An exercise in Wabma

WABMA

Wabma to see someone

Wabmasi refers to seeing someone/must be preceded by

proper prefixes.

Wabmak to see them

Wabmasik refers to seeing someone/must be preceded by

proper prefixes.

Nwabma I see him/her

Nwabmak I see them

Gwabma you see him/her

Gwabmak you see them

Wabman he/she sees him/her

Nwabmasi reference to seeing him/her/needs prefix cho

in front of it

Nwabmasik I don’t see them/needs cho in front

Gwabmasi you don’t see him/her (cho)

Gwabmasik you don’t see them (cho)

Wabmasin he/she doesn’t see him/her/them (cho)

Wabmasimen we didn’t or are not going to see h/h or them

needs prefix cho

Wabmek see (singular) Joe ngi bye wabmek

Wabmegok see (they)

Nwabmek he/she sees me

Nwabmegok they see me

Gwabmek he/she sees you

Gwabmegok they see you

Gwabmegwnan he/she sees us

Gwabmegwnanek they see us

Gwabmegomen we are seen

Gwabmegwak he/she sees you people

Wabma to see someone (animate)

Sentences: (translate and fill in the blanks)

Jo ngi ______________ o kwe.

I didn’t see the woman.

Nwi o ____________ o nene.

I’m going to see the man.

Jo ne ggi o ______________ o negdosha?

You didn’t go see the horse.

Ggi o _____________ne o gdanses.

Did you go see your little daughter?

Ngi __________o ndanes.

I went to see my daughter.

Wabek ne gwi ______________o negdosha.

Are you going to see the horse tomorrow?

Gwi o wabma ne o nemosh? ________________________________________________

I saw the dog yesterday. ____________________________________________________

I’m going to see the horse tomorrow.

________________________________________________________________________

I don’t see him.___________________________________________________________

Nmeshomes nwi o wabma.

________________________________________________________________________

Ggi o wabma ne__________________________________________________________

Did you go see your grandfather?

No, I didn’t go see my grandfather.

_______________________________________________________________________

Wnago ___________ggi_______________o__________________________________?

Did you see your grandfather yesterday?

Jo ne John ggi wabmasi?_________________________________________________

Did you see John?______________________________________________________

Multiple choice:

Odankeygo.

A. 2 people plus 1

B. plural including

C. singular excluding

Gwabegas.

A. horse

B. a man

C. cup

Modey.

A. moody

B. dirty butt

C. bottle

Boston.

A. mail it

B. an eastern city

C. load it

Wabmak to see more than one. (animate)

David and Terry nwi o wabmak

I’m going to go see David and Terry.

Ggi wabmak ne gi wabozoyek

Did you see those rabbits?

Nwi o wabmak gi dabyanek

I’m going to go look at those cars.

Gbye wabmak ne gi negdoshayek

Are you here to look at the horses?

WABMA

Wabma to see someone

Wabmasi refers to seeing someone/must be preceded by

proper prefixes.

Wabmak to see them

Wabmasik refers to seeing someone/must be preceded by

proper prefixes.

Nwabma I see him/her

Nwabmak I see them

Gwabma you see him/her

Gwabmak you see them

Wabman he/she sees him/her

Nwabmasi reference to seeing him/her/needs prefix cho

in front of it

Nwabmasik I don’t see them/needs cho in front

Gwabmasi you don’t see him/her (cho)

Gwabmasik you don’t see them (cho)

Wabmasin he/she doesn’t see him/her/them (cho)

Wabmasimen we didn’t or are not going to see h/h or them

needs prefix cho

Wabmek see (singular) Joe ngi bye wabmek

Wabmegok see (they)

Nwabmek he/she sees me

Nwabmegok they see me

Gwabmek he/she sees you

Gwabmegok they see you

Gwabmegwnan he/she sees us

Gwabmegwnanek they see us

Gwabmegomen we are seen

Gwabmegwak he/she sees you people

Wabma to see someone (animate)

Sentences: (translate and fill in the blanks)

Jo ngi ______________ o kwe.

I didn’t see the woman.

Nwi o ____________ o nene.

I’m going to see the man.

Jo ne ggi o ______________ o negdosha?

You didn’t go see the horse.

Ggi o _____________ne o gdanses.

Did you go see your little daughter?

Ngi __________o ndanes.

I went to see my daughter.

Wabek ne gwi ______________o negdosha.

Are you going to see the horse tomorrow?

