Relatives and friends

Wdenwemagnek mine Nikanek: Relatives and Friends

                   Sing.              Plural

Aunt (maternal)

Nin                noshe              nosheyek

Gin                gnoshe             gnosheyek

Win                wnosheyen           wnosheyen

Ginwa              gnoshem             gnoshemek

Ninan              ngenoshenan         ngenoshenanek

Ginan              genoshenan          genoshenanek

Winwa              wnoshewan           wnoshewan

Aunt (paternal)

Nin                nshegwes            nshegwsek

Gin                gshegwes            gshegwsek

Win                wshegwesen          wshegwesen

Ginwa              gshegwesewa         gshegwesewak  

Ninan              nshegwesenan        nshegwesenanek

Ginan              gshegwesenan        gshegwesenanek

Winwa              wshegwsewan         wshegwsewan

Brother in law

Nin                nita               nitag

Gin                gita               gitag

Win                witan              witan

Ginwa              gitawa             gitawak

Ninan              nitanan             nitananek

Ginan              gnitanan            gnitananek

Winwa              witawan             witawan

Brother in law of male

Nin                niji

Gin                gniji              gnijim

Win                wnijiyen

Ginwa              gnijimwa

Ninan              nijinan

Ginan              gnijinan

Winwa              wnijimwan

Brother of male

Nin                nikan/nikanes       nikansek

Gin                gikanes             gikansek

Win                wikaneyen           wikaneyen

Ginwa              gikansewa           gikansewak

Ninan              nikanan             nikananek

Ginan              gnikanan            gnikananek

Winwa              wikanewan           wikanewan

Older brother of female

Nin                ndewema             ndewemak

Gin                gdewema             gdewemak

Win                wdeweman            wdeweman

Ginwa              gdewemwa            gdewemwak

Ninan              ndewemamnan         ndewemamnanek

Ginan              gdewemamnan         gdewemamnanek

Winwa              wdewemwan           wdewemwan

Older brother of male

Nin                nseze              nsezeyek

Gin                gseze              gsezeyek

Win                wsezeyen            wsezeyen

Ginwa              gsezemowa           gsezemowak

Ninan              nsezenan            nsezenanek

Ginan              gsezenan            gsezenanek

Winwa              wsezewan            wsezewan

Child

Nin                nijanes             nijansek

Gin                gnijanes            gnijansek

Win                wnijansen           wnijansen

Ginwa              gnijansowa          gnijansowak

Ninan              nijansenan          nijansenanek

Ginan              gnijansenan         gnijansenanek

Winwa              wnijansewan         wnijansewan

Cousin and sometimes friend

Nin                nitawes             nitawsek           

Gin                gitawes             gitawsek

Win                witawsen            witawsen

Ginwa              gitasowa            gitawsowak

Ninan              nitawsenan          nitawsenanek

Ginan              gitawsenan          gitawsenanek

Winwa              witawsewan          witawsewan

Daughter

Nin                ndanes             ndansek/ndanseyek

Gin                gdanes             gdansek/gdanseyek

Win                wdanseyen      or   odanseyen

Ginwa              gdansowa            gdansowak

Ninan              ndansenan           ndansenanek

Ginan              gdansenan           gdansenanek

Winwa              wdansewan           wdansewan

Daughter in law

Nin                neagnekwe           neagnekwemek       

Gin                gneagnekwe          gneagnekwemek

Win                wneagnekwemen       wneagnekwemen

Ginwa              gneagnekwemwa       gneagnekwemwak

Ninan              ndeagnekwemnan      ndeagnekwemnanek

Ginan              gdeagnekwemnan      gdeagnekwemnanek

Winwa              wneagnekwemwan      wneagnekwemwan

Father

Nin                nos                ndedeyem

Gin                ggos               gdedeyem

Win                w’osen             wdedemen

Ginwa              ggoswa             gdedemwa

Ninan              nosnan             ndedemenan

Ginan              ggosnan             gdedemenan

