Buffalo-Bow | Buffalo-Bow |
(1)iyikohk iyiniw ê-kîh-nipit it êh-ayâyân, êkwa ôma kisiskâciwan ôma, êkotah niwîkinân, ê-pipohk. kîtahtawê nimosôm kiwêtinôtâhk iyiniwa natomik, cistêmâwa ê-kih-tahkopitâyit; takosin êkotêh nimosôm wîkihk. |
(1)At the time when the people died where I was, we were staying here by the Saskatchewan River, in winter-time. At one time then my grandfather was summoned by a man from the north, who came with a bundle of tobacco; he came there to my grandfather's dwelling. |
(2)«awa cistêmâw pîhtwâh. kinatomikawin; ôtêh kiwêtinôtâhk kiwâhkomâkanak kintomikwak, ê-wih-wâpamiskik, ê-wîh-mawacihitohk oma kâ-wîh-nîpihk.»1 |
(2)«Smoke this tobacco. You are invited; there in the north your kinsmen invite you, wishing to see you when the people gather next summer.» |
(3)êkosi nimosôm pîhtwâw. |
(3)Then my grandfather smoked. |
(4)«êha!; nk-êtohtân.» |
(4)«Very well; I shall go.» |
(5)wîsta cistêmâwa miyêw. kîwêhtahêwak ôki. wîh-kîwêhtahêwak. |
(5)He in turn gave the other some tobacco. They went back. They wanted to take them back with them. |
(6)«êa!; nk-êtohtân. nîpiyah kîsikihkwâwi, êkotêh nka-pâpicin. êkosi niski-pîsim akocihkih, âsay ôtah nk-ôh-picin, êkâ awâsisak ci-kawacicik pimipiciyâni.» |
(6)«Very well; I shall go there. When the leaves are out, I shall come there with my camp. When the moon of March is in the sky, I shall start from here with my camp, so that the children do not suffer from cold on the way.» |
(7)êkosi pici nimosôm. kotakah otihtêw ê-mihcêtiyit. nama wiya êkotah k-ôh-natomiht. êkosi êh-pâpicit, natomêw ôhi k-ôtihtât. wîhtamawêw ôtêh êh-natomiht. |
(7)So then my grandfather moved camp. He came to some other people, a great many of them. This was not the place to which he had been invited. So, as he approached with his camp, he summoned him to whose place he had come. He told him whither he had been invited to come. |
(8)«hâ, niya mîna kahkiyaw ka-wîcêtnân.» |
(8)«Well, I, too, with all my people, shall accompany you.» |
(9)piciwak, nîswayak mîkiwâhpah. osâmêyatiwak. kotakah mîn ôtihtêw. âsay mîna natomêw, êh-pîhtwâhât. wîhtamawêw êh-natomiht. |
(9)They moved camp, two groups of tipis. Their number was great. He came to where other people were, again. These too he invited, giving them tobacco. He told them how he had been invited. |
(10)«hâ, kahkiyaw nk-êtohtânân,» âsay mîn îtik. |
(10)«Well, we shall all go there,» they, too, told him. |
(11)mêsâhkamik êkwah mîkiwâhpah. âsay kônah kahkiyaw sipwêhtêw. piciw. êh-kapêsit, êy-otâkosik, «ôkiyôtêwak! tântah wîkih kânâhcâpêw?»2 |
(11)Now there were very many tipis. By this time the snow was all gone. He trekked on. When, in the evening, he pitched camp, «Guests! Where is Kanahtchapew's tent?» |
(12)«nêma pîhtêyisk nêma kâ-cimatêk.» |
(12)«The one that stands yonder in the center.» |
(13)ômis êtastêkih mîkiwâhpah.3 mitoni pîhtêyask wîkiw okimâw. pîhtokêwak. âcimôwak. |
(13)Like this the tipis were set. In the very center dwelt the chief. They entered. They spoke. |
(14)«hâw, êkotah minâskwêyâw nîswayak ôtênaw ayâwak âsay; êkotah k-ô-ntomikawiyan.» |
(14)«Now, here at Fine Bluff are already two bands; it is thither you are invited to come.» |
(15)hâ, piciw. nêtê takosin. pâpiciw. nistwayak ôtênawah wîhkwêstêwah. osâmêyatiw ayîsiyiniw. âsay kotak takosin. |
(15)So he moved camp. He arrived there. He came with his camp. Three bands were encamped in as many circular camps of tipis. There were very many people. Another band arrived. |
