The Story Of Coolnajoo

Na’ to’q ne’wt ne’sijik l’pa’tujk toqi’katisnk. Mu wkwe’ji’julti’k na miamuj maliama’titl wkwijual. Na’ mawi-nutqwe’te’w Kulna’ju, telte’lmus amiw na’qatpa’ji’jis, aqq steti mila’teket.

Three brothers lived together. They had no sisters, and their mother was sick. The youngest one, Culnajoo, was supposed to be a silly fellow, and was always doing outrageous things.

Newte’jk na’kwek, sikta’tisnaq kulkwi’saq. Na’ tapu’sijik wksisk naji-miskmmi’tisnek saleweyek. Na’ maw-nutqwe’te’w naqlus jikaptmn wikuow aqq ankweywan wkwijual aqq kulkwi’sl.

One day they killed a pig. The two older brothers went to fetch salt, and told the youngest one to remain and watch the house, and take care of their mother and the pig.

Teluejik ketu’salewa’latitl kulkwi’sl, aqq masqwa’la’titl ukjit amasi-kiskikl. Na’ kis maja’ti’tijek, tewiet aqq welteskuajik ji’nmuk etl-lukutijik, aqq pipanimajik I’mn ji’nm teluisit “Amasi-kiskik” weskunmuajl kulkwi’sl ukjit nekml.

They said they were going to salt down the pork, and keep it for the long days. After they were gone, he went out and found some men at work, and asked them that if there was a man there named “Longdays”, he had a pig for him.

Newte’jit teluet, nekm na teluisit, nankmayiw kulkwisl oqwa’tuatl, aqq poqtawlalataq.

One of them declared that that was his name; forthwith the pig was delivered to him, and he carried it off.

Kne’ji’jke’l, wksisk pekisinkik, aqq piltuite’tmitij ta’n tela’sitaq ula kulkwi’saq

By and by the other brothers arrived, and wondered what had become of the pig.

“Otia! Amasikiskiko’q pekisinkipnaq aqq smaqa’lataq! Mu net teluewoqsip anko’tmuoql ukjit Amasi-kiskik?”

“Why, Longdays has been here and taken it away! Did not you say it was to be kept for Mr.Longdays?”

“O’, na’qatpan na’! telimulekip masqwatasulti’-kwkulkwi’s ukjit amasi-kiskikl ktiki-nipnuk.”

“Oh, you blockhead! we told you it was to be kept for ourselves when the days become long next summer.”

Ewle’jit na’ Kulna’ju! L’pa mu elam eyktnuk koqoey kisi-tetpaqa’teken!

Poor Colnajoo! There was never a way for him to do anything right.

(Rand’s Legends of the Micmacs, page, translated by Helen Sylliboy, 12/02/05.)

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