Language on Sugarbush
Adult level: Maple Syrup Making: ‘Ziisbaakdokeng’
The month of March is either called...‘Ziisbaakdoke Giizis’ in translation…Sugaring Moon
‘Naabdin Giizis’ in translation…Crusted Moon
Maple syrup man: ziisbaakdoke nini
Maple Syrup: ziiwaag mide
One who’s making maple syrup: e ziiwaag mideked
Maple Tree Bush: ninaa tigo kaan
Maple tree (sg) ninaa tig
Maple trees (pl) ninaa tigook
Boiling Pot / Curing Pot: skagamezige kik
Huge boiling / curing pot: gchi skagamezige kikoonh
Spouts: ziikse nigaanhsak
The process of boiling sap into maple syrup: skagamezigeng
Present Tense: He / she is boiling down / curing down: skagamezige
Pail/Pot (sg) kik (pl) kikoonh’sag
The little pail is hanging (sg) goojin kikoonhs
The pails are hanging (pl) goojinook kikoonhsag
Maple tree sap: ninaati gwaaboo
Locative…Where: enji
Where the maple syrup is made: Enji ziiwaag midekeng
Zhaa zhi kwa gii wiigwaas ke’wok, gii zhitoo naa’aan wiigwaas naaganan.
Long ago they (harvest) birch bark they used to make birch bark containers.
This is the maple bush: Mii maanda ninaatigo kaan
This is where the boiling / curing is done: Mii zhinda enji skagamezigeng
Everyone of the maple tree, a small pail is hanging: Ensa be bezhik ninaatig goojin kikoonhs.
He / she is tapping on the maple tree: Tetejiio’waan ninaatigoon
He / she is (drilling) the maple tree: Boognewaan ninaatigoon
This Hank is (drilling) the maple tree: Maaba Hank, boognewaan ninaatigoon.
He / she is collecting the sap: Maanhnjitoon ninaati gwaaboo
The maple sap is dripping: Ziikse ninaatigwaaboo / Ziiksem’gat ninaatigwaaboo
They are collecting the sap to boil: Maanhnjitoonaa’aa ninaati gwaaboo wii skagamezigeng
Written History: Around 1650 the Anishinaabek they were already making the maple syrup.