(1) kîtahtawê pêyak ayîsiyiniw itahk ê-wa-wîkit, ê-pêyakot, nama wîhkâc wâpamêw ayîsiyiniwa, wiya piko êkota ê-ayât. kâ-nipâci kâ-tipiskâyik, wiyâpaniyiki mâcîw. wiyâpamâci mostoswa, nipahêw. pêyak otêyaniy otinam, êkwa pêyak opêminak, ê-kîwêt, ê-takohtêt wîkihk, êkwa mâna ê-kîsitêpot, kâ-mîcisoci, êkwa ê-nikohtêt. êkosi êkwa piyisk tipiskâyiw mâna. êkwa ê-ay-apit, piyisk kaskêyihtam ê-pêyakot. ê-wâpaniyik, mîna ê-mâcît, mîna pêyak nipahêw mostoswa. kîwêw; apisîs otinam kâ-mîcit.

(1) Once upon a time a man lived all alone and never saw any people, being all alone in that place. When he had slept at night, in the morning he went hunting. Whenever he saw buffalo, he killed them. He would take a tongue and a thigh-bone and go home, and when he reached his dwelling, he would prepare his meal, and when he had eaten, he would gather firewood. So night would come upon him. As he stayed thus by himself, at last, he felt lonesome. When daylight came and he as usual went hunting, again he killed a buffalo. He went home; he took a little to eat.

(2) cîki ê-ihtât wîkihk, kâ-wâpahtahk mistahi ê-astêyiki mihta wîkihk. ay-itêyihtam; "awiyak ê-kî-takohtêt," êkosi itêyihtam.¹

miywêyihtam. ê-pîhtokêt, nama awiya wâpamêw, êsa kâ-wêpâhtakahikêwihk. mihtâtam êkâ ê-wâpamât awiya. ay-apiw. "tânêhki ôma êkâ kâ-ôh-apit awiyak?" itêyihtam. pôti ita kâ-apit maskisina miskam. mistahi miywêyihtam, "iskwêw mâskôc kâ-kî-takohtêt," ê-itêyihtahk; "kîkisêpâ nika-mâcîn;" "nika-kakwê-kêsiskawâw, mîna takohtêci," ê-itêyihtahk.

(2) When he was near his dwelling-place, he saw a great pile of firewood by his tent. He wondered about it; “It must be that someone has come,” he thought. He was glad. When he entered, he saw nobody, though it was plain that someone had swept the place. He was sorry that he saw no one. He stayed there. “How is it that there is no one here?” he thought. Lo, there where he sat, he found some moccasins. He was very glad, thinking, “A woman perhaps is the one who came here. In the morning I shall hunt; I shall try to come upon her while she is here, if she comes again,” he thought.

(3) ê-wâpaniyik, kiyipa sipwêhtêw, ê-mâcît. mîna nipahêw pêyak mostoswa. otêyaniy otinam êkwa ospikêkana êkwa otihtikosiwa êkwa opêminak. êkosi isi kîwêw, "nika-kêsiskawâw," ê-itêyihtah. pâh-pimipahtâw.

(3) At daybreak he quickly went off to hunt. Again he killed a buffalo. He took the tongue, the ribs, the kidneys, and a thigh bone. Then he went home, thinking, “I shall come in time to find her there.” He kept running.

(4) cîki ê-ihtât wîkihk, wâpahtam ê-pikihcêsiyik, mîna mistahi mistahi ê-astêyiki. ê-pîhtokêt, iyâyaw nanâtawâpiw: nama awiya wâpamêw. mistahi mihtâtam êkâ ê-apiyit awiya. êkwa ê-paminawasot, kîtahtawê kâ-miskahk maskisina. otinam, ê-wâ-wâpahtahk, ê-miywâsiniyiki.

(4) When he got near his dwelling, he saw a little smoke, and a great pile of firewood. When he entered, eagerly he looked about: he saw no one. He was very sorry that no one was there. Then, as he went about his cooking, soon he found some moccasins. He picked them up and examined them; they were very pretty.

