Stepping through a course - Lesson 23

This lesson is all about hunting and fishing. In addition to the regular verb "giwose" (hunt), I've included more specific verbs and examples at the end of the lesson.

Dialog -

F: Ningii-waabamaa waawaashkeshi.
M: Ningii-waabamaag niswi waawaashkeshiwag.
M: Giwii-kiiwose na?
F: Gaawiin, niwii-kiiwosesii.
F: Henyaanh, niwii-kiiwose.
* * * * * * * * * * * *

And here's the line-by-line breakdown:

F: Ningii-waabamaa waawaashkeshi.

• Two new words, "waabam" (see somebody/something animate) and "waawaashkeshi" (deer). She says "I was a deer."

M: Ningii-waabamaag niswi waawaashkeshiwag.

• Here's a plural example: "I saw three deer." Notice that the verb "waabam" and  "waawaashkeshi" match in plural.

M: Giwii-kiiwose na?

• Here, "giiwose" changes to "kiiwose" when the prefix "giwii-" is added to ease pronunciation. He says "Are you going to hunt?"  

F: Gaawiin, niwii-kiiwosesii.

• "No, I am not going to hunt."

F: Henyaanh, niwii-kiiwose.

• "Yes, I'm going to hunt."

New words this lesson:

• waawaashkeshi - deer
• waabam - see [SOMEBODY/SOMETHING ANIMATE]

Other vocabulary:

• esiban - raccoon
• waagosh - fox
• Giwii-waabamaa esiban maagizhaa waagosh. - You'll see a raccoon or maybe a fox. (see the Animals page for other examples:)

In addition to the generic "giwose" (hunt) verb, there are more specific ways to say you're hunting for something. Here are some examples:

• nandawaabam - look for, search for, track
• maakinaw - wound
• Onandawaabamaan iniw gaa-maakinawaad waawaashkeshiwan. - He's looking for the deer he wounded.

The following incorporate both verb and object into a single word (however, notice the use of "nand" and "nood"):

• nandawenjige - hunt for fish for food
• nandawishibe - hunt ducks
• nandawaaboozwe - hunt rabbits
• noodamikwe - hunt beaver

• giniizhe - northern pike
• agwadaashi - sunfish
• nooji' - hunt for, go after (this verb is conjugated differently than others we've seen so far. See The Ojibwe People's Dictionary for conjugations.)
• Mekiskanikewaad onooji'aawaan ginoozhen. - Anglers fish for northern pikes.** Notice that the verb and object (ginoozhe) match as plural.
• Bijiinaago ingii-nooji'aag agwadaashiwag. - Yesterday I fished for sunfish (plural). ** Notice that the verb and object (agwadaashi) match as plural.