
The following lesson was written by Howard Kimewon and Margaret Noodin to enrich a cradleboard making workshop at the 15th Annual Language and Culture Camp in Manistee, Michigan led by Judy Pamp.
For this project you can listen/download the complete audio or listen to each section as you go along. Reading by Christy Bieber
Complete audio: Cradleboard
Cradleboard-1
1. |
Pane gwa |
gii bi objikaaznaa’an |
tiginaaganan |
Anishinaabeg. |
|
Always |
(past) used |
wooden constructed things |
Anishinaabe people. |
|
The people have always used cradleboards. |
Cradleboard-2
2. |
Bebkaan |
igo |
gonemaa |
daa |
ezhi |
naagaadoon |
nindan |
tiginaaganan. |
|
They are different |
really |
maybe |
was |
how |
they are built |
these |
cradleboards. |
|
The cradleboards are all unique. |
Cradleboard-3
3. |
Mii |
maanda |
gaa |
ezhichigeyaad |
Anishinaabeg |
gii |
bi kooganaawaad |
binoojiins. |
|
So |
then this |
was |
did |
Anishinaabeg |
did |
they raised |
babies. |
|
This is what the native people did when they raised a baby. |
Cradleboard-4
4. |
Tiginaaganing |
maaba |
binoojiins |
gii |
moowejigaazo. |
|
In the wooden constructed |
this |
baby |
did get |
carried around by someone. |
|
In the cradle they carried the baby around. |
Cradleboard-5
5. |
Mii |
geye |
wii |
noondaan |
waaamdaan |
miinwaa |
geye wii |
gikendaan |
aapichi |
zaagikchigaazod. |
|
And |
then |
|
to hear things, |
to see things |
and to |
|
know it |
very |
to be loved. |
|
This also was done so babies would see things, hear things and learn while being loved by someone. |
Cradleboard-6
6. |
Mii |
maanda gaa |
bi ezhi ayaawaad |
gii |
bi |
bimaadiziwaad. |
|
Then |
this |
how they were |
|
here |
they lived. |
|
This is the way they lived. |
Cradleboard-7
7. |
Niibinaa |
mshkwiiziwin |
binoojiins |
giindenaan |
tiganaaganing |
enji |
gaanawenjigaazod. |
|
Lots of |
strength |
baby |
received |
in the wooden constructed |
while in a place |
being cared for by them. |
|
The baby grew strong in the cradle while being cared for in the cradle. |
Cradleboard-8
8. |
Kina goya |
gii |
giikamegwaan |
neyen |
shkiniigishan. |
|
Everyone |
(pst) |
they are all advising |
this |
young man. |
|
Everyone advised the young man. |
Cradleboard-9
9. |
Tigoonsan |
gii |
zhoobadibenaan. |
|
Sticks |
were |
bent by them. |
|
They bent sticks. |
Cradleboard-10
10. |
Wii |
zhitoowaad |
tiganaagan. |
|
To |
make it |
wooden constructed thing. |
|
To make a cradleboard. |
Cradleboard-11
11. |
Naanagoodinong |
geye |
wiigwas |
gii |
objikaaznaa’aa |
ni |
boon. |
|
Sometimes |
also |
birchbark |
did |
they use |
there |
in winter. |
|
We sometimes used birchbark to make the cradleboard especially in the winter. |
Cradleboard-12
12. |
Wiigobiish |
gii |
objikaaznaa’aa |
maanda |
tiginaagan |
wii |
shkiwaadamowaad. |
|
Bass wood |
did |
they use |
this |
wooden constructed thing |
to |
sew it. |
|
They used bass wood to sew the cradleboard. |
Cradleboard-13
13. |
Kaa goya |
psagakwan |
kwaa |
gii |
gaawaasiian |
Anishinaabeg. |
|
Nobody |
boards |
(emphasis) |
did |
to not have them |
Anishinaabeg. |
|
A long time ago they did not have boards. |
Cradleboard-14
14. |
Mii maanda |
gaa |
ezhi |
zhitoowad |
maanda |
tiginaagan. |
|
So then |
was |
the way |
they build |
this |
wooden constructed thing. |
|
This is the way they built this cradleboard. |
Cradleboard-15
15. |
Moonjigeshkweganoon |
gii |
naabiinoon |
tiginaaganing. |
|
The back straps |
were |
connected |
on the wooden constructed thing. |
|
The back straps were connected to the cradleboard. |
Cradleboard-16
16. |
Speming |
gii |
temigad |
tiginaaganing. |
|
On top |
was |
it located |
on the wooden constructed thing. |
|
It was located on top of the wooden constructed thing. |
Cradleboard-17
17. |
Dabaashish |
gii |
temigad |
wi |
binoojiin |
ezhizideshing. |
|
Below |
was |
located |
that |
baby |
where the feet go. |
|
The footboard is located on the bottom. |
Cradleboard-18
18. |
Gii |
maamwi |
minidoomiinsgewag |
gondag |
kwewag. |
|
Did |
together |
they beaded |
those |
women. |
|
These women beaded together. |
Cradleboard-19
19. |
Giinwaa |
enswa |
enigizwaad |
maaba |
danis |
geye |
gaagwan |
aapichigwa |
gii |
kchi |
nenmaan. |
|
Us |
in |
they are related |
this |
daughter |
also |
porcupine |
really |
did |
a lot |
like it. |
|
All of us in the family of my daughter really liked the porcupine a lot. |
Cradleboard-20
20. |
Mii |
neyen |
ndanis |
kaa |
nendang |
wii |
bzingwaachigaaznid |
gaagwan |
waabooansing |
|
So |
that one |
my daughter |
did |
want |
to |
sew a design |
of a porcupine |
on the small blanket. |
|
So my daughter wanted to sew a design of a porcupine on the small blanket. |
Cradleboard-21
21. |
Jibwa |
disagwaa’aan |
maaba |
ankobijigans |
mii |
gii |
zhitooyang |
tiginaagan. |
|
Before |
she arrived |
this |
grand-baby |
then |
did |
we make |
a wooden constructed thing. |
|
Before the grandbaby arrived we made a cradleboard. |
Cradleboard-22
22. |
Dayna |
goweta |
gii |
dibamigonaa |
maanda |
weweni |
wii |
zhitooyang |
tiginaagan. |
|
Dayna |
just |
did |
watched us |
then |
carefully |
to |
we build |
the wooden constructed thing. |
|
Dana watched us carefully build a cradleboard. |
Cradleboard-23
23. |
Pii dash |
e-disigwaang |
Anastasia |
gii tene |
geye |
kwesans |
waa |
enjigawenmin. |
|
When then |
to arrive |
Anastasia |
was it be there |
also |
the little girl |
to |
where we care for her. |
|
When Anastasia arrived it was there to care for her. |
Cradleboard-24
24. |
Shkwaang |
pane |
nabe |
Anastasia |
waamdang |
gaa |
bi |
zhewebedenig |
Dayna |
epichii |
niimid |
|
Behind |
always |
look |
Anastasia |
look |
|
to |
what happened in the past |
Dayna |
while |
dancing. |
|
As Dayna is dancing forward Anastacia is looking back at the past. |