A forward to one the books I’ve published…

The title of this book is: Ebyensetoyak Edayak, (What we come to understand at home). It can be ordered on Amazon by it’s Title or Author, which is me.

Foreword

Growing up in a traditional community, I did not go to school to learn my language.  I learned it at home.  I was surrounded by it from my mother’s womb.  I learned to speak naturally as a toddler, listening to the baby talk and colloquialisms of the day.  I was able to converse in 5 Neshnabék languages by the time I was six.  Multilingualism was the norm of day, when everyone spoke each other’s language and could understand what was said in one language while responding in another.  Mutual communication and respect of each other’s differences was inherent among us.

I first learned English at the age of 6…at school.   I did not just take English lessons.  I was immersed in it.  Every communication I had with my teachers, my peers, the bus drivers, the lunch ladies, the aides and custodians, all had to be in the target language:  English.  So I learned quickly, not because I had a set of 12 easy lessons, but because it was required for my survival. 

I remember with some sadness the first time I met Neshnabék people who did not speak their language.  As a young man, I approached a group of people who clearly looked “Indian” to me, only to find with much dismay that they could not understand any of the languages that I spoke.  They only understood English.  That first experience led to many, and I have witnessed first hand the decline and near disappearance of the languages of my childhood.

I have been steadfastly working with anyone who will take the time to learn the Potawatomi language for most of my life, from that first group of Neshnabék who asked me to translate what I had said to them, until this very moment of publishing this particular manual.  Having observed all of this, I have this statement to make:

This language must be returned to the home.

It was only by survival that it was permitted to go into language classrooms and departments and classes and lessons.  That had to be, temporarily, because it was so far gone, it needed to be pulled out of the fire, so to speak.  But the time has come to return it to the home.  This manual is intended to be used AT HOME, by families who are dedicated to learning, remembering, and using this language. 

Nin se Neaseno

A.k.a. Donald A Perrot

Immersion phrases

These have been recorded on the patreon site.

Weye ne gi wabdan ne i nbiskewagen?           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 éndewebneyen?                               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 eshewebek 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 wisniwgemek?                                   Where is the dining room?

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

Byénénmoshen I msenegen                              bring me that paper

Byénénmoshen I modes                                    bring me the little bottle

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

Gi byedon ne I gdewegen                                 Did you bring your drum?

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

Nebyégén ode                                                     Write this

Gégo nebyégeken                                              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 over 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 wabdesin 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

chowi she gbbamzewen I                                  that is none of your business

ni je wej kendemyen I                                        why do you want to know that

chowi shna gmnezseyen ekendemyen I           you really don’t need to know that

nsetmok ne egi kenomageyan                          do ya all understand what I have taught?

Various Bodewadmimwen

They are recorded on the patreon site.

Bonye wit – finished/es, he/she  (needs prefix)

Bon gizh – to finish s.t.

Gizh – finish.

Gizhi – finished.

Zhabshkan – h/s finishes, accomplishes s.t.

Bonshkat – h/s finished s.t.

Gizhita – to finish s.t.

Gizhitat – h/s finishes s.t.

Gizhtot – h/s finishes s.t.

Gizhton – to finish s.t.  (inan.)

Zheto – to make s.t.

Neto – to try s.t./try/attempt.

Shketo – to make an attempt.

Ewdadset – h/s who was born.

Gi wdaze – that one was born.

Egi nigyan – I was born.

Egi mashkayan – I flew.

Egi pabmashkayan – I flew all over or I flew all around.

Egi wdadsiyan – when I was born.

Egi nigyan – when I was born.

Kyendesen – hurry.

Wewendesen – hurry.

Wjandan kyenep – cook quickly s.t.  (inan.)

Zhishjegen/jigtegen – broom.

Also jishtegen – broom.

Zhibawaseya – transparent   (inan.)

Zhibawasezi – transparent   (anim.)

Zhabwatezigwa – ice (referring to the opaque quality)

Zhibawase mjedasnen – sheer stockings.

Zhabwate’egen mjedas – sheer nylon stocking.

Bkwakwet – ball.

Wizhgebkwakwet – hard ball.

Wagjaya bkwade – curve ball.

Nisaj bkwade – sinker ball.

Gzyeka bkwade – fast ball.

Nenjis bkwade – knuckle ball.

Bgeshnem bkwade – drop ball.

