The winter was coming to an end and Nanabush was hungry from a long winter. He thought of a way to catch some birds when they return to the north. He built a wigwam and waited.

Then, one day, the birds started to appear and Nanabush called out to them. "Welcome home my friends, come in, I have gifts for you".

The birds all begin to land and walk into the wigwam. Nanabush told each bird to put on these blindfolds, as it will be a surprise. All the birds put on the blindfolds, then they heard a squishing sound. Wondering what it could be but Nanabush told them “Do not peek, it's a surprise.”

One black bird pulled down his blindfold and saw Nanabush twisting the necks of the birds killing them! The black bird yelled out “Run! Run! He's killing us!

All the birds ran towards the opening and ran over the black bird squishing him. Nanabush was quite angry and chased the birds. The black bird couldn't walk as his legs got squashed and pushed back on his body.

The black bird made it to the open water and jumped in. He found out he could swim fast and dive very deep with his squashed legs. When the black bird came up for air he wanted to scold Nanabush but his voice was gone. He tried very hard then his voice came out, it was very beautiful. The Great Manitou gave the black bird a necklace for saving many other birds that day.

That is why the loon has legs and feet farther back on his body and his voice is so beautiful from holding his breath so long.

My grandfather then said Do not make fun of people who look different, they are that way for a special reason.

This was the story that Ambrose Pheasant told his son, Duncan Pheasant is now, in turn, sharing it.

Shkintaam Pii Maang Gaadaagoshing

Miisa shkwa biboon zhigwa Nanbush dash apiji bkade zaam zhaazhi gonwesh gaa gego gii wiisinisii. Mii dash gaa nendam binishiiyag gaabednak bskaabiiwad giiwedenong. Wigwam dash gii zhitoon gii baabiiyaan bneshiinhyaan wii dagoshnawad. Shtaataahaa, goding Benishiiyag maajii bizaagewag, Nanabush gii daamaan.

“Aanii!” “Maampii bizhaag, endaayaan, niijkwienyik, biindigek gegoo kwii miininim.”

Kina bineshiiyag gii booniiwag miinwa gii biindigewag wiigwaaming.Nanabush gii kida, “biiskaan mandaa, biingwebzewin, ka daamnami, ga maamdaa wii bi naabyek.” Kina wiiyaa gii biiskaan biingwebzewin, miidash gegoo gii noodmaawaad, wenesh e dik nendaamook, miidash miinwaa Nanabush gii kidaat “Gegwa binaabki, kaa binachtoon daamnaawaans.” Bezhig mkaade bineshiinh gii nazhbidoon biingwebzowin mii dash gii waabmaad Nanabzhoon eshchigened, shathaa, biimsko kwebnaan niwe bineshiinhyaan nsaat. 

Mkade bineshiinh gii noondaagzi “Gijiboowedaa, Gijiboowedaa!!! Gdaa nsignaa maabaa!” Kina bineshiinyig gii miptowag shkwaandeming nakaaya, mii go eta gii baash kjiishkowaawaad ni mkade bineshiinhyin.

Nanabush gii kitchi-shkaadzi miinwaa gii koonaashkoowaan niwe bineshiiyin.
Mkade Bineshiinh gawiin gii skitoonsii wii bmosed, kaadaan gii jagshkanoon miinwaa shkwaayaang gii nikaanan kaadensan.

O we mkade bineshiinh gii de digoshin zaagining mi dash gii biinzhgwaashnid
Gii mkaan waa zhi gizhiibzad bigizaad miinwa gii kichi-googii naambiing jagshkanoon kaadaan naakaazaad. O mkade bineshiinh gii zaagbii wii nesed wii nchiiw’aad Nanboozoon gaa dash gii yaaziin enwewin. Aapiji getin gii gijitoon wii giigidat, gegapii gii shkitoon, aapiji gii minweweh. Gitchi Manito gii miinan mkade bineshiiyin naabkawaagan gii zhaabwiiyat niibna bineshiiyin wi pii. Mii sa maang ghazi shkitood kaadan miinwaa zidan shkweyaang maa wiiyaw tenig. Miinwaa aapiji minotaagzi nongo zaam ginwenzh gii mjignaan nesewin.

Mishoomis gii kida gegwaa baabaapnaadwaake bemaadizijig gegoo ezhinaagzijig, gchitwaa-windaagziwag gewi.

Ambrose Pheasant maanda aansookaan gii wiindmoowaawn gwiisan Duncan Pheasant dash nongoa a da miigwen.