Véronique Mireault was a student in Solomon Ratt’s 400-level Creative Writing in Cree class at First Nations University this past fall. She was inspired to write this story by legends she heard growing up around the mountain (Mont Saint-Hilaire in Québec) that stands close to the small town where she lived as a child.
A settler from Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), Véronique began learning English 11 years ago, when she arrived in oskana kâ-asastêki. It’s a pleasure to hear Montreal in her reading! As she nears completion of her degree in Cree literacy, we are pleased that she’s allowed us to share this story, and offer her a virtual standing ovation for the obvious care she has brought to learning Cree as an oral and written language outside her own ancestral connections. Bravo!
Throughout the story, the names of the places and monsters are most likely Abenaki in origin. Abenaki is an Algonquian language spoken in eastern Canada, one of the many sister languages of Cree. And while this lake monster seems to be largely unknown to Westerners, you can learn a lot more about Gitaskog (a.k.a. Champ) via Google. (Here’s a link to get started: https://www.lakechamplainregion.com/heritage/champ)
With Sol’s encouragement, Véronique supplemented her written story with her own original water color, and audioo recordings. Listen, read along, and enjoy!
gitaskog êkwa tânisi Samuel de Champlain kâ-kî-kêkâ-wanihtât ostikwâna
gitaskog ᐁᑿ ᑖᓂᓯ Samuel de Champlain ᑳ ᑮ ᑫᑳ ᐘᓂᐦᑖᐟ ᐅᐢᑎᒁᓇ
gitaskog and how Samuel de Champlain almost lost his head
kikî-âcimostâtinâwâw mihcêtwâw kâ-isi-miyonâkwahk itê kâ-kî-ohpikiyâ, katawasisin mêtoni. Asinîwaciy êkota ayâw, êkwa pêyak kihci-wâyahcâw, asici mihcêt picikwâhtikwak êkwa sîpiy, katawasisin pêskis. namôya mâmaskâc mistahi okiyokêwak ê-sâkihtahkik anita. mâka wiya, ayahciyiniwak namôya kiskêyihtamwak âtayôhkêwina êkota kâ-ohcipayiki. mistahi âtayôhkana âcimikâsowak ê-ayâcik wigwômadenizibo asinîwacîhk. ispîhk kâ-kî-awâsisîyân, nikî-pêhtên âtayôhkana nêtê nîpini-kapêsiwinihk. awiyakak ê-itêyihtahkik napakiyâkanisa ê-kî-takwakotêki êkota êkwa mîna ê-kî-pê-ayâcik asinîwacîhk. kotakak awiyakak ê-itêyihtahkik ayisiyiniwa ayâyiwa nîhtaskamikohk. êwakoni âtayôhkana âcimâwak mamâhtâwi-iyinîsak êkwa yâwâtanihk kwayako-ispayiwak maciskotêhk okihci-macihtiwak. nisâkihâkan âtayôhkan ê-tasîhtahk sâkahikan animêyiw tahkohc asinîwacîhk. awiyakak ê-itahkik sâkahikan êwako ôma êkwa bitawbagok sâkahikana ê-nîswastêki. pêyak misi-kinêpik pê-ayâw êkota kêtahtawê. nimâmitonêyihtamowinihk, omisi isi ê-ispayik.