Azhtoge bkwade – change up ball.

Giwshkwe bkwade – corkscrew ball.

Bimskwem bkwade – corkscrew ball.

Gonaken bkwade – knuckle ball.

Medagwegwet I kigdowen – that’s an interesting subject.

Medagwegwet I – that’s interesting!

Gete medagwegwet – velly intellesting!

Emedagwegwat – they’re having an interesting time….

Mkedewkonye – priest or black robe.

Msenagkesget – secretary.

Msenazget – photographer.

Wzhobyewmsenazget – artist or painter.

Msenabiget – artist.

Various Neshnabe Games.

Mamkeznewen – moccasin game  (man’s game)

Bnekwe – woma’s bowl game.

Epeskewewen – another word for woman’s bowl game….

                      Associated with a form of lacrosse game with it….

Egsegkewat – they are playing the women’s dice game/bowl game.

Ksekenek – old style word for bowl and dice  (belonging to the women)

Epeski’a – another word for woman’s ball game.

Pegnegwen – Lacrosse.

Pagishenak – racket.

Sheshawinitjiken – cup and pin game.

Mzekwage – the icicle/could also be used to describe a fluttering bird,

usually an eagle, how they seem to hang in one spot while fluttering.

Nizgikdadwa – bother s.o.

Nizgakdadwat – bother each other.

Nizgikwat – they bother s.o.

Nnigiskwa – I bother s.o.

Nnizgikdadmen – we – you bother s.o.

Gnizgikdadmen – we + you bother s.o.

Mskogat – yarn belt.

Mskogaden – plural.

Meme – piliated woodpecker.

Memeyek – plural.

Mikjewitaget – work for s.o.  (people).

Anokagiget – a worker for hire.

Nokana – to hire s.o.

Nwi nokanage – I will hire s.o.

Pepij – once in awhile.

Mbish nwi wzan – I’m going to boil water.

Gwi ndo mbes – are you going to take a bath?

Neskwe – brush hair.

Gzi yabde – he/she brushes his/her teeth.

Nwi gzi yabde – I will brush my teeth.

Gzi yab deon – brush your teeth!

Ga bme je bgeshyen – where you camp.

Ga bme je bgeshyek – where you folks camp.

Ga bme je bgeshyan – where I camp.

Bakwiyangemek – tent.

Bebkoyangemek – cloth tent.

Nso’egan – wigwam/teepee, a tripod house….

referring to the tripod needed to support the dwellings they     used to make and cover with whatever…

negekgemek – bark house.

Shkwadem – door.

Gashkika’on – threshold.

Wasejgen – window. (literally, s.t. you can see light through).

Waskonenjegas – small lamp.

Waskonenjegen – light.

Nibwaskonenjegen – floor lamp.

Naken – rug.

Aneskewes – small throw rug.

Pegwen – mat, as in cat tail.

Beshmonkojgen – large rug.

Dopwen – table.

Jibtebwenen – chairs.

Jibtebwen – chair.

Pedyebwen – s.t. to sit on.

Pedyebwenen – plural.

Mbagen (en) – bed/beds.

Waboyan (en) – blanket/blankets.

Bakweshmowen (en) – pillow/pillows.

Wnagen (en) – dish/dishes.

Bdekjigen (en) – fork/forks.

Taswen – cupboard/closet.

Gzhabkezgen – stove.

Deschegen – shelf; also desk or a low table.

Atsek – room.

Datseknan – add a room.

Pakwan – roof.

Shpemsegen – ceiling.

Atsekwnegadek – a specific room.

Koman – knife.

Wagakoman – curved blade knife.

Zhadi – arrow.

Pekwe (yen) – arrow  (referring to the straight shaft of the arrow).

                        they were very straight, like the cat tails shafts….

Nwib – arrow  (referring to the sharpened projectile point).

Mtegwab – bow.

Megos – awl.

Jishkwajgen – scraper.

Megeshkan – hook.

Biwabkon – flint.

Biwabken – iron striker.

Bodwe – make a fire.

Shkwede – fire.

Msen – firewood.

Emkwan (en) – spoon/spoons.

Mtegemkwan (en) – wooden spoon (s).

Kwabgen – cup or dipper.

Kwabegas – small cup or small dipper.

Mnekwajgen – s.t. to drink from, usually a cup.

Begwedemget – it is dry.

Begwedejgadek – dryer.

