Ode Espen atsokan

Wéch makdewanginwet o éspen yajmowen

The story about why the raccoon has black on his face.

Ahaw ode ngodek ga zhewébek. Bnewi gi ne’angdonwek gode mejbyeyek, jeyjey shena ginan.

It happened at one time. Long ago all the animals could talk to one another just like us.

Ode je o éspen mine o meingen gi dneswek shi megwemtegwakik.

This racoon and wolf were hanging around in the center of the forest.

Pene shena gi nantkwedewek.

They were always talking to each other.

Mech jé o éspen ga napnengogwen ni se meingenen.

Once the raccoon made the wolf sick??

I je shena o éspen enangekwebet ekche nagdewendek ni na wa zhechket ewi ashtowa’at ni meingnenen.

That raccoon was sitting with his head down thinking hard about what he was going to do to get even with the wolf.

Wika sena gishendem o éspen nina wa napnenat ni meingenen.

Finally the raccoon made up his mind he would make the wolf sick.

Ije égibsegwit éspen ezhyat ibe bementapetonet ni meingenen.

Then the raccon got up and went over to where the wolf would be running by.

Ngot na I myewes égi nme nagtot.

He was following along on one path.

Peshkwaswen je zhi pme igwan I mtekwake I je zhi enesesek I myewes.

There was a cleared field along the forest where the path lead.

I je zhi megwe-peshkwa ga zhyat o éspen.

Then raccoon went into the middle of the field.

I je égi mizit, eje égi wawyechinek ni wmojisen.

He took a poop, and he rolled his poop into a ball.

Beshoch je I myewes ezhdesen bme je neta zhyat o meingen.

He layed it out close to a trail the wolf liked to travel on.

Ezhgadebet je wgi-tonen wmochen ga wnejinek.

He spread out the poop he had in handfuls(balls?)

Ah ebababwichget, bama she gete edebabmat ni meingen ebichbetonet.

He waited, later he checked on the wolf as he came running up.

Ah je o éspen égi dapnek ngot o gaw nejinek, bikwa je shena emamijet.

Then the raccon he picked up one of the rolled up deals, that looked like food.

Bama shena noch beshoch ebye yenet, hey meingen kedo, e shena gé wi ezhe

Later he was closer to where he was, hey the wolf said” when the wolf

ngabtot o meingen. Stopped running.

Widopmeshen nwa wisen wde-nan, ah je o meigen, oh I yedek egi bonenmegwyan o esben nendem ge wi.

Come sit and eat with me he said to him. Ah o wolf I should leave him alone thought the raccoon.

I je o esben ngotmenek I o mowech egi pedowat.

Then the raccoon threw (one) of the poop to him

Ah ni pkede se ge wi o meigen, egi nkwebtot I moewech ene meswegwdek.

The wolf was hungry, he caught the poop and swallowed it whole.

Ga gish jak pekdewat I wmowech egi kanchgdemat.

After he threw the poop to him he (swallowed it?)

Ha ha meigen nmowech gmijen wde-nan.

Ha hah wolf my poop you are eating he said to him.

Ahaw ni je da zhechket o meingen gi gwyash mijen gena I mowech.

Ok what could he do that wolf. He was suprized the food was poop.

Oh, shewgedaso o meingen, eshna egi kche mokitwat ni espenen.

The wolf become mad, and really starting attacking the raccoon.

I shna ge wi o espen egi gwekpowet, nesh pana shi kche mtek jige peskwa ga bmekset,

So the raccoon turned and ran, accidentally (he left tracks) near the big tree in the field

egi kwedasiwbowet o espen,

Where the raccoon had climbed the tree in a hurry( ran)

I je eko ndo nisasit egwashkwnedagwet ni meingnen endo debnegwet.

Then he tried to climb the tree and tried jumping up the wolf did so he could grab the raccoon.

Gega shena gbe gishek gi dnengwe ewi nisasit.

All day he was trapped in the tree he climbed.

I shena ge wi neyakwset o meingen.

The wolf started to become tired.

Ahaw nge-mbekas shede eme o meingen,

Ok I am going to pretend to go to sleep thought the wolf.

bama she kche mbayan nenmegwyan wi ndo dgeski shedea.

Later when I am sleeping hard I think he will try to escape thought the wolf

Natsek she nisasi o espen egi dbabmat ni meigenen.

(After a while) the raccoon climbed down to check on the wolf.

Gete shna mbetek, nge endo dgeski shdea.

If truly he is asleep(doubt) I will try and escape he thought.

Agach ene nisasit, pepichen she wdebabman a je dokinet.

So he carefuly started climbing down to check on the one sleeping.

Oh kche mbekaso ge wi o meingen, gawa she doskabe ewabmat ebye-nisasinet.

The wolf he was really pretending hard to be asleep, He barely opened an eye to see the raccoon come climbing down.

Bama she apje beshoch bmeyet nge-debena nendem.

Later he came real close to where he was I will grab him he thought.

Egach enenisasit, depi she megwa wa zhe nisasit I kekow egi nispowet egi skwenwe’at ni meigenen.

Far off he was still climbing down and suddenly While he was in the process of carefully getting down, he started running down to save the wolf.

Egi bsegwitset ge wi o meingen, ni je wgweshkwnewegon se eshna mtegos egi dapsotot

As the wolf stood up, How he was surprised by a branch (falling?) and he had a cramp.

Meingen egi naskenamat ni espenen.

The wolf approached the raccoon

Nanawshkishgon egi negnamat.

In the center of his eye he put something?

