With the quick fading of the rich, ozhaawashkwaa (green) plants and mitigoog (trees), and the chill gihizheb (in the morning) air with the giizis (sun) shining bright—maangwag (loons) have left the northern waters of Minnesota behind. With dagwaagin (autumn’s) approaching departure, it won’t be long before the zaaga’iganan (lakes) and ponds begin to gashkadin (freeze over) completely, denying maangwag (loons) the niibi (water) runways needed for them to migrate south to warm waters. The silence of biboon (winter), minus the crunching of my aagime (snowshoes) breaking fresh bagakaagonagaa (bright snow), is one of my most enjoyed pastimes—but I will miss their song during the quiet cold months. Knowing that I will not see maangwag (loons) for several months inspired me to create my most recent maang (loon) painting, celebrating the rich autumn mooka’am (sunrise) with a single maang (loon) floating along before they prepare to fly zhaawani (south).
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