Shkodedaabanens gii Shkitood (The Little Engine That Could)

Little-Engine

The Little Engine That Could

Story by Watty Piper. Translation by Francis Fox-ba 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 . . .

 

Bindigewag.
They go in.

 

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!

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