(1) kîtahtawê pêyak awa nâpêw, ê-nîsicik owîkimâkana, ita ê-wîkicik. mâcîw awa nâpêw. kâ-nipahât mostoswa, ê-takohtêt wîkiwâhk, ê-wîhtamawât owîkimâkana, wawêyîw awa iskwêw, ê-wî-nâtahk wiyâsa. astis manipitam, ê-macostêhahk iskotêhk. papêtikohkahtêw astisis.

(1) Once upon a time there was a man who lived alone somewhere with only his wife. The man used to hunt. When he had killed buffalo, as he arrived at their tipi and told his wife, the woman would make ready to fetch the meat. She would pull out a dried sinew and scorch it in the fire. The sinew would shrivel up small.

(2) "ômisi isi ta-kisiwâkiwiw, kâ-wî-nâtamân wiyâsa!" itwêw awa iskwêw.

(2) “Even thus let it be near whence I am to fetch the meats!” she would say.

(3) êkosi ê-wayawît, ê-sipwêhtêt, ê-nâtahk wiyâsa, tâpwê kisiwâk otihtam, ê-otinahk, ê-kîwêhtatât.

(3) Thereupon, when she left the tipi and went forth to fetch the meat, she would in fact come to it close by, and take it and bring it home.

(4) "wâ," itêyihtam awa nâpêw, "tâpwê kâh-kiyipa pêtâw wiyâsa," itêyihtam.

(4) “Dear me,” thought the man, “truly she is always quick about bringing the meat,” thought he.

(5) êkosi kîtahtawê kiskêyihtam wîwa ê-misikitiyit, ê-pwâwiyit. pêyakwanohk ayâw; namôya wî-mâcîw, "kiyâm ta-miyopayiw," ê-itêyimât owîkimâkana; "êkâ ka-misi-wanâcihât ôhi awâsisa watâhk kâ-asiwasoyit," itêyihtam awa nâpêw.

(5) Then presently he know that his wife was big with child. He stayed right there; he did not care to hunt, thinking of his wife, “Pray that it may go well with her, that she may not lose the child that is in her womb,” thought the man.

(6) pôti kîtahtawê âhkosiyiwa owîkimâkana, ê-wî-wâpamâcik ôhi awâsisa. tâpwê ê-tipiskâyik, pahkisiniyiwa. wâpamêwak awâsisa. mistahi miywêyihtam awa nâpêw ê-otawâsimisiyit wîwa êwakoni. êwako êkwa wîsahkêcâhk. êkosi kanawêyimêwak, ê-ohpikihâcik. piyis misikitiw awa wîsahkêcâhk. âsay mîna ocawâsimisiwak. mîna êwako nihtâwikiw. êwako mîna nâpêsis. osîmisiw wîsahkêcâhk. miywêyihtam ê-osîmisit. êkwa êkota ay-ayâwak. piyisk misikitiwak ôki awâsisak. êkwa pisisik mâcîw awa nâpêw. êkwa awa iskwêw ê-nikohtêt mâna, na-nama-mayaw takohtêw awa iskwêw.

(6) Presently, there, his wife fell ill, for they were about to see their child. And indeed, when darkness came, she was forced to her couch. They saw their child. The man was very glad that his wife had given birth to a child. And this child was Wisahketchahk. So they cared for him and brought him up. In time this Wisahketchahk grew big. Again they had a child. This one, too, was born. This one, too, was a boy. Wisahketchahk had a little brother. He was glad of it. So they lived in that place. In time those children grew big. And that man did nothing but hunt. Now, when that woman gathered firewood, she had a way of not coming back on time.

(7) "namôya êkwa atoskêw êkoyikohk," itêyimêw owîkimâkana awa nâpêw, osâm kâh-kinwêsk ê-nikohtêyit; "tânisi awa tiyôtahk?" itêyimêw; "mahti nika-kakwê-kiskêyimâw kêkwayi ê-otamihikot;" "osâm kâ-kapê-kîsik nikohtêw." ê-itêyimât owîkimâkana.