Winwa              w’oswan             wdedemowan

Father in law

Nin                nshenes

Gin                gshenes

Win                wshensen

Ginwa              gshensewa

Ninan              nshensenan

Ginan              gshensenan

Winwa              wshensewan

Friend, a good close friend, neuter gender

Nin                wadokwek

Gin                wadokwet

Win                wadokwajen

Ginwa              wadokwek

Ninan              wadokwayak

Ginan              wadokwaygo

Winwa              wadokwawajen

Friend or Lover, a really close friend, neuter gender

Nin                nijkowes            nijkowsek

Gin                gijkowes            gijkowsek

Win                wijkosen            wijkosen

Ginwa              gijkosewa           gijkosewak

Ninan              nijkosenan          nijkosenanek

Ginan              gijkosenan          gijkosenanek

Winwa              wijkosewan          wijkosewan

Grandchild

Nin                noses              noseseyek

Gin                gnoses             gnoseseyek

Win                wnoseyen            wnoseyen

Ginwa              gnosesmowa          gnosesmowak

Ninan              nosenan             nosenanek

Ginan              gnosenan            gnosenanek

Winwa              wnosewan            wnosewan

Grandfather

Nin                nmeshomes           nmeshomsek

Gin                gmeshomes           gmeshomsek

Win                wmeshomsen          wmeshomsen

Ginwa              gmeshomsewa         gmeshomsewak

Ninan              nmeshomsenan        nmeshomsenanek

Ginan              gmeshomsenan        gmeshomsenanek

Winwa              wmeshomsewan        wmeshomsewan

Grandmother

Nin                nokmes             nokmesek

Gin                gokmes             gokmesek

Win                okmesen             okmesen

Ginwa              gokmeswa            gokmeswak

Ninan              nokmesnan           nokmesnanek

Ginan              gokmesnan           gokmesnanek

Winwa              okmeswan            okmeswan

Grandson/grand daughter

Nin                noseme             nosemeyek

Diminutive          nosemes             nosemesek

Gin                goseme             gosemeyek

Diminutive          gosemes             gosemesek

Win                 wnosemeyen          wnosemeyen

Ginwa              ggoseme             ggosemeyek

Ninan              nosememnan          nosememnanek

Ginan              gnosememnan         gnosememnanek

Winwa              wnosemewan          wnosemewan

Mother

Nin                ngiye              ngiyeyek 

Gin                ggiye              ggiyeyek

Win                wgiyeyen            wgiyeyen

Ginwa              ggiyewa             ggiyewak

Ninan              ngiyenan            ngiyenanek

Ginan              ggiyenan            ggiyenanek

Winwa              wgiyewan            wgiyewan

Another mother

Nin                neneyem             nenemek

Gin                gneneyem            gnenemek

Win                wnenemen            wnenemen

Ginwa              gnenemowa           gnenemowak

Ninan              nenemenan           nenemenanek

Ginan              gnenemenan          gnenemenanek

Winwa              wnenemowan          wnenemowan

Namesake,

child in one’s family who has name of family ancestor,

describes a “tying together”

Nin                ndankobjegen

Gin                gdankobjegen

Win                wdankobjegen

Ginwa              gdankobjegnewa

Ninan              ndankobjegnan

Ginan              gdankobjegnan

Winwa              wdankobjegnewan

Nephew

Nin                negwnes             negwnesek

Gin                gnegwnes            gnegwnesek

Win                wnegwnesen          wnegwnesen

Ginwa              gnegwneswa          gnegwneswak

Ninan              negwnesnan          negwnesnanek

Ginan              gnegwnesnan         gnegwnesnanek

Winwa              wnegwneswan         wnegwneswan

Niece of male

Nin                nzhemes             nzhemsek

Gin                gzhemes             gzhemsek

Win                wzhemsen            wzhemsen

Ginwa              gzhemsewa           gzhemsewak

Ninan              nzhemsenan          nzhemsenanek

Ginan              gzhemsenan          gzhemsenanek

Winwa              wzhemsewan          wzhemsewan

Parents

Nin                ngetsimek

Gin                ggetsimek

Win                wgetsimen

Ginwa              ggetsimwak  (getsimwak)