Ksinjegadek – washer.

Wnagenksinjegadek – dish washer.

Zhoshkwe’en – iron.

Zhoshkwe’an – to iron s.t.

Itsge – dye.

Itsgeke – to dye s.t.

Begwedege – drying s.t.

Gepisege – parching s.t.

Pegejis segat – threshing s.t.

Noshketon – winnowing.

Seshjegen – set the table.

Sesh che gen – another spelling.

Mneschegen – straighten things, put things in order.

Nazhikege – scrape, as in a hide.

Jizhikwaige – scrape-stretch a hide.

Zhi shibwaige – stretch a hide over a frame.

Gazhko – shave or scrape off with a sharp knife.

Gazhke’a o – to scrape or shave s.o.

Penejegewen – persistense.

Awanjegewen – perserverance.

Zhiptem – stubborn.

Kwtegwe – stubborn.

Mishkwes – diligent.

Minwewes – hard working/enterprising.

Mamwe je pi – most of the time.

Odo pi – at this time.

Ode zhe pi – right now!

Iw pi – then.

Iw pi je – when.

Iw she pi – at that time.

Megwe pi – long time ago/or a long way off.

Mno wi pi – long time ago.

Ibe pi – over there.

Iw je pi – it was then.

Zhote zhi – over here.

Ezhi – over there.

Wesibe – way over there.

Wa gin negwne – oh, so it’s you!

Wi pe – to lye with s.o.

Ndo wi pe – to go lye with s.o.

Ndo wi pe ma’a o nde kweyom pkonyak – I will lye with my wife tonight.

Wi pe mesh – lye with me.

Moshkabwadan – add liquid to a pot or kettle.

Pabwe – add s.t. to soup or a pot.

Pabwewiyanabo – stew.

Nmoshkabwadan – I add liquid to a pot or kettle.

Kwech – yet!

Skasge – sunlight, a ray of light, a spark of light.

Wasemajishkamowen – electricity.

Wasemowen – another form of electricity.

Shpemwnagendapnewen – satellite.

Bemisiwnagewen – another satellite.

Mawandonan – weld.

Mawandojege – welder.

Winkeshage – carver/one who carves.

Nnaikwat – to fix s.t.

Dabyankewnene – mechanic.

Wasemownene – electrician.

Psakwnemownene – another electrician.

Psakwnemowen – electricity.

Inanemowen – air/oxygen.

Nese – breathe.

Anemo – breathe.

Nemwin – breath

Nemo

Namwin

Nesewen

Namog

Anemowen – s.o.’s  breath.

Mbeknam – breathless.

Mesho Madmowen

A simple prayer for you to learn…..

“Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice. You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer. All things belong to you — the two-legged, the four-legged, the wings of the air, and all green things that live.

“You have set the powers of the four quarters of the earth to cross each other. You have made me cross the good road and road of difficulties, and where they cross, the place is holy. Day in, day out, forevermore, you are the life of things.”

Aho Mesho Geshemnedo, ngotek mine wabmeshen ebmadziyan shote se aki mine yajshen ebsedweyen ode ekedyan. Gin netem gebmadziyen mine epitziyen se ode mnézewen, mine epitziyen ode madmowen. Jayek nde bendagzem—gode nizho kadejek, mine gode nyewo kadejek, mine gi ebmashiwat, mine jayek ode skebgyewnen edneswat ebmadzewat.

Gin se etoyen mnedowen se ni nyewo we’ji igwanen ode se Aki azhopkanawan. Gin se she azhodakeyan ode wewene myewen mine i snegewmyewen, mine ashopkanawat, iw se she epij mnedowen. Pene she egagiwen, mine epij ebmadzhetoyen jayek bkan bmadzewen.

Iw enajmoyan.

