Hočąk Text — Deer Clan Origin Myth, Version 1

p. 1 —

Čaikikárač	'uañkšígo'į	teéreną.	Časépera	hųwąna
Deer Clan	life	this it is.	Black deer	the elk

hakikížu	mąnóñgere	niñge	hokiságera	heregíži,
with them	the earth	where	the center	is,

éja	haǧebireže.	[α]	s'ániñk	wiaǧéphura
there	they appeared.	And	side	east

howaraíreže.	[β]	'uąhíreže.	Gają́	časébera
they went.	[There]	they were going.	And then	the black deer

wéže,	"Hisuñkáxjį,	rora	hisgiñgeréną.	Inéki
[he said,]	"My dear younger brother,	flesh	I am heavy.	Alone

rare	[α]	higų	hanihékjonéną,"*	éže.
go	[here]	where	I will remain,"	he said.

*a terminal '-že' has been crossed out in favor of '-ną'.

[β]	[ϕ]	raníže.	[α]	wakšąkaip'
[There]	[not]	he did not go.	And	he went back

p. 2 —

howaraireja.*	Hagiránañga.	Žigé	hihohires'áže	jobóhą.
to the center of the earth whence they started from.†	He came back.	[Again]	they asked him	four times.

* This word is written over a cross-out; however, 'hohuiréja' is written below the same cross-out.
†an initial 'this way they came' is crossed out.

Žežegų	híregáją.	[β]	žuráwanąp'ina	higížé
Again	that indeed they did.	[There]	money necklace	he recognized

časébera.	[ε]	Ča(h)ikikárajenáñgere	hohiréną.*	[ε]
the black deer.	So	the Deer Clan	was beaten.	So

* Radin remarks at the top of the page: "He beat him because he came on the necklace first."

režera	"Časéphuñká,"	hikigaíreną.	[α]	howera
the name	"Black Deer King,"	he called himself.	[And]	they went

hakja	hijágiréną.	Hišgé	žurawanąp'į	hikigiréną.
back	they went again.	Likewise himself	money necklace	he recognized.

Mąnáñgere	howágiñx	haránañga	wa'uinéną.	[α]
The earth	around	they went	they did.	[And]

žige	časébera	hąbogúra	howaraíreną.	Xetegíži
[again]	[the black deer]	east	they went.	[When] the big one

čoniánañga.	'Uáñgiregáją,	tewéraki	horaírerégi.	Žige
first he went.	As they went,	this [one] wondered	where they started from.	[Again]

p. 3 —

[β]	hakiríreže.*	"Hisuñgíjį,	hišgagá†	wažą
[there]	they came back.	"My brother,	you yourself	something

* Radin comments at the top of page 3: "Some power was always drawing them back to the place whence they had started."
† Radin indicates above the line that this is contracted from 'hišge hagá'.

'una-įne,"	éže.	[ε]	Henąna	hišgaga
you try to do,"	[he said.]	[So]	[the] second born	[he himself]

ečoníže.	Hajiakaraíreže.	Žige	horaírera.	[β]
he went first.	They went.	[Again]	they went.	[There]

hakja	hakiríreže.	"Hisúñgijį́,	hišgagá	wažą́
[back]	they came.	"My brother,	you yourself	something

'una-į́ne,"	éže.	[ε]	Hagára	ečoníže.
you try to do,"	he said.	[And so]	3rd born*	[he went first.]

* This is a play on words, 'hagara' meaning 'he himself', and 'Haga-ra' meaning 'the third born son'.

[Omega]	hakja	kirežé.	[α]	Nañǧiga
[Again]	[back]	[they had come.]	[And]	4th [born]

ečoní	šíreže.	Čowéja	jiježé.	He
[he went first]	they told him.	In front*	he came suddenly.	Horn

* The word 'before' is crossed out.

s'ániñk	hoišárora	maį́ja	hirojį́že	gają́,
[side]	right	on the earth	he hit (his horn)*	when,

* Parenthetical material added by Radin.