Ninan              ngetsimnanek

Ginan              getsimnanek

Winwa              wgetsimwan

Parents, this term also used for all older relatives

Nin                nmezodanek

Gin                gmezodanek

Win                wmezodanen

Ginwa              gmezodanwak

Ninan              nmezodanenanek

Ginan              gmezodanenanek

Winwa              wmezodanwan

Relatives

Nin                ndenwemagen         ndenwemagnek

Gin                gdenwemagen         gdenwemagnek

Win                wdenwemagnen        wdenwemagnen

Ginwa              gdenwemagnewa       gdenwemagnewak

Ninan              ndenwemagnenan      ndenwemagnenanek

Ginan              gdenwemagnenan      gdenwemagnenanek

Winwa              wdenwemagnewan      wdenwemagnewan

Sister of male

Nin                ndekwem             ndekwemek

Gin                gdekwem             gdekwemek

Win                wdekwemen           wdekwemen

Ginwa              gdekwemwa           gdekwemwak

Ninan              ndekwemnan          ndekwemnanek

Ginan              gdekwemnan          gdekwemnanek

Winwa              wdekwemwan          wdekwemwan

Sister of female

Nin                nidgeko             nidgekok

Gin                gidgeko             gidgekok

Win                widgekon            widgekon

Ginwa              gidgekowa           gidgekowak

Ninan              nidgekonan          nidgekonanek

Ginan              gidgekkonan         gidgekonanek

Winwa              widgekowan          widgekowan

Older sister

Nin                nmese              nmeseyek

Gin                gmese              gmeseyek

Win                omeseyen            omeseyen

Ginwa              gmesewa             gmesewak

Ninan              nmesenan            nmesenanek

Ginan              gmesenan            gmesenanek

Winwa              wmesewan            wmesewan

Sister in law of male

Nin                ninem              ninemek

Gin                gninem             gninemek

Win                winmon             winmon

Ginwa              ginmowa             ginmowak

Ninan              ninmenan            ninmenanek

Ginan              ginmenan            ginmenanek

Winwa              winmowan            winmowan

Son

Nin                ngwes              ngwesek            

Gin                ggwes              ggwesek

Win                wgwesen             wgewesen

Ginwa              ggwesewa            ggwesewak

Ninan              ngwesnan            ngwesnanek

Ginan              ggwesnan            ggwesnanek

Winwa               wgweswan            wgweswan

Son in law

Nin                neangesh

Gin                gneangesh

Win                wneangeshen

Ginwa              gneangeshmowa

Ninan              ndeangeshmnan

Ginan              gdeangeshmnan

Winwa              wdeangeshmowan

A child you named

Nin                niyokade            niyokadeyek

Gin                giyokade            giyokadeyek

Win                wiyokaden           wiyokaden     

Ginwa              giyokadeswa         giyokadeswak

Ninan              niyokadenan         niyokadenanek

Ginan              giyokadenan         giyokadenanek

Winwa              wiyokadewan         wiyokadewan

Step father

Nin                nmishome

Gin                gmishome

Win                wmishomeyen

Ginwa              gmishome’wa

Ninan              nmishomemenan

Ginan              gmishomemenan

Winwa              wmishomewan

Uncle

Nin                nzheshe             nzhesheyek

Gin                gzheshe             gzhesheyek    

Win                wzhesheyen          wzhesheyen

Ginwa              gzheshemwa          gzheshemwak

Ninan              nzheshemenan        nzheshemenanek

Ginan              gzheshemenan        gzheshemenanek

Winwa              wzheshewan          wzheshewan

Younger sibling

Nin                nshime             nshimeyek

Gin                gshime             gshimeyek

Win                wshimeyen           wshimeyen

Ginwa              gshimewa            gshimewak

Ninan              nshimenan           nshimenanek

Ginan              gshimenan           gshimenanek

Winwa              wshimewan           wshimewan

Grandfather deceased

Nin                nmeshomseben

Gin                gmeshomseben

Win                wmeshomsenaben

Ginwa              gmeshomsewaben

Grandmother

Nin                nokmesben

Gin                gokmesben

Win                okmesenaben

Ginwa              gokmesewaben

Serenity prayer

Serenity Prayer for Stupid People

Mamogosnan

Lord.

Mishen i dokmezwen éwi dapnayan gi bgwenozjek éyéwat,

Grant me the serenity to accept stupid people as they are,

wédaséwen étoyan épij mnoshewébsiyan, 

courage to maintain my self control

mine bwakawen ékéndemyan gishpen émjizhechkéyan,

and wisdom to know if I act on it

ébaknegéwyan gnebech.

I might go to jail.

Schooling our People

Blue skies over waving prairies, tall Osage grasses

beckoning weary travelers to take comfort and shelter, seeming to say,

come and rest, feed yourselves, as they have for countless generations,

the bison herds and all who have been so nurtured.

White faces cannot comprehend this compassion and kindness, so they cut, slash and burn

their way through all the cursed growth, to remove it out of their way.

Make room for crops, homes and children to play

along with their small vain animals, they say—-

Relentless attack on grasses, trees and plants of all kinds,

they did not understand nor accept, thus creating massive hordes

of water spirits for

their off-spring to contend with and there was nothing left

to slow them down or deter them.

Noden (wind) comes calling blowing gusts of sand everywhere,

and the people still cannot grasp what has happened!

We must create, we must civilize,

sounds the cry of the conqueror And they don’t stop

with grasses and trees.

They continued with the children of the common people who greeted them

and nourished them, for a time.