Gwi o wabma ne o nemosh? ________________________________________________

I saw the dog yesterday. ____________________________________________________

I’m going to see the horse tomorrow.

________________________________________________________________________

I don’t see him.___________________________________________________________

Nmeshomes nwi o wabma.

________________________________________________________________________

Ggi o wabma ne__________________________________________________________

Did you go see your grandfather?

No, I didn’t go see my grandfather.

_______________________________________________________________________

Wnago ___________ggi_______________o__________________________________?

Did you see your grandfather yesterday?

Jo ne John ggi wabmasi?_________________________________________________

Did you see John?______________________________________________________

Multiple choice:

Odankeygo.

A. 2 people plus 1

B. plural including

C. singular excluding

Gwabegas.

A. horse

B. a man

C. cup

Modey.

A. moody

B. dirty butt

C. bottle

Boston.

A. mail it

B. an eastern city

C. load it

Wabmak to see more than one. (animate)

David and Terry nwi o wabmak

I’m going to go see David and Terry.

Ggi wabmak ne gi wabozoyek

Did you see those rabbits?

Nwi o wabmak gi dabyanek

I’m going to go look at those cars.

Gbye wabmak ne gi negdoshayek

Are you here to look at the horses?

Some facts about the Potawatomi language

Let’s use it before we lose it!

Bodéwadmi Zheshmowen

Basic lesson on verb forms, conjugation, and tenses.

The Neshnabé language is easy to use and learn. Beginning students must learn that parts of speech define the following:

What is happening? Defined by verbs.

Who is doing the action? Defined by emphatic pronouns.

When is/did it occur? Defined by tense indicators.

There are four primary types of verbs used in Bodéwadmimwen. Beginners are encouraged to gain a good understanding of VAI verb types.

VAI – verb animate intransitive.

The verb action stays with the one(s) doing it, (subject) it does not transfer (to an object).

Example 1: I see Nwabjegé (VAI)

In the example, the verb is “see” and it is intransitive. This type of verb differs from the two transitive forms shown below.

Example 2: I see the man. Nwabma nene (VTA)

In this example, the verb is “see” and action is transferring to an animate object – man. The subject is “I” the verb is “see” and the object is “man”.

Example 3: I see the light. Nwabdan waskonénjegen (VTI)

In this example, the verb is “see” and the action is transferring to an inanimate object – light. The subject is “I” the verb is “see” and the object is “light”.

Conjugation Patterns

This is a system of attaching either prefixes, prefixes and suffixes, or suffix to describe “who” is doing the verb action. Learn the following affirmative statements.

Nbé – he/she is sleeping/sleeps

Nde nba/nneba gde nba/gneba nbé/nbéwag nde nebamen gde nebamen

Nin gin win ninan ginan

I, me you he/she us (we – u) us (we + u)

gde nebam/gnebam nebég/nbéwag

ginwa winwa

ya all them

(Present Tense) – he/she is walking/walks

I am walking nde bmosé/nbémsé

You are walking gde bmose/gbémsé

He/she is walking bmosé/bmoséwag

We (excl.) are walking nde bmosémen/nbémsémen

we (incl.) are walking gde bmosémen/gbémsémen

Ya all are walking gde bmosém/gbémsém

They are walking bmoség

Tense markers: gi – past (did), wi – future indefinte (will), ga/da – future definite (shall). We use tense markers to define when something is/did/or is going to occur. Simply drop the tense marker into the statement between the personal pronoun and the verb. These are some of the tense markers.

Examples using tense markers.

Ngi bmosé I did walk.

Ggi bmosé You did walk.

Wibmosé He/she will walk.

Nwi bmosémen We (excl.) will walk.

Gwi bmosémen We (incl.) shall walk.

Gwi bmosém Ya all shall walk.