[β]	xawį́žą	haǧépjijehíže.	Čaxíwira	sgaxjį́že
[there]	a grass	it appeared he made it.	The flower (bud)*	very white

* Parenthetical material added by Radin.

p. 4 —

žegųhi[ρ].	[Omega]	he	s'ániñk	hoiráčge
when he did.	[Again]	[horn]	[side]	[left]

maį́ja	hirojįže	gają,	naį́ža	[β]
[on the earth]	[he hit it]	[when,]	a tree	[there]

jiježe.	[α]	x'awį	hujéga	rujiraná
he made it.	[And]	weed	the stem	it is meant for eating

wagi'úną.	[α]	[ω]	ną́jega	hiką́noñgra
he made it for that.	[And]	[again]	[the tree]	the fruit

wárujiréną.	Naį́sawara	[β]	warujiréną.	[ε]
they ate.	The top of the tree	[there]	[they ate].	[And so]

waíreną	ražerá	hinuñgrá	hižą	wagaíranána,
they said	the name	women, the	one	they would call it,

"Naį́sawarujga,"	higairéną.	[α]	mąní	hakaraíregi
["She who Eat from the Top of the Tree,"]	[the name.]	[And]	walking	when they went

mąnáñgere	nañksúñksunč	hireže	aireną.	Saniñk
the earth	tremble	they made	[they say].	[Side]

wiaǧéphura*	howaraíreže.	[ε]	waíreže,	'uañgerá
east	they went.	[And so]	they said that	a man

*a 'w' is overprinted on an initial 'h'.

hižą́	ražera	"Manañksųjega,"	aireže.	[α]
one	the name	"Shakes the Earth,"	[they said].	[And]

p. 5 —

hikínųberá*	hisge	heréregi	xununá	wagaíraną́že,
brothers	some	[if] there were	smallest	they would call him,

*the initial 'h' appears (perhaps by accident) to be partly blotted out.

"Wačóžumaniñga,"	higairaną́že.	[α]	[ω]	hinuñgerá
"Leader Walking,"	[they called him].	[And]	[again]	[the women]

hižą́	heregíži,	"Hakjagúwiñga,"	hikigaíreže.	[Omega]
[one]	[came to be],	"Back Coming,"	call themselves.	[Again]

'uañgera,	"Hakjáguga,"	hikigaíreže.	Čegéja,	hakja
[the men],	["Coming Back,"]	[they would call him.]	In the beginning,	back

hagi	nąǧįnega.	[ε]	hawa'ų	waíreže.	Hixgǫxgǫ́na
there	they went again.	That's the reason, therefore	on account of	[they say that.]	movements

jasge	híregi,	é	raš	hiraníneže.	Ražera
whatever	they did,	[they]	their names	they got.	[The names]

jasge	'uañkšik'o-į́negi,	eáwa'ų	raš	kirájiréže.
however	they lived	therefore	name	themselves they called.

[α]	hohuhíjąne	hirukóno	'uañkšik'-į́neže.	[ε]
[And]	the winds of the cardinal points (the 4 winds)*	had control of	they lived.	[And so]

* Parenthetical material is Radin's.

p. 6 —

hąp	p'íñxjį	hižą́	hora	čąt'įšge,	hąbera
day	very nice	one	voice	heard	[the day]

hikiručą́nega	hąp	šíšigi	kirijénąže.	[Omega]
it would exchange	[day]	[bad] he makes	it would become.*	[Again]

* Radin writes at the top of page 6 — "deer's bellowing will make day bad." Then he lists three words meaning wind: hohuhí, čač, maįjajéhi.

hąp	šíšigi	ja'ų	hižą	horá
[day]	[bad]	it being	[one]	voice

čąt'įšge,	hąbera	p'íñxjį	kirijénąže.	[ε]
heard should (if)	[day]	[a very good]	[it would become].	[And so]

Čaíkikárajera	hą́bera	hirukóna	'uañkšík	hiréną.
[the Deer Clan]	[the day]	[they have control over]	people	they are.

[ε]	raš	kirájiréną,	"Čájišgáčga,"	hikigaíreže.
[And so]	[name]	they called themselves,	"Wind They Play with,"	[they would call him.]