(16)«tânima kânâhcâpêw wîkih?» |
(16)«Where is Kanahtchapew's tent?» |
(17)«hâ, nêma.» |
(17)«Why, over there.» |
(18)kiwotêwak. âcimôwak. ôtê pâpiciwak kiwêtinôtâw-iyiniwak.4 osâmêyitiwak. |
(18)They visited. They spoke. There came the people of the North with their camp. There were very many of them. |
(19)«haw, nka-pêhikonânak. êkâ wiya sêmâk ta-piciwak,» itâw. |
(19)«Well, let them wait for us others. Let them not move away for a while,» he was told. |
(20)hâh, apiw. hâsay opimipiciwak osâmêyatiwak. pâpiciwak. nimosôm pêyak nâpêwa natomêw. |
(20)So he stayed. Very many by this time were those on the trek. They came with their camps. My grandfather summoned a certain man. |
(21)«haw, têpwâs ôki kâ-pâpicicik.» |
(21)«Go hail those who are arriving.» |
(22)wayawîw. |
(22)He went out. |
(23)«hê ê, pê-pîhtwâk! kinatomikowaw kânâcâpêw.»5 |
(23)«Hey hey, come and smoke! Kanahtchapew is inviting you!» |
(24)pîhtokêwak. |
(24)They came into the tipi. |
(25)«haw, oyasowêtân, tântah mostoswak kisiwâk kit-âyâcik. haw, okihcitâwak tit-âyâwak, ta-kanawêyihtahkik ôh ôtênawa, êk âwiyak nîkân tit-ôsahwât mostoswah, kisiwâk tit-ôhtinamihk wiyâs, kisêyiniwak tit-ôtihtahkik wiyâs, mitoni kwayask ci-kanawêyihtamihk ôtênaw.» |
(25)«Now then, let us plan for when the buffalo will be near. There ought to be Braves to guard these camps, so that no one may frighten off the buffalo before the time; so that the flesh may be taken from close by, that the old folk may have easy access to the flesh; so that the camp may be very well policed.» |
(26)«hêha!!» kahkiyaw. |
(26)«Yes!» cried all. |
(27)oskinîkiwa nitomêwak. |
(27)They called a young man. |
(28)«haw, osîhtâh nîmihitowikamik, ta-kanawêyihtaman ôtênaw, êk âwiyak nîkân tit-ôsahwât mostoswah, kisiwâk t-ôhtinamihk wiyâs, kisêyiniwak t-ôtihtahkik, ci-nawaswêhk. êkw ôma k-ô-ntomitân, sêmâk ci-tôtaman.» |
(28)«Go build a dance-lodge, for you are to police the camp, so that no one may drive off the buffalo before the time; so that the flesh may be taken from close by, that the old folk may have easy access to it, when the hunt is made. It is for this I have called you, that you at once may do it.» |
(29)«êha!!» |
(29)«Yes!» |
(30)wayawîw. pîhtêyisk itohtêw. |
(30)He went out. He went to the center of the camp. |
(31)«hê ê ê, hâstamitik, ôkîhcitâtik! âstamitik!»6 |
(31)«Hey hey hey, come here, O Braves! Come here!» |
(32)hâ, âsa mihcêt. |
(32)At once, a great number. |
(33)«haw, okimâw anohc niwîktamâk, okihcitâwikamik t-ôsîhtâyahk, ci-kanawêyihtamahk ôtênaw, `êk âwiyak nîkân tit-ôsahwât mostoswah, kisiwâk t-ôhtinamihk wiyâs, kisêyiniwak t-ôtihtahkik wiyâs,' ntik anohc aw okimâw, k-ôh-têpwâtitakok. `êha!,' ntitâw.» |
(33)«Now then, the chief has just now told me that we are to build a police-lodge, that we may police the camp, `that no one before the time may drive off the buffalo, so that from close by the flesh may be taken, that the old folk may have easy access to the flesh; so that the camp may be very well policed.» `Yes,' I answered him.» |
(34)«hâ?!» kahkiyaw. |
(34)«Good!» cried all. |
(35)hâ, êkosi sâkowêwak. mîkiwâhp nâtamwak. pâskinamwak, mîna kotak, mîna kotak, mîna kotak; nêwo mîkiwâhpah otinamwak. mânokêwak. têpiskêyik nîmihitôwak. |
(35)So then they gave a whoop. They made for a tipi. They broke it up, and another, and another, and another; four tipis they took. They built a lodge. When night came, they danced. |