ᑭᑮ ᐋᒋᒧᐢᑖᑎᓈᐚᐤ ᒥᐦᒉᑤᐤ ᑳ ᐃᓯ ᒥᔪᓈᑿᕽ ᐃᑌ ᑳ ᑮ ᐅᐦᐱᑭᔮ, ᑲᑕᐘᓯᓯᐣ ᒣᑐᓂ᙮ ᐊᓯᓃᐘᒋᐩ ᐁᑯᑕ ᐊᔮᐤ, ᐁᑿ ᐯᔭᐠ ᑭᐦᒋ ᐚᔭᐦᒑᐤ, ᐊᓯᒋ ᒥᐦᒉᐟ ᐱᒋᒁᐦᑎᑿᐠ ᐁᑿ ᓰᐱᐩ, ᑲᑕᐘᓯᓯᐣ ᐯᐢᑭᐢ᙮ ᓇᒨᔭ ᒫᒪᐢᑳᐨ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐅᑭᔪᑫᐘᐠ ᐁ ᓵᑭᐦᑕᐦᑭᐠ ᐊᓂᑕ᙮ ᒫᑲ ᐏᔭ, ᐊᔭᐦᒋᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᓇᒨᔭ ᑭᐢᑫᔨᐦᑕᒷᐠ ᐋᑕᔫᐦᑫᐏᓇ ᐁᑯᑕ ᑳ ᐅᐦᒋᐸᔨᑭ᙮ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐋᑕᔫᐦᑲᓇ ᐋᒋᒥᑳᓱᐘᐠ ᐁ ᐊᔮᒋᐠ wigwômadenizibo ᐊᓯᓃᐘᒌᕽ᙮ ᐃᐢᐲᕽ ᑳ ᑮ ᐊᐚᓯᓰᔮᐣ, ᓂᑮ ᐯᐦᑌᐣ ᐋᑕᔫᐦᑲᓇ ᓀᑌ ᓃᐱᓂ ᑲᐯᓯᐏᓂᕽ᙮ ᐊᐏᔭᑲᐠ ᐁ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕᐦᑭᐠ ᓇᐸᑭᔮᑲᓂᓴ ᐁ ᑮ ᑕᑿᑯᑌᑭ ᐁᑯᑕ ᐁᑿ ᒦᓇ ᐁ ᑮ ᐯ ᐊᔮᒋᐠ ᐊᓯᓃᐘᒌᕽ᙮ ᑯᑕᑲᐠ ᐊᐏᔭᑲᐠ ᐁ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕᐦᑭᐠ ᐊᔨᓯᔨᓂᐘ ᐊᔮᔨᐘ ᓃᐦᑕᐢᑲᒥᑯᕽ᙮ ᐁᐘᑯᓂ ᐋᑕᔫᐦᑲᓇ ᐋᒋᒫᐘᐠ ᒪᒫᐦᑖᐏ ᐃᔨᓃᓴᐠ ᐁᑿ ᔮᐚᑕᓂᕽ ᑿᔭᑯ ᐃᐢᐸᔨᐘᐠ ᒪᒋᐢᑯᑌᕽ ᐅᑭᐦᒋ ᒪᒋᐦᑎᐘᐠ᙮ ᓂᓵᑭᐦᐋᑲᐣ ᐋᑕᔫᐦᑲᐣ ᐁ ᑕᓰᐦᑕᕽ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᐊᓂᒣᔨᐤ ᑕᐦᑯᐦᐨ ᐊᓯᓃᐘᒌᕽ᙮ ᐊᐏᔭᑲᐠ ᐁ ᐃᑕᐦᑭᐠ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᐁᐘᑯ ᐆᒪ ᐁᑿ bitawbagok ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇ ᐁ ᓃᔁᐢᑌᑭ᙮ ᐯᔭᐠ ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᐠ ᐯ ᐊᔮᐤ ᐁᑯᑕ ᑫᑕᐦᑕᐍ᙮ ᓂᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᑕᒧᐏᓂᕽ, ᐅᒥᓯ ᐃᓯ ᐁ ᐃᐢᐸᔨᐠ᙮
I have spoken countless times about the beauty of the region where I grew up: the mountain, the valleys and its apple orchards, and the river. It is no surprise that the area attracts so many visitors. However, what is lesser-known by outsiders are the many legends about the region, primarily regarding the wigwômadenizibo mountain. As a kid, we would hear them at summer camp. The mountain is believed to be a UFO base and to be the home of underground people. There are also stories about fairies and a passage that brings sinners straight to hell. My favourite stories are those regarding the lake that sits at the very top, at the centre of the mountain’s summit. According to the rumours, the lake would be directly connected to another lake, bitawbagok. It would sometimes receive the visit of a lake monster. Here is the way I like to imagine it.
