Waynaboozhoo

Ojibwe

Waynaboozhoo and the Great Flood

A man named Waynaboozhoo survived.

It didn't, so Waynaboozhoo decided to do something about it.

"Amik!" called Waynaboozhoo to the beaver.

"Is there anyone else who'll try?" asked Waynaboozhoo.

Waynaboozhoo lifted him up, and looking in his small beak, he found a particle of mud.

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.

Waynaboozhoo put it on Mikinaak's back so that it could grow larger.

"Miigwetch, Mikinaak," said Waynaboozhoo.

Waynaboozhoo placed some tiny enigoonsags (ants) on it.

Now Waynaboozhoo sent benishiyag (the birds) to fly around to survey how large the land was.

At last, Waynaboozhoo stepped onto the New World.