Nouns–body parts

NOUNS

Mko/mkwa                                                       bear

Mek                                                                 beaver

Beneshi                                                            bird

Bkoj bsheke                                                     buffalo

Meme’ge’                                                        butterfly

Gazho/mayos                                                  cat

Bidi/keakwa                                                     chicken

Kwekwse’                                                        chipmunk

Bsheke                                                             cow

Jejauk                                                              crane

Andekshkwe’                                                   crow

Seksi/wawashkeshi                                          deer

Nemosh                                                           dog

Shishib/shishibe’                                              duck

Kno/mge’shwash                                             eagle

Migwen                                                           feather

Gigo                                                                fish

Mekchako                                                        frog

Mshike                                                             turtle

Be’skesi                                                           goose

Piskeno                                                            hawk

Negdosha/beshgogshi                                     horse

Kokoko                                                            owl

Kokosh                                                            pig

Wabos                                                             rabbit

Mshewe’                                                          cotton tail rabbit

Mantanish                                                       sheep

Moto                                                                goat

Mneto                                                              snake

Bne’/mseze’                                                     turkey

Moewe’                                                           wolf

Sen                                                                  rock

Wigwam                                                          house

Dabyan                                                           car

Tetbese’                                                           wheel

Bkweshgen                                                      bread      

Ziwtagen                                                         salt

Waskek                                                            pepper

Dopwen                                                           table

Taswen                                                            closet

Wasechgen                                                      window

Waboyan                                                         blanket

Body Parts

Nio                                                                  body

Jibe’                                                                deceased body as it lies in state

Shkizhek                                                          eye

Shkizhgwen                                                     eyes

Ojash                                                               nose

Don                                                                 mouth

Damken                                                           chin

Donesen                                                          lip

Donesnen                                                        lips

Ze’knenwagen/ze’knenwagnen                       tongue/tongues

Nowey                                                             cheek

Noweyen                                                         cheeks

Mamawey                                                        eyebrow/eyelash

Mamaweyek                                                    eyebrows/eyelashes

Dewek                                                             ear

Dewgen                                                           ears

Wine’dep                                                         brain

Wine’ndep                                                       brains

Kwegen                                                           neck

Godagen                                                         throat

Dep                                                                 head

Tape/tapik                                                       back of head/with locative ending

Getek                                                               forehead

Winses/winsese’n                                             his/her hair

Nibet/nibde’n                                                   tooth/teeth

Denmagen/denmagnen                                   shoulder/shoulders

Bemdakey/bemdaken                                      collarbone

Bemdakyen/bemdaknen                                  collarbones

Nek/neken                                                        arm/arms

Chewe’wek/chewe’wgwen                              upper arm/upper arms

Nekake’s/nekake’sen                                       wrist/wrists

E’bozwnekayan/e’bozwnekayanen                  armpit/armpits

Doskwen/doskwenen                                       elbow/elbows

Tes                                                                   bellybutton

Meset                                                               belly

Negesh/negzhe’n                                             gut/intestine/guts/intestines

Mishmot                                                          stomach

Nej/nije’n                                                         hand/hands

Neje’s/neje’sen                                                finger/fingers

Gechnej/gechneje’n                                         thumb/thumbs

Shkezh/shkezhe’n                                             toenail/toenails/finger nail/finger nails

Pekwen                                                            back

Detgagwen                                                      backbone/spine

Kat/kade’n                                                       leg/legs

Nan/nane’n                                                     calf/calves

Bwam/bwame’n                                              thigh/upper leg/thighs/upper legs

Pege’gen/pege’nen                                          rib/ribs

Kaki                                                                 chest

Jik/jigwen                                                        knee/knees

Ebozwkadat/ebozwkade’n                               hollow of knee/hollows of knees

Doden/dodnen                                                 heel/heels

Zet/zeden                                                         feet/foot

Begwkenagen/begwkenagnen                         ankle/ankles

Bidzetwkenagen/bidzetwkenagnen                  instep/insteps

Zede’s/zede’sen                                               toe/toes

Ken/kene’n                                                      bone/bones

De’                                                                  heart

Bipiswde’bipiswde’en                                     lung/lungs (spongy heart)

Kon                                                                 liver

Donkoswey/donkosweyek                                kidney/kidneys

Mskwim                                                           blood

Wati/watinen                                                   blood clot/blood clots

Doskwe’yap/doskwe’yabye’n                          artery or vein/arteries or veins

Nishk/nishkok                                                  gland/glands (lymph node)

Jit                                                                    anus

Keden                                                              vagina

Penoje’shkemot                                               uterus

E’jekwe’wet                                                     female parts

Neshwey/neshweyek                                        testicle/testicles

Pjagwen                                                          penis

E’jneniwet                                                       male parts

One person’s experience with the way we are taught in this society.