kayâsêskamik, pêyak misi-kinêpik kî-wawânaskêhtâw bitawbagokihk. gitaskog kî-isiyihkâsow. wiya êkwa iyiniwa ê-kî-wîcêhtocik kâkikê. iyiniwak kî-itêyimêwak êkâ ê-kakwêspanâtisiyit têpiyahk ta-pônihikawiht. ê-kî-manâ-koskonikot êkwa kî-wîmâskâmwak omîkiwâmiyiw ita ê-nipâyit. kêyâpic ê-kî-nôci-kinosêwêcik nahiyikohk piko. anisi isi kahkiyaw awiyakak ê-kî-nihtâ-asamisocik. kî-miyo-pimâtisiwiniwiw.
ᑲᔮᓭᐢᑲᒥᐠ, ᐯᔭᐠ ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᐠ ᑮ ᐘᐚᓇᐢᑫᐦᑖᐤ bitawbagokihk. gitaskog ᑮ ᐃᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐤ᙮ ᐏᔭ ᐁᑿ ᐃᔨᓂᐘ ᐁ ᑮ ᐑᒉᐦᑐᒋᐠ ᑳᑭᑫ᙮ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᑮ ᐃᑌᔨᒣᐘᐠ ᐁᑳ ᐁ ᑲᑵᐢᐸᓈᑎᓯᔨᐟ ᑌᐱᔭᕽ ᑕ ᐴᓂᐦᐃᑲᐏᐦᐟ᙮ ᐁ ᑮ ᒪᓈ ᑯᐢᑯᓂᑯᐟ ᐁᑿ ᑮ ᐑᒫᐢᑳᒷᐠ ᐅᒦᑭᐚᒥᔨᐤ ᐃᑕ ᐁ ᓂᐹᔨᐟ᙮ ᑫᔮᐱᐨ ᐁ ᑮ ᓅᒋ ᑭᓄᓭᐍᒋᐠ ᓇᐦᐃᔨᑯᕽ ᐱᑯ᙮ ᐊᓂᓯ ᐃᓯ ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᐊᐏᔭᑲᐠ ᐁ ᑮ ᓂᐦᑖ ᐊᓴᒥᓱᒋᐠ᙮ ᑮ ᒥᔪ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐏᓂᐏᐤ᙮
A long time ago, a great lake serpent named gitaskog lived peacefully in bitawbagok. After millennia of co-existence, local people knew that the creature was not threatening, as long as he was not bothered. As a result, people would usually avoid the part of the lake where he was sleeping. They would be careful not to take more fish than they needed to feed themselves and their communities. That way, there was plenty for everyone to be content.
kîtahtawê, pêyak mahki-mistikôsi kî-pê-otihtam sâkahikan. êkâ awiyakak ê-kî-nakayâskahkik ômatowahk mahki-mistikôsi. êkwa ê-kî-camohkahikêcik. kî-pêkohikow gitaskog êkwa kâ-kî-mikoskâtêyihtahk. ê-kî-nitawi-nitawâpahtahk kîkwây kâ-ispayiyik. pîtos-nâpêwak mistikôsihk kî-matwê-ayahkotonâmowak êkwa ê-âhkami-itwahahkik kahkiyaw kîkway awiya. kî-kakêpâci-isîhowak misawâc ôma ohci kâ-kî-isi-kîsikâk. misi-kinêpik kî-pê-kîmôci-kîwêw êkwa ê-kî-kâsôstâkêt iskoyikohk nâpêwak ta-sipwêhtêyit.
