On this episode of Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa we have a conversation with Dan Jones about many topics, including clans, elders, and geographical place names. Dan is from the Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation in Ontario and is an Anishinaabemowin ("Ojibwe language") teacher at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, Minnesota. He also taught Ojibwe at UMD in the fall of 2016. He is also the twin brother of Dennis Jones, and the son of Nancy Jones, both of whom also have been guests on Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa.
(Note: A list of geographical place names – similar to those mentioned by Dan in this episode, can be found in the November 2014 Fond du Lac monthly newspaper, Nahgahchiwanong Dibahjimowinnan [Translation: Far End of the Great Lake; Narrating of Story]. To see the list, click here and go to page 2 of the newspaper.)
Episode Transcript:
Miskwaabikaang.
Mii gwayak Miskwaabikaang. Idash L.C.O.?
Odaawaa-zaaga'igan.
Mii iwe gigii-anokii mewinzha?
Enh' geget.
Geget gigii-anokii iwedi. Mii imaa bijiinik waabaminaan iwidi anokiiyan. Gimikwendaan ina?
Hehe yep!
Mii gwayak, quiz bowl mewinzhoo. Miinawaa dash kinoo'amaagoowag omaa mii dash nitaa-anishinaabemowaad ji-gikendaanaawaad 'i wenjibaawaad, miinawaa dash iwedi izhinikaadeg ishkonigan giishpin ishkonigan wenjibaawaad.
Miinawaa dash giishpin waasa onjibaawag, aanind igo kinoo'amaageyaan onjibaawag California. Gaawiin ingikendanziin ezhinikaadeg anishinaabe-izhinikaadeg California. Gaawiin ganabaj. Amanj iidog. Eta go niwiindamawaag, "Gichi-waasaa gidoonjibaa. Gichi-waasaa gidaa-ikid." Miinawaa dash Zhaaganaashimong gii-anishinaabemowaad, "Niin indizhinikaaz. California indoonjibaa, idash Onigamiinsing indaa noongom.” Onigamiinsing izhinikaade omaa Duluth.
Aanind igo iwidi Cloquet onjibaawag. Cloquet ezhinikaade Mookomaan-onigamiing anishinaabewinikaade. Mii omaa izhinikaade Knife Rapids, mii imaa Odenaang. Idash miinawaa bezhig Cloquet the Fond Du Lac district bakaan izhinikaade … Babaashkomitigong... Misi-zaa- ... Babaashkomitigong minising izhinikaade. Aaniin dash wenji-izhinikaadeg? Miinawaa dash Sawyer izhinikaade Gwabaa'iganing. Nagaajiwanaang izhinikaade Fond Du Lac, Nigaajiwanaang, idash Sawyer, Gwabaa'iganing - There's a big dipper they saw there. Gwabaayiganing. And Cloquet, Babaashkomitig... I think that's Brookston.
Ahaw inga-maajitaa. Gaagigebines miinawaa Kiiwitaabines indigoo. Bizhiw dash indoodem. Iwidi Nigigoonsiminikaaning izhinikaade ishkonigan wenjiiyaan. Iwiti zhaaganaashiiwakiing indoonjibaa. Miinawaa dash ingii-gagwejimig omaa Erik ji-wiidookaageyaan omaa noongom. UMD ezhinikaadeg omaa gabe-gikendaasoowigamigong. Ingii-gagwejimig ji-gikinoo'amaageyaan omaa.
Idash ingii-maa… ingii-..., naa nooj igo anooj igo... Waatebagaawi-giizis. Gaawiin... yeah, mii o'apii Waatebagaa-giizis o'apii ningii-maajitaa. Ingii-maaji-kikinoo'amaage omaa. Howa gegaa niishiwag ingiw ingikinoo'amaaganag. Aapiji go wii-gagwe-gikendaasowaad Anishinaabemowin. Miinawaa dash apane go nigagwejimigoo gegoo “daga ikidon miinawaa aapiji niminwendaan noondamaan.” Mii go apane go omaa noongom.
Jibwaa-maajitaayaan idash omaa noongom ninga-dazhindaan i'i... inga-dazhindaan iwe odoodemiwaa’... doodeman. Ingii-ikid giishpin ayaa awegonen dino ... awegonen dino aye de doodem. Ingii-miinigomin iye mewinzha owe anishinaabe ogii-miinigoo awe gichi-manidoo. Ingii-miinigomin iye ji-aabajitooyaang i'i odoodemiwaa. Ogii-miinigoo owe ininiwag. Giishpin ayaayan gidede mii go giin bezhigon gidoodem owe gidede. Giishpin... noongom aanind igo ezhiwebak gaawiin Anishinaabemosii Anishinaabewisii odoodemiwaa... gaawiin...odedewan. Giishpin - gaawiin anishinaabe ayaasii gidede gaawiin dash gidayaawaasiin gidoodem.
