(1) kayâs kîtahtawê-- êkwa nitâtayôhkân-- kîtahtawê yâhki pêyak nâpêw pêyakokamikisiw, wîwa êkwa nîso otawâsimisa. kîtahtawê mâna sêpwêhtêci, owîkimâkana wawêsiyiwa. namôya kiskêyihtam tânêhki ohci ê-wawêsiyit owîkimâkana. kîtahtawê konita sipwêhtêhkâsôw, ê-mâcît; êkwa kâsôw, "mahti kê-tôtahk," ê-itêyimât. pôti êkwa kâ-wâpamât mistikwa ê-pa-pakamahwâyit, êkwa ka-pê-wayawiyit kinêpikwa, kâ-wâpamât owîkimâkana ê-owîcimosiyit, sêmâk mistahi kisiwâsiw. mistikwa ê-pakamahwâyit wîwa, "ninâpêm, êkwa nitakohtân!" itwêyiwa. kisiwâsiw mistahi. ohtêyihtam; ayisk osâm nawac sâkihimâwa kinêpikwa. êwakoni ôhi kâ-wî-âtayôhkâtimak wîsâhkêcâhk okâwiya mîna ôhtâwiya. êkwa awa nâpêw mistahi kisiwâsiw; nama kî-nipâw.

(1) Once upon a time, long ago -- I am now telling a sacred story -- once upon a time, of old, a certain man dwelt in a lone lodge with his wife and his two children. Then presently, whenever he went away, his wife put on her finery. He did not know why his wife put on her finery. So then at one time he merely pretended to go away to hunt; he hid himself, thinking of her, “let me see what she will do.” And then he saw her beating a tree, and a serpent came out, and he saw that his wife had it for a lover, at once he was very angry. When his wife struck the tree, she said, “My husband, now I have come!” He was very angry. He was jealous; for the serpent was loved more than he. Those of whom I mean to tell the sacred story were Wisahketchahk's mother and father. So now that man was very angry; he could not sleep.

(2) ômisi itêw wîwa: "wâhyaw niwî-isi-mâcîn," itêw wîwa.

(2) He said to his wife: “I am going far away to hunt.”

(3) tâpwê mitoni wâhyaw isi mâcîw. pêyakotipiskwêw.

(3) He really went very far away to hunt. He stayed over one night.

(4) "tânêhki kâ-ôh-katikoniyan?" itik owîkimâkana.

(4) “Why did you stay out over night?” his wife asked him.

(5) "wâhyaw nikî-isi-mâcîn," itêw; "mâka kiya kika-nâtên wiyâsa," itêw wîwa.

(5) “I have been far off to hunt,” he told her; “But you, are to fetch the meat,” he told his wife.

(6) "êha," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(6) “Very well,” said she.

(7) mayaw ê-sipwêhtêyit wîwa, oskotâkayiyiw otinam, ê-postiskahk. itohtêw ôhi kinêpikwa ita kâ-asiwasoyit mistikohk.

(7) As soon as his wife had gone, he took her skirt and put it on. He went to where that serpent was inside the tree.

(8) "ninâpêm, nitakohtân!" itêw kinêpikwa.

(8) “My husband, I have come!” he said to the serpent.

(9) tâpwê pê-wayawiyiwa. môhkomân ohci kîskikwêsâwâtêw; kîwêhtahêw ôhi kinêpikwa; mîcimâpoy osîhtâw. êkwa kâtêw otawâsimisa.

(9) Really, it came out. He cut through its neck with a knife; he took the serpent home; he made a broth. Then he hid his children.

(10) cikêmâ maywês askiy ihtakohk, nanâtohk isi kîsi-kaskihtâwak. kâh-kotâwinêw otawâsimisa askîhk. êkwa awa iskwêw mistahi kahkiyaw kêkway kaskihtâw, ahpô kahkiyaw kêkway êsa ê-pîkiskwâtahk, êkosi êsa ê-naskwêwasimikot. êkwa kahkiyaw kêkway mîna nâpêw pîhcâyihk ôta kâ-ihtakoniyik kitahamawêw êkâ kêkway kita-wîhtamâkoyit.

(10) One must keep in mind that before the earth existed they had many kinds of power. He plunged his two children into the ground. And that woman, too, had great power for all things, and could talk even to every kind of thing and accordingly receive answer from it. And then the man forbade every object that was in their dwelling to tell her anything.

(11) takohtêyiwa êkwa wîwa. asamêw kinêpikwa kâ-kî-mîcimâpôhkâkêt.

(11) Then his wife arrived. He gave her the serpent to eat which he had cooked into broth.

(12) "hwâ, kêkway ôma," itwêw awa iskwêw, "mistahi kâ-wîhkasik?"

(12) “Oh, what is this,” asked the woman, “which tastes so good?”

(13) "kinâpêm kinêpik omihko, êkotôwahk ohci kâ-osîhtamâtân," itêw.

(13) “The blood of your husband, the serpent; from it I have made this for you,” he told her.

(14) kisiwâsiw awa iskwêw.

(14) The woman was angry.

(15) "nama cî tâpwê ahpô êkosi ê-tôtaman?" itêw êsa.

(15) “It is not true, is it, that you have done even this?” she asked him.

(16) itohtêw itê mâna kinêpikwa kâ-nitawi-wâpamât awa iskwêw. êkwa pakamahwêw mistikwa. namwâc kinêpikwa pê-wayawiyiwa. mistahi kisiwâsiw, konita ê-pê-mawîhkâtât. ê-pê-pîhtokêt, onâpêma kîskikwêtahok. êkosi isi ohpiskâw awa nâpêw, ê-tapasît.