Educate, civilize becomes synonymous with enslaving

the two-legged and their kind—­

Cut, tear, slash, create civilized dwellings

for us to live and breathe, they say—-

And now the plantings they have done,

seem to cry in the night and beckon for attention in the day,

so that the conqueror

must start yet another process of clipping and shearing,

lest they grow and multiply beyond demand.

And what of those

who were educated and primed for becoming civilized?

Are they improved, or have they become

impoverished, bereft, stripped of everything they once were,

thus creating another dependency to be dealt with?

Where is the voice

of the grasses when

Noden (wind) called upon them for their songs?

Voices stilled forever

so the common people cannot

hear their sounds of joy and peace any longer.

The true education

must reign and be allowed

to share its wisdom for the children to be free, bright and true.

Where are the voices and songs of the people, as they rode and played

among the tall grasses and frolicked among the trees?

The original songs

and teachings are slowly coming back,

but through different voices,

echoing the injustices and the sufferings, the common people have endured.

This then could be the Indian Literature

the conqueror makes such big talk about—-

Ah, but he thought he had silenced all those voices,

and now wants them to be heard again, throughout

the hallowed halls of learning he has created

among the squares of stone and wood he has chosen to

place the voices of the common people within.

Can this be?

Nin se Neaseno…

Trailing Arbutus

POKAGON, Simon – La Légende de la Fleur de Mai

 La légende de la fleur de mai

The legend of the mayflower

Ou

or

Comment le printemps chassa le dur hiver

How the spring drove away the hard winter

L’origine de l’arbutus rampant (epigaea repens),

The origin of the trailing arbutus

fleur emblème de la nation Potawatomi.

Flower emblem of the Potawatomi nation

« L’hiver qui nous tourmente

The winter who torments us

S’obstine à nous geler

Stubbornly freezes us

Nous ne saurions parler

We cannot speak

Qu’avec une voix tremblante

Without a trembling voice

La neige et les glaçons

The snow and the ice

Nous donnent de mortels frissons… »

Give us mortal chills…

Chœur des Trembleurs, Lully, Isis, acte IV, scène 1 (1677)

Il y a des lunes et des lunes, vivait seul dans sa cabane, en pleine forêt, près d’un ruisseau gelé, un vieil homme aux cheveux longs et blancs, tout emmitouflé dans d’épaisses fourrures. C’était l’hiver. Partout, ce n’était que neige et glace. Un vent violent forçait les oiseaux à se réfugier dans les arbres et les buissons pour se réchauffer et chassait les mauvais esprits des hautes collines et des vallées larges et profondes.

For months and months, there lived alone in a hut, in the heart of the forest, near a frozen stream, an old man with long, white hair, wrapped in thick furs.  It was winter.  Everywhere there was nothing but snow and ice.  A fierce wind forces the birds to seek refuge in the trees and bushes for warmth, and was driving away the evil spirits of the high hills and the large, deep valleys. 

Le vieil homme sort chercher du bois sous l’épaisse neige afin de garder au chaud sa cabane. Il revient bredouille et désespéré. Assis près des braises mourantes, il implore le Dieu du Ciel de ne pas le laisser périr. Soudainement, le vent  lui répond par un hurlement et d’un coup souffle la porte de sa cabane.

The old man leaves to search for wood in the deep snow to keep his hut warm.  He returns muttering and desperate.  As he sits near the dying embers, he prays to the God of the Sky not to let him perish.  Suddenly, the wind responds to him with a roar and blows open the door of his hut. 

Une des plus jolies jeunes filles entre. Ses joues sont couleur de fleur d’églantier. Ses grands yeux brillent comme ceux d’un faon au clair de lune. Ses longs cheveux noirs comme plumes de corbeau balayent avec délicatesse le sol sous ses pas. Ses mains sont couvertes de chatons de saule. Une guirlande de fleurs sauvages sur la tête, elle est vêtue de foin d’odeur et de fougères et aux pieds, des lys blancs comme mocassins. Elle avance et lorsqu’elle respire, la cabane se remplit d’un air chaud et parfumé.

One of the most beautiful young girls enters.  Her cheeks are the color of wild roses.  Her large eyes shine like the eyes of a fawn in the moonlight.  Her long black hair gently sweeps the ground at her feet like the feathers of a raven.  Her hands are covered with pussy willows.  A garland of wild flowers on her head, she is dressed in sweetgrass and ferns, and wears lily white moccasins.  She comes forward, and as she breathes, the hut seems to feel warmer and smell of perfume. 

