Anishinaabe Word of The Day

Beaver (amik)

Beavers (genus Castor) are large, semiaquatic rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. There are two existing species: the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) and the Eurasian beaver (C. fiber). Beavers are the second-largest living rodents, after capybaras, weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb). They have stout bodies with large heads, long chisel-like incisors, brown or gray fur, hand-like front feet, webbed back feet, and tails that are flat and scaly. The two species differ in skull and tail shape and fur color. Beavers can be found in a number of freshwater habitats, such as rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. They are herbivorous, consuming tree bark, aquatic plants, grasses and sedges.

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Anishinaabe Stories or Other Interesting Facts!

Source:https://www.uwosh.edu

Once upon a time there was a beaver that loved to brag about his tail. One day while taking a walk, the beaver stopped to talk to a bird. The beaver said to the bird, “Don’t you love my fluffy tail?”

“Why, yes I do little beaver,” replied the bird.

“Don’t you wish your feathers were as fluffy as my tail? Don’t you wish your feathers were as strong as my tail? Don’t you wish your feathers were just as beautiful as my tail?” the beaver asked.

“Why do you think so much of your tail, little beaver?” asked the bird. This insulted the beaver and he walked away.

After walking for a while, he stopped for a drink by the river and saw a muskrat. He walked to the muskrat and said, “Hello little muskrat. What do you think about my tail?”

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Related Words

Nashke awedi amik biidaatiga’o.
Look, that beaver over there leaves a wake as he comes.
 GJ

 Listen
Nitaa-giba’ige aw amik.
The beaver is good at making dams.
 ES

 Listen
Bimikwazhiwe amik.
A beaver is swimming by.
 ES

 Listen
Agwaataawag amikwag gii-bagozigoshkigewaad andawaabandamowaad waa’-miijiwaad oshki-mitigoonsan.
The beaver come out of the water when they make holes in ice looking for fresh saplings to eat.
 NJ

 Listen
Odagwaabiiginaan amikwan gaa-gii-paashkizw