Zhamaganish / The Elder Veteran
1. Gii bi wiijikooganigomi maaba bezhig niiwijkens.
Were here us raised together this one little friend.
2. Pane gwa gii ba niizhmi miinwa kinomago'aa bezhigonaang gii mii aayaami.
Always were we a pair and
known to others we were one were then we.
3. Ingoding jigemiikaan gii ba naaniibweyaang mii gii dibaajimitaadimi miinwa n’gii baabaapmi.
Once by the side of the road we were standing around telling stories and laughing.
4. Maampiich dash igo kiienzii gii bmosed.
There then an old man did go walking.
5. Zhamaganish gii ezhinikaazod gaa bmosed epiichi baabaapiiyaang.
Zhamaganish he was called who walked while we were laughing.
6. Noonchigonaa gego n'gii dabaadaanaa'aa wa ezhi-baapiyaang.
A lot of things we were talking about while we were laughing.
7. Gii bi gwekogaabaw dash maaba gete Zhamaganish epiichi gaadesed.
He was standing there that one, old Zhamaganish while he strolled.
8. Gii chiganawaamigonaa skoowinan niizh takanaanaan epiichi ganawaamigiyaang.
He stared at us
canes
two he was using while he watched at us.
9. “Baapigwag gondag gwiizensag.”
They are laughing these boys.
10. “Wenesh enji baapiyag?” kidash gii'enh kiienzii.
“Why are you laughing at me?” said really the old man.
11. Miidash gii zhinoogoo'aa skoowin. N'gii zegegon'aa.
Then did he point the cane. We were scared.
12. Gawiin gego n’gii naasii wa kienzii wi pii gii kchimaamkaazaamigoaang.
We didn’t say anything to the old man while he just stared at us.
13. Miidash gii ni giiwebmptoyaang.
Then we ran home.
14. Ah bekaa.
But no.
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15. Miidash gii wiindamiogwaa ingitizimag gaa ezhiwebag e ni endaayaang.
Then I told them, my parents what happened at home (where we live.)
16. Biindige-gaabaw miinwa niin n’gii dibaajimataadmi epiichi gaadeseyaang miikanong.
Biindige-gaabaw and I were visiting while walking on the road.
17. Megwaa baabaapminaaba pii Zhamaganish bi mi zhiibawsed.
During our laughing then, when Zhamaganish was walking by.
18. Baapigowag gondag shkiniikshag gii nendam gii’enh.
They are laughing those young men he thought really.
19. N’baabaapinaadaa’igoog gondag shkiniikshag gii nendam gii’enh.
They were making fun at me the young men, he thought.
20. Gegwa baabaapinaadwa gegwa gekaad.
Yous should not tease one who older.
21. Mii wi gaa nendamyaanh.
That’s what I was thinking.
22. Gii shke’aanaa wa kiienzii.
Then he got angry at us, the old man.
23. Jige mitig miinwaa ode gii waamigoonaa wa kiienzi.
Near the tree again there did he see us that old man.
24. “Shkenaa” kido n’gashe.
“Oh no,” says my mother.
25. G’ga izhaa ni wepshkaa ga maajidowaa wa kiienzii neyen seman.
You should go there hurry you should give to him that old man some tobacco.
26. Miinwa dash g’gaa windamowaa, “gaa’in n’gii baabaapinaadowsiino.”
Then
you tell him,
“I was not laughing at / teasing you.”
27. Izhaan ode endaad.
You go over there to where he lives.
28. “G’ga deteakoge ge jibwaa biingeyin endaad.
You should knock before you go in where he lives.
29. G’ga debwetag dash waa kidoyin.”
He will believe you then what you say.”
30. N’debwewenjigein gashwan.
Advised/guided my mother.
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31. “Biindigen” kidoshige Zhamaganish.
“Come on in” said Zhamaganish.
32. Miidash gii bindigeyaanh.
Then I entered.
33. Bangii gwa n’gii zhezhe’endiz.
A little really I did sorry/poorly think about myself.
34. N’gii izhaa ode kiienzii bidaasimaabid.
I went over there and the old man faced me.
35. Gii kchimaamkaazaamig miinwa gii ganawaamdaan skoowin.
He stared at me and watched his cane.
36. Zhamaganish, gaa’iin ode g’gii baapigosii pii gii waamigo’in
Zhamaganish not over there we weren’t laughing at you when we saw you.
37. Miinwa gonaa gii baaptawnaa
gaa debaadaamaang.
And then we were just laughing at (what we were talking about) we were telling stories.
38. Miidash gii nenmawag neyen seman.
Then I gave him some tobacco.
39. Gegwa maanaadenmishke.
Don’t feel badly toward.
40. Gaa’iin gegwa maanaadenmishke.
No, don’t feel badly toward.
41. Gaa’iin zaam giin g’gii baapiigosii.
Because we weren’t laughing at you.
42. Miidash Zhamaganish gii zhoobingwenid.
Then Zhamaganish smiled.
43. Noshens aapchigo min’chige* noongwa maanda ezhichigeyin. *minoezhichige
Grandson really doing well today this you are doing.
44. Gaa’iin n’ga nagadenmisiinoon.
I don’t know you well.
45. Ge giinwa ina gii baaptawnaawaa gaa debaadamiig.
I think yous were just laughing at what you were talking about.
46. Mii gaa kido maaba Zhamaganish.
That’s what he said Zhamaganish.
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47. Aapichigwa bkaan gii nendam pii e ni giiweyaanh.
Really different I was thinking when I went home.
48. Aapichigwa gii naangiz.
Really I felt light.
49. G’gii kchibaapmi.
We laughed together.
50. N’gii ni Anishinaabemaaz e ni maajaayaanh.
I was there singing in the language when I left there.
51. Mii igo shkintam n’gii mijii’aa seman.
That was the first time I gave him (as a friend) tobacco.
52. Midash maanda ingitizimag gaa kidowaad.
Then that (is what) my parents said.
53. Gegwa wiika baabaapinadowaake ge chipiitizijig gekaajig
Don’t ever tease them
honored elders
ingoji nananibawig maage bwaachdiiyeg.
when yous are standing around or visiting.
54. Gichipiitenim gekaajig, kidon gii’enh gashwan.
Respect them the elders, said really my mother.
55. Ingoding gwa gondag gekaajig gaa wiijsemigoig.
One day those elders will walk with you.
56. Miinwaa gaa naganazwaamigoig.
And they will watch over you.
57. Miinwaa debwewag
gaa bi ezhi gii kamigooin.
And they are telling the truth in the ways, in the ways they instructed you.
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