ᑮᑕᐦᑕᐍ, ᐯᔭᐠ ᒪᐦᑭ ᒥᐢᑎᑰᓯ ᑮ ᐯ ᐅᑎᐦᑕᒼ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ᙮ ᐁᑳ ᐊᐏᔭᑲᐠ ᐁ ᑮ ᓇᑲᔮᐢᑲᐦᑭᐠ ᐆᒪᑐᐘᕽ ᒪᐦᑭ ᒥᐢᑎᑰᓯ᙮ ᐁᑿ ᐁ ᑮ ᒐᒧᐦᑲᐦᐃᑫᒋᐠ᙮ ᑮ ᐯᑯᐦᐃᑯᐤ gitaskog ᐁᑿ ᑳ ᑮ ᒥᑯᐢᑳᑌᔨᐦᑕᕽ᙮ ᐁ ᑮ ᓂᑕᐏ ᓂᑕᐚᐸᐦᑕᕽ ᑮᒁᐩ ᑳ ᐃᐢᐸᔨᔨᐠ᙮ ᐲᑐᐢ ᓈᐯᐘᐠ ᒥᐢᑎᑰᓯᕽ ᑮ ᒪᑘ ᐊᔭᐦᑯᑐᓈᒧᐘᐠ ᐁᑿ ᐁ ᐋᐦᑲᒥ ᐃᑢᐦᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑮᑿᐩ ᐊᐏᔭ᙮ ᑮ ᑲᑫᐹᒋ ᐃᓰᐦᐅᐘᐠ ᒥᓴᐚᐨ ᐆᒪ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑳ ᑮ ᐃᓯ ᑮᓯᑳᐠ᙮ ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᐠ ᑮ ᐯ ᑮᒨᒋ ᑮᐍᐤ ᐁᑿ ᐁ ᑮ ᑳᓲᐢᑖᑫᐟ ᐃᐢᑯᔨᑯᕽ ᓈᐯᐘᐠ ᑕ ᓯᐻᐦᑌᔨᐟ᙮
Then one day, a gigantic wooden boat made its entrance on the lake. The embarkation was much bigger than anything that had navigated these waters before. And it was loud. Already unhappy to be awakened so rudely, gitaskog went to check what the commotion was about. He was not impressed by what he found: on the boat were strange people speaking loudly, pointing at everything and everyone. They were dressed foolishly for the weather. Trying not to be seen, the great snake discretely returned to his hiding place to wait for the annoyance to leave the premise.
kîsinâc, namôya kiyipa kî-nohtê-sipwêhtêwak. gitaskog ta-kî-wâpamêw pîtosiyiniwa ê-papâmohtêyit. kî-âwatâwak âpacihcikana êkwa ê-kî-naspasinahikêcik omasinahikaniwâwa. êkwa mîna ê-kî-kiskwêhahkik mistikohk êkwa asinîhk piko ita. iyiniwak kî-mâmiskôtêwak gitaskoga êkwa pêyak pîtosiyiniw kî-wîhtam sâkahikan. kî-wâh-wîhtam “Champlain,” tâpiskôc wîsta, ê-okwêmêsihitam.
ᑮᓯᓈᐨ, ᓇᒨᔭ ᑭᔨᐸ ᑮ ᓄᐦᑌ ᓯᐻᐦᑌᐘᐠ᙮ gitaskog ᑕ ᑮ ᐚᐸᒣᐤ ᐲᑐᓯᔨᓂᐘ ᐁ ᐸᐹᒧᐦᑌᔨᐟ᙮ ᑮ ᐋᐘᑖᐘᐠ ᐋᐸᒋᐦᒋᑲᓇ ᐁᑿ ᐁ ᑮ ᓇᐢᐸᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᒋᐠ ᐅᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓂᐚᐘ᙮ ᐁᑿ ᒦᓇ ᐁ ᑮ ᑭᐢᑵᐦᐊᐦᑭᐠ ᒥᐢᑎᑯᕽ ᐁᑿ ᐊᓯᓃᕽ ᐱᑯ ᐃᑕ᙮ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᑮ ᒫᒥᐢᑰᑌᐘᐠ gitaskoga ᐁᑿ ᐯᔭᐠ ᐲᑐᓯᔨᓂᐤ ᑮ ᐑᐦᑕᒼ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ᙮ ᑮ ᐚᐦ ᐑᐦᑕᒼ “Champlain,” ᑖᐱᐢᑰᐨ ᐑᐢᑕ, ᐁ ᐅᑵᒣᓯᐦᐃᑕᒼ᙮
Unfortunately, they did not seem in any hurry to leave. gitaskog could see the strangers walking around with various tools, taking notes on paper and leaving marks on the landscape wherever they went. Through the locals, he learned that one of the men dared to rename the lake after himself: from now on, it would be called “Champlain.”