(7) “Now, she does not work as long as this,” thought the man of his wife, when again and again she took too long about gathering wood; “What is it she does?” he thought of her; “I had better try and find out what sort of thing delays her; she is all day gathering firewood,” thought he of his wife.

(8) kîkisêpâ wawêyîw, ê-wî-mâcît, ê-sipwêhtêt, êkwa itê kâ-nikohtêyit owîkimâkana, êkotê ê-itohtêt. êkota kâsôhtawêw owîkimâkana. kîtahtawê kâ-pêci-âstamohtêyit, ê-pê-nikohtêyit. ê-pê-takohtêyit êkota sakâhk, kâ-wâpamât ê-misikitiyit mistikwa ê-kîskipayiyit. êkota nîpawiyiwa owîkimâkana, ê-kêtayôwinisêyit, ê-mosêskatêyit. otinam mistik awa iskwêw, ôhi mistikwa kâ-misikitiyit ê-pa-pakamahwât awa iskwêw.

(8) The next morning he made ready to go hunting and set out and went to where his wife got firewood. There he hid from his wife. Presently she came walking that way, at her task of getting firewood. When she arrived there in the grove, he noticed a large cleft tree. By it his wife took her stand, and took off her clothes until she stood naked. She took up a stick and began to beat that large tree.

(9) ômisi itwêw: "ninâpêmitik!" itwêw, kâ-wâpamât awa nâpêw mihcêt ê-wayawiyit mistikohk ohci kinêpikwa.

(9) This was what she said: “O my husbands!” she said, and then the man saw a great many serpents come forth from the tree.

(10) êkosi nahapiw awa iskwêw, ê-pimisihk, misiwê êkota ê-papâmâhtawêyit ôhi kinêpikwa awa iskwêw wiyawihk. piyisk namôya wâpamêw owîkimâkana, osâm misiwê ê-ayâyit kinêpikwa.

(10) At that the woman lay down flat and those serpents climbed this way and that all over her body. Soon he could no longer see his wife, for the serpents were all over her.

(11) êkosi isi sipwêhtêw awa nâpêw, wâhyaw ê-nitawi-nipahât mostoswa. ê-kîwêt, nôhtaw tipiskâyiw. piyis takohtêw; mistahi nîpâhtêw wîkiwâhk.

(11) Thereupon that man went away; he went far away and killed a buffalo. It was dark before he got home. At last he arrived; in deep darkness he came home from his tramp.

(12) êkosi ê-wâpahk, "ninêstosin," itwêw awa nâpêw; "namôya niwî-mâcîn," itêw owîkimâkana.

(12) Then, the next morning, “I am tired,” said the man; “I am not going to hunt,” he told his wife.

(13) wawêyîw awa iskwêw, ê-wî-nâtahk wiyâsa. otinam astis, ê-macostêhahk.

(13) The woman made ready to fetch the meat. She took a sinew and scorched it.

(14) "ômisi ta-isi-kisiwâkiwiw kâ-wî-nâtamân wiyâsa!" itwêw awa iskwêw, ê-ati-wayawît.

(14) “Even thus let it be near whence I am to fetch the meats!” she said, going out of the tent.

(15) awa nâpêw otinam ôma astisis kâ-kî-macostêhamiyit owîkimâkana, ê-sîpêkipitahk, "ta-wî-pîhcâyiw kâ-nâtahk wiyâsa!" ê-itât owîkimâkana, cikêmâ ê-kisiwâsit.

(15) The man took the little bit of sinew which his wife had scorched, and stretched it long, saying, of his wife, “Let it be far whence she fetches the meats!”

(16) "hâw, hâw, nitawâsimisitik, namôya êsa ôyâ kwayask ê-tôtahk kikâwiyiwâw, kâ-kinwêsk kâ-nikohtêt." "nikî-wâpamâw tânisi ê-tôtahk; nipakwâtên." "tapasîk," itêw, "niwî-nipahâw kikâwiyiwâw," itêw.

(16) “Come, my children, it seems that your mother who has left has been acting in no becoming way, when always so long she was at gathering firewood. I have seen what she did; it is hateful to me. Flee,” he told them; “I am going to kill your mother,” he told them.