Mii dash gidaa-gagwejimaag manidoog ji-miinigoyan ji-gikendin ji-gigikendang iye gidoodem. Indigoo maagizhaa gidaa-gagwejimaa gete-anishinaabe imaa jiisikaaning giishpin waa-izhichigeyan miinawaa dash imaa madootswaning gidaa-gagwedwe giishpin gikendaswin awiya - omaa e-gikendang iye ji-izhichiged. Idash gidaa-gagwejimaa gete-anishinaabe gemaa 'aa awiiya gaa-giikendaasod gaa-izhichiged.
Ingiw manidoog ogikenimaawaan gidoodem. Mii dash iwe gidaa-gagwejimaa. Kaniiwiya odayawaan odoodeman. Giishpin anishinaabewiyin gidoodem gidayaan gidoodem. Giishpin gikendasiwan gidaa-wiindamaage gidaa-biindaakoonaa awiiya. Gidaa-biindaakoonaa awiiya. Giishpin gagwedawewin apane go gegoo izhichigeyan gidaa-miinaa gegoo. Bagijigan gidaa-miinaa. Awegonen dino bagijigan? Giin igo waa-ishkitowin - ji-adaaweyin, ji-ozhitooyin, awegodogwen igo. Giishpin ginitaa-ozhitoon waaboowaayan - 'igwek - gidaa-izhichige. Giishpin gidayaan zhooniyaa, bangii zhooniyaa, gidaa-adaawen iye. Giin igo waa-izhichigeyan. Giishpin niibiyoo gidishpendaan iye gaa-gagwedweyin, niibiwa gegoo gidaa-miinige.
Giin igo minik waa-biindaakoojigeyan ji-miinigeyan awe gete-anishinaaben. Miinawaa dash gikinoo'amaageyaan omaa, aanind igo ingikinoo'amaaganag gaawiin doodemosiiwaad. Idash gaawiin gidaa- gidaa-miinaa bezhig anishaa go ji-odoodemid. Gaawiin izhichigesiwad anishinaabeg. Gaawiin ji-izhichigeyin imaa biindig gikinoo'amaagewigamigong onji-igomin ikidowaad gete-anishinaabeg. Geget igo gegoo ji-gikendaman giishpin waa-izhichigeyan weweni go. Gaawiin - awegwen igo gidaa-miinaa odoodeman.
Aanind igo izhichigewaad omaa gikinoo'amaadiwigamigong idash niwiindamawaag gego izhichigeken gii-onji'igomin gosha ji-izhichigeyaang miinawaa dash iye anishinaabe-izhitwaawin anishinaabe-wiinzowin. Aanind igo abinoojiiyensag ikidowag, "giin Makwa gidizhinikaaz." Gaawiin gosha Makwa izhinikaazosii. Anishaa ikido. Gaa onjida izhichigesii. "Ahaw giin, Manidoobinesii.” Mii na gwek ezhinikaazowin? Eya'. Mii go iye aabajitoon. Gaawiin dash ezhichigesiin anishaa go. Gaawiin anishaa go.
Idash abinoojiiyensag gii-ayaawaad, aanind igo da-gikendamowaad … anishinaabe-wiinikaazowaad. Idash imaa kinoomaageyaan, nikinoo'amawaag ingiw … gikinoo'amaaganag ji-dazhindizowaad. Indaa-wiindigamaage ezhinikaazowaad miinawaa dash odoodemiwaa aaniindi wenjibaawaad miinawaa dash endaso-biboonagiziwaad o'apii debishkamaad... debishkang, gakina go gegoo. Gaawiin gakina wiiya gaa-kinoo'amawaag anishinaabe wi yag... gaawiin anishinaabewiyang.
Aanind igo chi-mookomaanag, wii-gagwe-anishinaabemowaad. Mii, bizaan igo, bizaan igo, geyaabi go inga-dibi'igoon giishpin gikinoo'amaageyaan. Mii go maanoo. Idash gaawiin odoodemosiiwaad miinawaa gaawiin anishinaabewinikaazosiiwaag. Idash ikidowaad, "Boozhoo, niin, niin awiiya indizhinikaaz. Gaawiin indoodemosiin." Aanind igo giishpin anishinaabewiwag, giishpin anishinaabewiwaad, gaawiin ogikenimaasiin odoodeman. Maagizhaa dash ogikendaan maagizhaa indayaan indoodem, gaawiin dash ingikendanziin.
Idash ji-ikidowaad, "gaawiin mashi ingikenimaasiin nindoodem. Gaawiin mashi ingikenimaasiin nindoodem." Aanind igo gaawiin ogikendanziwaad awegonen dino iye idash da-ikidowaad, da-ikidowag, "Gaawiin ingikendanziin giishpin doodemiyaan." Amanj iidog awegodogwen igo iye gaawiin ogikendanziin. Gii-agaashiiyaan gaawiin wiikaa ingii-noondanziin awegodogwen igo ayaa iye.
