THE CREATION OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN

As told in Abenaki and English by Jesse and Joseph Bruchac

Tôni adoji Tabaldak kizidahôdak pamkamigak, ki pahamihla weljiikok. 

When the Owner had finished this world, left over earth remained on their hands. 

Ni-agwa, Tabaldak kezilja pagiala kizinegwichiolihozoa. 

So-as it is told, the Owner cleaned the hands of creation sprinkling down one able to form themself.

Ioda pagialegot, kizito nisnol meljial, nisnol mpedinal, mdep ta mhaga, ni wd’abin.

This one who was sprinkled, shaped two hands, two arms, a head and a body, and sat up. 

“Awani kia?” Tabaldak nadodmawa iawda.

“Who are you?” The Owner asked four times. 

Ni-ôlawi, ôda wd’ôzidôgowen, wzômi ôda tawzôganal w’depek.

But, there was no reply, because there were no openings in their head. 

Ni, Tabaldak w’dalakan iawnol padôgipakwal. 

So, the Owner cast down four thunder arrows. 

Natamatak pesigihla ni paskôdebatahogon waji kizitok nisnol w’dawagol waji kizi lestak.

The first divided and struck their head, making two ears so this one could hear.

Ni nisda akwôbtak pesigihlan achi, ni paskôdebatahogon waji kizitok nisnol w’sizegol waji kizi pazôbit.

The second divided as well, and struck their head making two eyes so this one could see.

Ni adoji Tabaldak talakat nseda akwôbtak padôgipakwa pasigihlak, ni paskôdebatahogon waji kizitok nisnol w’jôlal waji kizi melôthigak.

Then the Owner cast down the third lightning bolt which split, struck their head and made two nostrils so this one could smell.

Tôni adoji talakat iaw akwôbtak padôgipakwa ôda pesigihlawen, ni-ga wibitta kiziton pazgwen mdon. 

When the fourth thunder arrow was thrown, it did not split and so it made only one mouth. 

Ni ni Tabaldak nadodmawa mina “awani kia?”

And then the Owner asked again, “Who are you?” 

“Wjihozo nia!” nada ôzidôgon.

“I am Odzihozo!” that one replied.

“Kamôji k’môlhintato!” idam Tabaldak.

“Ah, you are wonderful!” the Owner said.

Ni Wjihozo wd’ihlegon, “n’môlhintata ali kizibagialian.”

And Odzihozo told him, “I am wonderful because you sprinkled me.”

Ni Wjihozo w’pmadaôbin mziwi alkamigak.

Then Odzihozo looked around wide-eyed at how all the land lay. 

Ni Tabaldak idam, “Kina io ali môlhintatoa!”

Then the Owner said, “Behold here how wonderful my work is!”

Taôlawi awôssis, Wjihozo w’kadi kiwkanno.

Just like a child, Odzihozo was eager to explore. 

Ni-ôlawi, ôda w’pakaldamowen tôni ali môjit.

But, was unsure how to move. 

Ni kezibas wd’awakan weljial wji kizi pmakannikhozit.

So he attempted to use his hands to cause himself to travel.

Ni w’maônemen ali psaniljôt nagako waji kizitok tkôkoal waji kizi kwagwnak.

He gathered sand filling his hands to make hills to push against.

Kwagwenem alnakaiwi ni kizihôt wajoa.

He pushed to the right and mountains rose up. 

Kwagwenem pôjiwi ni kizihôt wajoa.

He pushed to the left and mountains rose up. 

Kd’eliwihlônnawak nigik Askaskwadenak ta Wôbadenak.

We call those the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks. 

Ôda mamôjiwi.

He did not move.

Ni, w’gagalnôna nihi tasadna wajoa ni w’wikwenozin nikôniwi.

So, he grabbed the tops of the mountains and pulled himself forward. 

Ni witkweljial w’kejegenô nihi wajoa tôni adoji pmenasit ahkik.

His fingers made deep gouges in the mountains as he dragged himself along the ground.

Kizito mdala kasnol siboal, pazgwen azi witkwelji - ali wôlkaigat nebi w’nosokôgon askamat.

He made ten rivers, one with each of his fingers - the water follows the channels that he made to this day.

Wd’eliwitamenal Maziskwebitegok, Salônitegok, Kchitekok, Azibsitekok, Wintegok, Wnegigwtekok, Paketegok, Mattakitegok, Kwenozasek, ta Wskitegok

We call them Missisquoi, Saranac, Richelieu, the Great Chazy, the Lamoille, Otter Creek, the Bouquet, the Mettawee, the Pike River and the New Haven River.

Tabaldak ôbdalmo

The Owner laughed. 

Kizilla k’wizwôgan paamigenba “Pemigejenpôbezit!” Idam Tabaldak.

“Perhaps you should not be called Odzihozo. A better name for you might be the One Who Drags Himself Along On His Backside,” the Great Mystery said.  

Wjihozo ni namihozin niki aladahôbin tôdaakwigôdassit.

Odzihozo looked at himself and realized that indeed he had no legs. 

Waji kizi pmakannit aiagô pamenasit wzabi kik wikwenozit.

In order to travel about, he had been dragging his bottom on the ground as he pulled himself along.

Ni agwa salakiwi môjagek w’zeskwiganal taôlawi agwôlagweji ni wd’askan.

And so he finally grew his legs like a tadpole and he stood.

Kwani soglôk ni siboal sôgdahlôkwkil wôlhanak tôni adali Wjihozo abit nansawiwi wajoikok pahami kizi molôgek io patkwabit.

The rain fell and the rivers flowed down. They filled in the great hole in the earth where Odzihozo had been sitting. There between the two mountain ranges finally was shaped a deep lake. 

Pamgisegak Nd’eliwitamenna kchi nebes Pitawbagw.

Today that great body of water is known as Lake Champlain.

Ni wajihozit kiwkanno Nd’akinnok ta awasiwi  

Odzihozo then went on to travel all around our home land and beyond.  

Ni-agwa, anegitta msalakan, w’pedgin patkwabit ni nebesek.

Finally, after doing many things, he returned to the lake where he once sat.

Ni wjihozin agmatta ni menahanisek ni kizi namitôzo wji Paliton.  Pastoniak wd’eliwitamenô Rock Dunder.  

He changed himself into a small island and remains there to this day and can be seen from Burlington.  On the map it is called Rock Dunder.

Wôbanakiak wd’eliwitamenô Wjihos ala Wjihozosa, adalkannihidit ni Pitawbagok majimiwi w’dalichigitamawônô wdamôa wlalemegwezowôganowik waji kizi pkagôhôdit Pitawbagok.

The Abenaki call it the Guardian’s Rock and offer tobacco for luck whenever they travel across the lake.