(16) So she went to where she was in the habit of visiting the serpent. Then she struck the tree. The serpent did not come out. She was very angry, as she came back, loudly bewailing it. When she entered the dwelling, her husband cut off her head. Then he rose into the air, to flee.

(17) "nitawâc ôta kîsikohk nika-nitawi-otaskîn." "nika-acâhkosiwin!" itwêw, ê-ati-isi-ohpiskât.

(17) “I shall needs go dwell there in the sky. Let me be a star!” he said, as he rose higher and higher.

(18) êkwa awa iskwêw, kîtahtawê tôhkâpîmakan ôma pisisik mistikwânis. êkwa kîtahtawê kâ-pîkiskwêt ôma ostikwân.

(18) And that woman, that severed head presently opened its eyes. Then presently that head spoke.

(19) "â, nitôyâkan, tâniwêhkâk?"

(19) “Come my dish, where are they?”

(20) sôskwâc kahkiyaw kakwêcimêw otâpacihcikana. kahkiyaw mitoni kâh-kitotam, ê-kakwêcihtahk. pôti asiniya kâ-wîhtamâkot askîhk ê-kî-kotâwinâyit onâpêma. nêwo kêkway kî-miyêw otawâsimisa awa nâpêw, ispîhk ê-sipwêtisahwât, sîpiy kita-osîhtâyit, êkwa iskotêw, êkwa asinîwaciy, êkwa sakâw, okâminakasîwi-sakâw.

(20) Without delay, she asked all her utensils. She spoke to every single one in turn, questioning it. At last a stone told her that her husband had sunk them into the earth. Four things that man had given his children, at the time when he started them off; that they might make a river, fire, a mountain of stone, and a forest; a forest of thorn trees.

(21) êkwa têpwêw awa ostikwânis awa. "nitawâsimisitik, pêhik!" "kikitimahinâwâw kâ-nakasiyêk!" itwêw.

(21) Then that head began to call. “My children wait for me! You are making me wretched by leaving me!” it cried.

(22) tahki têpwêw awa iskwêw. êkwa awa nâpêsis itâmaskamik kâ-isi-tapasît, wâhyaw ohci wâpahtam ôma pisisik mistikwân ê-pîkiskwêmakaniyik, ê-nayômikot ostêsa.

(22) That woman called all the time. And that little boy who was fleeing under ground, from afar he saw that severed speaking head, as he was being carried on his elder brother's back.

(23) ômisi itêw: "nistêsê, nama kêkway kikâwiyinaw." "ostikwân piko kâ-pîkiskwêmakahk," itwêw.

(23) He said to him, “Big brother, our mother is not there. It is only a talking head,” he said.

(24) otinêw ôhtâwiya kâ-kî-miyikot, iskotêw nêhiyawak kâ-ôh-osîhtâcik; wêpinêw nâway isi.¹

(24) He took that which his father had given him, that from which the Cree make fire; he threw it behind him.

(25) "ôta iskotêw ta-wî-ayâw!" itwêw.

(25) “Let there be fire!” he said.

(26) tâpwê mistahi nakânikôw awa, wâhyaw ohci iskotêw ê-isi-kwâhkotêyik. ayis pisisik ostikwân pimohtêmakaniyiw. êwako piko nêhiyaw kâ-isiyîhkâsot êsa mac-âyisa ê-kî-wîcihikot, pisisik ostikwân kâ-ôh-tihtipipayiyik. piyisk miyâskam iskotêw. êkwa nawaswâtêw sâsay mîna otawâsimisa. kahkiyaw saskitêyiwa wêstakaya.

(26) And really that being was entirely brought to a stop, when far and wide the fire blazed. For it was but a severed head which went along. Because he, at any rate, who is called Indian was helped by evil beings, was why that severed head could roll along. Finally it passed by the fire. Then it again pursued its children. All its hair was aflame.

(27) êkwa mîna kîtahtawê ê-ay-itâpit ana kâ-nayômiht awâsis, "namôya kikâwiyinaw, nistêsê! kiyâm sôhki tapasîtân!" itêw.

(27) Then presently when again that child looked about, who was being borne by the other, “It is not our mother, big brother! Let us flee with all our might!” he told him.

(28) âsay mîna kîhtwâm otinam ôhtâwiya kâ-kî-miyikot okâminakasîwi-waciy kita-osîhtât. nâway isiwêpinêw. tâpwê âcisin awa ostikwân kâ-tihtipipayiyit. êkwa atotêw misi-kinêpikwa, kita-kâh-kîskamâyit okâminakasiya, kita-tawinamâkot, sôskwâc kita-pimohtêt. tâpwê kaskihôw sôskwâc ê-pimohtêt.

(28) Again he took that which his father had given him that he might make a hill of thornberry-trees. He threw it behind him. That Rolling Skull was really blocked. Then it bade a Great Serpent to bite through the thorn-trees and make a passage through for it, that it might go unchecked. And so it managed to go on, unchecked.

(29) êkwa âsay mîna wâhyaw ê-itâmocik, âsay mîna pêtisâpamêw ostikwân ê-pê-tihtipipayiyit awa awâsis kâ-nayômiht. âsay mîna kâ-kî-miyikot ôhtâwiya asinîwaciy kita-osîhtât âsay mîna nâway isiwêpinam. mistahi misi-ispayiw asinîwaciy. nama kî-kaskihôw awa ostikwânis ta-pâsitohtêt. kwayask atotêw amiskwa ta-pîkwamâyit ôhi asiniya, ê-pîwâpiskôwiyiki wîpitiyiwa. êkwa kaskihôw sâsay mîna. âsay mîna nawaswâtêw otawâsimisa.

