Oh No! (Sshtaa taa haa!)

An elder of Bay Mills told this story to me.

His name is John.

When he was young his family lived in Bay Mills.

(translation)

Maanda dbaajmowin gaa-wiindmawid gete-Anishnaabe wa Gnoozhekanning njibaad.

Zhaabadiis izhinikaazo.

Pii gaa-shkiniigid Gnoozhekanning doodeman gii-daawan.

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It was winter.

His father said, "We are going fishing at Round Island."

They made spears and hooks to use.

(translation)

Gii-bboon.

"Gawaading nwiii-zhaami Waawye-Minising," oosan gii-ikidoon.

Nitan miinwaa mgiskanan gii-zhitoonaawaan wii-nokaazwaad.

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That day they got up early in the morning.

They put on warm clothes.

They put everything onto the sleigh.

(translation)

Gii-nikaawag gchi-gizheb wi pii.

Giizho-gwiwnan gii-biiskaanaawaan.

Kino gegoo gii-toonaawaa zhooshksensing.

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They walked across the ice.

They walked for many hours.

They arrived there where they would be fishing.

They worked very hard and chopped a hole in the ice.

(translation)

Gii-tkamiiwag mkomiing.

Gii-bbimsewag niibna nso-dbaabaan.

Gii-ni-dgoshiniwag zhiwe waa-nji-giigoonykewaad.

Gii-gchi-nokiiwag mii dash gaa-bgowaawaad niwi mkomiin.

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They looked into the hole.
They put the bait into the water.
They waited.
Soon they saw a whitefish.
Father was ready.

He thrust the spear at the fish.
He got it!
Oh no! No rope!
He didn't tie the rope to the spear
They were very quiet for a while.

(translation)

Gii-dbaapiwag mkomiing.

Gii-toonaawaan shamoojgan nibiing.

Gii-baabiinhaawag.

Wiiba gii-waabimaawaan dikamegwan.

Oos gii-giizhiitaa.

Gii-gdawaakwaanaa giigoonhiin.

Gii-biindohnaan dikamegwan.

Sshtaa taa haa! Gaawii gegoo sabaap!

Gaawiin gii-tkobdoosiin.

Aapji gii-bizaanyaawag jina.

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Then they laughed and laughed

"Don't tell anyone, OK?" their father said.

"OK," they said.

(translation)

Mii dash gii-gchi-baa-baapiwag.

"Gegwa awayaa wiindmowaa kegwa, ahaaw?" ooswaan gii-ikidoon.

"Nahaaw," gii-kidowag.

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They walked back home.

I asked him if he ever told anyone what happened that day.

"Everyone that I saw," he said laughing.

(translation)

Gii-ni-giiwe gaadesewag.

Ngii-gkwejimaa giishpin awaya gii-wiindimowaad gaa-zhiwebag wi pii.

"Kina awaya gaa-waabmangid," gii-kid baapid.

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The end.

(translation)

Mii wi.

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Republished with permission from "Sshtaa taa haa!" by Wanda Perron, illustrated by Casey Munz (Bay Mills Indian Community, Bay Mills, MI: 2004).