Issue link: https://owlkids.uberflip.com/i/1542780
Chickadee 27 This story has many Anishinaabemowin words. Amik: Beaver Asemaa: Sacred tobacco Maang: Loon Miigwetch: Thanks Mishiikenh: Turtle Nokomis: Grandmother Wazhashk: Muskrat Zhashagi: Blue heron Zhiishiib: Duck Zhaangweshi: Mink "That's because our story is not done. Another relative also made a sacrifice that day: my ancestor, Turtle. "Turtle swam over. He told Nanabozho that he would use his back to carry the earth and its weight. Nanabozho took the bit of earth that Wazhashk saved and put it on his shell. "As the four winds blew, the earth grew larger, and larger, and larger. Turtle bore the weight of the earth until finally it stopped growing. It became the land some now call North America … but it will always be Turtle Island to me." It was the end of Mishiikenh's story, so the animals said miigwetch and slowly began to leave. I sat and continued to watch the pond. I saw some of the animals swimming away with Wazhashk. They lifted her up and cheered, "Wazhashk!" I smiled. Then the frogs started to croak, and I knew that dark was coming. It was time to say goodbye. "I hope you'll come visit again. Your nokomis was right, these waters hold more stories. I miss her company, too," Mishiikenh said. He then dove out of sight. I reached into my pocket and took out some asemaa. I put it in the water to thank Turtle, and the land, for carrying our stories and sharing them with me. And just as I started to walk away from the pond, I thought I saw Nokomis's reflection in the water, smiling back at me.