[Omega]	waíreže,	"Rek'umaníwiñga,"	aireže.	Čanañgere
[Also]	[they say,]	"Going with the Wind Woman,"	[they say.]	Deer

hominóñgirekjéra	čágiwaíregi	rek'uharaíranañga	minóñk	hires'áže,
where they would sit	going towards	going with the wind	to sit	they would,

[ε]	waíreže.	[α]	manúñgere	[ϕ]
[and so]	[they say that.]	[And]	[earth ...]	[not]

p. 7 —

niñgé	nañgąš´-hiraníže.*	[β]	hagúireže.	Xeterá
[anywhere]	not to miss they did.	[There]	they came home.	The big one†

* Radin connects to this word with a line the following: "i. e., they're all over the earth."
† Radin has "a big."

k'ąnéže.	[α]	waíreže,	"Jasgekjenegúni?"	aíreže.
he fell (dead).*	[And]	[they said,]	"What is going to happen?"†	they said.

* The parenthetical word is Radin's. An original "they" was struck out and replaced by "he".
† Radin originally had, "now it's going to happen," but struck out "now" and wrote "what" above it.

[α]	Hénuñga	wéže,	"Hisúñgejį	[ϕ]
[And]	2nd [born]	[he said,]	["My younger brother,]	[not]

hagá	wažą́,	aíreže."	Gają́	wežé,
[at any time]	[something]	[did he say]."	[Then]	[he said],

["ϕ]	wažǫna	hižą	yapérezeníną."*	Hisuñkhíra
["Not]	something	[one]	I do not know."	His yr. bro.

* An initial "hi" was struck out in favor of "y".

Nañǧigašana*	heregáją	éže,	[α]	wežé,
[Fourth born only]	it is	[he spoke,]	[and]	[and said,]

* No less than three terminations other than "-šana" were thoroughly crossed out.

"Hinixjį́wira,	hinihihiwira	t'égają.*	Mą'úna	žésge
"My dear older bro's,	our older broth.	[has died.]	[Earthmaker]	[that way, thus]

*after this word, what looks like 'hiré' was heavily crossed out.

higé	žesgéną."	[α]	t'egá	hokít'eže
he did	[that way]."	[And]	the dead one	he talked to

wagéže,	"Čekjína	hiníhaxjin	téeži	čekjį†
[he said to him,]	"In the first place,	my old. bro.,	this one	the first one

* Radin has a number of other words crossed out with "in the first place" written above them.
† 'čixjį́' is crossed out and 'čékjį' is written above it.

hočaíwerá	Wagųzerá	niñgígige.	Težesgéną.	[α]
place of safety	the Maker	he did for you.	[That he did.]	[And]

'uañkšígo-į́na	xetehí	šurujísnañga.	[α]	maį́hageré-gi
life	big piece*	you have not reached.	[And]	above ground, on top of earth

*"he —- large' is crossed out and 'big piece' is written over it.

weną́jojaį́sge	wairá-giš'ųwíną.	[α]	jagu	hinigékjoneháre
poor	us you make (did)*	[And]	what	I'm going to ask you

*the parenthetical material is Radin's.

žésge	hinagít'ųšára	rajikérekjonéną	'uañkšígo-į́na	horaíšjǫna
[this kind]	you'll leave us (behind)*	you're going home	life the	that you missed

*the parenthetical material is Radin's.

maįhágerégi	niñgitawíną.	Hirasá	'uañkšík	ya-íñkjawíną.
[above ground]	we beg (ask) of you.*	With	life*	let us live with that (we'll use it).†

*this word follows the word 'man' which is crossed out.
†the parenthetical material is Radin's.

Horaíšjąšáraré	wagéną.	[α]	wotá	hinųbrá
What you have left off	I mean that.	[And]	request	the second

teeréną	wonáñǧirera	jasge	šurugóšererá	woitokík'įna
that's it	wars	what	you didn't handle	the honors (in war)*

*the parenthetical material is Radin's.

