Algonquin (the origin of the name)

This is a story I heard from an elder, explaining how the word Algonquin came to be.

A long time ago on the eastern part of the Great Lakes, the Anishinaabe traders were convinced to trap beaver so the Europeans could make hats from the pelts. Many European traders came and traded with the Anishinaabe. The traders would take shiploads of beaver pelts back to Europe. These hats became very popular with everyone. After many years, the beaver population became scarce. The number of pelts declined. The Queen of England became concerned. She asked if a representative of the Anishinaabe people would come along with one of the shiploads of beaver pelts and explain why this was so. So one man went and the Queen said to him "Why are there so few pelts now? A few years ago you sent many pelts to us. Explain yourself." So, the man said in a humble voice “All gone Queen” and that is how the word Algonquin came to be.

Bezhik kiwenhziinh ngiinoodwaaba maanda kidwin Algonguin dabaadidang gaabinjibaamgak. Kchizaa’aazigwaba waabinong nikeyaa. Anishinaabek giiyenh giibgwasenmigaaziwok Amikwaan wiingwaanaawat wiikwaanan wiizhichigaadegin. Niibinaa jiimaaning giiyenh giibooschigaadenoon amikoweyaanan. Niibinaa giiyenh bemaadizijik giipshgendaanaawaan newe amiko wiikwaanan. Niibinaa nsapeboon dash giiyenh giinigwaanaawaan, kegaa gwa giiyenh giijaagaaningaazawok gwanda amikook. Mii dash giiyeng maaba kchigima kwe giikshkowaadendang, miish giiyenh giikwedwet “taagaa dash gwa bezhik anishinaabe biinik. Ngaabiwiindimaak dash maanda enjizhiwebat. Mii dash giiyenh maaba anishinaabe bezhik giizhaat ode kchigaaming. Aanii dash maanda enjizhiwebak. Niibinaa kwa giibiniindaawmi amikoweyaanan, nangwaa dash aapidji gwa bangii gbiniindaawmi, wiidimoshin ezhiwebak. Mii dash giiyenh giinkwetoowat maaba anishinaabe kchigimakwen Miish giiyenh enaat All gone Queen miish giiyenh maanda kidwin gaabinjibaamgak, Algonquin.