Je suis content de vous voir, ma fille. Ma cabane est froide et triste, cependant elle vous protègera de la tempête. Dites-moi qui vous êtes, vous qui venez ainsi chez moi dans ce costume étrange. Venez, reposez-vous ici et parlez-moi de votre pays et de vos succès et je vous parlerai de mes exploits, car je suis Manitou, dit le vieil homme.

I am happy to see you, my daughter.  My hut is cold and sat, but it will protect you from the storm.  Tell me who you are, and why you come to my home in this strange attire.  Come, lie down here and tell me of your country and your doings, and I will tell you of my exploits, for I am Mnedo, said the old man. 

Il bourre alors deux pipes qu’ils pourront fumer tout en jasant. Sa langue se réchauffe grâce à la fumée du tabac et il ajoute:

He fills two pipes to smoke while they visit.  His tongue is warmed by the smoke of the tobacco and he adds:

Je suis Manitou. Je souffle et les lacs deviennent comme du silex, les fleuves s’immobilisent et mon souffle fait des ponts sur les rivières.

I am Mnedo.  I breathe and the lakes become like flint, the waters stop, and my breath makes bridges over the rivers. 

Je respire, de répondre la jeune fille, et les fleurs naissent dans les plaines.

I breathe, responded the young girl, and the flowers are born on the plains

Je respire, de poursuivre le vieil homme, et la neige couvre la terre.

I breathe, continued the old man, and the snow covers the earth.

Je secoue mes tresses, reprend la jeune fille, et une pluie chaude tombe des nuages.

I shake my hair, resumes the young girl, and a warm rain falls from the clouds.

Quand je marche, les feuilles se fanent et tombent des arbres. À mon commandement les animaux se cachent sous terre et les oiseaux quittent l’eau et s’envolent au loin, car je suis Manitou.

When I walk, the leaves fade and fall from the trees.  At my command the animals hide in the earth and the birds leave the water and fly off, for I am Mnedo.

Quand je marche, les plantes relèvent la tête, les arbres nus se couvrent de feuilles vertes sans nombre. Les oiseaux reviennent et tous ceux qui me voient chantent de joie. La musique est partout, renchérit la jeune fille en souriant.

When I walk, the plants reveal their heads, the naked trees become covered with green leaves without number.  The birds return and all those who see me sing for joy.  The music is everywhere, adds the young girl as she smiles.

À mesure qu’ils parlent, la cabane se réchauffe et l’air devient plus parfumé. La tête du vieil homme tombe sur sa poitrine et il s’endort.

As they talk, the hut warms and the air becomes filled with perfume.  The head of the old man falls on his chest, and he sleeps. 

Le soleil alors revient et les oiseaux bleus volent au-dessus de la cabane et chantent : « J’ai soif ! J’ai soif ! ». Et la rivière répond : « Je suis maintenant libérée ; venez et buvez ».

The sun then returns and the blue birds fly above the hut, singing I’m thirsty! I’m thirsty!  And the river responds, I am finally free, come and drink.

Et voici que pendant que le vieil homme dort, la jeune fille passe sa main au-dessus de sa tête ; il devient alors de plus en plus petit, une goutte de rosée sort de sa bouche et rapidement il se change en un tout petit bouquet au raz du sol. Ses vêtements deviennent des feuilles défraîchies. La jeune fille alors, à genoux, prend quelques-unes des précieuses fleurs roses et blanches, les cache sous les feuilles fanées, et en soufflant sur elles leur dit :

And here during the time the old man sleeps, the young girl passes her hand over his head, He becomes then smaller and smaller, a drop of dew leaves his lips and he quickly changes entirely into a small bouquet on the ground.  His clothing becomes wilted leaves.  The young girl then gets on her knees and takes some of the precious red and white flowers, and hides them under the wilted leaves, and blows on them, telling them…

Je vous donne toutes mes vertus et mon souffle le plus doux et ceux qui voudront vous cueillir devront le faire avec respect, en s’agenouillant.

Puis elle quitta bois et plaines au chant des oiseaux et sous chacun de ses pas, et nulle part ailleurs, pousse encore aujourd’hui la fleur de notre tribu, l’arbutus rampant, la fleur de mai.

I give to you all of my virtues and my sweetest breath, and all those who pick you should do so with respect, on their knees.  She then left the woods and plains to the singing of the birds, and wherever she set her feet, and nowhere else, there grows today the flower of our tribe, the trailing arbutus, the may flower. 

Pokagon, Simon (1830 – 1899), Indian Superstitions and Legends, Origin of Our Tribal Flower, The Trailing Arbutus, New York, N.Y., 1898.

