Hocąk Text — Journey to Spiritland, Version 6

Hocąk Text — Journey to Spiritland, Version 6

narrated by Sam Blowsnake

Sam Blowsnake

p. 52 —

’Éki	te’é	Mą’ų́ra	’excį́	ho’ų́
And	this	Earthmaker	himself	way

hanįkí	herežé,	’aį́reną.	Wak’ącąkcąną.	’Éske
his own	it is,	they say.	It is holy.	And so

p. 53 —

wokų́ze*	ánira	hanąc’´	wihóhirà	’éreną.
creation	[which he has]	all	the witness	it is.

*there is a caret between wokų́ze and ánira presumably indicating their separation.

’Éki	mąį́ca	wakaxcą́ną.	Hą́pokurà	wioiréra
And	on the ground	he make marks.	The east	the west

hap’ahí	serec’	wakaxcą́ną,	ną́pi’ųánąka	’éki
towards	long	he made marks,	with his hand, and	[then]

huį́cecá	hižą	kixá	wakaxcą́ną.	Žipník’
at the short end	[one]	going out*	he made marks.	Short

*Susman adds, "(off road)".

p. 54 —

híną,	’éki	p’arás	wakaxcą́ną.
he made,	and	wide	he marked it.

’Éki	wéną,	"Hišc’ųšké,	te’é
And	he said,	"Grandson,	this

hašcažé,	hik’orók’įhiwírá	’éki	p’akáǧre?	Te’é
did you see,	our grandma	[here]	that I marked?	This

nąkųížą	wanikítakra	’éreną.	Hižą́	serecánąka
one Road	I have been speaking of to you	it is.	One	long, and

p. 55 —

hąk’é*	p’araznį́ną.	’Éki	hižą	p’arázanąka†
not	it is not wide.	And	one	it is wide, and

*corrected from hak’e.
†corrected from p’arázanaka.

žip’cínikšaną.	Te’é	wąkšíko’įrà	nųp’íwina	seréc’
it is short.	This	the way of life	the second	long

p’akáǧre,	nąkú	p’į́žą	honikítakrà	’éreną.
that I marked,	road	a good one	that I spoke of	it is.

p. 56 —

Mą’ų́ra	’écirak’éreną.	Mąk’ą́nį	nąkúra	’éreną.
Earthmaker	it reaches.	Medicine	Road	it is.

K’irišíšikaniǧérekcanéną.	Hanišoį́rekcanéną.	Xatapšíšik	wažąp’áhirá
[Bad ones will come to jeer at you.]	They will spit on you.	[Bad brush]	thorny things

horawék’canéną.	’Éki	p’éc’	hicecrá	horawék’canéną.
you will go.	And	fire	the edge	you will go.

p. 57 —

Te’é	waraį́šerekì,	’éca	nąkuį́c’ecécà	waskeįžą
This	[as you walk along,]	there	at the edge of the road	a bowl

ǧoną́cékcanéną.	C’arúhi	tažážapcį́	waruskúįrak’í’ų́
it will be steaming.	Deer ribs	well done	boiled with sweat corn

wa’úcèkcanéną.	’Éc’a	mįšánakanąkà	waráįc’ąréną.	Žekų́ki
it will be.	There	you will sit and	you will eat.	And then

p. 58 —

wana’įnikip’į́xcį,	hicaį́ra	mąnį́šcą,	rak’ik’úruzizikcąnéną.*
you will feel good,	[more]	you will make yourself strong,	you will stretch yourself.

*originally, r. The third /k/ is crossed out and zizi written above it, then zik. written below it.