Da bmoséwag They can/could/should walk

Gi – did – past tense

I worked Ngi mikjéwi/ngimikjéwi

You worked Ggi mikjéwi/ggimikjéwi

He/she worked Mikjéwid/mikjéwiwad

We (excl.) worked Ngi mikjéwimen/ngimikjéwimen

We (incl.) worked Ggi mikjéwimen/ggimikjéwimen

Ya all worked Ggi mikjéwim/ggimikjéwim

They worked Mikjéwiwat

Wi – will/want to – future tense

I will leave Nwi maji/nwimaji

You will leave Gwi maji/gwimaji

He/she will leave Maji/majiwag

We (excl.) will leave Nwi majimen/nwimajimen

We (incl.) will leave Gwi majimen/gwikmajimen

Ya all will leave Gwi majim/gwimajim

They will leave Majiwig

Ga/Da – shall – future definite tense

I shall hunt Nda giwsé/ndagiwsé

You shall hunt Gda giwsé/gdagiwsé

He/she shall hunt Giwsé/giwséwag

We (excl.) shall hunt Nda giwsémen/ndagiwsémen

We (incl.) shall hunt Gda giwsémen/gdagiwsémen

Ya all shall hunt Gda giwsém/gdagiwsém

They shall hunt Giwséwig

Commonly Used VAI Verbs

He/she leaves Maji

He/she drinks Mnekwé

He/she eats Wisne

He/she runs Bémbeto

He/she hunts Giwsé

He/she works Mikjéwi

He/she dances Nimedi

He/she sings Négmo

He/she visits Mbwachewé

He/she buys Dawé

He/she gambles Tadi

He/she drives Wénkwéngé

Ahau, Shketon ode zheshmowen bwamshe éngetoyak

Ok, Use this language before we lose it!

A sample from a book we did called, Bodewadmi Deshemwen

Nin (I) Gin (you) Win (he/she)

Ni je na gin wa how are ya all?

Ni je na ge win wa how are they?

Ni je na o how is he/she?

Ni je na gden wemagnek how are your relatives?

Ni je na ggetsimnanek how are your parents?

Ni je na ga zhikayen how did you make out?

Ni je e’zhechkeyen what are you doing?

Ni je e’zhechkeye’k what are ya all doing?

Response: I am good/well/fine.

Nin nde mno bmades I am g/w

Gin gde mno bmades you are g/w

Win mno bmadse s/h is g/w

Ninan mno bmatsemen we are g/w

Ginan gmno bmatsemen we are g/w

Ginwa gmno bmadsem ya all are g/w

Winwa mno bmatsik they are g/w

Clans

Mko/mkwa bear

Jigwe’k thunder

Gigo fish

Nanimwe’ coyote

Moewe’ wolf

Mshike’ turtle

Bkoj bsheke buffalo

Kno eagle

Me’gisi

Mge’shwash

Mbeshkno

Mshiwe’ elk

Wawashkeshi deer

Seksi

Wasi bullhead/catfish

Nabe man

mskwabiskeno red tailed hawk

Name’ sturgeon

Negdosha horse

Bezhgokshi

What is your clan?

Gin we ni je (o) gdote’m

What is your clan

Win we ni je (o) wdote’men

What is h/h clan

Ninan we ni je (o) ndote’mnan (excl.)

What is our clan

Ginan we ni je (o) gdote’mnan (incl.)

What is our clan

Ginwa we ni je (o) gdote’mwa (ya all)

What is ya alls’ clan

Winwa we ni je (o) wdotemwan

What is their clan

Some more on clan(s)

Nin _________ndote’m

My clan is

Gin _________gdote’m

Your clan is

Win _________wdote’men

H/h clan is

Ninan _________ndote’mnan

Our clan is (excl.)

Ginan _________gdote’mnan

Our clan is (incl.)

Ginwa _________gdote’mwa

Ya alls’ clan is

Winwa _________wdote’mwan

Their clan is

Berries for clans:

De’men strawberry

Mskomen raspberry

Minen blueberry

Mkede’men blackberry

Where do you live?

Gin ni pi je e’je dayen

Where do you live

Win ni pi je e’je dat

Where does h/s live

Ninan ni pi je e’je ndaygo

Where do we live (excl.)

Ginan ni pi je e’je gdaygo

Where do we live (incl.)

Ginwa ni pi je e’je daye’k

Where do ya all live

Winwa ni pi je e’je wda wat

Where do they live

I live in:

Nin __________nde da/e’dayan

I live in

Gin __________gde da/e’dayen

You live in

Win __________wdawat/e’dawat

H/s lives in

Ninan __________nde damen

We live in (excl.)

Ginan __________gde damen

We live in (incl.)

Ginwa __________gde dam

Ya all live in

Winwa __________wdawat/e’dawat

They live in

Where are you from?

Gin ni pi je wech byayen

Where are you from

Win ni pi wech byat o

Where is h/s from

Ninan ni pi je wech byayak

Where are we from (excl.)

Ginan ni pi je wech byaygo

Where are we from (incl.)