(36)êkosi kîkisêpâ, «hê wêw! pâskinokêwak onîmihitôwak!» |
(36)Then, in the morning, «Hey hey! The dancers are breaking up their lodge!» |
(37)êkosi kahkiyaw pâskinokâniwiw. êkosi êkonik sipwêhtêwak. nâway pimipiciwak. êkonik êh-tipêyihtahkik tâpwê kisiwâk mostoswah kanawêyimêwak. kisiwâk ohtinamwak wiyâs. mitoni miywêyihtamwak kisêyiniwak, êw-otinahkik wiyâs. kîspin êk êh-natohtâkocik kotakah nâpêwah, ê-wî-sasîpêhtâkocik, otayâniwâwa otinamwêwak; pîkopitamwak.7 |
(37)Then all the tipis were taken down. So then they set out. In a long procession they trekked across the country. Those who were in command kept a close watch over the buffalo. They were able to get their flesh from close by. The old people were very much pleased to get the meat. If any other man did not obey them, but tried to disregard their orders, they took his possessions away from him; they tore them up. |
(38)kîspin êkâ nântaw êh-itwêt otayânah kâ-pikonamoht, awa nâpêw k-ôsîhtât nîmihitôwikamik, «haw, kîkway kiya kâ-pîkonaman?» kahkiyaw itêw owîcêwâkanah. |
(38)If he whose belongings were broken up did not say anything, then that man who had built the dance-lodge would ask each of his companions, «Now, what was it you broke up?» |
(39)hâ, wîhtam. |
(39)He told what it was. |
(40)«hâw, kiya kik-âstân êyakô!» |
(40)«Well, you, you will replace this thing!» |
(41)piyis kahkiyaw kwayês tipahamawêwak êkoni. mitoni kîh-miywâsin êyôkô; mitoni kih-nahihtâtowak kayâsk ayîsiyiniwak. |
(41)In the end they would restore everything properly to that man. This was a very good arrangement; the old-time people obeyed each other very well. |
(42)kîtahtawê, «hê, mah natôhtamok! êkâ wiya awiyak ta-ntopayiw; kitahamâhkok oskinîkiwak. omikiwak ayahciyiniwak. ta-kitimahêwak awâsisah; ta-pêtâwak omikiwin, kîspin ntopayitwâwi. kitahamâhkok kitôskinîkimiwâwak!» |
(42)Presently, «Hey, heed this! Let no one go on the war-path; warn the young men. The Blackfoot have small-pox. They will bring ruin on the children; they will bring the small-pox, if they go on the war-path. Warn your young warriors!» |
(43)hâ, kîtahtawê, «hê! nitopayiw!» |
(43)Then, presently, «Hey! A war party!» |
(44)kêtahtawê, «hê!» |
(44)Presently, «Hey!» |
(45)takosinwak kâ-kîh-ntopayicik. omikiwin pêtâwak. ana kâ-sipwêhtahiwêt pê-wêpinâw, êh-omikit. |
(45)Those who had been on the war-path arrived. They brought the small-pox. He who had set out as leader of the party, had been left on the way, with small-pox. |
(46)«hahê haha! êkosi êh-kitimahât awâsisah! hâw, cistahowin! kiyawâw mâmihk k-ôhciyêk kiwêmistikôsîmiwâw ayâw maskihkiy, cîstahowin. mâskôc kimiyikowâw; cîstawôhkok awâsisak.» |
(46)«Alas, alas! And so he has brought ruin upon the children! Now, vaccination! You who come from the East, your white-man has a medicine, vaccination. Perhaps he will give it you; vaccinate the children.» |
(47)mâyi-wâpahtam. nîswayak pîktêyisk êkwah êh-cîstahohcik awâsisak, kihc-âyîsiyiniwak. wîpac hâsay nipiy omikiw.8 tahtwâw ê-wâpahk nipiwak êh-omikîcik; ôki kâ-cîstawohcik, nama wya êkonik. natimihk êkotê pikoh; ôtêh nam âwiyak. |
(47)He foresaw evil. In two places now, at the center of the camp, they were vaccinated, the children and the grown people. Quickly he died who had the small-pox. Every day some died of small-pox; but not those who had been vaccinated. Only in the west; here, no one. |
(48)mînisah êtihtêkih, kîtahtawê, «hê!» |