Žiké	hižą́	hiraráhikcanéną.	Žeskéįžikíra	rahikì,*
Then	one	you will get to.	And another one	when you get to,

*this word is written below a lined out žiké. The next word on the next line (žeskéra) is also lined out.

p. 59 —

waracíkcanéną.	Žikížį́ra*	ráhikcanéną,	taníra.	Žikícoprá
you will eat.	[And another one]	you will get to,	the third.	[Again the fourth]

*at the end of this word, /ną/ is lined out and /ra/ written above it.

rahíkcanéną.	’Éc’a	šerekí,	cąprá	wąkróšawa’ąkac’ą́,
you will come to.	There	when you leave,	to look	when you raise your eyes,

mąxíra	hąprí	wakákax	hašcakcáneną.	Žé
the sky	day color	marked	you will see.	That

hirak’ik’aǧikcanéną.*	Žiké	žéžeskéra	cop’	heraráhikcanéną.
you will wear.	Again	like that	four	you will get to.

*a note below the line says, "hik’ik’áx, "wear good (?) stuff".

p. 60 —

’Éc’a	šerekí,	waskerá	nąku	ak’í
There	after you go,	dishes	road	both

hicecé	hašcąkcáneną.	’Éc’a	mąká	cąwá
on the sides	you will see.	There	the ground	soft

hanąrác’apikcanéną.	Šurukóǧanąka	raįkcą́neną.	’Éc’a	šerekí,
you will feel by foot.	You will take it up, and	wear it.	There	after you go,

nąku	ak’í	waškerá	hicaį́ra	ckáp’
road	both	dishes	more	thick

p. 61 —

hašcąkcą́neną.	’Éki	’éca	šerekí,	worúcra,
you will see.	And	there	after you leave,	food,

mąxí	wąkréki	hok’erecná	hokirác’,	mąrá
sky	up there	spotted	[all kinds,]	the ground

cąwą́	horakíwekcanéną.	’Éc’a	xeížą	horakíkcanéną.
soft	you will come upon.	There	a hill	you will come to.

p. 62 —

Xé	huižeca	hisakų́įącèną,	waxšúc’.	’Éc’a
Hill	at the foot	there will be a cane,	red cedar.	There

xeróratíšereki,	mąrá	šócožú	hašcakcéneną.
after you have climbed the hill,	the earth	foggy, misty	you will see.

’Éc’a	nąrážįánąka	našékcaneną,*	"Ehó ehó,	wehá wehá,"
There	[it stands, and]	you will say,	"Ehó ehó,	wehá wehá!"

*/na/ is written over and slightly above the original initial syllable /ho/.

p. 63 —

hišekcáneną.*	Žéžeské	taníharánąka	hicopáhara	xé
you will say.	That	three times, and	the fourth time	hill

*an initial syllable /na/ is lined out and /hi/ written above it.

hakrá	hanarážįkcanahéną.	’Éc’a	Mąk’ą́nį	nįhárakcáneną.
on the top	you will be standing.	There	the Medicine people	you will chant.

’Éki	rora	horak’ik’urúc’kacą,*	rorá	c’ak’íriske
And	body	when you have looked at your own,	your body	flea

*an initial /wa/ was lined out and /ho/ written above it.

p. 64 —

ronį́ske	racékcanéną.	’Éki	’ará	taníhu harak*
you will be like	[you will stand.]	And	arms	peace pipe

*Susman adds, "loose skin, like feathers on a peace pipe".

nį́ske,	’éki	heǧó	p’anak	nį́ske,
like,	and	swan	head	like,

hisakų́ra	howacúšcį,	hisakų́ra	hirápok’eré	kisąsą́
the cane	shortened by wear,	the cane	to lean on the chin	shaking

rac’ekcą́neną.	’Éki	’éca	Mą’ų́rominą́kre	hašcąkcáneną.
you will stand.	And	there	Earthmaker's place	you will see.

p. 65 —

"Hišųcké,*	mąréki	p’akáǧre,	nąkúra	nųp’íwira
"Nephew,	on the ground	that I marked,	the road	the second one

*in this Crow-Omaha kinship system, hišųcgé word also means "grandson".

wanikí,	p’akáx,	wa’ų́ną.	Herac’kéreki	hoixácaré,
[as I had,]	I marked,	I did.	On the left	that goes off,

nąkúxeté	hoixácaré,*	Hereškúnira	heréną.	Hocicíkra,
the big road	that goes off,	the Bad One's	it is.	Bad,

*just before this word hížąk’íra is lined out.

p. 66 —

hotekrá,	wonácke stakrá,		hot’erá	heréną.
aches,	regrets,		death	it is.