Quote from Gail Kimes

I enjoyed the class last night and have been thinking about some of the things that you have been teaching all of us especially about Freedom. Last night I thought about being free from so many things that I have experienced and have been taught throughout my life. I don’t even know them all. I can remember the numerous times that you have shared with myself and all of us about “being taught” versus “being trained”. Your testimonies are so helpful. One of the things that I was taught in my studies was that an adult learner has to be taught at least 8 or 9 times before he/she learns something or is able to do something. I always believed that. What a trap that is and has been. I have questioned it in the last year or so because it has not been the truth. What a prison that can be if you believe so many of the things that we have all been taught in this American Society and if we continue to believe and listen to it.

I enjoyed the class last night and have been thinking about some of the things that you have been teaching all of us especially about Freedom. Last night I thought about being free from so many things that I have experienced and have been taught throughout my life. I don’t even know them all. I can remember the numerous times that you have shared with myself and all of us about “being taught” versus “being trained”. Your testimonies are so helpful. One of the things that I was taught in my studies was that an adult learner has to be taught at least 8 or 9 times before he/she learns something or is able to do something. I always believed that. What a trap that is and has been. I have questioned it in the last year or so because it has not been the truth. What a prison that can be if you believe so many of the things that we have all been taught in this American Society and if we continue to believe and listen to it.

Neaseno Perrot

I have often spoken to this practice of the dominant society and how we are taught in the public school system. Further, we are taught to question everything, and to discuss what we don’t understand, rather than accepting it. There are many things in the way we are educated in the public school system that leave us unable to comprehend the truth of the matter, so we tend to seek out the answers aggressively at times and often with violence.

Using preverbs

Knowing pre-verbs is vital in speaking Potawatomi.

Some pre verbs in Bodewadmi

Jak                                 all, whole

É                                    tenseless narrative

Gi                                  past tense  (independent form)

Ga                                  past tense, changed form  (subordinate form)

Wi                                 be going to, will   (independent form)

Wa                                 future tense, changed form   (subordinate form)

Bba                                about, around

Ne                                  interrogative

Ne                                  start to, in process

Wje                               from, for the reason that

Bon                               finish, quit

Gche                              great, huge, big, very

Gizh                              finish, complete

Jig                                  near, close by

Kwej                             on top of it

Also kwed                    on top of s.t.

Msko                             red, reddish

Wab                              is to see, also white

Wshke                           new, young, youthful

Bwa                               prevents an action

Web                              to begin s.t., start s.t.

Bye                                coming or arriving

Pa                                  going around

Bme                               form

Bma                               form

Wij or wid                    accompany, do s.t. together

Mish or mizh                hairy

Wag                               crooked, bent, curved

Bkoj                              wild, untamed, uncontrolled

Mesha                           huge, big, large

Nap                               hanging down

Naw                               center, in the middle of

Zaw                               yellow and sometimes brown

Mkede or mektew        black, dark

Gwaya                           straight, continuous, direct

Gwa                               same as

Gete                               real, true, apparent, actual, factual

Maji                              start, leave

Apje                              really

Dep                               full or enough

Mno                              good, well

Ndo or ned                             want or desire s.t.

Mji or mya                             bad, displeasing, evil

Bok                               broke

Bik                                break to pieces

Zam                               too much of s.t.

Kikij                              hurts, painful

Win                               dirty

Bin                                clean

Zhab                              through s.t.

Gwek                            turn, go in a different way

Neta                               like s.t., always doing s.t.

Swe                               separate s.t.

Zag                                outside, outdoors

Bid                                inside, in doors

Zig                                 pour out

Pje                                 not be reason of design, not planned, by accident, not on purpose

Kwetan                         of a surety, of a certainty

Gi Jigwek

Ode ekenomageyan wabek gnebej

The Thunders

                                                Jigwe

                                                Jigwek

Wamigo

                                                Thunder bird

Wamigok

                                                Thunder birds

The Thunders have power colors

                                                Black is the Power of Destruction

                                                Black is also the Power to make live or to bring forth life

The Thunders also carry another power color

                                                Yellow is the Power to quicken

                                                Yellow is the Health/Help Power

The Thunders can work with the other Powers and their colors also

                                                North has the Power of cleansing and freezing

                                                It is a dual Power that can also thaw things out

                                                The color of the North is White

                                                East has the Power to awaken, to quicken, to brighten, to shed light, etc.

                                                The color of the East is Blue

                                                South has the Power to bring life, to sustain, etc.

                                                The color of the South is Red