šuruxúrugenąna,	[α]	maį́hagerégi	ne	watučábikjawíną.
all that you would have earned,	[here]	[above ground]	we	will handle.

p. 9 —

Težesge	niñgitáną,	hiniháxjį.	[α]	wotá
[You have done]	of you I ask,	o elder brother.	[And]	request

hitanína	teéreną:	worujera	jasgéxjį	šaragǫǧera,
third	this is:	food	[all]	you miss with your mouth,

jánuñga	naíñkinoñgra,	[ω]	jánuñga	xawį́sgura (?)†	heregí
[as many, all]	tree fruits (nuts, etc.),*	[also]	[all]	sweet food (some kind of food)	it is

*The parenthetical matter is Radin's.
†The question mark supplied by Radin probably indicates his inability to identify this kind of food. On the other hand, it may have expressed his doubt about the Hočąk form of the word, since originally the first syllable is struck out, and 'xawį' is written above it.

rajenųna	žeé	horaíšjąna	rat'ųšára	šerera	[ω]
would eat	that	you missed	you left behind	(when) you went*	[again]

*The parenthetical matter is Radin's.

žeé	ne	hatučábikjawíną.*	Tée	horaíšjų
[that]	[we]	[we will get a hold of].	[This one]	[you missed]

*for 'hatu-' Radin appears to have 'Hata-', but other instances of the word show the former spelling.

šerera	niñgitáną.	E/ga*	'ųhanihékjawíną.	[α]
[when you went]	[I ask for].	[This/these ?]	we will be using (not complete).†	[And]

*Radin has the 'e' separated off by a forward slash.
†It is not clear to me what Radin means by "not complete."

wotá	hijóbera	tee	heréną	hiniháxjį:
request	four	[this]	[it is]	[O elder brother]:

janúñga	wažą	p'įná	'uañkšígera	woíkikáǧera,
[all]	[things]	good	the people	wearing apparel,

janúñga	wažǫ́na	suñg?e*	horaǧúkjanehégiži,	žée
[all]	[everything]	back of tent	you're going to put in (plant),	[that]

*an original 'sage' followed by '(?)' is struck out and 'suñge' is written above it, with the penultimate letter unreadable.

p. 10 —

hañke	hašúručápenina,	ne	maį*	hagerégi
[not]	you should not touch it,	we	[on earth]	behind

*inserted above the line.

ya'ų	hanihekjawíną."	Težesge	niñgitáną.	[α]*
we use	we will be."	[That he did]	[he asked].	"[And]

*after this symbol, Radin started to write 'težes[ga]' but crossed it out.

hačínja	čaragiwékjanaharé,	[β]	p'íñxjį	wotára
[wherever]	you are going,	[there]	[exceedingly good things]	request

maį́	hagerégi	hatučábikjawíną,	méžesge	hiroákipúnuwíną."
[on earth]	[left behind]	[we will get hold of],	[for this]	we have petitioned for ourselves."

[α]	wasé	šuč	(rusše,)*	[α]
[And]	paint	red	he took,	[and]

*Radin has put this in parentheses as if to suggest that the raconteur had left this essential word out.

wageže,*	"Hiniháxjį,	rokikéweniñgígikjaneháre.	Hiniñgírekjanéną	hogiéja
he said,	"Brother,	paint you I am going.	They will recognize you	at home

*what looks like ''uañkéži' has been crossed out and 'wageže' written above it.

méžesge	ho'ųnáhaniwíną.	Hak howárehíre	jánuñga	'uañkšík*
[for this]	the way we have.	Hereafter	[all]	[men]

*after this word the entry 'wani' is crossed out.

p. 11 —

wagi-inekjąneháwire	haną́č	nišge	mežesgehi*	hiránihékjonéną.
those who are to live after	[all]	also	[like this]	they will be doing.

*'nišge mežesgehi' replaces an original 'nišgežesgehihiraną hékjanéną'.

Horokíkewéra	težesge	worágera	nihékjanéną,"	éže.
The manner of painting	[he did just this way]	the story	will be,"	[he said].

[α]	p'éra*	uñǧini	hisépgigíže,	[α]
[And]	forehead	charcoal	he blackened,	and

*after this word, the word 'hoǧi' is crossed out.

hišjarečgera	šuj	širíp	wagigiréže,	[α]
corners of eye	red	streaks, striped*	they did	[and]

*'streaks' is written above 'striped', but the latter is not crossed out.

hirábera	toxíra	šujgigíže.	[α]	woxek'airánoga.
chin	front throat	red he made.	[And]	grave they dug.