(17) apasoy ohpipitam.

(17) He pulled up a tent-pole.

(18) "hâw, nitawâsimisitik, ôta kwayasitêk; tapasîk!" itwêw.

(18) “Come, my children, go into this hole; flee!” he said.

(19) êkwa ôki nâpêsisak êkota pîhtokêwak. kâwi êkota astâw apasoy, ê-tapasîyit otawâsimisa.

(19) Then those boys went in there. He put back the tent-pole, and his children fled.

(20) êkwa awa nâpêw otinêw askihkwa êkwa cîkahikan, ê-sipwêhtêt, ê-itohtêt ôhi mistikwa kâ-kî-pa-pakamahwâyit owîkimâkana.

(20) Then that man took a kettle and an axe and went, off, going to that tree which his wife had struck.

(21) ômisi itwêw, ê-otinahk mistik, ê-pa-pakamahwât ôhi mistikwa: "ninâpêmitik, nitakohtân!" itêw.

(21) Taking up a stick of wood and repeatedly striking the tree, he said, “O my husbands, I have come!”

(22) pôti ê-pê-wayawiyit kinêpikwa, cîkahwêw; nipahêw, êkota askihkohk mihko ê-ati-sîkinahk; wiya ôhi wêpinêw. piyê-wayawiyici, ati-nipahêw, askihkohk tahki ê-astât mihko. piyis kahkiyaw nipahêw ôhi kinêpikwa. êkosi kîwêw; kîwêhtatâw ôma mihko. êkwa êwako kîsisam. êkwa ê-ay-apit, piyisk kêkâc tipiskâw; êkoyikohk kâ-takohtêyit owîkimâkana, ê-pêtâyit wiyâs.

(22) Then, look you, when the serpents came forth, he hacked them with the axe and killed them, but always poured the blood into the kettle; what was left of them he threw away. He kept killing them as they came forth, and always put the blood in the kettle. At last he had killed all of those serpents. Thereupon he went home; he took the blood home with him. Then he heated it. As he sat there, at last it began to grow dark; only then did his wife arrive, bringing the meat.

(23) ômisi itwêw awa iskwêw: "tâpwê wâhyaw kikî-nipahâw mostos!" itwêw awa iskwêw; "kêsiskaw nika-nikohtân; osâm kiyipa ta-tipiskâw," itwêw.

(23) Thus spoke that woman: “Truly far off did you kill the buffalo!” she said; “First I shall get firewood; soon it will be dark,” she said.

(24) "cêskwa!" itwêw awa nâpêw; "pita mîci," itêw owîkimâkana; "ôma ê-kî-osîhtâyân mihko ta-mîciyan," itêw.

(24) “Wait!” said the man; “First eat this,” he told his wife; “Eat this blood which I have prepared,” he told her.

(25) "namôya; osâm nipapâsêyihtên ê-wî-nikohtêyân," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(25) “No; I must hurry and get my firewood,” said the woman.

(26) "kêsiskaw mîciso; kayâs kâ-kî-mîcisoyan," itêw owîkimâkana.

(26) “First eat; it is a long time since you have eaten,” he said to his wife.

(27) "êha," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(27) “Very well,” said the woman.

(28) pîhtokêw, ôma mihko ê-otinahk, ê-minihkwêt.

(28) She went into the tipi and took the blood and drank it.

(29) "î! tâpwê ê-wîhkasiniyik awa!" itwêw awa iskwêw.

(29) “Ooh! Truly this creature's blood tastes good!” she said.

(30) "kinisitospitên cî?" itêw awa nâpêw.

(30) “Do you recognize the taste of it?” the man asked her.

(31) "êha; mihko mâka ôma," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(31) “Yes, why, this is blood,” said she.

(32) "kinâpêm-mihko!" itêw awa owîkimâkana.¹

(32) “Your husband's blood!” he said to his wife.

(33) "nâ, mâkw awa nika-kakwâhyakihikoh!" itwêw awa iskwêw, ê-ati-wayawît, ê-itohtêt ôhi mistikwa.²

(33) “Heavens, but he has frightened me!” cried the woman, as she left the tent and went to that tree.