Cakú	kip’įéske	woróǧirok’anį	wakšík’c’įkí,	nąkú
What	you like	without breaching rules	if you live,	road

te’é	’é	heréną.	Wąkšíko’įra	žipcínįkcąną,	žecąną.
this	it	it is.	Life	it is very short,	it ends.

p. 67 —

Mąréki	té	p’akáǧre,	wąkšíko’į́	hašinirá
[On the earth]	this	that I marked,	life	[which you have]

wáki’ų́ną.	Hik’orókihiwíra	róhąnįréki	p’akaǧanąka	Mą’ų́ra
[I made it.]	Our Grandmother	on her body	I marked, and	Earthmaker

’écirak’ére	p’akáxcąną.	Te’é	wihóhira	heréną.
to reach here	I marked it.	This	witness	it is.

p. 68 —

Nąkú	serecą́kre	horawékcanahéra.	Wanįkšíšik’	hanįǧérekcanére.
Road	that is long	you will go.	Bad birds	they will make noise at you.

Wošką́	te’é	hok’íšipiánąka	hakéca	hinįkíckaį́rekcanéną.
Ceremony	this	after we are free, and	afterwards	they will try you.

Hinįxíraį́re*	hawa’ų.	’Éki	hanišuį́rekcanéną.
Those who are envious	[they are going to do it to you.]	And	they will spit on you.

*Susman adds a note: "hixirá to hurt someone because he's lucky — envious".

p. 69 —

Nįražícirekcanéną.	Hąké	hakcá	’éca	wažą́
They will tease you.	Not	back	there	anything

’anįą́ce.	Xatap	šíšik’	horawékcanéną.	Nąp’k’íške
do not say.	[Brush]	[bad]	you will go.	Maybe also hands

nįk’erérekcanéną.	Wa’iaxúeške	nírek’caneną.	Žekų́	hieráce.
they will put on you.	To bleed also	they will make you.	But	go on.

p. 70 —

P’écic’ecrá	horawékcaneną.	Hatanį́skikcaneną.	P’éc’	hatanį́cazikcaneną.
The edge of the fire	you will go.	You will be burned.	Fire	sparks will burn you

Žekų́	hiráce.	Žekų́ki	c’ekcį́ra	nįkoį́rekcaneną.
But	go on.	[Now so]	[the first time]	they will invite you.

Rak’ikók’canéną.	Mąk’ą́nį	worucra	hašarac’ápikcaneną.
[They will make a place for you.]	The Medicine people	the food	you will taste.

p. 71 —

Ž’é	’é	rorá	himąšcą́	wąkšíkcįkcanéną.
[This]	[it itself]	your body	to strengthen you	that you will live.

Ž’é	’éreną.	Waskéį́žą	c’arúhį	waruskų́irak’i’ų́
[This]	[it is said.]	One of the dishes	deer ribs	and sweat corn

cerá.	Ž’é	waraįšerekí,	wą́kieskecá
[there was.]	[These]	after you pass them,	real man (middle age)

p. 72 —

ranįkc’áne.	Wašké	nąkuį́cecéca	hašcaká.	Že’é
you become.	Poplar	real close to there	you will see.	This

nącúra	harík’i	wisą́kcanéną.*	’Éže,	’éreną.
hair	[far apart]	it will be gray.	That	it is.

* < wa-hi-są-kjaneną ?, where są means "white, pale".

’Éki	mąxíra	wakakáx	haicaká,	Mąk’ą́nį.
And	the sky	marked	you will see,	the Medicine people.