Ginwa ni pi je wech byaye’k

Where are ya all from

Winwa ni pi je wech byawat

Where are they from

I am from:

Nin ________ndochbya

I am from

Gin ________gdochbya

You are from

Win ________wje bye’wak

H/s is from

Ninan ________ndoch byamen

We are from (excl.)

Ginan ________gdoch byamen

We are from (incl.)

Ginwa ________gdoch byam

Ya all are from

Winwa ________wje bye’k

They are from

Some simple conversations to learn

Weye ne gi wabdan ne i gbiskewagen? Has anyone seen my coat?

Weye ne gi wabma o ngwes? Has anyone seen my son?

Ni je pi éwi bidgéyak? When are we going in?

Ni je pi éwi wisniyak? When do we eat?

Nedwendan ne anet gapi? You want some coffee?

Nedwendan ne anet mkekwabo? You want some coffee?

Nedwendan ne i pwagasen? You want a cigarette?

Nedwendan ne éwdeméyen? You want to smoke?

Ni je épandewebneyen? What are you looking for?

Énedwendayan anet gapi. I want some coffee

Énedwendayan anet wisnewen. I want some food

Mishen i ziwtagen Give me the salt

Gégo ziwtagnegékén i wisnewen Don’t salt the food

Zheton I kewewen Make a flag

Zheton I wizaw kewewen Make a yellow flag

Zheton nyéwo kewewnen Make four flags

Gdesa ne anet sémau? Do you have any tobacco?

Cho nensémau ndesasi I don’t have any tobacco

Éhe, nde sa nensémau Yes, I have tobacco

Kyénep byan shote! Quick come here!

Kyénep byak shote! Quick come here! (plural)

Ni je esh témget zagech? What’s it like outside?

Wi gméyamget ne ngom? Will it rain today?

Ni pi je i zakmogemek? Where is the bathroom (outhouse)?

Ni pi je i wisnewgemek? Where is the kitchen?

Ndeton anet mingaswenen I have some gifts

Ngi byédonen node mingaswenen I brought these gifts

Ébgednoyan ode sémau I put down /offer this tobacco

Ébgednoyan ode nibiwen I put down/offer this water

Nwi ngemo I will sing

Nwi madmo I will pray

Gwi madmomen We will pray

Ge Wisnemen Let’s eat

Ge binakjegémen Let’s clean up

Ge bidgémen Let’s go in

Ge wéwébdamen Let’s begin

Gwi bokpedon ne? You want a break?

Ode se ndekwéyom This is my wife

Ode se ndeniyem This is my husband

Nénmoshen i mbish Hand me the water

Nénmoshen i wiyas Hand me the meat

Nénmoshen i kemsagen Hand me that ax

Nénmoshen i jishtegen Hand me that broom

Nénmoshen I déwégen Hand me that drum

Gi byédon ne I déwégen? Did you bring a drum?

Gi byédon ne anet gishki? Did you bring some cedar?

Nebyégén ode Write this

Gégo nebyégén Don’t write

Daga mishen gi penik Please give me the potatoes

Daga byédweshen anet mbish Please bring me some water

Daga mina i kemsagen o Mkwabjegé Please give the ax to Mkwabjegé

Daga nénmo i mbop o Kwénago Please hand the soup to Kwénago

Daga mina i kewéwen o Wawashkeshikwé Please hand that flag to Wawashkeshikwé

Daga mina i gishkbojgen o Mzekwagé Please hand that saw to Mzekwagé

Ni je éndebendat ode? Who does this belong to?

Ni je éndebendat ode mkesen? Who does this shoe belong to?

Ni je éndebendat ode wiwkwan? Who does this cap belong to?

I yé I ne? Is that it?

Éhe, I yé I Yes, that’s it

I yé o ne? Is that him/her?

Éhe, I yé o Yes, that’s h/h

Jibteben shote Sit here

Jibtebek ibe Sit there (plural)

Jayék ginwa ne nodwak? Can you all hear?

Jayék ginwa ne nodweshen? Can you all hear me?

Éhé nnodan Yes, I can hear

Cho wi she nnodansi I can’t hear

Éhé nnodwen Yes, I hear you

Cho wi she nnodwesi I can’t hear you

Gi nodagé ne? Did you hear (news)

Gi wabdan ne ode? Did you see this?

Gi wabma ne o? Did you see h/h?

Ngi wabdan i I saw it

Cho ngi wabdasin i I didn’t see it

Ngi nodagé I heard

Cho ngi nodagési I didn’t hear

Ngi zhechké I I did that

Cho ngi zhechkési I I didn’t do that

Ni je éschegéyen? What are you doing?