(34) mistik ê-otinahk, ê-pa-pakamahwât ôhi mistikwa, "ninâpêmitik, nitakosinin!" itwêw awa iskwêw, pêyak ê-apisîsisiyit kâ-pê-wayawiyit.

(34) Taking up a stick and beating at the tree, “O my husbands, I have come!” called the woman, and one tiny little one came out.

(35) kisiwâsiw; êkwa kîwêw. êkwa awa nâpêw cîkahikan otinam, kisiwâk ê-pê-ayâyit owîkimâkana.

(35) She was angry; she went home. Then that man took an axe, as his wife came near.

(36) ômisi itwêw awa iskwêw: "kikisiwâhin kâ-mêscihacik ninâpêmak!" itwêw.

(36) Thus spoke the woman: “You have angered me by killing all my husbands!” she cried.

(37) ê-wî-pîhtokêyit, kâ-cîkahwât owîkimâkana; kîskikwêtahwêw owîkimâkana. êkosi ê-tapasît, hâ, ispimihk ê-itohtêt.

(37) As she was about to enter the lodge, he struck his wife with the axe; he chopped off his wife's head. Then he fled; way up aloft he went.

(38) "hâw, ayîsiyiniw cêskwa ôtê nîkân tita-ohpikiw;" "'kâ-misikitit acâhkos,' tita-itwêwak." "niya êwako," itwêw awa nâpêw.

(38) “Now, off in the future man will grow into being; 'The Great Star,' they will say. That will be I,” said the man.

(39) êkwa awa iskwêw ostikwân tihtipipayiyiw, ê-nitonawât onâpêma. piyisk kiskêyihtam tânitê ê-itohtêyit onâpêma.

(39) Then that woman's head went rolling, as she sought her husband. At last she perceived whither her husband had gone.

(40) "hâw, niwîkimâkan, kikî-sâkihtân; ka-osôkanin!" "pimitisa kinâpêminaw, nisôkan!"³

(40) “There, my husband, you were fond of them; you shall have buttocks! Go follow our husband, 0 my buttocks!”

(41) êkwa awa ôma ostikwân ôma tihtipipayiw, ê-nitonawât otawâsimisa.

(41) Then that head went rolling, as she sought her children.

(42) "miskawakwâwi, nika-mêscihâwak kitawâsimisak," itêw owîkimâkana.

(42) “If I find them, I shall kill off your children,” she called to her husband.

(43) misiwê nitonikêw awa tihtipistikwân. piyisk miskam ita kâ-kwayasitêyit otawâsimisa, êkwa ê-pimitisahwât. wâhyaw kî-wayawîwak ôki awâsisak, ê-tapasîcik. êwako, ôki nâpêsisak, wîsahkêcâhk êwako âskaw ê-nayômât osîmisa. piyisk kisiwâk ayâyiwa okâwiyiwâwa, ôhi tihtipistikwâna.

(43) That Rolling Head searched everywhere. At last she found the place where her children had gone into the ground, and she started in pursuit of them. Far off those children had emerged and gone on in their flight. As to those boys, Wisahketchahk from time to time would carry his little brother on his back. At last quite near was their mother, that Rolling Head.

(44) "nitawâsimisitik, pêhik! nika-nôhâw kisîmis," itêw.

(44) “My children, wait for me! I want to suckle your little brother,” she called to them.

(45) piyisk awa awâsis mâtôw.

(45) Soon that child cried.

(46) "nistêsê, pêhâtân kikâwiyinaw!" itwêw.

(46) “Big Brother, let us wait for our mother!” he said.

(47) "namôya! ê-wî-nipahikoyahk ana kikâwiyinaw!" itêw.

(47) “No! Our mother there wants to kill us!” he told him.

(48) "nitawâsimisitik, pêhik!" tahki ê-itât, piyisk kisiwâk ê-ay-ayâyit, "hâw," itwêw wîsahkêcâhk, "sîpiy ôta ta-wî-ayâw!"