Megwe segya e gina powet o espen egi wnebat ni meingnen.

Amongst the thick bush the raccon ran while the wolf slept.

Ah je weyabek zibiwesek ezhyat o espen egkanabdesot, bame shna ga mektewangigwet.

Ah the next morning the raccoon went to the creek and looked at himself in the water, His face was black

Iw je ngom ode espen we je mkedewangingwet ga napengwet ni meingnen, kedownanget.

So to this day the raccon has a black face because he tried to make the wolf sick, That’s what they say.

Iw enajmoyan The end of what I have to say.

His-story, but not ours.

Most of us associate the holiday with happy Pilgrims and Indians sitting down to a big feast. And that did happen – once.

The story began in 1614 when a band of English explorers sailed home to England with a ship full of Patuxet Indians bound for slavery. They left behind smallpox which virtually wiped out those who had escaped. By the time the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts Bay they found only one living Patuxet Indian, a man named Squanto who had survived slavery in England and knew their language. He taught them to grow corn and to fish, and negotiated a peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Nation. At the end of their first year, the Pilgrims held a great feast honoring Squanto and the Wampanoags.

But as word spread in England about the paradise to be found in the new world, religious zealots called Puritans began arriving by the boat load. Finding no fences around the land, they considered it to be in the public domain. Joined by other British settlers, they seized land, capturing strong young Natives for slaves and killing the rest. But the Pequot Nation had not agreed to the peace treaty Squanto had negotiated and they fought back. The Pequot War was one of the bloodiest Indian wars ever fought.

In 1637 near present day Groton, Connecticut, over 700 men, women and children of the Pequot Tribe had gathered for their annual Green Corn Festival which is our Thanksgiving celebration. In the predawn hours the sleeping Indians were surrounded by English and Dutch mercenaries who ordered them to come outside. Those who came out were shot or clubbed to death while the terrified women and children who huddled inside the longhouse were burned alive. The next day the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared “A Day Of Thanksgiving” because 700 unarmed men, women and children had been murdered.

Cheered by their “victory”, the brave colonists and their Indian allies attacked village after village. Women and children over 14 were sold into slavery while the rest were murdered. Boats loaded with a many as 500 slaves regularly left the ports of New England. Bounties were paid for Indian scalps to encourage as many deaths as possible.

Following an especially successful raid against the Pequot in what is now Stamford, Connecticut, the churches announced a second day of “thanksgiving” to celebrate victory over the heathen savages. During the feasting, the hacked off heads of Natives were kicked through the streets like soccer balls. Even the friendly Wampanoag did not escape the madness. Their chief was beheaded, and his head impaled on a pole in Plymouth, Massachusetts — where it remained on display for 24 years.

The killings became more and more frenzied, with days of thanksgiving feasts being held after each successful massacre. George Washington finally suggested that only one day of Thanksgiving per year be set aside instead of celebrating each and every massacre. Later Abraham Lincoln decreed Thanksgiving Day to be a legal national holiday during the Civil War — on the same day he ordered troops to march against the starving Sioux in Minnesota.

This story doesn’t have quite the same fuzzy feelings associated with it as the one where the Indians and Pilgrims are all sitting down together at the big feast. But we need to learn our true history so it won’t ever be repeated. Next Thanksgiving, when you gather with your loved ones to Thank God for all your blessings, think about those people who only wanted to live their lives and raise their families. They, also took time out to say “thank you” to Creator for all their blessings.

Our Thanks to Hill & Holler Column by Susan Bates susanbates@webtv.net

Ahau gkweshkwatadmen

Gkweshkwatadmen- Lets get acquainted.

Bozho Hello.

Ni je na gin? How are you?

Mno wi shna anwe I’m doing well/fine.

I zhe anwe I’m fine.

Gin je? And you?

Ndézhnekas My name is….

Ni je ézh ne kasyen? What is your name?

Bama mine gwabmen Until we meet again. (sing.)

Bama mine gewabmenem Until another time. (pl.)

Migwétch Thanks.

Igwien Another way to say thanks.

Mishen i Give me that.

Nenmoshen i Hand me that.

Byénenmoshen i Bring that to me.

Byénen i Bring that.

Byénan Hand it over.

Byédon i Bring that. (inan.)

Byéna o Bring h/h. (anim.)

Bidgén Come in.

Byébidgén Welcome, do come in.

Jibteben Sit down.

Jibteb i pedyebwen Sit in that chair.

Jibteben zhi Sit there.

Jibteben shote Sit here.

Nedwendan gégo ne Do you want something?

Nde- Noswen- my name

Wé ni je o? Who is that?

Zhenkazo he/she is called.

Zhnekazo same.

Ni je ézhnekasot? What is his/her name?

Ni je ezhnekazwat What are their names?

Nmedagwenma I like him/her

Wewene zabenma o I like him/her.

Yawe he/she is someone.

Ndaw I am.

Yé to be.

Wé ni je gin? Who are you?

Nde da Where I live.

Nde nweshmoge ngom I am retired now.

Megwa enokiyan I’m still employed. (for hire)

Kenomagwet instructor.

Agnomaget teacher.

Ni pi je wéch byayen? Where do you come from?

Ndoch bya I come from.

Noegmtene ndet se ponges I am seventy years old.

Nin I.

Gin you.

Win he/she.

Ninan we – u.

Ginan we + u.

Ginwa you all.

Winwa they/them.

