Il Nonno Compra dei Cavalli, Granpa Buys Some Horses

     C’è  la mia storia questa settimana per il tavalo italiano.  Quando ero ragazzo, molti anni fa, mi ha raccontato questa storia mia zia Grace.

     This is my story this week for the Italian table.  Many years ago when I was a young boy, my aunt Grace told me this story.

     Circa 1890, quando mio nonno era giovane, ha deciso di trasferirsi dal Wisconsin a Minnesota colla famiglia da suo zio.  Avevano bisogno di più cavalli per il viaggio, ed i migliori cavalli erano in una fattoria in Canada.  Così mio nonno conosceva bene i cavalli, lo hanno mandato in Canada per comprare i cavalli.  È certo che ha fatto un buon acquisto, perchè non solo è tornato con buoni cavalli, ma anche con una bella sposa.  Quella sposa è diventata in mia nonna.  È vera la storia?  Credo di sì.  C’è come lo mi ha detto Zia Grace, lo giuro.

     Around 1890, when my grandpa was a young man, he decided to move from Wisconsin to Minnesota with his uncle's family.  They needed more horses for the trip, and the best horses were on a farm in Canada.  Because my grandpa was a good judge of horseflesh, they sent him to Canada to buy the horses.  He must have gotten a good deal, because he not only came back with good horses, but he also had a pretty bride.  That bride became my grandma.  Is the story true?  I think so.  That's how Aunt Grace told it, I swear.

Index of recordings for "Living Our Language" edited by Anton Treuer

     A while back I purchased the book "Living Our Language" edited by Anton Treuer.  It's a bi-lingual, English/Ojibwe, collection of Ojibwe stories as told by many different elders.  I discovered later that recordings of many of the stories are available on-line.  The recordings are in the Ojibwe language, and many of them are narrated by the elders who originally told them.  I am finding this to be an extremely valuable resource, helping me to increase my understanding of both the language and the culture.
     The recordings are available at the Oshkaabewis Native Journal back issues page.  By clicking on the "play audio files" tab on the issue designated, and then on the track of the story to which you would like to listen, the stories of the elders will come to you.
     Miigwech nibowaa to the dedication of the elders and the many others whose efforts have made this possible.

The Stories of Archie Mosay of Balsam Lake                    page 16

Nine of the eleven stories of Archie Mosay are recorded in ONJ VOL 3 NUM 2.

The Stories of Jim Clark of Mille Lacs                               page 48

The twelve stories of Jim Clark are recorded in ONJ VOL 5 NUM 2

The Stories of Joe Auginaush of White Earth                     page 152

Two of the three stories of Joe Auginaush are recorded in ONJ VOL 4 NUM 1 at tracks 01-1 and 07-7.

The Stories of Collins Oakgrove of Red Lake                    page 166

The four stories of Collins Oakgrove are recorded in ONJ VOL 4 NUM 2 at tracks 02-2, 04-4, 06-6 and 01-9.

The Stories of Emma Fisher of Leech Lake                        page 180

Three of the five stories of Emma Fisher are recorded in ONJ VOL 3 NUM 1 at tracks 09-9 and 09-22; and ONJ VOL 4 NUM 2, track 5-13.

The Stories of Susan Jackson of Leech Lake                       page 202

The two stories of Susan Jackson are recorded in ONJ VOL 4 NUM 1 at tracks 02-2 and 08-8.

The Stories of Harley White of Leech Lake                          page 212

One of the two stories of Harley White is recorded in ONJ VOL 4 NUM 2 at track 01-1.

The Stories of Porky White of Leech Lake                            page 230

Two of the six stories of Porky White are recorded in ONJ VOL 3 NUM 1 at tracks 04-17 and 08-8.

     As a beginning student of Ojibwe, I follow the story in the book while listening to the recording.  It's very difficult to understand at first, but it becomes clearer for me with each repetition, and the second story comes a little easier than the first.
     I realize that we all learn in different ways.  If you have suggestions for other ways to use this resource, please share it with us in the comments below.  Of course all relative comments are welcome.

Aajaagobiimawaaboo -- Boxelder Sap

     In the spring of the year that I was 5 years old, I discovered that the sap of the box elder tree tasted sweet.  My wise friend Billy, who was also 5 years old, said it would be even sweeter if we cooked it.  So then we cut into a low branch and let the sap drip into a coffee can.
     The next day we took the sap we had gathered and started a fire to cook it.  When Billy's dad saw the smoke, he came and beat it out with his new cap.  He then took me home and told my dad what we had done.
     I found out later that Billy got a spanking from his dad.  My dad told me that if I wanted to build a fire, I should do it with him.  I had to stay in my room for a while, but later in the day my dad and I went out in the yard, built a fire, and cooked some hot dogs.
     I've enjoyed building many safe fires since then, and finally, 60 years later, I cooked my first batch of box elder syrup.  Billy was right, it is sweeter.

Ojibwe Vocabulary for This Week.  Words for Liquids

Onjigaa                       It drips, it leaks, it runs
Mashkwawadin          It freezes                             Ningikode         It melts, it thaws

Wiishkobaagamin      It tastes sweet                      Minwaagamin  It tastes good

Dakaagamig                When the liquid is cool    Abaagamideg     When the liquid is warm
Gizhaagamideg           When the liquid is hot

Aajaagobiimawaaboo

Mii sa go ziigwang.
Mashkwawadin dibikak minawaa ningikode gigizhebaawagak.  Onjigaa sa.
Wiishkobaagamin minawaa minwaagamin.
Dakaagamig gemaa abaagamideg gemaa gizhaagamideg, aapiji sa go niminwendaan.

Box Elder Sap

It is so that it is spring.
It freezes at night and it thaws in the morning.  The sap runs.
The sap is sweet and delicious.
Whether it is cold or warm or hot, I like it a lot.

(This poem is for you, Billy)