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Iskigamizigan
"Let's go to the sugarbush!" Welcome to this online resource for learning about iskigamizigan (sugar bush). You'll find ikidowinan (vocabulary) videos, iskigamizigan tips, and more. Downloadable / printable Iskigamizigan guides from the Red Cliff Tribal Historic Preservation Office and Mino Bimaadiziiwin Gitigaanin can be found in the document center at the bottom of this page. Chi-miigwech to all Gaa-Miskwaabikaang staff and volunteers who helped make these resources possible. Aho!
THPO has supplies you can use!
Getting Started
Before tapping trees, it is a good way to offer asemaa (tobacco) to the spirits every spring before starting a sugar bush. If you don't know what to say, the following is a great example!
Boozhoo manidoog. Odaapinamaw- ishinaang wa’aw asemaa. Dabwaa-ozhiga’wangidwaa niwii-biindaa-koonaanaanig ingiw mitigoog. Nimiigwechiwi’aanaanig ingiw manidoog.
Hello, spirits. Accept from us this tobacco. Before we tap trees, we want to offer tobacco to those spirits. We thank those spirits.
Ininaatig(oog)
Mii wa'aw ininaatig.
Sugar maple tree(s)
This is a sugar maple tree.
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Zhiishiigimewanzh
red maple tree
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Zhiishiigimiiwanzh(iig)
silver maple tree(s)
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Aajaagobiimizh(iig)
black maple tree(s)
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Zhaashaagobiimag(oog)
box elder(s) / Manitoba maple tree(s)
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Wiigwaasi-mitig(oog)
white birch tree(s)
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Wiinizik(oog)
yellow birch tree(s)
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Binemizh(iig)
gray birch tree(s)
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Waawiye-bagaan(ag)
black walnut tree(s)
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Ziinzibaakwadwaabo
Maple sap
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Zhiiwaagamizigan
maple syrup
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Ziinzibaakwad
maple sugar
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Bigiwizigan
maple taffy
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Anishinaabe-wiishkobi-zhizhoo'igan
maple butter
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Iskigamizigan
sugar bush
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Iskigamiziganing
to / at / in the sugar bush
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negwaakwaan
a tap
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Akik
a bucket
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Gibaabowe'igan
a lid
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naseyaawangwaan
a sugaring trough
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Biisiga'isaan
kindling wood
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Niwii-izhaa Iskigamiziganing
I want to go to sugar bush.
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Nindayaa iskigamiziganing.
I am at sugar bush.
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Ningii-izhaa Iskigamiziganing.
I went to sugar bush.
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Ozhiga'ige.
S/he taps (trees).
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Niwii-Ozhiga'ige.
I want to tap (trees).
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Nindoozhiga'ige.
I am tapping (trees).
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Ningii-ozhiga'ige.
I tapped (trees).
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Niwii-Naadoobii.
I want to gather sap.
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Ninaadoobii.
I am gathering sap.
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Ningii-naadoobii.
I gathered sap.
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Niwii-taashkiga'ise.
I want to split firewood.
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Nindaashkiga'ise.
I am splitting firewood.
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Ningii-taashkiga'ise.
I split firewood. (past tense)
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Niwii-boodawe.
I want to build a fire.
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Nimboodawe.
I am building a fire.
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Ningii-boodawe.
I built a fire.
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Niwii-aniibiishaabooke.
I want to make tea.
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Nindaniibiishaabooke.
I am making tea.
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Ningii-Aniibiishaabooke.
I made tea.
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Niwii-iskigamizige.
I want to boil down sap.
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Nindiskigamizige.
I am boiling down sap.
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Ningii-iskigamizige.
I boiled down sap.
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Niwii-shiiwaagamizige.
I want to make maple syrup.
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Ninzhiiwaagamizige.
I am making maple syrup.
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Ningii-shiiwaagamizige.
I made maple syrup.
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Niwii-ombigamizige.
I want to sugar off.
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Nindoombigamizige.
I am sugaring off.
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Ningii-ombigamizige.
I sugared off.
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Niwii-abwe.
I want to cook over the fire.
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Nindabwe.
I am cooking over the fire.
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Ningii-abwe.
I cooked over the fire.
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Aabajitoon.
Use it.
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Naadin.
Go get it.
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Wiinaagamin.
The sap is dirty.
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Biinaagamin.
The sap is clean.
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Ziikoobiiginan.
Strain / filter it.
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Biinaagamitoon.
Clean it.
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G: Aanin minik mitigoog gaa-ozhiga'wadwaa?
N: _______ mitigoog ningii-ozhiga'waag.
Q: How many trees did you tap?
A: I tapped _______ trees.
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G: Aaniin ezhi-onjigaawaad?
N: Gizhiigaawag. Bejigaawag. Iskigaawag.
Q: How are they running?
A: They're running fast. They're running slow. They stopped running.
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G: Aaniin apii waa-iskigamizigeyan?
N: _______-giizhigak.
Q: When are you going to boil?
A: _____day.
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G: Aaniindi gidiskigamizigan?
N: _______ ayaamagad.
Q: Where is your sugarbush?
A: It is there ______.
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G: Niwii-naadinise. Gidaa-wiidookaw ina?
N: Eya' giga-wiidookoon.
Q: I want to gather firewood. Can you help me?
A: Yes, I'll help you!
Watch & Listen