Ahau, gda nweshmon

Lesson 10: Gda nwéshmomen – We should rest

This lesson shall discuss other miscellaneous household activities

Wabnotakjegen gde wabdamen	We are looking at the TV
Wabnotakjegen gde kewabdamen	We are watching the TV
Wabnotakjegen gde kanabdamen	We are staring at the TV
Notakjegen gde bsedomen	We are listening to the radio
Msenegen nde nebyégé’an	I am writing a letter
Msenegen nde wawidan	I am reading a letter or a book
Msenaksegen nde kewabdamen	We- are watching a movie
Gda mbwach’ewémen nomek	We should visit a while
Byéwidbemshen émbwach’ewéygo	Come sit by me and we will visit
Nishwabtek dbégasnen nwi wawjigé	I will read for 20 minutes
Ni je wa zhewébek gojek wabek?	What will it be like outdoors tomorrow? (weather)
Kewabdan ode wa je zhewébzewen	Watch the news
Wi gméyamget wabek	It will rain tomorrow
Wi bonimget wabek	It will snow tomorrow
Wi ngwanket wabek	It will be cloudy tomorrow
Wi ksenyamget wabek	It will be cold tomorrow
Wi gshatémget wabek	It will be hot tomorrow
Ni je ga byédot o bébamodot?	What did the mail carrier bring?
Gégo ne byédot o bebamodojgét?	Did the mail carrier bring anything?
Mkekwen gi byédot o bébamodot	The mail carrier brought this box
Gda bodwanashen	You should make a fire for me
Byéwidbemshen jig-shkwewdé	Come sit with me by the fire
Gojek gda o chikasom	Y’all should go play outside
Wawatesiyek nde wabmamen épabmiséwat	We see fireflies flying about
Negosek nde kanabmak	I am staring at the stars (star gazing)
Skonozhechkéwen ngi gizhton	I finished my homework

Here is miscellaneous vocabulary to go with our miscellaneous activities

Nouns	Verbs	Other words	Particles
Wabnotakjegen – tv, device that makes noise that you look at	Wabdan – see/look at something	Nomek – for a while	Gde – you or we are doing something, check verb ending
Notakjegen – Radio, device that makes noise, can be a speaker or cd player	Kewabdan – watch something	Nishwabtek – 20	Gda – you or we should do something, check verb ending
Msenegen – paper, book, letter, bill, magazine, etc.	Kanabdan – stare at something, study it	Gojek – outdoors	Nwi – I or we will do something, check verb ending
Msenaksegen – movie, moving picture, tv show, video	Bsedon – listen to something	Wabek – tomorrow	Ni je – combination asking who or what
Dbégasen – minute	Nebyégé – to write	Ode – this	Wa je – future purpose or direction
Zhewébzewen – news, happenings	Wawidan – read something	Gégo – something	Wi – something will happen in the future
Bébamodot – mail carrier, delivery person	Mbwach’ewé – visit	O – “that” if it’s animate, go do something if in front of a verb	Ga – past purpose or direction
Bébamodojgét – mail carrier, delivery person	Byéwidbemshen – come sit by me		Jig – by, near, next to
Mkekwen – box	Wawijgé – to read		Ngi – I or we did something in the past, check verb ending
Shkwewdé – fire	Zhewébek – to happen, an inanimate form
Wawatesiyek – fireflies	Zhewébze – to be a certain way, personal happenings, an animate form
Negosek – stars	Gméyamget – it is raining
Skonozhechkéwen – homework	Bonimget – it is snowing
	Ngwankwet – it is cloudy
	Ksenyamget – it is cold
	Gshatémget – it is hot
	Byédot – bring something
	Bodwana – make a fire for someone
	Chikaso – play
	Kanabma – stare at someone
	Gizhton – finish something

Let’s take a closer look at these phrases:

Modern day events are difficult to describe in an ancient language, but it can be done.
1. A radio is a device that makes noise, so notakjegen
1. A TV is a device that makes noise that we watch, so wabnotakjegen
1. Skonozhechkéwen does not literally mean homework, it refers to “school doings.” Whatever was assigned at school that needs doing.
1. A mail carrier or delivery person is someone who walks around carrying a load. Hence Bébamodot or Bébamodojegét.
1. Msén is wood. We make paper from wood. Msenegen is pretty much anything made from paper, including books, bills, letters, paper, magazines, newspaper, etc. We can get specific if we want, for example, Gizo-msenegen would be a calendar, or a “moon-paper.” But we don’t have to.
1. Msenatsegen is a moving picture. Pulling from the books and the pictures, all on paper, now brought to life on the screen, it’s a moving story on screen. As it has evolved, it can now refer to a video in any form.
The “seeing” verbs can be in animate or inanimate form, depending on what you see. Wabma is seeing someone, Wabdan is seeing something. Kewabma is watching someone, Kewabdan is watching something. Kanabma is staring at or studying someone, Kanabdan is staring at or studying something.
Zhewébze and Zhewébek are idiomatic verbs. They refer to things that are happening.

Zhewébze and Zhewébek

Gmnozhewébes ne?	Is it going well for you?
Éhé mnozhewébes	Yes I’m doing well
Ngi mnozhewébzemen shote ngom	It went well for us here today
Gi mjezhewébes ngom	It went badly for me today
Ni je ézhwébziyen?	What’s the matter with you?
Ni je ézhwébzet o?	What’s the matter with him/her?
Ni je ga zhewébek?	What happened?
Ni je wa zhewébek?	What will happen?
Ni je ézhwébek?	What is happening?
I yé i ga zhewébek	That’s what happened
I yé i wa zhewébek	That’s what will happen
I yé i ézhwébek	That’s what’s happening
Ni pi je ga zhewébek?	Where did it happen?
Ni je pi ga zhewébek?	When did it happen?