(29) Then, when again they had fled a long ways, again that child who was being carried saw the Skull come rolling. And again, he threw behind them that which he had been given by his father that he might make a mountain of rock. Vastly that rock crag extended. That Skull-Being could not manage to go across it. At once it employed a beaver with iron teeth to bite the rock into pieces. Then it was able to go on. Again it pursued its children.

(30) âsay mîna pêtisâpamêw awa awâsis kâ-nayômikot ostêsa. êkwa mîna sîpiy kita-ôh-osîhtât kâ-kî-miyikot ôhtâwiya ôtê nîkân pisci isiwêpinam. ati-itwêw awa awâsis. mâtôwak êkwa, ê-kostahkik ta-nipahikocik ôma mistikwân ka-tihtipipayiyik, okâwiyiwâwa ostikwâniyiw.

(30) Again that child who was being borne by his elder brother saw it coming. Then that which his father had given him that he might make a river, he threw it, by mistake, on ahead. The child kept crying its cry. Then they wept in terror that the Rolling Skull would kill them, their mother's skull.

(31) êkwa ê-mâtocik, "êkâya mâtok! kika-pihkohitinâwâw!" itikwak misi-kinêpikwa.

(31) Then as they wept, “Do not weep! I will take you to safety!” a Great Serpent said to them.

(32) êkwa âsowahohikwak.²

êkwa akâmihk ê-kî-takohtahikocik, kâwi âsowaham awa kâ-kî-âsowahohât ôhi awâsisa.

(32) Then he carried them across the water. When he had brought them to the far shore, he crossed back, who had taken the children across.

(33) ê-wâpamât êkotê awa mistikwân kâ-tihtipipayit, ômisi itwêw: "âsowahohin niya mîna!" itêw.

(33) When the Rolling Skull saw him, it said, “Take me across, too!” it said to him.

(34) "êkâya mâka papâsêyihta," itik.

(34) “But do not be impatient” he told it.

(35) tâpwê âsowahohik. pôsiw ospiskwaniyihk.

(35) So he carried it across. It rode on his back.

(36) mwêhci tâwayihk nipîhk ê-ayâcik, "misi-kinêpik, wêsâ kipêsiskân!" itwêw awa iskwêw.

(36) Just when they were in the middle of the stream, “Great Serpent, you are going all together too slowly!” said that woman.

(37) êkwa pakastawêhok.

(37) Then he threw her into the water.

(38) "'namêw' kika-isiyîhkâson!" itik awa ostikwân awa kâ-tihtipipayit.

(38) “‘Sturgeon’ will be your name!” he told that Rolling Head.

(39) êkwa ôki nâpêsisak papâmâcihowak, mistahi ê-kwatakihtâcik. êwako awa otawâsisîwihtay wîsahkêcâhk.

(39) Then those boys wandered about, suffering many hardships. That boy was Wisahketchahk in his childhood.

(40) êkospîhk êkwa sipwêhtêwak, osîmisa ê-wîcêwât. pâkahatôwânisa osîhtamawêw, ta-mêtawâkêyit.

(40) Then they departed from there, he with his little brother. He made a ball for him to play with.

(41) kîtahtawê cîki sîpîhk ê-pa-pimohtêcik, êwako ostêsimâs, "âstam!" kâ-itikot kisêyiniwa otôsiyihk ê-pôsiyit. ê-pôsit, êkosi isi isi-kwâsihik. êkwa awa kâ-apisîsisit awa nakatik.

(41) Then at one time, as they were walking by the river, the elder boy was told, “Come here!” by an old man in a canoe. When he stepped into the canoe, this person carried him off. They left the smaller boy behind.

(42) ê-ati-isi-mâtot, "nistêsê, nitawâc niya nika-mahîhkaniwin!" itwêw awa nâpêsis osîmimâs.

(42) Then as he began to weep, “Big brother, now I shall have to turn into a wolf!” cried that little boy, the younger one.

(43) êkosi êwako piko kî-otinâw wîsahkêcâhk, êkwa êkotê wîkiyihk ê-takohtahikot ôhi kisêyiniwa. kwatapinik otôsiyihk; namôya ahpô wî-kîwêhtahik. takohtêw wîkiwâhk awa kisêyiniw, nîso otânisa.

(43) Thus only Wisahketchahk was taken, and the old man brought him over yonder to his dwelling. He put him under his canoe as he tipped it on the beach; he did not even care to take him home. The old man went to his abode, to his two daughters.

(44) "nitawâsimisitik, nipêsiwâw kita-isi-onâpêmiyêk," itwêw êsa; "nitawi-wâpamihk," itwêw.

(44) “My children, I have brought someone for you to marry,” he said; “Go look at him,” he said.

(45) wayawîw ê-omisimâwit, ê-nitawi-wâpamât. mistahi êcika awa ê-mâyâtisiyit.

(45) The older girl went out of the tent and looked at him. Why he was very ugly!

(46) "namôya ta-kî-onâpêmiyân awâsis!" itêw.

(46) “I cannot marry a child!” she said of him.

(47) "â, kêyiwêhk miyosiw." "mâskôc ahpô osâm mistahi ê-mâtot," itwêw êsa.

(47) “Oh, he is handsome enough. Perhaps it is only because he has been weeping too much,” he said.

(48) êkwa itohtêw osîmimâw. awa oskinîkiskwêw kîwêhtahêw anihi awâsisa, ê-kî-kâsîhkwênât. pamihêw; tâpwê onâpêmiw êwako. êkwa pakwâtêw awa omisimâw, wâwâc mâna ohcitaw ê-tôtahk awa awâsis, ê-mîsît otanâskâniyihk.

