This song was originally sung by the Ode’min Kwe Singers and released on their album, New Moon Medicine. It was first translated into Anishinaabemowin by Helen Roy in 2009 and has been lovingly used to teach humility, respect and Ojibwe language for many years. This song reminds us to connect ourselves with all living things, no matter how big or small.

The first verse refers to the Creator, so the phrases are slightly different than all the other verses which consider the different generations of humans and forms of animals around us. Creative students might think up many more verses to thank different parts of the world that sustains us.

Verses one and two below can help you learn the song. When you have learned those two, go on to sing the other verses like the second verse with just the last word in lines one and three changed to honor a different group of beings.

Sung by Margaret Noodin
Humble Song Art by Shannon Noori

Humble-Song-1

1 – Nitaam-azhigane / First Verse – Gizhemanidoo

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidod Gizhemanidoo
(You all should be humble says the Creator)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaan
(We all should bend down before her / him)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidod Gizhemanidoo
(You all should be humble says the Creator)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendang
(We all should know what she / he knows)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

2 – Niizhing-azhigane / Second Verse – Gimishoomisinaanig

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Gimishoomisinaanig
(You all should be humble say our Grandfathers)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaanig
(We all should bend down before them)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Gimishoomisinaanig
(You all should be humble say our Grandfathers)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendamowaad
(We all should know what they know)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

3 – Niising-azhigane / Third Verse – Gookomisinaanig

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Gookomisinaanig
(You all should be humble say our grandmothers)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaanig
(We all should bend down before them)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Gookomisinaanig
(You all should be humble say our Grandmothers)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendamowaad
(We all should know what they know)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

4 – Niiwing-azhigane / Fourth Verse – Giniijaanisinaanig

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Giniijaanisinaanig
(You all should be humble say our children)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaanig
(We all should bend down before them)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Giniijaanisinaanig
(You all should be humble say our children)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendamowaad
(We all should know what they know)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

5 – Naaning-azhigane / Fifth Verse – Nengwiiganejig

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Nengwiiganejig
(You all should be humble say the Winged Ones)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaanig
(We all should bend down before them)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Nengwiiganejig
(You all should be humble say the Winged Ones)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendamowaad
(We all should know what they know)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

6 – Niizhing-azhigane / Second Verse – Naawo’gaadejig

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Naawo’gaadejig
(You all should be humble say the Four-legged Ones)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaanig
(We all should bend down before them)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Naawo’gaadejig
(You all should be humble say the Four-legged Ones)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendamowaad
(We all should know what they know)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

7 – Niizhing-azhigane / Second Verse – Begizojig

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Begizojig
(You all should be humble say the Swimmers)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaanig
(We all should bend down before them)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Begizojig
(You all should be humble say the Swimmers)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendamowaad
(We all should know what they know)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

8 – Niizhing-azhigane / Second Verse – Bemoodejig

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Bemoodejig
(You all should be humble say the Crawlers)

Gidaa-jiingwanitawaanaanig
(We all should bend down before them)

Gidaa-dibadendizim ikidowaad Bemoodejig
(You all should be humble say the Crawlers)

Gidaa-gikendaamin gikendamowaad
(We all should know what they know)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin ji-ani-ishpaagaabawiyang
(We all should help each other to be raised up)

Gidaa-naadamaadimin
(We all should help each other)

These are the words that change in the song to complete the circle of respect: