Hocąk Text — The Necessity for Death, Version 2

English Translation

 

p. 59 —
Hagí c’íra hoik’éweže. "Hąhą́, k’únįk’a,
There the house he went in. "Now, O grandmother,

 

 

Hią́ñc’hara warehúįñgigíra tuxúrukšaną. Wogų́ñzara p’į́’ų
my Father [the] work he set me for I have accomplished. The creation to make good

 

 

húįñg igíra haną́c tuxúrukšaną. Wąñkšígo’įná hitégwahará
that he sent me for all I have accomplished. The life my mother's brothers

 

 

hiųnį́wahará wiák’arak’iske’ų́įnekjanéną." Égi, "C’ųñškánų žaskéranągá
my mothers' they will have like my own." And, "O grandson how did you make and

 

 

hitégwaragá wąñkšígo’įná wirák’iske žaskékježe? K’ežeskánįną."
your mothers' brothers the life like your own how could you? It is not so."

 

 

"Hią́ñjįhiwíra žegų́ gųñské žegų́ną. Hąñk’é
Our Father thus because he created it is thus. Not

 

 

žegų́x igíp’įnį́ną. K’únįk’ága wažą́wahigų́nį éske hąñk’é
it is not good to do to him thus. My grandmother must be something to them therefore not

 

 

p. 60 —
gip’įnį́ge waną́k’ųnį t’ewágigíra," hiraną́kše. "Hąñk’á’a
because it is not good for her she must be saying that I killed them for her," he thought. "No

 

 

c’ųñškánų hąñk’eže žéske yaré wahanį́nąkšaną́.
O grandson, not like this I think I am not saying.

 

 

C’ųñškánų rorá hok’ąné higųñsšáną. Warúc
O grandson, the body the fall he created with. Food

 

 

hik’irújis k’į́nekjanegéjįnį éske hok’ąné
to fall short of because they would make each other therefore the fall

 

 

c’ų́wahige wa’ų́ną. Mąną́gare hak’į́nįk’į́nekjanegéjįnį
to make them have he made. This earth because they would crowd each other

 

 

wa’ų́ną hot’é c’ų́wahigí. Égi hiskexcį́ Wašcįñgéga, "Hąñk’é
he made death that he made them have. And really Hare, "Not

 

 

gip’įnį́nąk’ają́ éwažą́wahigé wak’árašíganąk’ają," hiraną́kše. "K’á’a
it is not good for her because she is something to them she is taking their part," he is thinking. "No

 

 

c’ųñškánų, k’ežeskánįną. Hagáwožą́ñgają́nąįžą nąc’kéra nįtegížą
O grandson, it is not so. For a long time the heart you ache and ache

 

 

c’ak’ó hitégwaraga hinį́waragá wąñkšígo’įnaži hip’ąnąį́nekjaną.
nevertheless your mothers' brothers your mothers' the life at least they will have enough.

 

 

Hoš’agará hirahíxcįnekjéną, wageže. "Hąhą́, c’ųñškánų,
The old age they will surely reach," she said to him. "Now, O grandson,

 

 

nąñžį́ne. Hiróįk’ąnąk’ųįnánįhekjanéną, égi hironį́k’ąnąį́ñkjanįhéną. Cųñškánų,
stand up. They will keep on following me, and I will keep on following you. O grandson

 

 

hitajé wa’ųą́ñje. Wą́ñgaranį́ną. Hąñk’é hakją́mbanįą́je."
mightily do. You are a man. Not do not look back."

 

 

Hogįñgį́ñx rawígi hąñk’é hakją́mbanįšiákše. K’unįk’ága
Around as they started not she was telling him not to look back. Grandmother

 

 

p. 61 —
jagú’ų wegų́nį hiregéjįnį. C’owéxcįnįk’ hoirác’keja
why she said it because he thought. Just a little to the left

 

 

hakją́mpgają́ hágohúra horuxą́nąjik’éreže. "C’ųñškánų, hagágaskéžąñxcį,
he looked back and then the place they had come from suddenly caved in. "O grandson, alas,

 

 

wą́ñgaranįgáją wažąnók’ąną hanįk’átažįñxcį́gają́. C’ųñškánų, te’eréške
you are a man something great I urged it upon you strongly. O grandson, this even

 

 

hąñk’é k’urustuxúruganįną." Hok’ąną́jąne, hot’ájąne wagákše,
not I can't take back." This fall, this death she meant,

 

 

aíreną. Hogįñgįñx´ haraíregi, p’ejic’éjara hogíwe
it is said. Around as they went, the edge of the fire to go around

 

 

wa’ų́įneže, aíreną.
they did, it is said.

 

Source:

William Lipkind, Winnebago Grammar (New York: King's Crown Press, 1945) 59-61.