(48) Then the younger sister went there. This young woman brought the lad home, after washing his face. She took care of him; she really took him for her husband. The elder sister disliked him, and all the more so as the child wantonly played tricks, [no translation]

(49) ê-kî-nêwo-tipiskâyik mâka ômisi itêw: "mahti matotisânihkê; nika-osîhtân niyaw," itwêw.

(49) On the fourth night, however, he said to them, “Do you build a lodge for the steam-bath; I shall make my body,” he said.

(50) tâpwê matotisânihkêwân, ê-osîhtât wiyaw. êkwa mistahi miyosiw ê-âhcihisot. akâwâtêw êkwa awa kâ-kî-pakwâtât. âta kêtotâci, namwâc ahpô nôhtê-kitotik. êkwa awa kêsêyinîwit sîhkimik otânisa ôhi omisimâwa isi-kakwê-nipahât.

(50) Accordingly a sweat lodge was built for him, and he made his body. Then he was very handsome, when he had made himself over. Then she who had disliked him conceived a passion for him. But even though she plied him with speech, he did not care to have her so much as speak to him. Then the old man was urged by that elder daughter of his to try and kill him.

(51) êkwa tâpwê, "ahaq, nika-kakwê-nipahâw," itwêw awa kisêyiniw.

(51) And really, “Yes I shall try to kill him,” said the old man.

(52) "tânitê êtokê nika-kî-ohtinên miscikosa ê-miywâsiki?" itwêw awa oskinîkiw.³

(52) “I wonder where I can get good little arrow-sticks?” said the youth.

(53) êkwa, "nika-itohtahâw ninahâhkisîm," itwêw awa kisêyiniw.

(53) Then, “I shall take my son-in-law to such a place,” said the old man.

(54) êkwa tâpwê itohtahêw ê-ministikôwiyik.

(54) And so he took him to an island.

(55) ômisi itwêw awa kisêyiniw: "nipawâkan, êwako ana kitasamitin!" itwêw.

(55) Thus spoke the old man: “My dream guardian, I feed you this man!” he said.

(56) mayaw otati-sêskisihtay awa oskinîkiw, ka-pê-môskîstâkot wâkayôsa, itôwahk kâ-wâpiskisicik.

(56) Hardly had the youth gone into the brush, when out came a bear at him, one of those who are white.

(57) "'nika-nipahâw,' cî ôma ê-itêyihtaman?" itêw awa; "nama ka-kî-nipahin," itwêw; "ayisk nîsta kôpawâkanimitin," itwêw.

(57) “‘I shall kill him,’ is that what you are thinking?” said he; “You cannot kill me,” he said; “For I, too, have you as my dream spirit,” he said.

(58) tâpwê nipahêw awa oskinîkiw. ostikwâniyiw otinamwêw. kîwêhtatâw. âsiskawêw ôhi kisêyiniwa; waskic nipîhk ati-pimohtêw. ê-kîwêt awa kisêyiniw, kâ-wâpahtahk wâkayôs ostikwân ê-akotêyik otiskwâhtêmihk; mâka wiya kisêyiniw mawîhkâtêw opawâkana, ê-nipahimiht.

(58) The youth really slew it. He took its head. He took it home with him. He outdistanced the old man; he walked along the surface of the water. When the old man went home, there he saw the bear's head hanging over the doorway; the old man bewailed his dream guardian who had been slain.

(59) âsay mîna kîtahtawê ê-ay-ayâcik, ômisi itwêw awa oskinîkiw: "tânitê êtokê nika-ohtinâwak mîkwanak ê-miyosicik, nîpisisa kita-ohci-osîhtâyân?"

(59) Presently, as they dwelt there, the youth spoke thus: “I wonder where I can get pretty feathers to make my arrows?”

(60) "ôtê ôma kâ-asinîwacîwik, êkotê mistahi miyosiwak mîkwanak." "êkotê nika-itohtahâw," itwêw awa kisêyiniw.

(60) “Over yonder amid the rocky cliffs, there the feathers are very fine. I shall take him there,” said the old man.

(61) tâpwê sipwêhtahêw êkotê isi. êkosi êkotê ê-takohtahât, piyêsiwa ê-owacistwaniyit.

(61) Really, he led him off to go there. And so he brought him there where the thunderers had their nests.

(62) "hâw, nipawâkanitik, êwako ana kitasamitinâwâw!" itêw.

(62) “Come, my dream guardians, I feed you this man!” he said to them.

(63) êkosi isi-kîwêw. âsay mîna kahkiyaw nipahêw ôhi piyêsiwa.

(63) With that he turned to go home. Again, he killed all those thunderers.

(64) âsay mîna, "tânitê êtokê nika-kî-ohtinên nîpisiy ê-miywâsik, kita-osîhak?"

(64) Once more, “I wonder where I could get a good osier to make my bow?”

(65) êkosi sâsay mîna kisêyiniw, "nika-itohtahâw itê ê-miywâsiniyik nîpisiya."

(65) Then again, the old man: “I shall take him where the willows are good.”

(66) tâpwê itohtahêw.

(66) Really, he took him there.

(67) âsay mîna, "ê, nipawâkan, êwako kitasamitin!" itêw misi-kinêpikwa.

(67) Again, “Come my dream Guardian, this one I feed to you!” he said to a great serpent.

(68) âsay mîna awa oskinîkiw kâ-asamimiht misi-kinêpikwa nipahêw. ostikwâniyiw kîwêhtatâw. âsay mîna kisêyiniw nâway takohtêw. mawîhkâtêw mîna opawâkana.

