By Margaret Noodin

Maanda dibaajimowinans zhibii’aan Waabshkaazo-zenibaasag Kchi-gabegikendaasogamig Michiganong.
This poem was written for the Waabshkaazo-zenibaasag project at the University of Michigan.

Waabshkaazo-zenibaasag tkobidonaanan mitigon miinwaa kina gojing.
White ribbons are tied in trees and many places.

Miidash kina goya daa gikendaaswaad gaye wiikaa g’gaa nenmaasiinanig gaa bi iayaajig.
So everyone will know we will not forget the ones who were here before us.

NAGPRA gii nakinigewin 1990, gaye maashi bagidinigaazsiiwag.
Native American Grave Repatriation Act Program was decided in 1990, but the University of Michigan has not yet returned requested remains.

Giindaan maampii: http://www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/ oshme pii nsostaayeg.

Visit http://www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/ to understand more.

(Note: Not all words match from the first line to the third. Some sounds and ideas simply do not translate.)

Geyabi_Ingoding

Geyabi	Ingoding	Manido-Giizisong
Still	Once More	Spirit Sun
Once Again in January

 

Shki-giizis	miinwaa	shki-biboon	gii bi dagooshinwaad geyabi.
New month	and	a new year	have arrived again.
A new month and new year have arrived again.

 

Gaawiin minoenendsiiwag	gondag gaa maajaajig,	gondag enji-gaanawenjigaazwaad geyabi
They are not well	the ones who have gone,	the ones held prisoner still
And the ones who have walked on are held prisoner still.

 

Biiskaanaanan gisinang	mkwamans	Zhiingwaak niimid
Wearing in the cold,	bits of ice,	Pine dances
Outdoors, wearing icicles, the pine dances.

 

Name giiwedin giizis,	pii noodin bi dagooshin	Zhiingwaak niimid
Under northern sun	when wind arrives,	Pine dances
Under a northern sun, as the wind arrives, pine dances.

 

Ozhaaboniganag	g’zhaabwaabam’igonanig,	daamtaayaang odenanigong geyabi.
Living needles	they see through us,	we are busy in our hearts still.
Pine needles pierce our busy hearts again.

 

Zhaawskwaazo-zhaaboniganag	“naadamoiyang ina”	g’gwejim’igonanig	geyabi.
Green living needles	will you help us	they ask us	again.
The green needles ask again, “will you help us?”

 

Pane	g’daa mikwendaagwadaan	ensa kan.
Always	we should remember	every bone.
We should always remember every bone.

 

Pane	g’daa mikwendaagoz’anan	ensa jichaak
Always	we should remember	every soul
We should always remember every soul.

 

Oniijaansinag	nd’aawmi	mitig-jiibikan-aakiing,	jiibayag	noondawangwa geyabi.
Children	we are	of tree-root-earth,	ghosts	we hear them still.
We are children of the earth and can hear her ghosts.

 

Biinish	bagidinigaazwag jichaakag,	jiibayag wii noondawangwa	geyabi miinwaa geyabi. . .
Until	they are released the souls,	ghosts we hear them	again and again. . .
And until the souls are released, we will hear the ghosts again and again . . .

Copyright © 2021 by Margaret Noodin