(5) "mâskôc iskwêw kâ-tâh-takosihk," itêyihtam; "hâh, ohcitaw nika-kakwê-kêsiskawâw." "kîkisêpâ nika-sipwêhtân," êkosi itêyihtam.

(5) “Probably it is a woman has been coming here,” he thought; “Now all the harder I shall try to find her here. Early in the morning I shall go,” he thought.

(6) tâpwê ê-kî-mîcisot kawisimôw ê-nipât. kîkisêpâ waniskâw; namôya mîcisôw, ê-sipwêhtêt, ê-mâcît. pôti kiyipa nipahêw mostoswa. êkwa ê-kî-wiyanihât, ospikêkana otihtikosiwa otinam, ê-ati-kîwêt. pâh-pimipahtâw. cîki ê-ihtât wîkihk, kâ-wâpahtahk mistahi ê-pikihtêyik wîki. mistahi miywêyihtam, "mâskôc apiw," ê-itêyihtah.

(6) After eating he lay down to sleep. He got up early; without eating he went forth to hunt. In a short time he killed a buffalo, and when he had cut it up, took the ribs and the kidneys and went home. He ran as he went. When he saw close to his dwelling, he saw much smoke rising from his tent. He was very glad, thinking, “Perhaps she is there.”

(7) ê-takohtêt, ê-pîhtokêt, awîna ôhi kî-apiyiwa mistahi ê-miyosiyit iskwêwa ohtapiwinihk. êkota nahapiw, ê-wî-pâhpihikot, ê-kitâpamât. sâsay êsa kâ-paminawasoyit. sêmâk otinamiyiwa omaskisina, ê-kêtaskisinênikot, kotaka ê-wî-postaskisinahikot, êkwa ê-kâsîcihcênikot, ê-kâsîhkwênikot. êkosi êkwa asamik; êkwa mîcisowak. â, mistahi miywêyihtam.

(7) When he got there and entered, lo and behold, there sat a very handsome woman on his settee. He sat down there, and she smiled at him as he looked at her. It appeared that she had already done the cooking. Without delay she took off his moccasins and put others on his feet, and she washed his hands and face. Thereupon she gave him to eat, and they took their meal. Oh, he was very glad.

(8) ômisi itêw awa iskwêw: "tânêhki apisîs kâ-pêtâyan wiyâs?"

(8) Thus spoke that woman: “Why do you bring so little meat?”

(9) "â," itwêw awa nâpêw, "nama awiyak nitihtatêyimâw;" "êwako ohci apisîs kâ-ôh-pêtâyân," êkosi itwêw awa nâpêw; "tânitê mâka ôma ê-ohtohtêyan?" itwêw awa nâpêw.

(9) “Oh,” said the man, “I did not think anyone was here; that is why I brought only a little,” he said; “But whence do you come?” he asked.

(10) "wâhyaw ôtê ê-wîkiyâhk," itwêw awa iskwêw; "kiyâm miyâcîyani mistahi pêtâ wiyâsa;" "nôhtêhkatêwak," itwêw awa iskwêw, "nôhtâwiy," itwêw.

(10) “A long ways from here we dwell,” she answered. “Please, when you hunt, bring much meat; they are in want of food,” she said, “my father and his people.”

(11) "êha," itwêw awa nâpêw.

(11) “Very well,” said he.

(12) êkota ohci tahto-kîsikâw mâcîw. piyisk mistahi nipahêw mostoswa. awa iskwêw mistahi atoskêw, wiyâsa ê-osihtât.

(12) So he hunted every day. In time he killed many buffalo. The woman worked a great deal, preparing the food.

(13) mistahi ê-ayâcik, "nawac itohtêyahk nôhtâwiy," itwêw awa iskwêw; "mistahi nôhtêhkatêwak."

(13) When they had a large amount of it, “Suppose we go to my father's place,” said the woman; “They are very hungry.”

(14) "êha," itwêw awa nâpêw.

(14) “Very well,” said the man.

(15) "wâpahki," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(15) “Tomorrow,” she said.

(16) "kêkway kê-âpacihtâyahk ta-pimiwitâyahk kêkway?"

(16) “But what are we to use to carry things?”

(17) "â, tita-ihtakon êtokê tânisi ta-isi-pihkohoyahk," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(17) “Oh, there will be some way we can manage,” she answered.

(18) tâpwê kîkisêpâ ê-mîcisocik, "nîkânohtêhkan," itêw owîkimâkana; "itâp mistikwa ka-cimatân, êkota ta-kapêsiyahk; êkota ohci ka-mâcîn," itêw awa iskwêw onâpêma.

(18) Then, when they ate in the morning, “Go on ahead,” she told her husband; “Then you will set up some sticks at the place where we are to camp; from that place you will go hunting,” she said to her husband.

(19) tâpwê ê-kîsi-mîcisocik sipwêhtêw awa nâpêw. êkwa awa iskwêw wawêyîw, ôhi ocayânisiwâwa onîmâwiniwâwa nâh-nâway ê-astât. êkwa ê-kîsi-wawêyît awa iskwêw ati-tâh-têhci-tahkoskêw onîmâwiniwâwa; êkosi ê-ati-sipwêhtêt, nama kêkway ihtakoniyiwa ôho onîmâwiniwâwa. êkosi isi ê-pa-pimohtêt. itê ê-otâkosiniyik kâ-miskahk mistikwa ê-cimatêyiki, êkota kapêsiw. êkwa ê-tahkiskâcikêt awa iskwêw, wîkiwâw êkota astêyiw. êkwa otinam, ê-mânokêt. ê-kîsi-mânokêt, pîhcâyihk âsay mîna tahkiskâcikêw; kahkiyaw êkotê pahkihtiniyiwa ocayânisiwâwa onîmâwiniwâwa. êkosi êkwa pîhtokêw awa iskwêw, ê-paminawasot.

(19) So, when they had eaten, the man set out. And the woman made ready, laying their belongings and their food supply in a row. Then, when she had got ready, she went along, stepping each time upon their bundles of food; and when in this wise she set out, not a trace was there of their supplies of food. So then she walked on. Toward nightfall she found the sticks that were set up in the ground; there she made camp. When she kicked the ground, there lay their tent. Then she took the tent and set it up. When she had set it up, inside again she stamped the ground; on that spot fell all their belongings and their supplies of food. Then she went inside and cooked their meal.

(20) pôti ê-ati-kîwêt awa nâpêw, kâ-wâpahtahk wîkiwâw, "tânisi tiyôtahk?" ê-itêyimât owîkimâkana. ê-pîhtokêt, kâ-wî-pâhpihikot owîkimâkana. ê-itâpit, kahkiyaw wâpahtam ocayânisiwâwa onîmâwiniwâwa. mistahi mâmaskâtam ê-tôtamiyit.

(20) There, when the man came back and saw their dwelling, “How did she do it?” he thought concerning his wife. When he entered, there saw was, smiling at him. He looked about and saw all their belongings and their supplies of food. He wondered greatly at what she had done.

(21) ômisi itwêw awa awa iskwêw: "wâpahki ka-takohtânânaw ita nôhtâwiy kâ-ayâcik." "mistahi nôhtêhkatêwak," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(21) Thus spoke she: “Tomorrow we shall come to where my father's people stay. They are in great want of food,” she said.

(22) tâpwê ê-wâpahk, kîkisêpâ waniskâwak. ê-kî-mîcisocik, wawêyîwak.

(22) So when day broke, early they arose. When they had eaten, they made ready.

(23) "wîcôhkamawin," itwêw awa iskwêw;²

"'tânisi ê-tôtahk?' kâ-itêyihtaman, ka-kiskêyihtên tânisi ê-tôtamân," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(23) “Help me,” said the woman; “Since you have been thinking, ‘How does she do it?’ you shall now know how I do,” she said.