(68) And again, the youth slew the Great Serpent to whom he was being fed. He took home its head. Again the old man was the second to arrive. He grieved over this dream spirit, too.

(69) "misi-kinêpik, nipawâkan!" itwêw.

(69) “Great Serpent, my dream guardian!” he cried.

(70) êkwa namôya kî-kiskêyihtam tânisi êkwa kita-kî-isi-kawatimât ta-kî-isi-nipahât, ahpô ta-kawatimât.

(70) Then he did not know how he could freeze him to death, to kill him, but by freezing him.

(71) êkwa ômisi itwêw: "mâcîtân, nitêhkwâ!" itêw.⁴

(71) So he said, “Let us hunt my nephew!” he said to him.

(72) tâpwê mâcîwak. ê-tipiskâyik iyikohk, nipahêwak môswa.

(72) Accordingly, they went hunting. At night fall, no sooner, they killed a moose.

(73) "wah! piko ta-nipâyahk!" "kimisi-kawâtâpâwânânaw!"

(73) “Pshaw! We shall have to sleep out! We are soaked through to the bone!”

(74) kisopwâmisponiyiw.

(74) It was a warm-weather snowstorm.

(75) "pâsêtân kitayiwinisinawa!" itêw.

(75) “Let us dry our clothes,” he said to him.

(76) tâpwê pâsamwak, mitoni mistahi ê-pônahkik minahikoskâhk. mayaw ê-kiskêyimât onahâhkisîma ê-nipâyit, otinamwêw otayiwinisiyiwa kâ-kî-akotâyit. kahkiyaw mêstihkasamwêw.

(76) So they dried them, feeding up a huge fire in a cedar-grove. As soon as he knew that his son-in-law slept, he took the latter's clothes from where he had hung them. He burned them all.

(77) "kêkway kâ-saskitêk?" "kitayiwinisa mêstihkahtêwa!"

(77) “What is burning? Your clothes have burned up!”

(78) "hâh, ayisk kiwî-kakwê-nipahin!" "-- itâp nika-môsôwin!" itwêw awa oskinîkiw.

(78) “Hah, of course, for you are trying to kill me! - So then I shall turn into a moose!” said the youth.

(79) nitomêw, ê-ati-sipwêhtêt awa kisêyiniw kisinwa. tâpwê mistahi kisinâw. ayisk nitomêw. êkwa awa oskinîkiw kîwêw. âsiskawêw osisa; môsôwiw, ê-kîwêt.

(79) As the old man went away, he called the cold. And really, it grew very cold. For he had called it. Then that youth went home. He outdistanced his uncle; he was in the form of a moose, as he went home.

(80) êkwa, "tânêhki?" itik wîwa.

(80) Then, “Why thus?” his wife asked him.

(81) "kôhtâwiy ê-wî-kakwê-nipahit, kahkiyaw nitayiwinisa kî-mêstihkasam."

(81) “Because your father is trying to kill me, he burned up all my clothes.”

(82) têkohtêt awa kisêyiniw, apiyiwa onahâhkisîma. kîhkâmik otânisa.

(82) When the old man arrived, his son-in-law sat there. His daughter upbraided him.

(83) "tânêhki mîna kâ-ôh-mêstihkasamwat kitihkwatim otayiwinisa?" itik otânisa.

(83) “Why now did you burn up your nephew's clothes?” his daughter asked him.

(84) "hâ, ê-kîskwêhkwasiyân," itwêw awa kisêyiniw.

(84) “Oh dear, because I was walking in my sleep,” said the old man.

(85) "mahti pêyakwâw âsay mîna!" itêyihtam awa kisêyiniw. "ninahâhkisîm, mahti mâcîtân!" itêw.

(85) “Let me try once more!” thought the old man. “My son-in-law, let us hunt!” he said to him.

(86) tâpwê mâcîwak.

(86) Accordingly, they went hunting.

(87) "namôya ta-kî-kîwêyahk!" itêw sâsay mîna.

(87) “We shall not be able to go home!” he said to him, again.

(88) iyikohk ê-tipiskâyik, nipahêwak môswa.

(88) Not before nightfall they killed a moose.

(89) "kiyâm ka-kapêsinânaw," itwêw awa kisêyiniw; "kika-pâsênânaw kitayiwinisinawa,"-- "kîhkîhk êkosi nika-kakwê-isi-nipahâw," ê-itêyihtahk awa kisêyiniw.

(89) “Let us camp,” said the old man; “We shall dry our clothes,” for, “In spite of all, I shall try to kill him this way,” thought the old man.

(90) êkwa akotâwak ê-kî-pônahkik otayiwinisiwâwa. mayaw ê-nipâyit, awa oskinîkiw nîhtinam kahkiyaw otayiwinisa. ita kâ-nipât astâw. êkwa kisêyiniw waniskâw. pasakwâpiw, konita ê-kîskwêhkwasîhkâsot. wiya kêsêyinîwit kêhciwâk otayiwinisa kahkiyaw mêstihkasam.

(90) Then, after feeding up a fire, they hung up their clothes. As soon as the other slept, the youth took down all of his own garments. He put them down where he slept. Then the old man got up. He squinted from under his eyelids, pretending to walk in his sleep. The old man himself burned up all his own clothes.

(91) "kêkway kâ-kîsitêk?" itêw.

(91) “What is that burning ?” he asked him.

(92) "ôhi niya kâ-astêki nitayiwinisa," itwêw awa oskinîkiw; "kiya êtokê kêhciwâk kitayiwinisa kâ-pônaman," itêw ôhi kisêyiniwa; "ayisk êkosi kikî-tôtawin; nîsta mâka êkosi isi ki-ka-isi-nakatitin."