Wabdan, Wabma and Wabmek

Potawatomi verbs do not function the same way English verbs do, and sentences in Potawatomi are not formed the same way they are in English. Instead of using the order of the words to show who is doing what, we use the verb itself.

Msenegen nwabdan	I see a paper
Mko nwabma	I see a bear
Mko nwabmek	A bear sees me
Msenegen nde kewabdan	I am watching a paper
Mko nde kewabma	I am watching a bear
Mko nde kewabmek	A bear is watching me
Msenegen nde kanabdan	I am staring at/studying a paper
Mko nde kanabma	I am staring at/studying a bear
Mko nde kanabmek	A bear is staring at/studying me
Msenegen nde dbabdan	I am checking on a paper
Mko nde dbabma	I am checking on a bear
Mko nde dbabmek	A bear is checking on me
Tetagen nnodan	I hear a bell
Mko nnodwa	I hear a bear
Mko nnodwek	A bear hears me
Tetagen nde bsedon	I am listening to a bell
Mko nde bsedwa	I am listening to a bear
Mko nde bsedwek	A bear is listening to me

Assignment:

Shema (feed someone) and Shemgo (be fed) are similar to Wabma and Wabmek. Try using them in phrases and sentences.

Ge Binjegemen

Lesson 9: Ge Binjegémen! Let’s Clean Up!

Ahau, ge binjegémen!	Ok, let’s clean up!
Mnéschegén i dopwen	Straighten up the table
Byédon i mbop mkwemitaswenek	Bring the soup to the refrigerator
Byédon ni mskwéwnagnen taswenek	Bring the red dishes to the cabinet
Ton zhi i zaskokwadék	Put the frybread there
Ni pi je ga wje toyen i ziwtagen?	Where did you put the salt?
Ziwtagen ndeton shote	I have the salt here
Dopwenek étémget i waskek	The pepper is on the table
Ézhiwton mkwemitaswenek ga shotmego	Put away what we didn’t eat in the fridge
Zagjewébdon ni wabshkyagzidon’egnen	Toss out those white napkins
Zigwébdon ni gzidon’egnen	Throw away those napkins
Ni pi je ndo zawgzinwnagjegas?	Where is my brown dish rag?
Zagech ézhiwton i zigwébnekek	Put the garbage can outside
Zagech ézhiwton i mamgengéwkek	Put the recycling bin outside
Majipton i wnagagzinjegéwen	Start the dishwasher
Zhishchegén i mchik bwamshe égzizgengéyen	Sweep the floor before you scrub it
Bindon éjegzinjik bwamshe égzinwnagéyen	Clean the sink before you wash those dishes
Gégo pamséken shote njeshek ngi gzizgengén i mchik	Don’t walk around here I just scrubbed the floor
Gégo pamsékék shote njeshek ngi gzizgengén I mchik	Don’t walk around here (to more than one person) I just scrubbed the floor
Mamgenen ni mkekwen	Recycle those boxes (reuse those boxes)
Gégo ngetoken ode wizaw mkekwen	Don’t lose this yellow box
Mamgenen ni skebygamodésen	Recycle those green bottles (reuse those bottles)
Taswenek ézhiwton ni zhabwémodésen	Put those see through bottles in the cabinet
Ggi gish gzinwnagé ne?	Are you finished with the dishes?
Ahau, ge o nwéshmomen	Ok, Let’s go rest.

Our vocabulary matrix from these phrases:

Nouns	Verbs	Other words	Particles
Dopwen – table	Binjegé – to clean	Ahau – ok, greeting, acknowledgement	Ge – something will happen in the near future
Mbop – soup	Mnéschegé – to straighten up, put in order	I – “that” when that is inanimate	Mskwé – red
Mkwemitaswen – fridge	Byédon – bring a thing	Mkwemitaswenek – locative for fridge	Zaw – brown
Taswen – a closet, cabinet, or cupboard	Byédonen – bring more than one thing. Not used for commands.	Taswenek – locative for taswen	Wizaw – yellow
Wnagnen – dishes	Ton – put it	Zhi – there	Ni pi je – particles meaning “where”
Zaskokwadék – frybread (participle)	To – have it or put it	Shote – here	Ga wje – past purpose or direction
Ziwtagen – salt	Té – to be in a place if it is inanimate	Dopwenek – at/on the table	Ga – something that happened
Waskek – pepper (participle)	Ézhiwton – put something away	Ni – those, if those are inanimate	Ndo – my
Ga shotmego – leftovers (participle – what we didn’t eat)	Zagjewébdon – throw something outside, toss something out	Wabshkya – white	Zaw- brown
Gzidon’egnen – napkins, face cloths	Zigwébdon – discard something, pour something out, throw away	Zagech – Outside	Ngi – Nin did something in the past
Gzinwnagjegas – dishrag	Majipton – start something mechanical	Bwamshe – before	Ode – wizaw
Zigwébnekek – garbage can	Zhishchegé – sweep	Gégo – stop, don’t	Zhabwé – something is clear or see-throughg
Mamgengéwkek – Recycling bin	Gzizgengé – scrub	Njeshek – just happened	Ggi – Gin did something in the past
Wnagagzinjegéwen – dishwasher	Bindon – clean something	Skebgya – green	Ne – yes/no question marker
Mchik – floor, ground, horizon	Gzinwnagé – wash dishes	Gish – finished, already happened	O – in front of a verb, it means go do something
Éjegzinjik – sink (participle – where we was our hands)	Pamsé – walk around
Mkekwen – boxes	Mamgengé – recycle
Modés – bottle	Ngeto – lose something
	Nwéshmo – Rest

