Hočąk Text — Journey to Spiritland, Version 6

Hočąk Text — Journey to Spiritland, Version 6

narrated by Sam Blowsnake

English Translation

p. 52 —

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

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

p. 53 —

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

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

’Éki	mąį́ča	wakaxčą́ną.	Hą́pokurà	wioiréra
And	on the ground	he make marks.	The east	the west

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

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

*Susman adds, "(off road)".

p. 54 —

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

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

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

nąkųížą	wanikítakra	’éreną.	Hižą́	serečánąka
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’čínikšaną.	Te’é	wąkšíko’įrà	nųp’íwina	seréč’
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	’éčirak’éreną.	Mąk’ą́nį	nąkúra	’éreną.
Earthmaker	it reaches.	Medicine	Road	it is.

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

horawék’čanéną.	’Éki	p’éč’	hičečrá	horawék’čanéną.
you will go.	And	fire	the edge	you will go.

p. 57 —

Te’é	waraį́šerekì,	’éča	nąkuį́č’ečéčà	waskeįžą
This	[as you walk along,]	there	at the edge of the road	a bowl

ǧoną́čékčanéną.	Č’arúhi	tažážapčį́	waruskúįrak’í’ų́
it will be steaming.	Deer ribs	well done	boiled with sweat corn

wa’účèkčanéną.	’Éč’a	mįšánakanąkà	waráįč’ąréną.	Žekų́ki
it will be.	There	you will sit and	you will eat.	And then

p. 58 —

wana’įnikip’į́xčį,	hičaį́ra	mąnį́ščą,	rak’ik’úruzizikčąnéną.*
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	hiraráhikčanéną.	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 —

waračíkčanéną.	Žikížį́ra*	ráhikčanéną,	taníra.	Žikíčoprá
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.

rahíkčanéną.	’Éč’a	šerekí,	čąprá	wąkróšawa’ąkač’ą́,
you will come to.	There	when you leave,	to look	when you raise your eyes,

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

hirak’ik’aǧikčanéną.*	Žiké	žéžeskéra	čop’	heraráhikčanéną.
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 —

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

hičečé	haščąkčáneną.	’Éč’a	mąká	čąwá
on the sides	you will see.	There	the ground	soft

hanąráč’apikčanéną.	Šurukóǧanąka	raįkčą́neną.	’Éč’a	šerekí,
you will feel by foot.	You will take it up, and	wear it.	There	after you go,

nąku	ak’í	waškerá	hičaį́ra	čkáp’
road	both	dishes	more	thick

p. 61 —

haščąkčą́neną.	’Éki	’éča	šerekí,	worúčra,
you will see.	And	there	after you leave,	food,

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

čąwą́	horakíwekčanéną.	’Éč’a	xeížą	horakíkčanéną.
soft	you will come upon.	There	a hill	you will come to.

p. 62 —

Xé	huižeča	hisakų́įąčèną,	waxšúč’.	’Éč’a
Hill	at the foot	there will be a cane,	red cedar.	There

xeróratíšereki,	mąrá	šóčožú	haščakčéneną.
after you have climbed the hill,	the earth	foggy, misty	you will see.

’Éč’a	nąrážįánąka	našékčaneną,*	"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 —

hišekčáneną.*	Žéžeské	taníharánąka	hičopáhara	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	hanarážįkčanahéną.	’Éč’a	Mąk’ą́nį	nįhárakčáneną.
on the top	you will be standing.	There	the Medicine people	you will chant.

’Éki	rora	horak’ik’urúč’kačą,*	rorá	č’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	račékčanéną.	’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	howačúščį,	hisakų́ra	hirápok’eré	kisąsą́
the cane	shortened by wear,	the cane	to lean on the chin	shaking

rač’ekčą́neną.	’Éki	’éča	Mą’ų́rominą́kre	haščąkčáneną.
you will stand.	And	there	Earthmaker's place	you will see.

p. 65 —

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

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

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

nąkúxeté	hoixáčaré,*	Hereškúnira	heréną.	Hočičíkra,
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,	wonáčke stakrá,		hot’erá	heréną.
aches,	regrets,		death	it is.

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

te’é	’é	heréną.	Wąkšíko’įra	žipčínįkčąną,	žečąną.
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

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

p. 68 —

Nąkú	serečą́kre	horawékčanahéra.	Wanįkšíšik’	hanįǧérekčanére.
Road	that is long	you will go.	Bad birds	they will make noise at you.

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

Hinįxíraį́re*	hawa’ų.	’Éki	hanišuį́rekčanéną.
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 —

Nįražíčirekčanéną.	Hąké	hakčá	’éča	wažą́
They will tease you.	Not	back	there	anything

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

nįk’erérekčanéną.	Wa’iaxúeške	nírek’čaneną.	Žekų́	hieráče.
they will put on you.	To bleed also	they will make you.	But	go on.

p. 70 —

P’éčič’ečrá	horawékčaneną.	Hatanį́skikčaneną.	P’éč’	hatanį́čazikčaneną.
The edge of the fire	you will go.	You will be burned.	Fire	sparks will burn you

Žekų́	hiráče.	Žekų́ki	č’ekčį́ra	nįkoį́rekčaneną.
But	go on.	[Now so]	[the first time]	they will invite you.

Rak’ikók’čanéną.	Mąk’ą́nį	woručra	hašarač’ápikčaneną.
[They will make a place for you.]	The Medicine people	the food	you will taste.

p. 71 —

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

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

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

p. 72 —

ranįkč’áne.	Wašké	nąkuį́čečéča	haščaká.	Že’é
you become.	Poplar	real close to there	you will see.	This

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

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

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

Ną́piruǧáčra	hašuruč’ápikč’anahéra,	’éreną.	Hičaį́ra	nąčúra
Gifts	you will have,	[they say.]	[More]	hair

p. 73 —

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

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

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

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

p. 74 —

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

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

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

p. 75 —

šukčáreną́.	Xe	húčičarahiká,	waxšúč’	hisakų́čeka
[you will start coming.]	Hill	when you get to the foot,	cedar	the cane

hič’uk’čáreną,	nįč’akčą́ną.	Xerá	horatíšereka	hisakų́k’ere,
you will use,	you are old.	The hill	when you start up	with the cane,

mąrá	xįáščaká,	hiščará	nįǧíč	wanį’ų́.
the earth	misty,	your eyes	blurred	they are.

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

p. 76 —

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

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

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

p. 77 —

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

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

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

žečąį́xčįp’ak’íra	howáréną.	’Éča	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’į́xčį	č’akíwekčanéną.	Te’éreną́.	Hič’ųšké,	nąkuį́žą
[very good]	it will go.	It is this.	Grandson,	one road

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

nįk’úruhičwíną.	Žečą́įxčį,	hič’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	wanitúščąre,	háwiną.
And	in turn	you	I leave it,	[we are through.]

Š’áknįwį́ra	nįk’úruhičwíną.
[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.