(92) “Here are my clothes, lying here,” said the youth; “I daresay it is your own clothes you have put into the fire,” he said to the old man; “But seeing that you did it to me, I too shall now leave you, as you left me.”

(93) "êha! itâp êtokê nika-môsôwin!" itwêw awa kisêyiniw.

(93) “Very well! I suppose I shall then turn into a moose!” said the old man.

(94) nama kaskihtâw kita-môsôwit. nitomêw kisinwa awa wîsahkêcâhk. nipahêw ôhi kisêyiniwa.

(94) But he did not succeed in turning into a moose. Wisahketchahk called the cold. He killed the old man.

(95) mâcika êkwa nôtokêsiw nêpahimiht onâpêma mistahi kisiwâsiw.

(95) Of course the old woman now was very angry, when her husband had been killed.

(96) "kika-nôtinitonânaw!" itêw onahâhkisîma; "ahkâmasiniy êkotôwahk nêwâw ka-nimahotin;" "êkota kê-pakamahotân!" itwêw awa nôtokêsiw.

(96) “We shall fight!” she said to her son-in-law; “With this pounding stone four times I shall threaten you; then I shall strike you!” said the old woman.

(97) nêwâw ê-nimahwât nâpiwa, otinamiyiwa; ostikwân ohci pîkwatahamiyiwa.⁵

mîna êwako nipahik.

(97) When for the fourth time she held it over Napiw as if to strike, he took it; he smashed her head with it. He killed her too.

(98) êkosi êkwa awa kotak oskinîkiskwêw, mîna êwako nipahik. êkosi kahkiyaw ê-nipahikocik. macikah ayâwak êkota wîsahkêcâhk.

(98) Thereupon that other young woman, her, too, he killed. So he killed them all. Of course Wisahketchahk and the other stayed there.

(99) êkwa sipwêhtêw, ê-pêhtahk osîma kâ-kî-mahîhkaniwiyit ê-nipahikoyit itâmi-nipîhk kâ-otaskîyit nanâtohk misi-pisiwa mîna misi-kinêpikwa.⁶

êkwa mistahi kisiwâsiw.

(99) Then he set out, for he heard that his little brother who had turned into a wolf had been slain by the various Great Panthers and Great Serpents that dwell under water. He was very angry.

(100) "tânisi êtokê nika-tôtên itâmi-nipîhk kita-itohtêyân?"

(100) “I wonder what I shall do to go under the water!”

(101) kâ-wâpamât osîma, ita ê-kî-nipahcikâsoyit, nipîhk mâna ê-ay-itâpi-t, ê-okimâwiyit kinosêwa otiskwâhtêmiyihk ê-akociniyit, mistahi pakwâtam. kîtahtawê itohtêw; nitawi-pimwêw ôhi kâ-okimâwi-yit kinosêwa. papâmohtêw êkosi isi. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât ayîkisa.

(101) When he saw, as he always looked into the waters, his little brother, where he had been slain by them all, hanging over the doorway of the Chief Fish, he was filled with grief and hate. Presently he went there; he went and shot with an arrow that Chief Fish. Then he wandered about. Presently he saw a frog.

(102) "tânêhki?" itêw.

(102) “What is your errand?” he asked it.

(103) "hâ, ninitawi-nipiskêyân," itwêw awa ayîkis.

(103) “Why I am going to doctor by breathing,” said the frog.

(104) "tânisi kâ-itôtaman, wî-nipiskêyani?" itwêw awa wîsahkêcâhk.

(104) “What do you do, when you are breath-doctoring?” asked Wisahketchahk.

(105) ê-kî-wîhtamâkot, nipahêw ôhi. naspitamohisow; osîhisôw ta-ayîkisiwit. itohtêw êkwa kâ-kanawêyihcikâsoyit kâ-mihkosiyit mahîhkaniwayâna.

(105) When it told him, he killed it. He turned himself into its form; he made himself to be a frog. He went to where they kept the Red Wolfskin.

(106) mayaw ê-pîhtokêt, "tawîstâhk! êwako êkwa kâ-wî-pê-pimâcihât ôhi wîsahkêcâhkwa kâkî-pimwâyit," itâw.

(106) As soon as he entered, “Make way for this person! This is the one who has come to cure him whom Wisahketchahk has shot with an arrow,” was said of him.

(107) tâpwê tawîstawâw. ê-isi-tôtawât ôhi kâ-nitawi-nânapâcihât, êkwa tâpwê sôhki kihcitânam ôma acosis.

(107) Accordingly, they made way for him. When he was treating him whom he had come to tend, then, truly, with a vim he thrust in that arrow.

(108) "kêkway itahk ayîkis kê-nipiskêt!" "mistahi ôma kikisiwâhinâwâw, nisîm ê-kî-nipahâyêk!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(108) “What is that about a frog would be breathing on wounds! Rather you have angered me much by killing my little brother!” cried Wisahketchahk.

(109) tapasîw êkosi isi.

(109) Then he fled.

(110) "kikisiwâhâwak maci-pisiskiwak!" itik manitôwa; "wî-iskipêw askiy." "kahkiyaw pâh-pêyak pisiskiwak otina, nanâtohk kâ-papâmihâcik." "ê-misâk ôsi osîhtâ," itik.

(110) “You have enraged the evil beasts!” the Lord told him; “The earth will be flooded. Take one of every beast, and of all those who fly. Build a great canoe,” He told him.