“cah! kakêpâtis!” misi-kinêpik kî-mâmitonêyihtam.
“ᒐᐦ! ᑲᑫᐹᑎᐢ!” ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᐠ ᑮ ᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᑕᒼ᙮
“As if! You can always pretend!” the snake thought.
gitaskog kî-nohtê-kwatapinam mistikôsi kanak, mâka namôya ê-kî-nohtê-tipêyihtamohisow macihtwâwin. yêkamâ otihtiwin ahpô owâhkômâkana otihtiwiniyiw. êkwa mîna kî-nahâpahtam iyiniwak ê-kî-sa-sîpêyihtamiyit. ê-kî-mêskotônikêwâcik asici pîtosiyiniwa. kîhtwâm, kî-pê-kîwêw ta-kâsôt ta-pakosêyimot pîtosiyiniwa ka-kî-sipwêhtêyit.
gitaskog ᑮ ᓄᐦᑌ ᑿᑕᐱᓇᒼ ᒥᐢᑎᑰᓯ ᑲᓇᐠ, ᒫᑲ ᓇᒨᔭ ᐁ ᑮ ᓄᐦᑌ ᑎᐯᔨᐦᑕᒧᐦᐃᓱᐤ ᒪᒋᐦᑤᐏᐣ᙮ ᔦᑲᒫ ᐅᑎᐦᑎᐏᐣ ᐊᐦᐴ ᐅᐚᐦᑰᒫᑲᓇ ᐅᑎᐦᑎᐏᓂᔨᐤ᙮ ᐁᑿ ᒦᓇ ᑮ ᓇᐦᐋᐸᐦᑕᒼ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᐁ ᑮ ᓴ ᓰᐯᔨᐦᑕᒥᔨᐟ᙮ ᐁ ᑮ ᒣᐢᑯᑑᓂᑫᐚᒋᐠ ᐊᓯᒋ ᐲᑐᓯᔨᓂᐘ᙮ ᑮᐦᑤᒼ, ᑮ ᐯ ᑮᐍᐤ ᑕ ᑳᓲᐟ ᑕ ᐸᑯᓭᔨᒧᐟ ᐲᑐᓯᔨᓂᐘ ᑲ ᑮ ᓯᐻᐦᑌᔨᐟ᙮
He considered tipping the boat for a moment, but he did not want the bad feelings to get the best of him. That was not his way, the way of his people. Plus, he could see that the locals demonstrated great patience, even entering into trade with them. So once again, gitaskog went back into hiding, hoping for the visitors to return where they come from as soon as possible.
kîsinâc, okocihikowisiwina têpiyâhk kâ-kî-sipwêpayiyik. okakêpâtisak kî-âcimostawâwak misi-kinêpikwa ê-itahkoyit sâkahikanihk êkwa kâ-kî-nôhtê-miskawâcik. iyiniwak kî-kitahamawêwak êwako, mâka ê-kî-sasîpihtahkik. ê-kî-mistahi-nohtê-miskawâcik. êkwa kâ-kî-ispayik. pêyak kîsikâw gitaskog ê-kî-kîsi-mîcisot ispîhk kâ-kî-pêhtahk: “hâ! ihtakow êkota! misi-kinêpik!”