What we can learn from these phrases:

Mamgengé is a verb meaning to pick up something discarded to reuse it. This is an old concept to Potawatomi folk, and is now used as a verb for “recycling.”
Most commands listed here are for one person. When assigning a chore to more than one person, be sure to use the plural form.
“To” is a unique verb in that it can mean “to have” or “to put.” It is a relative of the verb “té,” which is the inanimate form of “to be in a place.”
1. Ton zhi is a command form – put something there
1. Ndeton means I have it
1. Ézhiwton is a command form – put something “away” (put it away is an idiom in English and is hard to translate into Potawatomi)
1. Ni pi je ga wje toyen – Where did you put it?
1. Étémget – it is in a place
1. Éték – it is in a place (a variant form)
Notice the color prefixes. There are two ways to express colors in Potawatomi, by prefix or by verb. Yes, colors are verbs in Potawatomi. Let’s explore this in further detail:

Colors in Potawatomi

Wabshkya	White
Mkedéwa	Black
Mskwéwa	Red
Skebgya	Green, sometimes blue
Wjepkwa	Blue
Wjepkwadék	Purple
Wizawa	Yellow
Zawa	Brown

These colors can appear as verbs describing objects, or as prefixes attached to objects.

Mskoze o bnéshi	That bird is red
Mskwabnéshi nde wabma	I see a red bird
Mskwane i wnagen	That dish is red
Mskwéwnagen ndeton	I have a red dish
Wabshkyamget i dopwen	That table is white
Wabdopwen gdebéndan ne?	Do you own a white table?
Wizawamget i pkwakwet	That ball is yellow
Wizawapkwakwet ne gdeton?	Do you have a yellow ball?
Zawamget i émkwan	That spoon is brown
Ni pi je i zawémkwan?	Where is the brown spoon?
Wabshkyak gi penik	Those potatoes are white
Wabshkyapenik ngi gishpnenak	I bought white potatoes
Mkedémget i dabyan	That car is black
Medagwéndan i mkedéwdabyan	I like that black car
Wjepkwamgetnon ni mkesnen	Those shoes are blue
Shkwadémek éték ni wjepkwamkesnen	The blue shoes are by the door
Wjepkwadék i mkekwen	The box is purple
Gégo ngetoken i wjepkwadémkekwen	Don’t lose the purple box

Other Chores….

Nda zibiyéngé	I should do the laundry
Bkes atsek nda bindon	I should clean the bathroom
Mchik nda zosopjegén	I should vacuum the floor
Biskemwenen nda zhoshkwé’an	I should iron the clothes
Dabyan nda gzibingé’an	I should wash the car
Nemosh nda shema	I should feed the dog
Waboyan nda pe’egwadon	I should patch up that blanket
Dawéwgemek nda zhya	I should go to the store
Wshkewmkesnen nda wzhetonen	I should make new moccasins
Nda jigagwné’gé	I should shovel snow
Nda biske’anen	I should chop wood (small pieces)
Nda msénké	I should chop wood (large pieces)

YOUR CHALLENGE: identify the chores that need doing at your home….and who is going to do them!

Wisnek!

Lesson 8: Ge Wisnemen Let’s Eat

To help you have a family dinner, here are the words for some of your family members:

N’os	My dad	Noshé	My aunt (mom’s sister)
Dédé	Dad/Daddy	Nzheshé	My uncle
Ngyé	My mom	Nshegwes	My aunt (dad’s sister)
Néné	Mom/Mommy	Nitawes	My cousin
N’okmis	My grandmother	Nshimé	My little brother/sister
Goko	Grandma	Nshi	My lil’ bro/sis
Nmeshomes	My grandfather	Nidgeko	My sister
Mesho	Grandpa	Nmesé	My big sister
Ndewéma	My older brother (for girls)	Nikan	My brother/friend
Ndanes	My daughter	Ngwes	My son
Nsezé	My older brother (for boys)	Nijanes	My child
Nosemé	My grandchild	Nosemés	My little grandchild

To make these words mean “your”, you must insert a “G” sound to stand for “Gin” which means “You.” G’os=Your dad, Gdédé=Your daddy, G’oko=Your grandma, Gnoshé=Your aunt, Gnitawes=Your cousin.

Table Manners

N’os, mishen gi penik (My Dad, give me the potatoes)

Goko, nénmoshen i mbedé (Grandma, hand me the butter)

Nidgeko, byénenmoshen i waskek (My Sister, pass me the pepper)

Néné, nénmoshen i ziwtagen (Mommy, hand me the salt)

Mesho, byédweshen anet mbish (Grandpa, bring me some water)

Nshimé, mishen i kcheémkwan (My little sibling, give me the big spoon)

Ndanes, byédweshen anet gapi (My daughter, bring me some coffee)

Nitawes, nénmoshen ni zawjisésen (My cousin, hand me the carrots)

Ngwes, mina i nonagnabo se o gshimé (My son, give the milk to your little brother/sister)

Nijanes, nénmo i mbop se o gnitawes (My child, hand the soup to your cousin)

Our vocabulary matrix:

Nouns	Verbs	Other words	Particles
Penik – potatoes	Mishen – give me	Anet – some	Gi – Those in front of an animate noun, past tense in front of a verb
Mbedé – Butter	Nénmoshen – hand me		I – That (when “that” is inanimate)
Waskek – Pepper	Byénenmoshen – Pass me		Ni – Those in front of an inanimate plural noun, also an interrogative
Ziwtagen – salt	Byédweshen – bring me		O – That in front of an animate noun, Go do something in front of a verb
Mbish – water	Mina – give something to someone
Kcheémwakn – big spoon
Gapi – coffee
Zawjisésen – carrots
Nonagnabo – milk
Mbop – soup

When verbs end with -shen, they can mean it’s an action that reverts back to me (give me, hand me, pass me), or they can have to do with lying down (zhashgeshen – lay down, weshen – rest, pekshen – fall down).