Idash mewenzha kinoo'amaageyaan, gaawiin igo aapiji ingikinoo'amaaganag gii-ayaasiiwag anishinaabe-wiinzowin. Noongom idash baateniiwag. Biindigewaad ogikendaanaawaan anishinaabe-izhinikaazowaad. Mewinzha dash gaawiin aapiji gii-anishinaabewinikaazosiiwag. Gaawiin ogikendanziin giishpin ji-ayaawaad anishinaabe-wiinzowin, noongom dash niibiwa ogikendaanaawaa. Maagizhaa bezhig ikwe bezhig ingikenimaa biindige idash, aaniin anishinaabewinikaazowin? Anooj igo iwidi Nagaajiwanaang kinoo'amaageyaan anooj igo midaaswi gikinoo'amaaganag ogikendaanaawaan odoodemiwaa miinawaa dash ezhinikaazowaad.
Mii o'o gikendaanaawaan … minotaagoziwag … ogikendaanaawaan ezhinikaazowaad ayi dash dibaajimowag. Apane go apiitendaagoziwag gii-gaagiigidowaad, "Bizhiw nindoodem. Makwa nindoodem. Waabizheshi nindoodem." Idash awe bezhig ikwe ogikendaanaawaan wenjibaawaad. Asabikone-zaaga'iganing onjibaa awe bezhig. Idash anishinaabewinikaazo Memengwaa Binesikwe.
Aa … minonaa... minotaagwad gidizhinikaazoyan. Giminotaagoz gii-tibaajimoyin i'i. Aanind igo miinawaa bezhig ingikenimaa, Animikii-aanakwad izhinikaazo. Aaniindi wenjibaayan Animikii-aanakwad? Idash wiindamaage, "Iwidi Misizaaga'iganing indoojibaa." Oo geget ina? "Geget sa go," kido. Aaniin dash gidoodem? "Aa, nidoodem Bizhiw." Idash mii bijiinig biindiged imaa gikinoo'amaadiwigamigoong, gaawiin memwech niin inga-kinoo'amawaasii ji-anishinaabemod ji-dazhinamad awe odoodemin.
Miinawaa dash gaa memwech inga-kinoo'amawaasii ji-anishinaabewinikaaz.
Giishpin awiiya eyaad … bezhigwan odoodeman, gidaa-ikid … indinaa, "Boozhoo Bizhiw." Mii izhinikaaz gemaa, "Boozhoo niijibizhiw." Niijibizhiw. Mii gwayak. Giishpin eyaad bizhiwan odoodeman miinawaa dash niin, bizhiw indoodem, "Boozhoo niijibizhiw." Gemaa niijidoodem. Niijidoodem. "Boozhoo niijidoodem." Idash aazha ogikendaanaawaan wenjibaawaad. Gaan igo kana gegoo anishinaabewinikaadesinoon. Idash imaa ishkoniganan anishinaabewinikaazowag ... anishinaabewinikaadewag. Anooj igo Mille Lacs izhinikaade Misi-zaaga'iganing, miinawaa Red Lake ezhinikaade Misizaaga... Miskwaagamiwi-zaaga'iganing, iwedi dash White Earth anishinaabewinikaade Gaa-waabaabiganikaag, miinawaa idash Bois Forte izhinikaade Asabikone-zaaga'iganing.
Idash ogikendaanaawaan ji-ikidowaad, "Nagaajiwanaang indoonjibaa," gemaa, "Mizi-zaaga'iganing indoonjibaa," wegodowen igo onjibaawaad. Aanind igo waasaa bimibizowag ji-kinoo'amaagowag ji-kinoo'amaagowaad. Idash ingikinoo'amawaag ji-ikidowaad, "Gaa-waabaabigaanikaag indoonjibaa idash Onigamiinsing indaa noongom." Mii ezhinikaadeg Duluth, Onigamiinsing. Mii go maa Onigamiinsing indaa noongom idash waasaa iwedi indoonjibaa, Misizaaga'iganing gemaa iwedi Nagaajiwanaang. Aanind igo bezhig imaa Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga'iganing onjibaa miinawaa bezhig imaa Wiskoonsing onjibaa. Beshigo Lac Du Flambeau anishinaabewinikaadeg…
Awaaswaaganing.
Awaaswaaganing mii gwayak. Miinawaa dash Red Cliff?
Awaaswaaganing that’s right. And what about Red Cliff?
Miskwaabikaang.
Ojibwe Stories: Gaganoonididaa is produced by KUMD and the Department of American Indian Studies at UMD, with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and by The Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