Version électronique, section 5, Centre du texte électronique, Bibliothèque de l’université de Virginie, Charlottesville, Virginie, USA.

Traduction : Gilles-Claude Thériault, août 2009.

Relatives and friends

Wdenwemagnek mine Nikanek: Relatives and Friends

                   Sing.              Plural

Aunt (maternal)

Nin                noshe              nosheyek

Gin                gnoshe             gnosheyek

Win                wnosheyen           wnosheyen

Ginwa              gnoshem             gnoshemek

Ninan              ngenoshenan         ngenoshenanek

Ginan              genoshenan          genoshenanek

Winwa              wnoshewan           wnoshewan

Aunt (paternal)

Nin                nshegwes            nshegwsek

Gin                gshegwes            gshegwsek

Win                wshegwesen          wshegwesen

Ginwa              gshegwesewa         gshegwesewak  

Ninan              nshegwesenan        nshegwesenanek

Ginan              gshegwesenan        gshegwesenanek

Winwa              wshegwsewan         wshegwsewan

Brother in law

Nin                nita               nitag

Gin                gita               gitag

Win                witan              witan

Ginwa              gitawa             gitawak

Ninan              nitanan             nitananek

Ginan              gnitanan            gnitananek

Winwa              witawan             witawan

Brother in law of male

Nin                niji

Gin                gniji              gnijim

Win                wnijiyen

Ginwa              gnijimwa

Ninan              nijinan

Ginan              gnijinan

Winwa              wnijimwan

Brother of male

Nin                nikan/nikanes       nikansek

Gin                gikanes             gikansek

Win                wikaneyen           wikaneyen

Ginwa              gikansewa           gikansewak

Ninan              nikanan             nikananek

Ginan              gnikanan            gnikananek

Winwa              wikanewan           wikanewan

Older brother of female

Nin                ndewema             ndewemak

Gin                gdewema             gdewemak

Win                wdeweman            wdeweman

Ginwa              gdewemwa            gdewemwak

Ninan              ndewemamnan         ndewemamnanek

Ginan              gdewemamnan         gdewemamnanek

Winwa              wdewemwan           wdewemwan

Older brother of male

Nin                nseze              nsezeyek

Gin                gseze              gsezeyek

Win                wsezeyen            wsezeyen

Ginwa              gsezemowa           gsezemowak

Ninan              nsezenan            nsezenanek

Ginan              gsezenan            gsezenanek

Winwa              wsezewan            wsezewan

Child

Nin                nijanes             nijansek

Gin                gnijanes            gnijansek

Win                wnijansen           wnijansen

Ginwa              gnijansowa          gnijansowak

Ninan              nijansenan          nijansenanek

Ginan              gnijansenan         gnijansenanek

Winwa              wnijansewan         wnijansewan

Cousin and sometimes friend

Nin                nitawes             nitawsek           

Gin                gitawes             gitawsek

Win                witawsen            witawsen

Ginwa              gitasowa            gitawsowak

Ninan              nitawsenan          nitawsenanek

Ginan              gitawsenan          gitawsenanek

Winwa              witawsewan          witawsewan

Daughter

Nin                ndanes             ndansek/ndanseyek

Gin                gdanes             gdansek/gdanseyek

Win                wdanseyen      or   odanseyen

Ginwa              gdansowa            gdansowak

Ninan              ndansenan           ndansenanek

Ginan              gdansenan           gdansenanek

Winwa              wdansewan           wdansewan

Daughter in law

Nin                neagnekwe           neagnekwemek       

Gin                gneagnekwe          gneagnekwemek

Win                wneagnekwemen       wneagnekwemen

Ginwa              gneagnekwemwa       gneagnekwemwak

Ninan              ndeagnekwemnan      ndeagnekwemnanek

Ginan              gdeagnekwemnan      gdeagnekwemnanek

Winwa              wneagnekwemwan      wneagnekwemwan

Father

Nin                nos                ndedeyem

Gin                ggos               gdedeyem

Win                w’osen             wdedemen

Ginwa              ggoswa             gdedemwa

Ninan              nosnan             ndedemenan

