Bouzhoo! Bouzhoo! Kiishebakabaykwe dichinikaz. Makwa dodem. Gi’odapininigo gaye Bizhiw chi-odoodemiyan. Anishinaabe shooniyaa ojimau gii onakonige, Chitibetagoziyan ima Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek. Mamaabun Gii-onji Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek. Babaabun gii-onji Ginoozhe Minis. Odingwemaganan Kiashke Zaaging Anishinabek onjiwak.

Greetings. This is my Anishinaabe name, Kiishebakabaykwe. I am from the Bear clan and was adopted into the Lynx clan. The literal translation of this in Anishinaabemowin is the boss of the Indian Act, who had the authority to add me as a status Indian to Sandpoint Indian reservation. My mother was from Sandpoint. My father was from Jackfish Island, and we have family connections at Gull Bay.

Mamaabun, Babaabun ki-wiijigindiwag Norval Morrisseau’s nookomis, mishoomis. Norval Morrisseauabun nookomis, mishoomis giikendsowinan, gitchi-ayaag giwiindamaagewag onoozhisheziwan.

My mother and father were close in age to Norval Morrisseau’s grandmother and grandfather. Norval Morrisseau’s grandmother, grandfather transferred ancestral Anishinaabemowin knowledge(s) to him, their grandson.

Miiwe gii Anishinaabemowin ey-ishiwaabandaman. Mamaabun, Babaabun giikendsowinini gitchii-ayaag giwiindamaagoog aadisookewinan.

This is part of an Anishinaabe worldview. My mother and father transferred ancestral Anishinaabe knowledge(s), stories to their children, including me.

Aadizookaazo abinoojii Animbiigoo Zaaga’igan. Awe gwillwizens mitigooni ogii-mazinibii’ige bingwii-kaang. Gikikenendaagozi enita mazinibii’igwech Gwiiwizens awe Bingwii Nayaashii Anishinaabe. Asini-mazinibiiganan ki ishinagonoon omazinibiiganan. Mamaabun ki-ikido Norval Morrisseau awe gwiiwizens.

I was taught a story of a young child by the shoreline of Lake Nipigon. This boy by himself was drawing with a stick in the sand. This boy was known in the community for drawing in the sandy shore by Bingwii Nayaashii Anishinaabe. His pictures looked like those pictures painted on rocks. Mamaabun says this young boy was Norval Morrisseau.

Gichi-ayaa kikendamowin gaa-gii pimiwitooch Norval Morrisseau. Gii Anishinaabe maskakiiwinini. Ogii pimiwiitoon awe Norval Morrisseau Mino Bimaadizewinini. Gii Anishinaabemo, gi-dibaajimo kaye, minwaajimo, ayadizookeg aadizookewinan. Dadibaajimoowinini awe Norval. Gii nita anishinaabemo kaye aadisookewinon. Chi gikendamang chi badakigaabawiyang, geget gitchi ayaa, Norval.

This man was well known as a carrier of Anishinaabe knowledge(s), as a traditional healer with medicine pictures. Norval Morrisseau said this led to a good life—that is, living with good values and practising being a good human being. He spoke the language and knew good stories. He knew ancient stories and was a storyteller. He had knowledges helping one stand tall while being grounded in culture, who you are as Anishinaabe.