Ną́piruǧácra	hašuruc’ápikc’anahéra,	’éreną.	Hicaį́ra	nącúra
Gifts	you will have,	[they say.]	[More]	hair

p. 73 —

wisą́k’caneną.	Wašké	hašcaká,	’éreną.	Že’é
it will be gray.	Poplar	you will see,	[they say].	This

raįšéreki,*	mąrá	cąwą	hanarác’apká,
[as it proceeds,]	ground	soft	you will feel underfoot,

*just before this word, raįšéreki ho has been lined out.

Mąk’ą́nį Nąkúra	wacicík’	homįzirekí,	ze’é	šurukóǧanąka
the Medicine Road	goods	spread out,	that	you take up, and

p. 74 —

ra’įkcanera,	’é	heréną.	C’op’ą́hą	že’é
you will wear it,	[said]	[it is.]	Four times	that

raįšéreki,	worúcra,	waį́nįra,	wa’įrá,	wąkšiko’įra
after you pass,	food,	clothes,	blankets,	life

té	žecąį́xcį	rahikí,	hanąc’´	hiną́,
that	[thus far]	[when you arrive,]	all	[it is made,]

p. 75 —

šukcáreną́.	Xe	húcicarahiká,	waxšúc’	hisakų́ceka
[you will start coming.]	Hill	when you get to the foot,	cedar	the cane

hic’uk’cáreną,	nįc’akcą́ną.	Xerá	horatíšereka	hisakų́k’ere,
you will use,	you are old.	The hill	when you start up	with the cane,

mąrá	xįášcaká,	hišcará	nįǧíc	wanį’ų́.
the earth	misty,	your eyes	blurred	they are.

’Éki	hac’ąkére	nįtiréną.	Že’é	nįc’ak’é
And	slowly	you can go.	This	you are old

p. 76 —

wa’ų́ną.	Xeóti	hik’iskéną.	Hisakų́k’ere	c’ų́ną.
[it is it.]	Climbing a hill	it is just like.	With the cane	you do.

’Éki	xerá	hihakéca	rahíną.	Že’é
And	the hill	top	you reach it.	This

wąkšíko’į́	hožecą́ra	hirarahíną.	Rorá	nįkocą́ną,
life	the end	you have come.	Your body	it is bent,

p. 77 —

’ará	xurá	honįwároną.	’Éki	nącúra
your arms	the skin	it is loose.	And	hair

hiskąxcį́ra,*	hisakų́ra	hirápra	horak’éreną.	Rorá
it is white,	your cane	chin	you put.	Your body

*/ra/ is written over a lined out /na/.

žecąį́xcįp’ak’íra	howáréną.	’Éca	Mą’ų́ra	nąǧírakašinirá*
only thus far	it goes.	There	Earthmaker	your soul

*below this word, Susman has the following linguistic notes: "wanaǧi soul, corpse[,] wanaǧómįk’ cemetery, graves".

p. 78 —

p’į́xcį	c’akíwekcanéną.	Te’éreną́.	Hic’ųšké,	nąkuį́žą
[very good]	it will go.	It is this.	Grandson,	one road

horawékcanéra,	Mąk’ą́nį Nąkúra.	’Éki	c’áknį́wį́ra
you will go in,	the Medicine Road.	[And]	[ancestors]

nįk’úruhicwíną.	Žecą́įxcį,	hic’uškéará,	hip’á	wakítakšáną.
[we greet you.]*	This far,	my grandson,	[up to]	I spoke to him.

*this sentence was not translated.

p. 79 —

’Éki	hiškaká	né	wanitúšcąre,	háwiną.
And	in turn	you	I leave it,	[we are through.]

Š’áknįwį́ra	nįk’úruhicwíną.
[Ancestors]	[we greet you.]*

*this sentence was not translated.

Source:

Sam Blowsnake, Unititled account of the Medicine Rite, in Amelia Susman, Notebooks (Philadelphia, American Philosophical Society, January 13-17, 1939) Book 9, 52-79.