Ginan              ggosnan             gdedemenan

Winwa              w’oswan             wdedemowan

Father in law

Nin                nshenes

Gin                gshenes

Win                wshensen

Ginwa              gshensewa

Ninan              nshensenan

Ginan              gshensenan

Winwa              wshensewan

Friend, a good close friend, neuter gender

Nin                wadokwek

Gin                wadokwet

Win                wadokwajen

Ginwa              wadokwek

Ninan              wadokwayak

Ginan              wadokwaygo

Winwa              wadokwawajen

Friend or Lover, a really close friend, neuter gender

Nin                nijkowes            nijkowsek

Gin                gijkowes            gijkowsek

Win                wijkosen            wijkosen

Ginwa              gijkosewa           gijkosewak

Ninan              nijkosenan          nijkosenanek

Ginan              gijkosenan          gijkosenanek

Winwa              wijkosewan          wijkosewan

Grandchild

Nin                noses              noseseyek

Gin                gnoses             gnoseseyek

Win                wnoseyen            wnoseyen

Ginwa              gnosesmowa          gnosesmowak

Ninan              nosenan             nosenanek

Ginan              gnosenan            gnosenanek

Winwa              wnosewan            wnosewan

Grandfather

Nin                nmeshomes           nmeshomsek

Gin                gmeshomes           gmeshomsek

Win                wmeshomsen          wmeshomsen

Ginwa              gmeshomsewa         gmeshomsewak

Ninan              nmeshomsenan        nmeshomsenanek

Ginan              gmeshomsenan        gmeshomsenanek

Winwa              wmeshomsewan        wmeshomsewan

Grandmother

Nin                nokmes             nokmesek

Gin                gokmes             gokmesek

Win                okmesen             okmesen

Ginwa              gokmeswa            gokmeswak

Ninan              nokmesnan           nokmesnanek

Ginan              gokmesnan           gokmesnanek

Winwa              okmeswan            okmeswan

Grandson/grand daughter

Nin                noseme             nosemeyek

Diminutive          nosemes             nosemesek

Gin                goseme             gosemeyek

Diminutive          gosemes             gosemesek

Win                 wnosemeyen          wnosemeyen

Ginwa              ggoseme             ggosemeyek

Ninan              nosememnan          nosememnanek

Ginan              gnosememnan         gnosememnanek

Winwa              wnosemewan          wnosemewan

Mother

Nin                ngiye              ngiyeyek 

Gin                ggiye              ggiyeyek

Win                wgiyeyen            wgiyeyen

Ginwa              ggiyewa             ggiyewak

Ninan              ngiyenan            ngiyenanek

Ginan              ggiyenan            ggiyenanek

Winwa              wgiyewan            wgiyewan

Another mother

Nin                neneyem             nenemek

Gin                gneneyem            gnenemek

Win                wnenemen            wnenemen

Ginwa              gnenemowa           gnenemowak

Ninan              nenemenan           nenemenanek

Ginan              gnenemenan          gnenemenanek

Winwa              wnenemowan          wnenemowan

Namesake,

child in one’s family who has name of family ancestor,

describes a “tying together”

Nin                ndankobjegen

Gin                gdankobjegen

Win                wdankobjegen

Ginwa              gdankobjegnewa

Ninan              ndankobjegnan

Ginan              gdankobjegnan

Winwa              wdankobjegnewan

Nephew

Nin                negwnes             negwnesek

Gin                gnegwnes            gnegwnesek

Win                wnegwnesen          wnegwnesen

Ginwa              gnegwneswa          gnegwneswak

Ninan              negwnesnan          negwnesnanek

Ginan              gnegwnesnan         gnegwnesnanek

Winwa              wnegwneswan         wnegwneswan

Niece of male

Nin                nzhemes             nzhemsek

Gin                gzhemes             gzhemsek

Win                wzhemsen            wzhemsen

Ginwa              gzhemsewa           gzhemsewak

Ninan              nzhemsenan          nzhemsenanek

Ginan              gzhemsenan          gzhemsenanek

Winwa              wzhemsewan          wzhemsewan

Parents

Nin                ngetsimek

Gin                ggetsimek

Win                wgetsimen

Ginwa              ggetsimwak  (getsimwak)

