An Ojibwe Play

(written by my Ojibwe class last qtr.)

The Kamaad Family Goes Out
By: The Ojibwe III Class (Ojibwe 123.3),
Spring Quarter, 1997
Robert Jourdain, Instructor
Characters:

Waabooz Kamaad: (Rabbit Commod) Father of Gidigaa'bizhiw and Zhingos, Husband of Gaagozid and son to Waawaabiganoojiinh and Wazhask Kamaad.
Gaagozid Kamaad: (Porcupine foot Commod) Mother to Gidigaa'bizhiw and Zhingos, Waabooz' wife.
Gidigaa'bizhiw Kamaad: (Bobcat Commod)Youngest child to Gaagozid and Waabooz. (daughter)
Zhingos Kamaad: (Weasel Commod) Oldest child to Gaagozid and Waabooz. (son)
Wazhask Kamaad: (Muskrat Commod) Waabooz' father and Gidigaa'bizhiw and Zhingos' Grandfather.
Waawaabiganoojiinh Kamaad: (Mouse Commod) Waabooz' mother. Also, Gidigaa'bizhiw and Zhingos' Grandmother.
Ajidamoo Kamaad: (Squirrel Commod) Waabooz' younger, more foolish brother.

Scene I
Sd. A modern everyday Ojibwe family. The children have been home from school for an hour or so and Waabooz has just walked in the door and is going towards the kitchen. Gaagozid has been cleaning house all day and is looking very tired.
Abinoojiiyag: Nim bakade min. Awenen waa' jiibakwed?
Sd. Waabooz enters, hearing the children's question.
Waabooz(looking at Gaagozid): Gidayekozidog. Dagaa awi wisinidaa wisiniwiigamigoong.
Abinoojiiyag: Dagaa, izhadaa wiisiniwigamigoong.
Waabooz: Niin indoodaabii'iwe.

Scene II

Sd. Half an hour after Waabooz has come home, Gaagozid looks much happier and has taken a shower and put on her make up. The children have also cleaned up. Waabooz drives like he has all the time in the world.
Gaagozid: Ni niijanisag, Aaniin gaa' ezhichigeyeg gikinoo'amaadiiwigamigoong noongom?
Gidigaa'bizhiw: Ingii zhizhoobii'ige min. Miinawaa ningii odamino min.
Zhingos: Ingii' nana'idaabaanemin. Miinawaa ningii zaagaswamin megweyak.
Waabooz: Gego zagaswa ken!
Gaagozid: Zagaswakaazodog.
Sd. Gidigaa'bizhiw and the parents laugh at this. Zhingos is embarrassed and changes the subject.
Zhingos asks Waabooz: Aaniindi ezhaayang nimbaabaa?
Waabooz: Chi ataagewigamigoong gidizha min.
Gaagozid: Wii' chi'ataage gi baabaa ishkwaa wiisiniyang.
Gidigaa'bizhiw: Aaniin giin waa izhichigeyan ishkwaa wiisiniyang.
Gaagozid: Ni wii Bingoataage.
Sd. The children are kind of worried about this and talk for a little bit in the back seat.
Abinoojiiyag: Aaniindash niindawind ge' izhichigeyaang?
Waabooz: Gi daa bagizom; gi daa odaminom gaye.

Scene III

Sd. Gaagozid and Waabooz have finished eating and are now in the Casino, Gaagozid has won a little bit at Bingo but Waabooz has gone almost broke. The children are in the Hotel Pool or in the room Gaagozid and Waabooz have rented for the night.
Gaagozid: Gi minwendaam ina?
Waabooz: Gidoozhooniyam ina?
Gaagozid(She really doesn't want to give away the money she won): Eya', nindoozhooniyam; aaniindash?
Waabooz: Zhingobaaboo ni nandawendaan.
Gaagozid: Magizhaa naagaj.
Sd. Waabooz sees his parents, Wazhask and Waawaabiganoojiinh, by the Keno and Nickel machines.
Waabooz(pointing with his lips): Awenen a'aw gaa ataaged?
Gaagozid: Gi maamaa miinawaa gi baabaa.
Sd. They go over to the Keno machines and visit with Wazhask and Waawaabiganoojiinh.
Waabooz: Aaniin ezhichigeyeg?
Wazhask(looking at his son like he's a little dumb): Ind ataage min.
Gaagozid: Gi bakinaagem ina?
Waawaabiganoojiinh: Nimbakinaage kaazo min.
Wazhask: Giin awaa idash?
Sd. Before Gaagozid or Waabooz answer Waawaabiganoojiinh sees her younger son, Ajidamoo across the way. He's weaving erratically between the other people and bumping into them. He looks really drunk.. She nudges her husband and points with her lips.
Wazhask asks Waabooz and points with his lips: Awenen a'awedi.
Waabooz: Ni shiime a'aw. Giiwashkwebii nagozi.
Sd. Pause as Waabooz and Gaagozid go over to where Ajidamoo is standing, trying to put a few nickels into a quarter machine.
Waabooz: Gi giiwashkwebii ina?
Gaagozid wrinkling her nose: Maazhimagozi.
Ajidamoo (he's really wasted): In giiwashkwebii kaaz.
Gaagozid: Gi giiwanim ina?
Ajidamoo: Eya' onzaam niibiwa ningii' minikwen zhoominaabo.
Gaagozid: Endayaan izhaan ji-nibaayan.
Waabooz(whispering to Ajidamoo): Daga mina'ishin!
Gaagozid: Gego minikwe ken! Giga maanikaagon!
Sd. Gaagozid hits him, Pause as she looks at Waabooz suspiciously)
Gaagozid: Gidaa nibaa min wiiba.(pulling on Waabooz' sleeve)

Scene IV

Sd. Morning in the Palace Hotel. Abinoojiiyag and Gaagozid are already awake and watching the television. Waabooz is about to wake up.
Waabooz: Daga gigizhebaa wiisinidaa!
All: Daga sanaa!

Scene V

Sd. In the car on the way home kids are happy. Gaagozid and Waabooz are also happy. The kids are chatting and squabbling in the way brothers and sisters always do. Waabooz thinks that all the families money has been gambled away.
Waabooz: Hi'! Apane waa niimi'idiyang oban. Mii' gii' gabenaagooyang gakina zhooniyaa

The Play's the thing, as they say... If you want to know what it all means in English, go here.

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