Dine Land

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Dinebikeyah (Dine Land)

By Margaret Noodin

For Verna, Debbie, Gloria and Carolyn – the women who stand at the edge of the canyon.

Dinebikeyah

Dinebikeyah

kina gego kosmaanaande Dinebikeyah
miiskwaande ishkwaabiisak
bidaabang
giisawaande epichii
ikwewag doondewemaan maashtanishan
mkaadeaande ni dibikag
gokomisinanig niibaawaad name anongansag
gdo’hogan naasap ndo’wiigwam
waaye’gaabowing namaying waabanong
kaa gwa aapichi bkaan
pii “aanii” kidoyaanh nitagadon “aahhnee”
ndo’gagwejimidimi miinwaa ndo’tkwetaadami
miinwaa n’gichimiigwetchidimi

pii “beesh” kidoyin nitagadon “biish”
maamwe pkwendamaang biish miinwaa bimaadziwin
miinwaa n’gichimiigwetchidimi
gegagwa nasap
dibishko shamaganishag pane niigan gaabwii’oog
dibishko gashwananig g’gii miinigonanig wa mindoosmiiying
dibishko g’noshenanig wii zhaabwitonaawaa ikidowinan

maampii aakiing, maampii bikeyah
maampii bkaan, maampii nasap

Dine Land

everything is pumpkin-pink in Dine country
red after
the rain at dawn
sun-colored while
the women call to their sheep
black before
grandmothers sleep under the stars
your hogan is like my wigwam
we stand in a circle and pray to the east
not so different at all
when I say “hello” in Ojibwe it sounds like “thank you” in Dine
together we ask and we answer
and give thanks for one another
when you say “hello” in Dine it sounds like “water” in Ojibwe
together we think of the water of life
and give thanks for one another
it is almost the same
like the warriors who fought to keep us safe
like the mothers who gave shape to our spirits
like the grandchildren who will keep our words
here on earth, here on earth
it is different, it is the same

Copyright © 2021 by Margaret Noodin

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