Ni je wa zhechkéyak wabek? What will we do tomorrow?

Ni je ga zhechkéyak wnago? What did we do yesterday?

Gkendan ne i? Do you know that?

Éhe ngekendan I Yes, I know that

Gkenma ne o? Do you know h/h?

Éhe ngekenma o Yes, I know h/h

Humor for the New Year

A Story On Faith

There came a time when three men of the cloth decided they would all go fishing together and become better friends to aid in their individual ministries. A Lutheran minister, A Presbyterian minister and a Baptist minister had all concluded they needed to demonstrate Christian Bother Hood for their congregations.

They struck out to a lake they all knew about and commenced fishing and visiting. After some time had passed and not much action on their lines, the Baptist minister suddenly arose, stepped out of the boat and walked across the water, to end up sitting on the bank of the lake.

The other two sat there for a short time, and then the Presbyterian fellow decided he would join the Baptist on the bank of the lake, whereupon he stepped out of the boat and strode across the water. They sat alongside each other visiting, watching the Lutheran fellow as he continued to fish.

The Lutheran man sat there thinking to himself all the while that if they had that kind of faith, then he should exercise his own and join them. He stood up in the boat, stepped out on the water and promptly sank. The other two looked at the scene and both said almost simultaneously, “Reckon we should have told him where the rocks were?”

I guess there should be a moral to such a tale.

Think before you step out on faith.

Some thoughts for the New Year

A glossary of some more words.

Neshnabe kendaswen traditional neshnabe knowledge.

Neshnabe the good being (male) created from nothing and lowered down to this earth. Name of all people who are descendants of the people who speak the various dialects of neshnabemwen

Mjina neshnabek there are those who think they are neshnabek and by all they try to do and act, they will become more neshnabe-like and/or spiritual. These tend to act as though they are more spiritual than others of their kind. Proud and haughty are they!

Neshnabemwen The Neshnabe language/The Three Fires language

Sema tobacco

Sen rock/stone

Atsokan traditional cultural story

Ezhikenimnonadzed bemadzet The study of the behavior of life

Bemadzet a human being

Bsendagmowen acquired knowledge, learning from listening

Bgosenjegewen things hoped for

Zhewenmeshen pity me/have mercy on me

Zhewenmeshnak have pity on us/also mercy

Zhawenmengomen they are jealous of us

Kcheneshnabe/kcheneshnabek The Ancient Ones

Epitsewat neshnabek The Ancient Ones

Gete Neshnabek The real ones

Wakendemwajek the wise ones

Debwewen truth

Gwekwadzewen honesty

Dewegen drum

Edneswen Natural Law, natural way of behavior

Segmekwe Mother Earth

Eyawyan identity, the way all is in me or every way I am

of my being

Kche mkede mko large black bear

Gichidakwe female ceremonial helper

Getesewen intuition, the navel way, mother connection to you

Gwabminjegewen knowledge from observation

Kshemenedo Great Spirit

Mamogosnan The Creator

Kendaswen knowledge

Kenjegadewen reality, a known truth

Kimingoa anwe kendaswen The original instructions given to the

Neshnabek by Kshemenedo

Mkedeke the act of fasting

Mkedeke’w’egan a fasting lodge

Mkedekewen fasting or vision quest, the way of the quest.

We say this because the spiritual people who put us in the ways of “extreme danger”, or “path of the fire”, literally place us in harms’ way when we go out to fast. That is why we place the smudges of black charcoal on each cheek and forhead of the “quester.

To go before the SPIRIT in such a manner with the imploring we do when we cry out for a vision, or a gift, in those lonely places is to be willing to die for the sake of the people. i.e., so the common people may live. So the “vision quest” has nothing to do with individual effort or EGO. In fact, the EGO of the quester must die out. It is the way of death to man’s spirit or control over his pitiful life, so the real spirit inside him can live and do the will of the SPIRIT for the common people. It is a way of self sacrifice to bring back the power of the SPIRIT for one’s people, so they can all live!

Mnedo wabewen Revealed Knowledge

Mnedo a spirit

Mnedoke conduct a ceremony

Mendokaswenen a ceremony

Mnedoskwim’mendamowen Spirit memory/blood memory

Stitched into your spirit

The knowledge that enters this world when one’s

spirit fuses with the physical body, spirit idenity

Menjemendamowen memory, hold and stitch together

Mnobmadzewen The Way of the Good Life, In order to have a good life one must have a goal. This goal is to be free from illness, to live to the fullest.