(48)When the berries were ripe, presently, «Hey!» |
(49)okimâwak ntôhtôwak. |
(49)The chiefs summoned each other. |
(50)«haw, ntawâc nanânis itâmotân. ka-mêscinânânaw, kîspin wî-mâmawêyatiyahko.» |
(50)«Now then, we had better flee in different directions. We shall all die off, if we insist upon staying assembled.» |
(51)êkosi nanânis kîh-ispiciwak. êkosi kisiskâciwanihk ôtah âstamitakâm nikiw-ocipwêhtân. êkotê nititohtân kîwêtinôtahk. mihcêt nwâpahtên mikiwâhpah; nwâpamâwak êh-omikîcik kêyâpic, mêsahkamik. âhci piko awasitê nititohtân. mînah nôtihtâwak mêhcêt mîkiwâhpah; min êyôkonik omikîwak kahkiyaw. âhci piko om âwastê nititohtân. mîn êkotê mihcêt mikiwâhpah; kêyâpic omikîwak. mêtoni misâhkamik êkospîhk nikî-wâpahtên ayîsiyiniw êh-kîh-pimâtisit. mitoni mêkwâ nkîh-papâ-yân. kahkiyaw nikîh-mîcin omîciwiniwâw. êkwah kâh-kiskêyihtamân êh-âyimahk âhkosiwin. êkospîhk ohci kâh-cikawâsist ayîsiyiniw. mistahi kîh-nipiw. êkw îskwêyâc aspin ê-kî-si-wâpahtamân omikîwin k-êsiyîhkâtêk. êkosi nah anohc nama wiya nikîh-wâpahtên, êkospîhk aspin anohc. kêyâpic nama wiya wîhkâ niwâpahtên aspin. |
(51)So they trekked off in various directions. So here, to this side of the Saskatchewan I came to recover. I went up north. I saw many tents; I saw people still suffering from small-pox, many. I went on farther still. Again I came to many tents; all these people, too, had small-pox. I went still farther on, this way. There, too, were many tents; again, the people had small-pox. Very, very many people I saw, at that time, who were done with life. I wandered about much, then. I ate the food of all people. Then I learned how terrible is sickness. It is since then that the Indians are so few. Very many died. Then, and never since, I saw that which is called small-pox. Since then I have not seen it, then for the last time to this day. I never saw it again. |
(52)êh-wâpahtamân niskîsikohk ohci awa k-âcimostawak kâ-wîtapimak nci-kiskêyihtamôwin. âtah mistahi nkiskêyihtên âcimôwin. |
(52)With my own eyes I saw that which I am telling, my own experience, to this man sitting here with me. I know many a tale to tell. |
(53)êkwah pêyak nîs-ôhpikiwin mîna, ê-kîsi-miy-ôhpikiyân, mantôw ê-kî-si-pakitinit, êkwah êkâ wîhkâc êh-ayâyân; êkosi nimihtâtên. êh-kî-si-pakitinit, ê-kî-si-miy-ôhpikiyân, êh-kîh-miyit mantôw, nipâkwêsimôwikamik, êwakoh êh-miyw-ôhpikihikoyân. êkosi, «tanêh ayâyân!» ntêyihtên tahto-kîsikâw. osâm nikîh-miyw-ôhpikihikon; ayis nkî-si-pakitinik mantôw, êyôkw ânima t-âpacihtâyân, t-ôh-ôhpikiyân. mistahi mâna nimihtâtên, kayâsk ohci ê-kîh-wâpahtamân. «tânikan is-âyâyân!» ntêyihtên tahto-kîsikâw. |
(53)And there is one thing with which I grew up, thanks to which I grew up in good shape, because God so created me, which now I never have; and so I grieve for it. Because he so created me, that through it I grew up well, because God gave it to me, the Sun-Dance is that which caused me to grow up well. And so, «Would I had it!» I think every day. For it caused me to grow up well; so God created me, to make use of it, that I through it might grow up. Always greatly I grieve for it, having seen it from of old. «Would that even thus I might have it!» I think every day. |
(54)hâw, êkosi mpoyon êh-âcimoyân tâpwêwin êh-âcimostawak kâ-wîtapimak awa, âcimôwin kâ-miyak. êkos êh-pôyoyân. |
(54)Well, and so I shall stop telling tales. It is the truth, this which I have told to him with whom I sit, to whom I give the tale. So now I cease. |