The Little Engine That Could
Shkodedaabanens gii Shkitood (The Little Engine That Could)
Story by Watty Piper. Translation by Francis Fox and Howard Kimewon. Transcription by Margaret Noodin.
| Nakweshkawig |
ishkodedaabaanens |
e-gaa gashkitood. |
| Meet |
the little engine |
that could. |
| Maampii |
bijibizo |
miskowishkodedaabaanens. |
| Here |
comes |
the red little engine. |
| Maampii |
bijibizowag |
odaminowaganag. |
| Here |
come |
dolls. |
| Maampii |
bijibidewan |
odaminowaganensan. |
| Here |
come |
toys. |
| Kchi-bizo, |
kchi-bizo, |
kchi-bizo . . . |
| Chug along, |
chug along, |
chug along . . . |
| Zagapswaa, |
zagapswaa, |
zagapswaa. . . |
| Puffing smoke, |
puffing smoke, |
puffing smoke. . . |
| Maampii |
zaagijiwebizowag. |
| Here |
they come from behind the hill. |
| Gidaki |
e-bizowag. |
| They |
go up the hill |
| Aashiish-maajii! |
|
Shtaa ta haa! |
| Oh no! (the girls would say) |
|
Oh no! (the boys would say) |
| Ishkodedaabaanens |
baataashin |
noongom. |
| The train |
is stuck |
now. |
| Maampii |
bijibizo |
gichishkodedaabaan. |
| Here |
comes |
a big train. |
| Daa |
naadamaage ina? |
| Will |
he help? |
| Gaawiin! |
Wenji |
damtaa. |
| No! |
Because |
he’s busy. |
| Maampii |
bijibizo |
gete-ishkodedaabaan. |
| Here |
comes |
an old train. |
| Daa |
naadamaage ina? |
| Will |
he help? |
| Gaawiin! |
Gaawiin gashkitoosiin. |
|
Wenji |
gikaa. |
| No! |
He can’t. |
|
Because |
he’s too old. |
| Maampii |
bijibizo |
giizowaanzo |
miinawaa |
giizhigowaanzo |
ishkodedaabaanens. |
| Here |
comes |
a maize (yellow) |
and |
blue |
little train. |
| Daa |
naadamaage ina? |
| Will |
she help? |
| Enh! |
|
Egaachiiwi, |
daa |
gwejitoon igo. |
| Yes! |
|
Small |
will |
try |
| She’s small but she’ll try. |
| Nindaa |
gashkitoon igo |
enendamoyaan. |
|
Nindaa |
gashkitoon igo |
enendamoyaan. |
| I |
can |
I think. |
|
I |
can |
I think. |
| Kchi-bizo, |
kchi-bizo, |
kchi-bizo… |
| Chug along, |
chug along, |
chug along… |
| Nindaa |
gashkitoon igo |
enendamyaan. |
|
Nindaa |
gashkitoon igo |
enendamyaan. |
| I |
can |
I think. |
|
I |
can |
I think. |
| Zagapswaa, |
zagapswaa, |
zagapswaa… |
| Puffing smoke, |
puffing smoke, |
puffing smoke… |
| Ishpeming |
ayaa! |
| The top |
she’s at! |
| Hoowah! |
Onizhishin! |
Giizowaanzo |
miinawaa |
giizhigowaanzo |
ishkodedaabaanens! |
| Hurray! |
Good! |
The maize (yellow) |
and |
blue |
little train! |
| Hurray for the little blue engine! |