Bemadzewen is based on a concept of health and good living. One must work on prevention and not only healing. It is a Holy Life. One must eat well, act well, and live physically, mentally, emotionally well. Emotional well being is a key to Bemadzewen.

Mshekeke medicine that comes from the roots of Earth

Mshkekiwen the way of medicine

Meshomes Grandfather

Debwetawen belief, the truth that is evident in the way of action. One cannot know the truth unless one has seen or experienced it in a direct way (physically or spiritually).

Debwewen Faith, the heart that all relates to, truthfulness.

Nedendowen responsibility.

Nagdewendemwen A spiritual vision/or deeper level thoughts

Apwewen/nademowen Vivid dream/lucid

Nbwakawen wisdom, from the root-nebwa-in the kindness of putting yourself backwards but at the same time of bringing forward the wisdom one carries.

Thinking back, bringing forward and stitching all together; i.e., life knowledge (Elders).

Nendamowen forget, unstitched.

Nenmowen thought.

Nisawai’igwan at the center, Nawai: center.

Nswe shkode Midewigan The Three Fires Medicine Society

Noden wind, also the old term to describe the workings of the mind.

Nokmes My Grandmother

Nwendeman choice, browsing in one’s thoughts

Nwennamdanwen making a choice

De’h heart

Odewegen the way of the drum

Shkabewes the new one, male ceremonial helper

Gichidakwe female ceremonial helper

Wenizhejegeyan free will, the way I am going to do things

Wanen’enema will, has to do with the ability to think independently.

Wigiwamatek lodge pole

Zagidewen love/caring, all of something emanating out of you. Not the same as the English “make love”, sexual, but rather of caring. It is something based on mutual respect. You can feel it but you cannot touch it. It is all of you filling the heart of another, mnadenemwenen, feeding that heart with the thought of something. Out of

Zagidewen a human being is able to heal him/her self.

Zhishigwen shaker, rattle.

Shkebdagen shooter, as in medicine dance ceremony.

Some words to consider:

Inendeman what I think

Inendagwet what I permit

Inendagzewen what is permitted

Nagdewendemwen deeper level thoughts, often what one does not

share with others easily for whatever reason,

or reasons. These deeper level thoughts are

sometimes somewhat embarrassing to reveal for

the individual, but are known by the SPIRIT and

the Interpreters/Translators.

The stuff we keep inside is what makes up who we really are and what our true identity is. (Eyawyan)

Kchenendezwen proud, haughty thoughts of oneself!

Shiwnendezwen mean, ugly, vicious thoughts culminating in that type of actions toward another or others. Generally a mean spirited and dishonest action.

Shiwnadzewen verb describing the above actions of a person like that. (Shiwze: mean, cruel, without mercy)

Gishkteg’gazwen Judgment! Any action(s) the Spirit/spirits take against a person who is bad or acting contrary to what is believed and embraced by a like- minded group. This is thought to include witchcraft of any kind and any mean actions that are thought out and carried out against another.

The old people used to tell us when a person

knowingly starts out on the wrong path and keeps

going down that way, it is like a person who grabs the top of a small sapling and bends it all the way to the ground, then lets it go,

whereupon it springs back at him/her slapping

with full fury at that person again and again.

From this story, they would tell us the Spirit’s

word or judgment is “springy”.

Gemazhechkewen Sovereignty! Usually refers to the sovereignty of the Spirit!

Yanshitmawat they became discouraged

Shiwze he/she is fierce/mean/cruel

Shiwzik they are fierce/mean/cruel

Gzhiptem you are hard headed

Gzhiptemwik they are hard headed

Gzhiptemwenen hard headedness/stubborn-ness,

usually referring to a state of being;

that of being stiff necked, beyond reasoning and usually of an impassable nature; very stubborn.

Gdemages you are poor

Gdemagzewen a state of being poor and not realizing how poor one can be. Said to be without mercy, thus without love, humility, truth, honesty, wisdom, bravery and respect; even self respect.

Widoktadwen that sense of community, togetherness, that innate sense of tribalism that permeates a group that one can sense long before they can verbalize on it. It has a sense of love and belonging that others who do not have it can feel with their spiritual centers; the soul, spirit, and body each have the (5) senses active within them;

touch, taste, smell, feel, hear and more.

Widoko to interact, commune with; usually on all levels when used in a spiritual context.

Gambojek those that passed away, that walked on, those that died.

Gambot he/she who died or walked on.

Nbowen to pass from the scene, to walk on, but in spiritual application, it has to do with dying out to the self, so the gete neyaw can live. i.e., the real man/woman self in all of us. It is said in the old days, this concept was taught to all young boys and girls who were going out to vision quest. (mkedekewen).

Young people were taught to allow old habits to die out so the real self could live and be invigorated with a new heart, soul, spirit so as to acquire new habits pursuant to the teachings of the early neshnabek.

98 VAI verbs for consideration or learning

AI Verbs List

Maji- he/she is leaving
Giwse- he/she is hunting
Waswa- he/she is night shining
myan nage- he/she wounded (something)
pshin ge- he/she is skinning
Gwedemojge- he/she is fishing
Zhya- he/she goes
Zasksokwe- he/she is frying (something)
Meng ji- he/she is burping
mnekwe- he/she is drinking.
gashknabagwe- he/she is thirsty
odanke- he/she is going to town.
wisne- he/she is eating
Bodwe- he/she is making a fire
ndodaske- he/she is praying/ asking in a beseeching way
Madmo- he/she is praying
Gzabyenge- he/she is driving
boze- he/she is riding (like a car)
pam boze- he/she is riding around in a car
Ngi kich ndebe- I have a sore head
nGi kich jane- I have a sore nose.
nGi gich dam ken- I have a sore jaw
bmose- he/she is walking
bmepto- he/she is running
dgweshen- he/she is arriving
pa mad ze- he/she is traveling
wje bye- he/she comes from
wzhita- he/she is ready
bgumse- he/she arrives by foot
bgum bto- he/she arrives running
nshiwboze- he/she is going fast
ma da bze- he/she joins up with it (traveling)
ngashka- he/she is stopping
ngash mi ye- he/she is being stopped
ngabzo- he/she is stopping in a car
neshkwe bzo- he/she is pulling off/turning off the road
wmet se shen- h/she is really late
giwani- he/she loses his/her way
ngeshen- he/she is lost
bzendage- he/she listens in ( to a meeting)
mzhen ga zo- he/she is being arrested
mgugno- he/she is big
mgabe wze- he/she is large/fat
nshiwabewze- h/she is quite large
gishgamo- he/she is fat
gachabewze- he/she is skinny
gachi uh- he/she is small ngachi- I am small
mok shka- he/she emerges
mno wabmenagwze- he/she looks pretty/good
nji wnagweze- he/she looks homely
gnoze- he/she is tall ngnos- I am tall
tkoze- he/she is short Ntkos- I am short
Zhiptum- he/she is hardheaded/ stubborn
zegze- he/she is scared Nzeges- I am scared
Kwe’taje- he/she is afraid/ meek (for no apparent reason)
Kyebadze- he/she is foolish nge gyebades- I am foolish
agwa dze- he/she is even more foolish ndagwades- I am more foolish
giwnadze- he/she is insane/crazy ngiwnades- I am insane/crazy
mbwa ka o- he/she is smart Nbwaka- I am smart
wgi w sadendem- he/she is feeling sorrowful/bad/unnecessary ngi wsa dendum- I
Ntagze- he/she is sad/lonely ntages- I am sad/loney
Kwansegze- he/she is really stingy nge gwanse ges- I am really stingy
Mo wak- he/she is crying nmo- I am crying

64.mensheze- he/she is ashamed/ embarrassed nmen shes- I am

65.Nchiwenmo- he/she is glad/happy nchiwenmo- I am happy

66.ge zhe zo- he/she is warm ngezhes- I am warm(When it is hot out)

67. tkeze- he/she is cool ndetkes- I am cool

68. bi ge je- he/she is cold nbigech. I’m cold

69. Nweshmo- he/she is resting

70. Zhe nagwze- he/she looks like

71. wji chib de esh ka- he/she has heart palpitations

72. Zhe webze- something is the matter with him/her

73. gi kidze- he/she is sore ngi kides- I am sore.

74. wpukshen- he/she falls down ngi pukshen- I fell down

75. wmen she gojen- he/she falls and is embarrassed ngimen she gojen- I fell and was

76.gbes gwe- he/she is hoarse ngbes gwe- I am hoarse

77. jachamo- he/she is sneezing njacham- I am going to sneeze.

78. Gziyabdeo- he/she is brushing him/her teeth nwigziyabde- I am going to brush my

79. mosh o- he/she is cutting hair nmosh- I am cutting hair

80. gzhi bi- he/she is itchy ngzhi bi- I am itchy.

