A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE ...

selecting a contrastive relationship with prior clauses. A case in point is the following
example from a narrative where the speaker is talking about the return of the crow, which
is the first bird to return before the spring.
(51) idash (Unknown author 2006:13) 46
a) Gii-minwendam Anishinaabe azhigwa nwaandawaad bineshiinyan dagoshininid
s/he was glad Indian time when after s/he hears birds arriving
gii-kikendang azhigwa ji-aayaabawaanig azhigwa gabe-biboon giikajid.
they knew when getting warmer after all winter being cold
b) Gii-ikidowag iko, “hey giwaabanishimin.”
they said customarily hey we are going to make it
c) Geget idash ogii-manaaji’aawaan iniw bineshiinyan, gii-inendamoog
truly DM they respected him/her that bird they thought of them as
mii ongow baadoonangig ziigwan.
DP these the ones who bring us spring
d) Mii dash igaye, gaawiin ogii-nooji’aasiwaawaan baanimaa gakina
DP DM also not they did not hunt him/her until all
gii-paashkaawe’owaad wewaawanojig.
that they had hatched their eggs those that have eggs
a) ‘The Indians were happy when they heard the birds arriving because they
knew that’s when it starts getting warmer after a cold winter.
b) They used to say, “Hey, we’re gonna make it.”
c) And they really respected the birds. That’s how they thought of these ones that
bring us spring.
d) And also, they didn’t hunt them until all the birds had hatched their eggs.’
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I have transliterated the original story into the Double Vowel orthography and have re-worked the
placement of periods under the guidance of my consultants. Also, the original publication gives authorship
to “a Mille Lacs Band Elder.” My consultants and I suspect that it was James (Jim) Clark who wrote the
story and provided it to the newspaper. I subsequently asked Jim for myself if he knew who wrote the
story, to which he jokingly replied, “a Mille Lacs Band Elder!” So, I never quite got a straight answer, but
I think he was implying that it was indeed him.
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