Storyteller Skye -Zhigaag

By: Lindsay Christina King

Anishinaabemowin Writing Practice

Skwaach mazinahigan ingii-agindamaanh, Storyteller Skye gii-zhinkaade.  Lindsay Christina King gaa-zhibii’ang. Carol Frank gaa-mazinibii’ang. 

The last book that I read was called Storyteller Skye. Lindsay Christine King is who wrote it. Carol Frank is who drew the pictures.

Dibaajimowin wigii-naajmaagon aw kwezens Skye Zhinkaazo. Niwiindamawaagonaa dibaajimowin mishoomisan wegii-wiindamaagoon.

The story is about a girl called Skye. She tells us the stories that her grandfather told her.

Skye mishoomisan wigii-wiindimawaagoon wi ngoding Zhigaag, Anishinaabeg, miinawaa awesiinyag gii-maawandoo-ayaawibaniig. 

Skye’s grandfather told her that skunk, the Anishinaabeg and the animals all lived together.

Zhigaag gii-aawi iidik gaagiibaajenh.  Aapji go gii-waawnendaagzi. Kina gwiyan wigii-gichi-baapi’igoon.

Apparently, skunk was a jokester. He was very funny. Everyone laughed so hard at him. 

Shwii go ningoding ozaam-baapizhitaagozi gii-mogoshkaadenimaad. 

But one day he joked too much that he upset his friends.

Zhigaag gii-bibaamaazhigaame pii gii-waabamaad godawaanan 

Skunk was walking along the shore when he saw a big log. 

Zhigaag gii-ggiibaadendam. 

Skunk had a silly/crazy idea. 

Zhigaag gii-mamiizniboonaan maaba godawaanan ji-zeginaagozinid minidoong.

Skunk carved this log to look like a very scary monster 

Zhigaag gii-saan jiigi-ziibiing, enji-naadoobiiwaad.

Skunk put it near the river, where they go get and get water.

Pii awesiinyag gii-naazikamowaad ziibing gii-gotanaawaa maanda mzin'kojgan. 

When the animals approached the river they were startled by the carving. 

Gaawiin gii-izhaasiibaniig oodi besha ngoji-ziibiing 

They didn’t want to go anywhere near the river. 

Zhigaag gii-izhaa ishkwaayi’iing oodi mitigoonsing miinwaa gii-maajii-baapid pii gii-waabamaad. 

Skunk went behind the bush and he started to laugh when he saw them. 

Gii-noondawaan zhigaagan baapinid mii dash gnabaj gii-anaamenimaadigenan.

They heard skunk laughing and so thought it must be something zhigaag caused.

Mishoomis miinawaa awesiinyag gii-giinsendamoog Shwii go geyaabi gii-mgoshkaadenmaan zhigaagan.

Grandfather and the animals were relieved but they were still upset with zhigaag. 

Mishoomis manidoowi. Wigii-nitaa-aanzikawaan waya

Grandfather is a supernatural being. He can change someone.

Zhigaag gii-waawonizi. nongo ensa-ntam zegizid ji-agwaanisagmaagod. 

Skunk got what was coming to him. Now when he is scared he smells horrible.

Glossary 

Naajmaa -vta- tell a story about s.o. 

Ikidoomigad - vii- it means, it says

Dibaajimowin - ni - story, narrative  

maawandoo-ayaa -vaip- be together, live together. 

gaagiibaajenh -na- joker, prankster

waawendaagzi - sh/e is funny/comical

Waawonendam - vai- s/he is amused 

Baapizhitaagozi - vai- s/he jokes around

Mogoshkaadenim - vta- make h/ upset

Babaamaazhígaame -vai- walking along the shore. 

ggiibaadendam vai silly/crazy idea

Godawaan- na - big log

Dibishko - av- as, like

mamiizniboonaa- carve h/

Zeginaagozi - vai - s/he looks scary.  

Zegaatese vii it is scary

Saa *ashi - vta - put smth. an. somewhere

Jiigi- pv- near

Ziibi - ni- river

Naadoobii - vai- go get water, haul water

Naazikan vti- approach smth.

Gotan vti. Scared of smth. 

mzin'kojgan - ni - carving 

Ngoji- av - anywhere, someplace

Gego -pr-in-  something

Besha - av - close to, near by

Íshkwaayíhiing - av - behind

Noondaw - vta - hear h/ 

Anaamenim - vta - think smb. the cause of smth. 

giinsendam -vai relieved from anxiety.

Waawnizi -get what's coming to one, serve someone right. 

Manidoowi - s/he is a supernatural being. 

Nitaa - pv - know how to do smth., be good at smth., be prone to doing smth.

Aanzikaw - change h/, change smth. Animate

Gagwaanisagmaagod - vai- s/he smells horrible, s/he stinks awful.