii-mikawaad oosan ogiin gaye, osayenyan gaye Nenapaadaman. Mii dash Nenaboozhoo e-god osayenyan, baabige go omaa miigizomigoon baapiwaad: “Gigii-noondaw ina gii-ganooninaan?”
Nenaboozhoo dash odinaan: “[[Aaniindi->NISH30]]?” odinaan.
“Gegaa gi-mamaazhi’ig aw akiwenzii!”
Mii nangwana aw Nenaboozhoo gaa-biibaagimigoogobanen megwaa gii-paapishiwe’idiwaad Jaagaga’aminid-ogakwan. Mii dash Nenaboozhoo geyaabi aapiji ondamitaad aabijiibaa’aad mitigoon; nangwana anindoowiwaad bemaadiziwaagobanen. Wawiinge mooskinemagad iw [[minis->CONC6]].