(48) “My children, wait for me!” it kept saying to them, and at last had come very near, when, “Here,” said Wisahketchahk, “Let there be a river here!”

(49) ê-itwêt, âtakâmakisin, kâ-wâpamât cahcakiwa.

(49) When he spoke thus, there was a stream blocking his path, and there he saw a crane.

(50) "âsowahohinân, cahcakiw;" "nikâwiyinân ê-wî-nipahiyâhk," itêw.

(50) “Take us across the water, Crane; our mother wants to kill us,” he said to it.

(51) "êha," itikwak; "hahâw, nôsisimitik!"

(51) “Very well,” it told them; “Come, my grandchildren!”

(52) âsay kisiwâk pê-ayâyiwa okâwiyiwâwa. êkosi nayômikwak, ê-wî-âsowahamiyit. âsay êkota okâwiyiwâwa kâ-takohtêyit.

(52) By this time their mother had come very close. The crane took them on its back and was about to cross the water. Their mother arrived.

(53) "cahcak, pêsiw nitawâsimisak;"⁴

"nikaskêyihtên ê-wî-nôhâwasoyân."

(53) Crane, bring me my children; I am sad with longing to suckle my child.”

(54) "êkâya tâpwêhtaw, nimosô!" itêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(54) “Do not believe her, Grandfather!” Wisahketchahk told it.

(55) pihkohôw wîsahkêcâhk. êkwa awa cahcakiw êkotê isicimêw.

(55) Wisahketchahk was taken across. Then the crane swam back yonder.

(56) "âstam!" itwêw awa tihtipistikwân; "âsowahohin;" "nikaskêyihtên ê-wî-nôhâwasoyân." "ahpô kika-wîkimitin," itêw.

(56) Come here!” cried that Rolling Head; “Take me across the water; I am sad with longing to suckle my child. If you like, I will even lie with you,” she told it.

(57) "ahaq," itwêw awa cahcakiw; "hâw, ka-nayômitin."

(57) “Very well, said the crane; “Come, I will take you on my back.”

(58) tâpwê nayômêw.

(58) It took her on its back.

(59) "êkâya waskawî; nikâ-kîtimihkawisin," ê-wîsakêyihtahk ospiskwan.

(59) “Do not move; my spine is very sensitive,” meaning that it had a pain in its back.

(60) êkwa sipwêhtêw. osâm pêyâhtik ê-pimohtêt, "kisiskâhtê!" itêw awa tihtipistikwân; "ninôhtê-nôhâwasowâh awa!" ômisi ê-ispayihot, ê-nâh-namipayihot.

(60) Then it started off. When it went too slowly, “Go fast!” the Rolling Head cried at it; “I am in distress with the need of suckling this child!” and it threw itself about like this, bobbing up and down.

(61) kwêtipipayihow awa cahcakiw; pakastawêpayiw awa tihtipistikwân.

(61) The crane winced and ducked; into the water went that Rolling Head.

(62) ômisi itwêw awa cahcakiw; "hâw, cêskwa nîkân ôtê ayîsiyiniw kita-ohpikiw;" "'namêw' kika-isiyihkâtikwak," itêw ôhi tihtipistikwâna.⁵

(62) Thus spoke the crane: “There, off in yon future time man will come into being; 'Sturgeon,' they will call you,” it said to that Rolling Head.

(63) êkwa tâpwê mistahi mâtôw awa wîsahkêcâhk osîmisa, ê-wâpamât okâwiya ê-pakastawêhomiht.⁶

(63) Then truly Wisahketchahk's little brother wept much, when he saw his mother thrown into the water.

(64) "nisîmis, êkâya mâto; ê-kî-wînipahikoyahk kikâwiyinaw," itêw osîmisa.

(64) “Little Brother, do not weep; it is because our mother wanted to kill us,” he told his little brother.

(65) êkota ay-ayâwak sîpîhk, ê-ma-mêtawêhât osîmisa.

(65) There they stayed by the river, and he amused his little brother by making him play.

(66) kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât kisêyiniwa, ôsihk ê-pê-pimiskâyit.