[β]	xaireže.	[α]	hinihára	hika rohóginą.*
[There]	they buried [him].	[And]	the song	?(he got ready)? .†

*'hika rohóginą' was originally, 'higį hika rohóginą nañgíwaže nañgiwaínekjégi'. The rest of it was struck out.
†the parentheses and question marks are those of Radin.

Nañgíwą	nášjañgi,	[α]	xaíreže.	[α]
Singing	he finished,	[and]	[they buried him].	[And]

mąnáñgere	ho'u'ineže.	[α]	'uañgonina*	hačį́ja
around the world	they travelled.	[And]	clan	where

*the word 'wakínina' is crossed out and ''uañgonina' written above it.

p. 12 -

stonañkíži	[β]	hajíhiregíži.	'Uañkšik	hirežé.
they gathered	[there]	they came.	People	they were.

[ε]	"Čahikikárač,"	wigaírera.	'Uañkšik	hi'įhanínera
[And so]	["Deer Clan,"]	they called them.	Their life	their own

méžesge	čaíja	'uañkšik į́neną.	Čekhohuéja	[ε]
[this way]	at deer	they lived.	Where they started from	[thus]

Čaikikárajenáñgere	rážera.	Jasgé	čanáñgere	hoixgǫ́na
[the Deer Clan]	[the names].	[How, what]	the deer	their habits

hináñki	é	raš	hiráninéną.*	Žigé†
whatever they do	that	name	they derive from.	[Again]

*these three words were originally run together thus, 'érašhiráninéną', but afterwards separted by foreward slashes.
†the letter ω was crossed out and 'žigé' written after it.

jasge	hajáranáñgere,	žesge	ražera	haninéną.
[how, what]	you see in them,	[this way]	[the names]	they have.

"Hįsgaga,"	aireną	ražera.	Žigé	"Sageréga,"
"White Hair,"	[they say]	[the name].	[Again]	"Fast One,"

aíreną.	Čará	(?)hirasgániñke*	waíreną.	Žigé
[they say].	[The deer]	little white teeth†	[they are said].	[Again]

*the question mark was inserted by Radin.
†'little white fur' is the correct translation, as 'hira' also means 'fur, hair'.

p. 13 —

sageránañke	[ε]	waíreną.	"Wakuñkúñga,"*	aireną.
fast	because	[it is said].	"A Wild (Diffident, Shy One),"†	[they say].

*each 'o' in the word has a 'u' written over it. Given the next occurrance of this word, the 'u' reading is taken as preferred.
†'shy one' is written over a parenthetical 'diffident'.

Čanuñgere	wakųkų́nañke	waíreną.	Žigé*	"Hezazáčga,"
[Deer]	[shy]	[it is said].	[Again]	"Pronged Horn,"

*at least one word after 'žigé' has been crossed out.

aireną.	Héra	zazájenañke	waíreną.	Šuñgeražerašge
[they say].	The horn	[pronged]	[it is said].	Dog names

žésge	hiréną.	[ε]	Čahikikáračenáñgere	méžesge
[that kind]	they are.	[And so]	[the Deer Clan]	[this way]

ánañkšaną.	[ε]	méžesge	'uañkšikínena	Mógašujéja
he said.	[And so]	[this way]	they live	at Red Bank

Terok	airegíži.	[β]*	'uáñkhonína	stohirégi
Within Lake	[when he said it].	[There]	are? members? of one clan†	gather together,

*after the letter β, the word 'wañgoní' is crossed out.
†in parentheses below this is '(man to hunt)'. This word should simply mean clan — see ''uañgonina' above.

[β]	jánuñga	'uañgonihokirájera,	[β]	ček
[there]	[all]	clans different,	[there]	where they first

hahuréną.	Žeją́na	tee.
commenced.	The end	this.

Source:

"Deer Clan Origin Myth," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3899 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) Winnebago III, #19a, 1-13.

α	β	ε	ρ	ψ	ω
égi	éja	ásge	ánąga	hąké	žigé