(111) êkospîhk êsa maywês iskipêk ôma askiy, kahkiyaw kêkway êsa okî-môtohtâwâw pisiskiwak. ahpô paskwâwi-mostoswak kî-môwêwak ayîsiyiniwa, iyâta-ayâ-yici. êkosi kî-ispayiw êsa. kahkiyaw pâh-pêyak otinêw wîsahkêcâhk nâh-nîso ohci, pêyak nâpêw-âyisa, kiskisîsa. kahkiyaw kâ-papâmihâyit, mîna ôta askîhk misiwê kâ-papâmohtêyit, kahkiyaw nâh-nîso ohci otinêw. êkosi osîhtâw ê-misâyik ôsi. êkosi kî-wani-tipiskâyiw êsa. êkosi kahkiyaw atâhkwak namôya ohci ihtakôwak. misiwê kî-iskipêyiw askiy, ê-kî-kîsihtât ê-misâyik ôsi. êkwa misiwê ê-iskipêyik, kahkiyaw asinîwaciya ê-ayiwâkipêyiki, êkwa papâmâhokowak. piyisk wî-nipahâhkatosôw. wîwa nipahâhkatosoyiwa. êkwa ômisi kahkiyaw kêkwaya nipîhk kâ-otaskîyit mac-âyisa ê-wî-kakwê-nipahikot, iyâta-pê-itohtêyici ê-nipahât, piyisk kahkiyaw kêkwaya kostik. êkwa kîtahtawê kisê-manitowa kâ-pakicîtotâkot.

(111) At that time, we are told, before this earth was flooded, all kinds of animals ate each other. Even the buffalo ate men, no matter where they were. That is the way things were. Wisahketchahk took one of every kind, in pairs one male and one female. Of all who fly and of all who walk about this earth, of each he took two. Then he built a great canoe. Then deep darkness came. All the stars ceased to be. Everywhere the earth was flooded, when he had finished the great canoe. Then, when the flood was everywhere, and all the mountains of rock were submerged, then they drifted about. At last he nearly starved to death. His wife starved to death. Then, when all the creatures that dwell in the water, the evil beings, tried to kill him, when in vain they came there, and he slew them, then at last all creatures feared him. Presently God descended to him.

(112) ômisi itik: "kîspin êkâ kî-kâhcitinamani asiskiy, êkosi namôya wîhkâc kita-ihkipayiw ôma nipiy," itik.

(112) Thus He spoke to him: “If you cannot scrape up some earth, then never will these waters recede,” He told him.

(113) nêmitanaw êskotôskwanêhk ita ê-pâhkwâsik; misiwê êsa kî-iskipêpan.

(113) It was forty cubits to the bottom; the flood had covered all.

(114) "êkwa tânisi kê-tôtamân?" itêyihtam âta wiya.

(114) “Now how am I to do?” he thought, none the less.

(115) ayisk kahkiyaw kî-pôsihêw pisiskiwa. kîtahtawê atotêw mâkwa, ta-kakwê-otinamiyit asiskiy. pôti namwâc kî-kaskihtâyiwa. kîtahtawê mîna atotêw nikikwa. namwâc kaskihtâyiwa. kahkiyaw tahto kâ-nihtâ-kôkiyit âta ê-atotât, namwâc kî-kâhcitinamiyiwa asiskiy. kîtahtawê wacaskwa atotâw.⁷

nama mayaw mitoni takohtêyiwa. êwakoni apisîs kî-kikamoyiw asiskiy. âsay mîna kîhtwâm sihkimêw. âsay mîna pêtâyiwa. nêwâw sipwêhtisahwêw kita-nâtamiyit asiskiy.

(115) But he had all the beasts on his ship. Presently he bade the loon try to take up some soil. It turned out quite unable. Then he presently he employed the otter. It was entirely unable to do it. Although he employed all, as many are good divers, they could not at all scrape up any earth. Then in time he sent the muskrat. It was a long time coming back. A little earth was sticking to it. Again he bade it go. Again it brought some. Four times he sent it off to fetch earth.

(116) "êkoyikohk!" itik manitôwa.

(116) “It is enough!” the Spirit told him.

(117) êkota ohci kî-miyikôwisiwak ayîsiyiniwak nêhiyawak, oskac askiy ôta ê-ayâcik. êkosi kahkiyaw nipiy nama takon êkwa kahkiyaw.

(117) Thus it was that the Indians were given this by the spirit powers, that first the they had an earth here. For then all the water ceased to be.

(118) êkosi sipwêhtêw êkota ohci wîsahkêcâhk. êkwa wiyasôwâtêw ayîsiyiniwa kita-owîcêwâkaniyit, ê-wî-osihât manitôw. asiskiy ohci osihêw nîso ayîsiyiniwa. êkwa maywês âpâhkawihât nâpêwa, ospikêkaniyiwa iskwêyânihk pêh-pêyak ohci otinamwêw, êkwa kâ-âpâhkawihât.

(118) Then Wisahketchahk went away from here. Then the Spirit decreed that he was to have man as a companion, and decided to create man. He made two human beings of earth. Then before He brought the men to life from each of them He took the lowest rib, and then He brought them to life.

(119) nistam ê-pîkiskwêt ayîsiyiniw, ê-kî-osihiht, "nipiy!" kî-itwêw êsa.

(119) When man first spoke, after being created, we are told that he said, “Water!”

(120) kîhtwâm ê-pîkiskwêt, "nimîciwin!" kî-itwêw êsa.

(120) When he spoke again, we are told that he said “My food!”