ᑮᓯᓈᐨ, ᐅᑯᒋᐦᐃᑯᐏᓯᐏᓇ ᑌᐱᔮᕽ ᑳ ᑮ ᓯᐻᐸᔨᔨᐠ᙮ ᐅᑲᑫᐹᑎᓴᐠ ᑮ ᐋᒋᒧᐢᑕᐚᐘᐠ ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᑿ ᐁ ᐃᑕᐦᑯᔨᐟ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ ᐁᑿ ᑳ ᑮ ᓅᐦᑌ ᒥᐢᑲᐚᒋᐠ᙮ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᑮ ᑭᑕᐦᐊᒪᐍᐘᐠ ᐁᐘᑯ, ᒫᑲ ᐁ ᑮ ᓴᓰᐱᐦᑕᐦᑭᐠ᙮ ᐁ ᑮ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᓄᐦᑌ ᒥᐢᑲᐚᒋᐠ᙮ ᐁᑿ ᑳ ᑮ ᐃᐢᐸᔨᐠ᙮ ᐯᔭᐠ ᑮᓯᑳᐤ gitaskog ᐁ ᑮ ᑮᓯ ᒦᒋᓱᐟ ᐃᐢᐲᕽ ᑳ ᑮ ᐯᐦᑕᕽ: “ᐦᐋ! ᐃᐦᑕᑯᐤ ᐁᑯᑕ! ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᐠ!”
But that was not the end of the trouble for the great snake. The annoying group of men heard about the existence of a lake monster, and despite receiving numerous warnings from the locals, they were determined to find it. And that day came. As he was finishing his meal, thinking he was in a safe location, he suddenly heard: “Haha! Le voilà! Le monstre! Il est là!”
êkota kî-ayâwak, nâpêwak ê-kî-nîpawicik yêkawiskâhk êkwa mistahi kî-môcikêyihtamwak êwako ôma ohci “omiskamowiniwâw.” êkwa wiya, pêyak nâpêw kâ-kî-itwêt: “kiwî-wîhitin Champ!”
ᐁᑯᑕ ᑮ ᐊᔮᐘᐠ, ᓈᐯᐘᐠ ᐁ ᑮ ᓃᐸᐏᒋᐠ ᔦᑲᐏᐢᑳᕽ ᐁᑿ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᑮ ᒨᒋᑫᔨᐦᑕᒷᐠ ᐁᐘᑯ ᐆᒪ ᐅᐦᒋ “ᐅᒥᐢᑲᒧᐏᓂᐚᐤ᙮” ᐁᑿ ᐏᔭ, ᐯᔭᐠ ᓈᐯᐤ ᑳ ᑮ ᐃᑘᐟ: “ᑭᐑ ᐑᐦᐃᑎᐣ Champ!”
There they were, standing on the shore, overly excited by their “discovery.” Then the last straw: “Je vais t’appeller Champ!”
misi-kinêpik ê-kî-ati-osâmiyawêsit. “tânitiwahk ôma kayêyisiwin!” kî-mâmitonêyihtam. “ki-ka-kî-kitamotin pêyakwâw tahkwamitâni!” kanak, kâ-kî-nohtê-nanôcihât. êkospî gitaskog kâ-kî-pêkopêt êkwa kî-ispikâpawiw. nâpêwak sêmâk ê-kî-kostâcît. “ki-ka-kî-tahkwamitinâwâw êkwa ka-mêscihitinâwâw!” kî-mâmitonêyihtam.
ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᐠ ᐁ ᑮ ᐊᑎ ᐅᓵᒥᔭᐍᓯᐟ᙮ “ᑖᓂᑎᐘᕽ ᐆᒪ ᑲᔦᔨᓯᐏᐣ!” ᑮ ᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᑕᒼ᙮ “ᑭ ᑲ ᑮ ᑭᑕᒧᑎᐣ ᐯᔭᒁᐤ ᑕᐦᑿᒥᑖᓂ!” ᑲᓇᐠ, ᑳ ᑮ ᓄᐦᑌ ᓇᓅᒋᐦᐋᐟ᙮ ᐁᑯᐢᐲ gitaskog ᑳ ᑮ ᐯᑯᐯᐟ ᐁᑿ ᑮ ᐃᐢᐱᑳᐸᐏᐤ᙮ ᓈᐯᐘᐠ ᓭᒫᐠ ᐁ ᑮ ᑯᐢᑖᒌᐟ᙮ “ᑭ ᑲ ᑮ ᑕᐦᑿᒥᑎᓈᐚᐤ ᐁᑿ ᑲ ᒣᐢᒋᐦᐃᑎᓈᐚᐤ!” ᑮ ᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᑕᒼ᙮
The great snake could feel the anger growing within him. “The audacity!” He thought. “I could finish you with a single bite!” For a brief second, he considered giving them a good lesson, at the very least. He then rose from the water, towering over the group from all his height. At that point, all excitement has left the men’s faces as they were frozen in fear. “Just one bite, and I am done with you!” He thought.
piyisk, misi-kinêpik kâ-kî-kitâpamât kakêpâtisa pêyakwâw êkwa kî-kôkîw nipîhk. kî-wînihêw mitoni. mwêstas, êkospîhk ohci kî-nohtê-tapasîsiw êkota ohci wiya namôya kî-wawânaskêhtâw ayiwâk êkota. ispîhk kâ-kî-têpinahk nîhci-sâkahikanihk, kî-ati-wâtihkêw êkwa kî-papâmi-piciw nîhtaskamikohk. ê-kî-kiyokêt tahtwayak. kinwês kâ-kî-wâtihkêt wiya ê-kî-nitonahk kâtanohk.
ᐱᔨᐢᐠ, ᒥᓯ ᑭᓀᐱᐠ ᑳ ᑮ ᑭᑖᐸᒫᐟ ᑲᑫᐹᑎᓴ ᐯᔭᒁᐤ ᐁᑿ ᑮ ᑰᑮᐤ ᓂᐲᕽ᙮ ᑮ ᐑᓂᐦᐁᐤ ᒥᑐᓂ᙮ ᒭᐢᑕᐢ, ᐁᑯᐢᐲᕽ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑮ ᓄᐦᑌ ᑕᐸᓰᓯᐤ ᐁᑯᑕ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐏᔭ ᓇᒨᔭ ᑮ ᐘᐚᓇᐢᑫᐦᑖᐤ ᐊᔨᐚᐠ ᐁᑯᑕ᙮ ᐃᐢᐲᕽ ᑳ ᑮ ᑌᐱᓇᕽ ᓃᐦᒋ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ, ᑮ ᐊᑎ ᐚᑎᐦᑫᐤ ᐁᑿ ᑮ ᐸᐹᒥ ᐱᒋᐤ ᓃᐦᑕᐢᑲᒥᑯᕽ᙮ ᐁ ᑮ ᑭᔪᑫᐟ ᑕᐦᑢᔭᐠ᙮ ᑭᓊᐢ ᑳ ᑮ ᐚᑎᐦᑫᐟ ᐏᔭ ᐁ ᑮ ᓂᑐᓇᕽ ᑳᑕᓄᕽ᙮
Ultimately, the great serpent took one last look at those buffoons before taking a deep dive into the water. Of course, he made sure to splash them copiously in the process. From there, the only thing he had in mind was to get out of there, as far as possible, since it was not possible to live in peace anymore. Reaching the bottom of the lake, he started digging and travelling underground from one place to another. For days, he was digging in search of a safe haven.
pâtos, kî-miskam takahki-sâkahikan tahkohc asinîwacîhk. ê-kî-apisâsiniyik nawac mâka kî-kiyâmêwan. ê-kî-kwayaskosi-ayât. iyiniwak namôya mwâsi kî-pê-kiyokêwak piko ispîhk kâ-kî-nitopahtwâcik cîkâhtaw ohci wanaskoc êkwa kî-aywêpiwak. nayawâs, kî-koskwâwâtêyihâw!