Here are some practice phrases for eating and drinking:

Zéschegén	Set the table
Gbekté ne?	Are you hungry?
Cho gbektési ne?	Aren’t you hungry?
Mbekté	I’m hungry
Kyét nam she mbekté	I’m really hungry
Cho mbektési	I’m not hungry
Gbektém ne?	Are you all hungry?
Mbektémen	We are hungry
Gbektémen	We all are hungry
Cho mbektésimen	We are not hungry
Bkedé ne o?	Is he/she hungry?
Bkedéwak ne gé winwa?	Are they hungry?
Gashknabagwé ne?	Are you thirsty?
Éhe ngashknabagwé	Yes I’m thirsty
Cho ngashknabagwési	I’m not thirsty
Gashknabagwém ne?	Are you all thirsty?
Ngashknabagwémen	We are thirsty
Gashknabagwémen	We all are thirsty
Cho ngashknabagwésimen	We are not thirsty
Gashknabagwé ne o?	Is he/she thirsty?
Gwi mnekwé ne?	Do you want a drink?
Gwi mnekwém ne?	Do you all want a drink?
Wégni je émnekwéyen?	What are you drinking?
Wégni je émnekwéyék?	What are you all drinking?
Ménkwén ode	Drink this
Gnedwéndan ne ode mijem?	Do you want this food?
Mégwa ne?	Want more?
Mégwa ne gapi?	Want more coffee?
Mégwa ne mbish?	Want more water?
Mishen émkwan	Give me a spoon
Byédweshen bkedjigen	Bring me a fork
Ni pi je i koman?	Where is that knife?
Byénenmoshen i kwabegen	Pass me the dipper/serving spoon
Nénmoshen ziwtagen	Hand me the salt

Here is a review of Wisne, Mwa and Mijen.

Wégni je émijyen?	What are you eating?
Ode pen nwi mwa	I will eat this potato
Penyék ne gwi mwak?	You want to eat some potatoes?
Peniwabo ne gwi mijen?	You want to eat some potato soup?
Mshimenek gwi mwak	You will eat apples
Mshimenek nde mwak	I’m eating apples
Bidi nde mwa	I’m eating chicken
Wiyas nde mijen	I’m eating meat
Wégni je émijyak pkonyak?	What are we eating tonight?
Mdamnabo émijyak pkonyak	We are eating corn soup tonight
Gokosh wiyasen émijyak pkonyak	We are eating pork chops tonight
Wégni je éwisneyak pkonyak?	What are we eating tonight?
Zaskokwadék gwi wisnemen pkonyak	We will eat frybread tonight
Mnejimnen mine zawjisésen éwisneyak pkonyak	We will eat peas and carrots tonight
Hau, nge wisen	Ok, I’m going to eat
Hau, nge wisnemen	Ok, we (not you) are going to eat
Hau, Ge wisnemen	Ok, Let’s eat (all of us)
Gwi wisen ne?	Will you eat?
Gwi wisnem ne?	Will you all eat?
Gi wisen ne?	Did you eat?
Gi wisnem ne?	Did you all eat?
Ndépsenyé	I’m full.
Ngi gish wisen	I’ve finished eating/I’ve already eaten
Ngi gish wisnemen	We already ate
Ngi gish wisnemen bwamshe ébyaygo shote	We ate before we came here (exclusive, not you)
Nde mijnenjiganjegé	I’m eating with fingers
Gégo mijnenjiganjegéken	Don’t eat with your fingers
Nwi widopangémen pkonyak	We will eat with others tonight (company)
Gwi widopangémen pkonyak	We all will eat with others tonight
Ndanes nwi widopma	I will eat with my daughter
Ndenim nwi widopma	I will eat with my husband
Ndekwéyom nwi widopma	I will eat with my wife

Your assignment for this lesson is to have dinner! Use as much of the language as possible while eating with your family or your friends.

Mesho enjoying KC coffee

Good day to you….

Gkweshkwatadmen- Lets get acquainted.

Énkwéshmo’ayen Weye Upon Meeting Someone/Somebody

Bozho Hello.

Ni je na gin? How are you?/How goes it?

Mno wi shna anwe I’m doing well/fine.

I zhe anwe I’m fine.

Gin je? And you?

Ndézhnekas My name is….I am known as…

Ni je ézh ne kasyen? What is your name/what are you called, known by?

Bama mine gwabmen Until we meet again. (sing.)

Bama mine gewabmenem Until another time. (pl.)

Migwétch Thanks. (meaning, I will give again, at some time)

Igwien Another way to say thanks.

Mishen i Give me that.

Nenmoshen i Hand me that.

Byénenmoshen i Bring that to me.

Byénen i Bring that.

Byénan Hand it over.

Byédon i Bring that. (inan.)

Byéna o Bring h/h. (anim.)