(121) kahkiyaw kêkway nama kêkway ohci kostikwak. nâpêw kî-wihâw êsa. "omihtikôs" kî-isi-wihâw nistam nâpêw.⁸

êkwa iskwêw. nêwo kî-ayâwak, pâh-pîtos ê-isi-wâhkôhtocik.

(121) They were feared by all creatures, for no cause. Then the man was named. “Dug-out-canoe” the first man was named. Then the woman. Four of them dwelt there, being in different wise related, so as to make a family.

(122) êkota êkwa kî-sipwêhtisahwâw nistam kâhkâkiw, kahkiyaw askiy ê-wâsakamêt. pôti nicawâc kî-asênâw.⁹

êkwa kihiw kî-sipwêhtisahwâw.

(122) Then from there the raven was first sent out to make a circuit of the earth. In the outcome he was needs rejected. Then the eagle was sent out.

(123) êkota ohci nama wîhkâc êsa kî-nipiwak ayîsiyiniwak. pêyâhtik kî-kâmwâci-pimâtisiwak, piyisk ê-ati-mihcêticik. kî-miskamwak tânisi ê-isi-pimâcihocik. êkota ohci kâ-pê-ohpikihitot nêhiyaw, ayîsiyiniw.

(123) In the time that began then, people never died. They lived quietly and undisturbed, until at last they came to be many. They found how to keep themselves alive. From that time to this in successive generations has come the Cree, the Indian.

(124) nanâtohk ayîsiyiniw kahkiyaw ninisitohtên ôma kâ-nitawêyihtâkwahk âcimôwin. nêhiyaw tânisi ê-isi-pimâtisit, ê-kî-pê-isi-ohpikihitocik nêhiyawak, kahkiyaw nikiskêyihtên. mîna wâpiski-wiyâs ôta kâ-pê-takohtatât ayamihâwin, kahkiyaw mîna êwako nikiskêyihtên, tânisi ê-pê-isi-wîhcikâtêyik. ôhcitaw nitâtayôhkâtên nistam ayîsiyiniw, tânisi ê-kî-isi-osîhcikâsot nêhiyaw. mâskôc êkotôwahk kâ-nitawêyihcikâtêk, mâskôc ê-nôhtê-kiskêyihtamihk nêhiyaw opimâtisiwin, ê-itêyihtamân, kâ-ôh-isi-âtayôhkêyân.

(124) Of all the different peoples I understand this story which is desired. Of how the Cree lived, as the Cree have come down through the generations to this time, all of this I know. And of the Christian worship which the white man has brought here with him, of this, too, I know all, of how it has been announced to this time. I have chosen to tell the sacred story of how the first man was created, the Indian. Because I have thought that doubtless this is what is desired, that doubtless people wish to know of the life of the Indian, that is why I tell this sacred story.

(125) nîswâw mitâtahtomitanaw askiy ê-kî-ispayik, êkospîhk êsa okî-nipahikoh wâkayôsa êwako nistam ayîsiyiniw, êsa ê-kî-nipit. êwako niyanân kâ-nêhiyâwiyâhk onipiwa ocahcâhkoyiwa ta-kanawêyimât kî-itasôwâtik êsa manitôwa. matwân cî kêyâpic êkosi ispayiw; namôya nika-kî-itwân. ayisk osâm ninisiwanâcihisonân. kî-kitahamawâw ayîsiyiniw êkâ kita-ayamihât; êwako ohci kâ-itwêyân.

(125) When twice a hundred years had gone by, at that time, this first man was killed by a bear, and so he died. Then, we are told, he was assigned by the Spirit to care for the souls of the dead of us who are Indians. I question if it is still so; I cannot say. For too greatly we are destroying ourselves. The Indian was forbidden to practise the Christian Religion; that is what I mean.

(126) "nêhiyaw kâ-isiyîhkâsot piko kâ-itak: êkâya ayamihâhkan! namôya kiya kâ-miyitân." "nitawâsimisa ohcitaw nimiyâw wâpiski-wiyâs, kita-kakwâtakihot, wiya ê-kî-nipahât nitawâsimisa," kî-itwêw êsa manitôw.

(126) “I say this only to him who is called Indian: thou shalt not worship in Christian wise! Not to thee do I give this. I give my son to the white man, that he may suffer for having slain my Son,” said the Lord.

(127) êkoyikohk êwako pêyak pîkiskwêwin.

(127) So much for this discourse.

Footnotes

¹LB's footnote to k-ôh-ôsîhtâcik: Word avoided, probably posâkan: “birch-fungus, used as tinder.”

²LB: Probably for âsiwakoyikok.

³LB: In the ensuing episodes he is spoken of not by name, but as “that youth”.

⁴LB's footnote on ntêhkwâh: Literally, “my sister's son (man speaking); my brother's son, my husband's sister's son (woman speaking),” often, as here, for nahâhkis: “son-in-law.” Similarly, nisis: “my mother's brother” for “my father-in-law” (See below), and nisikos: “my father's sister; my mother's brother's wife” for “my mother-in-law,” both of these being more specifically manâcimâkan: “person one dare not address, parent-in-law.” And nahâhkan-iskwêw: “daughter-in-law” is little used beside nistim: “my sister's daughter (man speaking); my brother's daughter, my husband's sister's daughter (woman speaking).”

⁵LB's footnote to nâpiwa: The Blackfoot name.

⁶LB's footnote to misi-pisiwah: Special mention of lynxes is perhaps to be discounted, as a compliment to me, who am called misi-pisiw: “Great Lynx.”

⁷CHECK Misprint for atotêw ? YES HCW

⁸LB's footnote to omihtikôs: The word is in Ojibwa form.

⁹LB's footnote: Or read kîh-asêhâw: “he flew back.”