81. askonye- he/she is changing cloths nde askonye- I am changing cloths

82. bij dase- he/she is changing socks nbijdase- I am changing socks

83. wbi tkezne- he/she is putting on shoes nbitkezne- I am putting on shoes

84. wgi tkezne- he/she is taking of shoes ngitkezne- I am taking of my shoes

85. wda b’an/en- he/she is untying it/those nda b’an/en I am untying it/those

86. biskonye- he/she is dressing nbiskonye- I am dressing

87. mbe- he/she is sleeping nwimba- I am going to go to sleeping

88.apwe- he/she is dreaming ngiapwe- I was dreaming

89. bzegwi- he/she is rising nwi bzegwi- I am going to get up

90. doskaba- he/she opens his/her eyes ngidoskab- I opened my eyes

91.binchege- he/she is cleaning

92. jigedege- he/she is sweeping

93. gziskege- he/she is mopping

94.zho byege- he/she is painting

95. wzhege- he/she is building

96. Dbuh ge- he/she is paying

97. menezeo- he/she needs something nme nes- I need something

98. Wbokshka- he/she is broke mbokshka- I am broke

Know your verbs

AI Verb: dokkwewe== to search for a partner

Independent Indicative

Standard Form Long Form (English Pre-verb equivalent)

Ndokkwewe Ndedokkwewe I

Gdokkwewe Gdedokkwewe You

Wdokkwewe Wdokkwewe S/He

Ndokkwewemen Ndedokkwewemen We (-you)

Gdokkwewemen Gdedokkwewemen We (+you)

Gdokkwewem Gdedokkwewem You (pl.)

Dokkwewewik Dokkwewewik They

AI Verb: jagzo== to burn

Independent Indicative

Standard Form Long Form (English Pre-verb equivalent)

Njagas Ndejagas I

Gjagas Gdejagas You

Wjagzo Wjagzo S/He

Njagzomen Ndejagazomen We (-you)

Gjagzomen Gdejagazomen We (+you)

Gjagazom Gdejagazom You (pl.)

Jagazowik Jagazowik They

AI Verb: Nazo== to have a certain color

Independent Indicative

Standard Form Long Form (English Pre-verb equivalent)

Nnazo Ndenazo I

Gnazo Gdenazo You

Wnazo Wnazo S/He

Nnazomen Ndenazomen We (-you)

Gnazomen Gdenazomen We (+you)

Gnazom Gdenazom You (pl.)

Nazowik nazowik They

AI Verb: nijanse== to be expecting a child

Independent Indicative

Standard Form Long Form (English Pre-verb equivalent)

Nnijanse Ndenijanse I

Gnijanse Gdenijanse You

Wnijanse Wnijanse S/He

Nnijansemen Ndenijansemen We (-you)

Gnijansemen Gdenijansemen We (+you)

Gnijansem Gdenijansem You (pl.)

Nijansewik Nijansewik They

AI Verb: wanke== to dig

Independent Indicative

Standard Form Long Form (English Pre-verb equivalent)

Nwanke Ndewanke I

Gwanke Gdewanke You

Wanke Wanke S/He

Nwankemen Ndewankemen We (-you)

Gwankemen Gdewankemen We (+you)

Gwankem Gdewankem You (pl.)

Wankek Wankek They

AI Verb: wichewe== to accompany

Independent Indicative

Standard Form Long Form (English Pre-verb equivalent)

Nwichewe Ndewichewe I

Gwichewe Gdewichewe You

Wichewe Wichewe S/He

Nwichewemen Ndewichewemen We (-you)

Gwichewemen Gdewichewemen We (+you)

Gwichewem Gdewichewem You (pl.)

Wichewek Wichewek They

AI Verb: mikjewi== to work

Independent Indicative

Standard Form Long Form (English Pre-verb equivalent)

Nmikjewi Ndemikjewi I

Gmikjewi Gdemikjewi You

Wmikjewi Wmikjewi S/He

Nmikjewimen Ndemikjewimen We (-you)

Gmikjewimen Gdemikjewimen We (+you)

Gmikjewim Gdemikjewim You (pl.)

Mikjewik Mikjewik They

Enenmego se Mamanji gishek

ENENMEGO SE MERRY CHRISTMAS

MINE EMNOWEPOMGEK

My daughter

My baby girl, all growed up now and on her way through life.