ᐹᑐᐢ, ᑮ ᒥᐢᑲᒼ ᑕᑲᐦᑭ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᑕᐦᑯᐦᐨ ᐊᓯᓃᐘᒌᕽ᙮ ᐁ ᑮ ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓂᔨᐠ ᓇᐘᐨ ᒫᑲ ᑮ ᑭᔮᒣᐘᐣ᙮ ᐁ ᑮ ᑿᔭᐢᑯᓯ ᐊᔮᐟ᙮ ᐃᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᓇᒨᔭ ᒹᓯ ᑮ ᐯ ᑭᔪᑫᐘᐠ ᐱᑯ ᐃᐢᐲᕽ ᑳ ᑮ ᓂᑐᐸᐦᑤᒋᐠ ᒌᑳᐦᑕᐤ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐘᓇᐢᑯᐨ ᐁᑿ ᑮ ᐊᔰᐱᐘᐠ᙮ ᓇᔭᐚᐢ, ᑮ ᑯᐢᒁᐚᑌᔨᐦᐋᐤ!
Then, he found what he was looking for: a quiet lake on top of a mountain. It was much smaller than his original home, but it was perfect. Nature was almost untouched, beautiful. People would rarely visit the site, except to scan the area from the tallest summit and to rest. Finally, he would be left alone!
gitaskog êkota kî-ayâw mihcêt ispîhtaskîwina maywês kâ-kî-pê-kîwêt bitawbagokihk isi. êkospîhk, pîtosiyiniwak kî-sipwêhtêwak, mâka êkota kî-ati-kwêski-ayâw. nawac mistahi ayisiyiniwak ê-kî-otinaskêcik. anohc, gitaskog kâ-pê-ayât nîsiwâyihk sâkahikananihk. ê-kakwê-wîmâskawât ayisiyiniwa ispîhk kâ-ayapahkamikahk. âskwa mâna, mâci-mâmitonêyihtam kîkwây ka-kî-âh-ispayik kîsâspin kî-kitamwêw kakêpâtis êwakoni.
gitaskog ᐁᑯᑕ ᑮ ᐊᔮᐤ ᒥᐦᒉᐟ ᐃᐢᐲᐦᑕᐢᑮᐏᓇ ᒪᔰᐢ ᑳ ᑮ ᐯ ᑮᐍᐟ bitawbagokihk ᐃᓯ᙮ ᐁᑯᐢᐲᕽ, ᐲᑐᓯᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᑮ ᓯᐻᐦᑌᐘᐠ, ᒫᑲ ᐁᑯᑕ ᑮ ᐊᑎ ᑵᐢᑭ ᐊᔮᐤ᙮ ᓇᐘᐨ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐊᔨᓯᔨᓂᐘᐠ ᐁ ᑮ ᐅᑎᓇᐢᑫᒋᐠ᙮ ᐊᓄᐦᐨ, gitaskog ᑳ ᐯ ᐊᔮᐟ ᓃᓯᐚᔨᕽ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇᓂᕽ᙮ ᐁ ᑲᑵ ᐑᒫᐢᑲᐚᐟ ᐊᔨᓯᔨᓂᐘ ᐃᐢᐲᕽ ᑳ ᐊᔭᐸᐦᑲᒥᑲᕽ᙮ ᐋᐢᑿ ᒫᓇ, ᒫᒋ ᒫᒥᑐᓀᔨᐦᑕᒼ ᑮᒁᐩ ᑲ ᑮ ᐋᐦᐃᐢᐸᔨᐠ ᑮᓵᐢᐱᐣ ᑮ ᑭᑕᒭᐤ ᑲᑫᐹᑎᐢ ᐁᐘᑯᓂ᙮
The great snake stayed there for many seasons before going back to bitawbagok. By then, the foreigners had left, but it did not take long before the area started to change and attract more people. Today, gitaskog share its time between both places, avoiding people as much as possible during the busy season. Sometimes, he likes to think about what would have happened if he had taken a bite from that annoying man that day.
êkosi.