Bidgén Come in.

Byébidgén Welcome, do come in.

Jibteben Sit down.

Jibteb i pedyebwen Sit in that chair.

Jibteben zhi Sit there.

Jibteben shote Sit here.

Nedwendan gégo ne Do you want something?

Neshnabé ne gdaw are you Indian?

Bodéwadmi ne gdaw are you Potawatomi?

Ni je ésh ne kas yen what is your name?

Ni pi je wéj bya yen where are you from?

Ni je énwéyen what’s your tribe?

A possible answer you might get:

_______________ shkwon genek ndoj bya

I come from the ________________________ reservation.

Some more queries:

Ni je épichiyak ne i gshkwongenek How far is it to your reservation?

Manék gi neshnabék ne ibe gdoj bya yen Are there many Indians where you’re from?

Gde wichewé ne are you married?

Ehengh nde widge’eyan yes, I am married.

Gdo nijanes ne do you have children?

Éhé ndo nijanes yes, I have children.

Jo wi nde nijansesi no, I don’t have children.

Gdo nosemesek ne do you have grandchildren?

Ehe ndo nosemesek yes, I have grandchildren.

Jo wi nde nosemesesi no, I don’t have gchildren.

Jo mshe nde nosemesi no, not yet!

Ni je étsowat gi gnijansek How many are there, your kids?

Nizh yawik. Ngot kwézés mine ngot gigabés.

There are two. One little girl and one little boy.

Nswéo yawik, ngot gigyagos mine nizh gigabések

There are three. One little girl and two little boys.

Some possible responses to initial queries:

Hau, bozho

__________________ ndezh ne kas

Bodéwadmi ndaw

Ode shkongenek ndoj bya (I come from this reservation.)

Jigwé ndotém I am thunder clan.

Ni je o gdotém What is your clan?

Neshnabémo ne Do you speak Indian ?

Hau, gda neshnabémen We should speak Indian.

Some more possible queries:

Gi bya ne éméndokasyen

Did you come for ceremonies?

Gwi nimedi ne wa je zéksowat

Are you going to dance when they have their doings?

Gwi nimedi ne wa je jingtemwat

Are you going to dance when they pow-wow?

Gnegmo ne?

Do you sing?

Gwi ggemo ne

Are you going to sing?

Manék gode neshnabék énimediwat shote

There are many these Indians that dance here.

Ode ngot mawjeshnowen mésham ngoji pi shote

This is one of the biggest gatherings hereabouts.

Énchiwénmoyak i

We’re proud of that!

Ode se nde kwéyom

This is my wife

Gode se nde penojéyek

These are my children

Ibe édayak

We live over there

Ézhi ne

Over there?

Ndo dabyan ndeto ne

Do you have a car?

Éhé dabyan ndeto

Yes, I have a car.

Cho dabyan ndetosi

No, I don’t have a car.

Mbusen nde shona gishpen éshyayan ngoji pi

I go by bus if I go someplace.

Cho she dabyan ndetosi éwzgabyénma

I really don’t have a car to drive.

Medagwéndan éyajmoyak nomek ngom

I’m glad we could talk today for a while.

Ébgosénmeyan émedagwéndemyen gawje kigdoyak

I hope you liked our talk.

Iw se she na ngom

That’s all for today!

Ode se ndenim

This is my husband.

Ni pi je ga ye yen wnago

Where were you yesterday?

Ni pi je enokiyen

Where do you work?

Wewene ne edbegazyen ibe enokiyen

Are you paid well there where you work?

Ngi nkweshmo’a o wenze kwe ngodek egi weshkgeyan

I met a pretty lady once when I was a young man.

I ye o ga wje widge’éyan

That is whom I married.

Nyanok gi penojek etoyak, wenzik

We have five children, they are good.

Wenet i wij’uwewen

Marriage is good

Memejek enkweshmoyen o wewene wijewagan

Especially when you meet the right partner.

Necessary stuff to know

Prefixes:

Present nde

Immediate future nge

Past ngi

Future nwi

Future nda

Singular BMOSE

To walk

Nde she bmose I am walking

Examples:

Odanek nde she bmose present

Odanek nge she bmose future

Odanek ngi she bmose past

Odanek nwi she bmose future

Odanek nda she bmose future/intent

Plural MBEMSEMEN

We are walking

Examples:

Odanek nde she bmosemen present

Odanek nge she bmosemen future

Odanek ngi she bmosemen past

Odanek nwi she bmosemen future

Odanek nda she bmosemen future/intent

Some more examples:

Wi h/s is going to

Gwi going to

Gda could/can

Odanek ne gwi she bmose? Singular

Are you going to walk to town?

Odanek ne gwi she bmosem? plural

Are you guys going to walk to town?

Odanek gda she bmose. Singular

You could walk to town.

Odanek gda she bmosem. plural

You guys could walk to town.

Odanek gda she bmosemen. plural/inclusive

We could walk to town.

Odanek ne wi she bmose? Singular

Is he/she walking to town?

Odanek ne wi she bmosek? Plural

Are they walking to town?

BMOSE:

Mbe bamse I am walking around.

Pa msewak he/she is walking around.

Gbe bamse you are walking around.

Pa msewek they are walking around.

Wi pamse he/she is going for a walk.

Nwi pamse I am going for a walk.

Nwi pamsemen we are going for a walk/exlc.

Gwi pamsemen we are going for a walk/incl.

Ke pamsemen let us go for a walk.

Bebamset one who walks/sing.

