Aajigade

Ojibwe

Waynaboozhoo and the Great Flood

Just then a small coot, Aajigade, came swimming along and asked, "What's going on?"

"Get away Aajigade," called one of the birds.

Maang asked, "Whatever happened to that silly little Aajigade?"

Water birds paddled hurriedly to investigate and found that it was Aajigade.

Little Aajigade had reached the Old World and got the mud!

The other animals were ashamed of themselves for having made fun of little Aajigade.

Waynaboozhoo took Aajigade's little body and softly blew life back into him.

Waynaboozhoo held him closely to warm him and announced that from that day forward, Aajigade would always retain a place of honor among the animals.

Waynaboozhoo set Aajigade down on the water and he swam off as though nothing had happened.

Then Waynaboozhoo took Aajigade's mud in his hands and began to shape it.