Ninan              ngetsimnanek

Ginan              getsimnanek

Winwa              wgetsimwan

Parents, this term also used for all older relatives

Nin                nmezodanek

Gin                gmezodanek

Win                wmezodanen

Ginwa              gmezodanwak

Ninan              nmezodanenanek

Ginan              gmezodanenanek

Winwa              wmezodanwan

Relatives

Nin                ndenwemagen         ndenwemagnek

Gin                gdenwemagen         gdenwemagnek

Win                wdenwemagnen        wdenwemagnen

Ginwa              gdenwemagnewa       gdenwemagnewak

Ninan              ndenwemagnenan      ndenwemagnenanek

Ginan              gdenwemagnenan      gdenwemagnenanek

Winwa              wdenwemagnewan      wdenwemagnewan

Sister of male

Nin                ndekwem             ndekwemek

Gin                gdekwem             gdekwemek

Win                wdekwemen           wdekwemen

Ginwa              gdekwemwa           gdekwemwak

Ninan              ndekwemnan          ndekwemnanek

Ginan              gdekwemnan          gdekwemnanek

Winwa              wdekwemwan          wdekwemwan

Sister of female

Nin                nidgeko             nidgekok

Gin                gidgeko             gidgekok

Win                widgekon            widgekon

Ginwa              gidgekowa           gidgekowak

Ninan              nidgekonan          nidgekonanek

Ginan              gidgekkonan         gidgekonanek

Winwa              widgekowan          widgekowan

Older sister

Nin                nmese              nmeseyek

Gin                gmese              gmeseyek

Win                omeseyen            omeseyen

Ginwa              gmesewa             gmesewak

Ninan              nmesenan            nmesenanek

Ginan              gmesenan            gmesenanek

Winwa              wmesewan            wmesewan

Sister in law of male

Nin                ninem              ninemek

Gin                gninem             gninemek

Win                winmon             winmon

Ginwa              ginmowa             ginmowak

Ninan              ninmenan            ninmenanek

Ginan              ginmenan            ginmenanek

Winwa              winmowan            winmowan

Son

Nin                ngwes              ngwesek            

Gin                ggwes              ggwesek

Win                wgwesen             wgewesen

Ginwa              ggwesewa            ggwesewak

Ninan              ngwesnan            ngwesnanek

Ginan              ggwesnan            ggwesnanek

Winwa               wgweswan            wgweswan

Son in law

Nin                neangesh

Gin                gneangesh

Win                wneangeshen

Ginwa              gneangeshmowa

Ninan              ndeangeshmnan

Ginan              gdeangeshmnan

Winwa              wdeangeshmowan

A child you named

Nin                niyokade            niyokadeyek

Gin                giyokade            giyokadeyek

Win                wiyokaden           wiyokaden     

Ginwa              giyokadeswa         giyokadeswak

Ninan              niyokadenan         niyokadenanek

Ginan              giyokadenan         giyokadenanek

Winwa              wiyokadewan         wiyokadewan

Step father

Nin                nmishome

Gin                gmishome

Win                wmishomeyen

Ginwa              gmishome’wa

Ninan              nmishomemenan

Ginan              gmishomemenan

Winwa              wmishomewan

Uncle

Nin                nzheshe             nzhesheyek

Gin                gzheshe             gzhesheyek    

Win                wzhesheyen          wzhesheyen

Ginwa              gzheshemwa          gzheshemwak

Ninan              nzheshemenan        nzheshemenanek

Ginan              gzheshemenan        gzheshemenanek

Winwa              wzheshewan          wzheshewan

Younger sibling

Nin                nshime             nshimeyek

Gin                gshime             gshimeyek

Win                wshimeyen           wshimeyen

Ginwa              gshimewa            gshimewak

Ninan              nshimenan           nshimenanek

Ginan              gshimenan           gshimenanek

Winwa              wshimewan           wshimewan

Grandfather deceased

Nin                nmeshomseben

Gin                gmeshomseben

Win                wmeshomsenaben

Ginwa              gmeshomsewaben

Grandmother

Nin                nokmesben

Gin                gokmesben

Win                okmesenaben

Ginwa              gokmesewaben

Ode kedwenen

I have given folks on here a wide range of language inasmuch as Neshnabek languages go. Everything from Kenny Pheasant, George Jaach Trudeau, Michael Lyons, Gordie Odjig, plus a host of Bodewadmik representative of mostly Prairie Band folk.

It is my intention to introduce folks to as many of the Neshnabek forms of speaking, dialectical differences, writing styles, though I don’t find speaking having anything to do with reading or writing. I introduce the students who come to us to learn, to listening, developing the hearing. We don’t usually allow them to read or write anything until the 2nd or 3rd month. We believe they must educate the ear first, and then the other faculties of learning. We used to deal a lot with reading and writing at one time, but feel developing the listening skills the most important, after much trial and error.

It is all in the sound, not the spelling or the written form. This is why I like Gordie Ojig and Kenny Pheasant, as they tend to give one much of the sound of the language along with the written form. Mawla Shawana is another Neshnabemwen speaker whom I have grown to like as well, who is Potawatomi/Odawa. He is from Wiki.

We are going to go toward more of the sound, that is speaking the language, as time goes on for this group and other groups we are working with. Please bear with us as it takes time to shift gears on so many folks who have become accustomed to learning by reading and writing, rather than with a focus on the speaking part.

Iw enajmoyan

Nin se Neaseno.