Waagosh Miinawaa Omakakii
Mikinaak gaa-taad imaa jiigibiig i’iw gichigamiing. Niibowa abiwag ongow asiniig, gwaakwaashkwanise-asiniig. Wayaabishkiiwejig bi-izhaawaad owii-gikendaanaawaa dibishkoo gewiinawaa gwayak izhichigewaad apaginaawaad iniw asiniin. A’aw Mikinaak ogii-asiginaan asiniin. Mii ezhi-gaawed eyaad gaa-asiginaad Maanamegwan. A’aw Maanameg ogagwejimaan iniw Mikinaakwan da-waabandang i’iw genawendaminid iniw Mikinaakwan. Mikinaak gaawiin odaa-bagidinaasiin iniw Maanamegwan da-waabandaminid i’iw gaa-kanawendang. Enda-onizhishi asin, mii gaa-izhi-ziindaakoshing imaa mitigwaak. Mikinaak owii-wiikwajitoon da-gidiskibinaad iniw asiniin. A’aw Maanameg gii-pi-bagizo ezhi-inaad Mikinaakwan, “Giizikan i’iw gimikinaakwemikwaan, mii da-debibinad a’aw asin.” Mii ezhi-aabanaabid waabandang mooka’ang imaa nibiikaang i’iw omikinaakwemikwaan.
Mii ezhi-waabamaad iniw Maanamegwan agawaateshininid. Maanameg ezhi-zaageweyaadagaad, omikinaakwemikwaan obiizikaan! Mii dash a’aw Mikinaak baataashing imaa mitigwaak. Gaawiin gegoo obiizikanziin. Odinaan iniw Mikinaakoon Maanameg, “Giishpin wii-ayaaman i’iw gimikinaakwemikwaan, gidaa-meshkwadoonin i’iw genawendaman!”
The snapping turtle lived on the shore of the great lake. There were a lot of rocks, skipping rocks. When the white people came, they wanted to know how to properly throw the rocks. The turtle collected the rocks. Then the catfish got jealous of what the turtle was collecting. The catfish asked the turtle to see what he was protecting. The turtle did not let the catfish see what he was protecting. The rock was so beautiful and then it got stuck in the crack of a tree. The turtle tried to remove the rock. The catfish came swimming by and said to the turtle, “Take off your shell, then you will be able to reach the rock.” Then he looked behind and saw the turtle’s shell in the water. And then the turtle saw the catfish laying in the shade. Then the catfish came swimming into view, he was wearing the turtle’s shell! And the turtle was stuck in the tree. He wasn’t wearing anything. The catfish told him, if you want your shell I will trade you for that which you are protecting!”