Bebamsejek those that walk–also all the/plural.

Bmose or bmosewak walking or walking by

Bmosek walking or walking by/plural

Egi shke wepset when h/s first started walking.

Ni je pi ga ne wepset whan did h/s start out walking?

Ni je pi wa ne wepseyen when are you going to start out walking?

Kwi dnen lift it or that.

Bseg widnen raise that.

Some more spiritual terms:

Ke bse gwidnamen

Literal: Let’s raise it!

Spiritual use: means to resurrect something or bring something back

that has been dormant.

Ode ebse gwid nemgo

Literal: As we raise this.

Spiritual meaning: As we resurrect this/As we bring this back to life.

Ode gabse gwid ne gadek

Literal: This thing that we raised.

Spiritual meaning: This thing that was resurrected: i.e., ceremony and/or part of a ceremony, or a sacred object.

Weje bsegwid nemgo

Literal: Why we are raising this.

Spiritual meaning: Why we are resurrecting this!

Bidakojgen

Usually an offering of tobacco/could be an offering of anything.

Bgednegade

Is being being put down as an offering.

Semawyan

Tobacco pouch.

Kokmeskignan

Our Grandmother Earth.

Sekmekwe

Mother Earth.

Gosnankignan

Father Earth.

Meshomsekignan

Grandfather Earth.

Danikignan

Daughter Earth

Gweskignan

Son Earth

Wdenwemagnedok

All of our relatives

Gmeshomsenan

Our Grandfather (spiritual drum term)

Gmeshomsenanek

Our Grandfathers (pl.)

Kechkosnan

Our Father

Mamogosnan

Creator/The Greatest Father of us all!

Bmedak wchigabo

Stands up to offer a prayer

Ahau, nge bme dak wchigabo

OK, I will get up yo offer a prayer!

Bemdak wchigabot

One who offers a prayer!

Gigdewen

Prayer

Zeksowen

Spiritual drum service/doings (having to with the Dream Dance)

Zekson gemwenen

Spiritual Big Drum songs

Pwankek

Water Drum

Shishigwen

Rattle/gourd.

Bakekwanen

Staffs that hold the drum off the ground on the Big Drum.

Dewegenatken

Drum sticks

Dewegenatek

Drum stick

Shewendag wsowen

Blessing

Madmowen

Ceremonial prayer/ceremony

Wechksenyak

North

Wechmokek

East

Wechnawkwek/Wechgshatek

South

Wechbgeshmok

West

Iw enajmoyan

That is all I have to say/Amen!

Iw se nagomgek

Another one!

Etso nangotoygo

Each and every one of us!

ZIBIWEN—-of rivers:

Singular: Plural:

Zibe river zibiwen

Zibiwes creek zibiwesen

Tkepzibiwes spring creek tkepzibiwesen

Tkep natural spring tkebin

Tkepis small spring tkebisen

Mbes lake mbesen

Mbeses small lake mbesesen

Senajwen rocky rapids senajwenen

Wawyajewen whirl pool wawyajwenen

Wasjewen shimmering rapids wasjownen

Mdwejwen sound of rapids–river

Bmejwen flowing by river,creek, etc.

Gwekjewen current changes direction

Mbishkik marsh

Askobisen puddle

Mbeshes pond in middle of marsh

Kwedajwen up stream

Nisajwen down stream

Related terms:

Nambik under water

Kwedbik on top of the water

Gmidma it’s deep water/in reference to water

Tkwidma it’s shallow water/in reference to water

Gshijwen fast current

Dokmejwen quiet/peaceful water–slow current

Bedadga slow swimmer

Bmadga h/s is wading or swimming

Neadga h/s knows how to swim

Bgezo h/s swims/bathes

Bgeze another one?

Gogi to dive under water

Gshi yadga h/s is a fast swimmer

Bges swim/bathe

Pamshka to go boating

Bmeshka on a boat

Gwijen floating on water (anim.)

Gwi de mget it’s on the water (inanim.)

Gwdapne to drown

Gwashkwebito splashing/sound of

Love can be oh so splendorous!

Love has many ways of being described. These are just a few words to start with.

These need prefixes or affixes

Love has varying degrees

Love (v)

Ndebandan: stingy/miserly with s.t., treasure s.t. (vti)

Ndebana: treasure or value someone, adore, appreciate, revere, hold s.o. in high regard

Dbandewen: (n) (ni), describing love as a noun

Debandek: (vta), love one another, cherish one another.

Debanawen: (n) love

Maminawendan: (vti) fond of s.t.

Maminawenem: (vta) fond of s.o.

Zagidewen: love, describing love from the heart.

Zagiwe (vai), to love s.o.

Zagiwewen: (n)

Zagidiwak (vaip) love everyone

Nzagi’a o: I love s.o. (vta)

Gzagi’en: I love you (romantically)

Zabendan (vai) don’t care for s.t. (needs affixes)

Zabenma (vta) don’t care for s.o. (needs affixes)

Zhawenimawaso: to love children

Zhawendiwak: (vaip) love everyone

Zhawenindiwak (vaip) love one another

Zhawenjege: to have love

Zhaweninge: (vai) have love

Zagidzo: (vai) love oneself

Minwenem; (vta) love s.b.

Nmenwema: I love s.b.

Nmenwemek: he/she loves me

Wijewde’em: (vta) love s.b., (lit. walk along with s.o. in love)

Wijewagen: (n) s.o. who walks along with us, describing s.o. close

Ndemikwenma: (v) remember someone

Ndemikwendan (V) remember something