(24) "ahaq," itwêw awa nâpêw.

(24) “Yes,” answered the man.

(25) tâpwê wawêyîwak, nâh-nâway ê-astâcik ocayânisiwâwa onîmâwiniwâwa. ê-kitâpamât owîkimâkana, ê-ati-sipwêhtêyit, ê-ta-têhci-tahkoskêyit onîmâwiniwâwa, nama kêkway wâpahtam awa nâpêw.

(25) Accordingly they made ready by laying in a row their possessions and their stored meats. When he watched his wife, as she went forth and stepped on one after another of their bundles, he saw nothing at all there.

(26) êkosi isi pimohtêcik, mistahi mâmaskâtêw owîkimâkana, ê-tôtamiyit. êkosi isi ê-pa-pimohtêcik, kîtahtawê, ê-ati-otâkosiniyik, kâ-wâpahtahkik ê-pikihtêyik ita ê-pasahcâyik, ê-sakâyik; êkota ê-sâkêwêcik, kâ-pê-matâwisiyit osîmisa awa iskwêw.

(26) So as they walked on, he marvelled greatly at what his wife had done. Then, as they walked on, towards evening they saw smoke rising from a wooded ravine; when they came in sight of that place, the woman's younger sister came forth.

(27) ômisi itwêyiwa: "âyêyi, misi-pêtâw nîmâwina nimis!" itwêyiwa.

(27) She cried: “Splendid! My elder sister is bringing a great store of meat!”

(28) êkosi ati-takohtêwak wîkiyihk.

(28) So they went on and came to the house.

(29) awa kisêyiniw, "hay hay hay!" matwê-itwêw.

(29) The old man called out, “Splendid!”

(30) ê-yôhtênahk awa iskwêw, ê-pîhtikwê-ta-tahkiskâcikêt, pîhcâyihk pahkihtiniyiwa onîmâwiniwâwa ocayânisiwâwa. êkosi awa nôtokêsiw ê-ati-otinahk, mistahi miywêyihtam, "êkwa kê-mîcisoyân," ê-itêyihtah. nanâskomôw awa kisêyiniw. êkosi pîhtokêwak.

(30) When the woman opened the door and, as she entered, stamped repeatedly, then into the lodge fell their stored meats and their belongings. Then when the old woman went on to pick them up, she greatly rejoiced, thinking, “So now I shall eat.” The old man gave thanks: [no translation given]

(31) ômisi itwêw awa kisêyiniw: "êkosi ê-kî-itêyihtamân, nitânis, 'itohtê!' kâ-kî-ititân, "ê-pa-pêyakot ninahâhkisîm,"" itwêw awa kisêyiniw.

(31) “Thus I had it in mind, daughter, when ‘Go there,’ I said to you, ‘where my son-in-law dwells alone,’” said the old man.

(32) êkota ay-ayâw êkwa. pâti kinwêsk ê-kî-ayât êkota, êkwa ê-miyoskamiyik, kâ-kiskêyihtahk wâkayôsa kâ-wîwit ôhi iskwêwa kâ-itêyihtahk, ôhi mîna kisêyiniwa nôtokêsiwa wâkayôsa êsa ôhi. êkwa mihtâtam êkâ tahki ta-kî-wîcêwât.

(32) There he stayed then. When he had been there a long time, and spring had come, then he knew that she, the woman, as it seemed to him, whom he had to wife, was a bear, and that also the old man and the old woman were bears. And he was sorry that he could not always be with them.

(33) êkosi êkoyikohk êwako âtayôhkêwin.

(33) That is the end of this sacred story.

Footnotes

¹LB on awiyak ê-kîh-takohtêt: Short, simple speeches are often conjunct.

²LB on wîciwôhkamawin: Error or real variant? The usual form would be wîcôhkamawin.