(66) Then at one time he saw an old man who came paddling a canoe.

(67) ôhi osîmisa pâkahatôwânisa ê-mêtawâkêyit, ômisi itêyihtam awa kisêyiniw: "ohpiwêpinâci ôta ka-pê-pôsipayiyiwa!" itêyihtam.

(67) As Wisahketchahk's little brother played there with his ball, the old man thought: “When he throws it aloft, let it fall here into my canoe!”

(68) ê-ohpiwêpinât awa awâsis pâkahacôwânisa, êkotê pahkisiniyiwa. otinêw, ê-ati-sipwêcimêt. êkwa tâpwê mâtôw awa nâpêsis.

(68) When the child threw his little ball up into the air, there it fell. He took it and started to paddle away. Then truly that little boy cried.

(69) "nimosô," itêw awa wîsahkêcâhk, "pê-kapâwêpin nisîmis opâkahacôwânisa!" "êkwani ohci okîskowêmohikoh!" itêw.

(69) “Grandfather,” Wisahketchahk called to him, “Throw my little brother's ball back here to the shore! That is what would make him stop crying!” he told him.

(70) "â, nôsisê, pê-nâs!"

(70) “Yes, Grandchild, come fetch it!”

(71) êkosi ê-wî-nâtât, otapoyiwa êkota ê-ati-mitimêyâhtawêt wîsahkêcâhk, kâ-pôsiwêpahokot ôhi kisêyiniwa.⁷

êkosi ê-ati-sipwêhtêyit, ê-nakatâcik osîmisa. êkwa tâpwê mistahi mâtoyiwa.

(71) When, accordingly, Wisahketchahk came to fetch it, and was climbing out by holding on to the paddle, the old man threw him down into the canoe. Then he started off, so that they left Wisahketchahk's little brother behind. The child wept bitterly.

(72) "nimosô, kikitimahânaw nisîmis! nâtâtân!" itêw.

(72) “Grandfather, we are making my little brother unhappy! Do let us go get him!” he said to the old man.

(73) namôya tâpwêhtam awa kisêyiniw. piyis wâhyaw ayâw.

(73) The old man paid no heed. Soon he was far off.

(74) kîtahtawê awa awâsis kâ-mâtot itwêw: "nistêsê, tâpwê kikitimahin kâ-nakasiyan!" itwêw; "nicawâc nika-mahîhkaniwin," itwêw awa awâsis, ê-ati-sipwêpahtât.

(74) Presently that child that was weeping cried out: “Big Brother, truly you are making me unhappy by leaving me! All I can do is turn into a wolf,” cried the child, and ran away from there.

(75) mahîhkaniwiw; "ôhôwôwô" â, êkosi êkwa êkoyikohk êwako âtayôhkêwin.

(75) He turned into a wolf. “Ohowowo!” There, that is the end of this sacred story.

(76)

(76)

Footnotes

¹LB on kinâpêm-mihkoh: “Your husbands blood” would be kinâpêmak omihkowâw; what we have here is a nonce-formation on the model of the normal type kinêpiko-mihkoh: “snake-blood”, in which the first member is a species of animal.

²LB on mâkw âwa: For mâk âwa, mâkah awa; so often, on the model of êwakw âwa, êwakoh awah and similar combinations, where the first word ends in -o.

³The father turns into the constellation called okînânis. As to the buttocks, the Menomini have a constellation awêhseh osîkan: “Bear's Rump”.

⁴LB on câhcak: For câhcakiw: “crane”; she makes a personal name of it by dropping the final -iw, cf. e.g., cîhcîkwâyôw: “Gnawed-Tail” (as a man's name), for cîhcîkwâyôwêw: “he is gnawed at the tail.”

⁵LB: But the same informat tells me that Wisahketchak's mother is now the constellation called cihcipistikwân: “Rolling-Skull.”

⁶LB on osîmisah: This construction, joining a non-obviative pronominal particle (awa) to an obviative noun, and using non-obviative verbs with the combination is usual in Menomini, but decidedly awkward in Cree.

⁷CHECK otapoyiwa (?otapôyiwa) HCW: contract