Hočąk Text — Tobacco Origin Myth, v. 5

Waščįkéka	hik'orók'era	hič'ak'órowahirá	čaną́ka	waxop'íni
Rabbit	his friends	his grandmother	all of them	spirits

waráčire	Wažakúzra	wakųskí.	Wošką	te'é
whatever	the Creator	they were the creation.	Ceremony	this

p. 54 —

kų́zireki	Wokų́zočira	wioiréč'a	hą́posųeča	hap'ahí
when it was created,	the council house	east	to west	[direction]

mikšé,	'aíreną.	Waxop'į́nį	waráčirera	mąxí
[it lay,]	[it is said.]	The spirits	[the various ones]	sky

p. 55 —

wąkrékererá,	mąį	hakerékirera,	mą	k'ų́hąrekererà,
up,	on the earth	[who were placed],	earth	[who were placed] below,

nįk'ų́hąičererà,	te'é	haną́č	hič'ok'ížuiréki,*	č'irá
who were under water,	these	all	they came higher, and	the house

*above the word "came" are written the following notes in very small lettering: "hiróžu put", below which is written, "hirožú lead", and to the right is written, "wač'ožú leader".

hixčį́	mįną́kirežè,	'ąíreną.	'Éki	waxop'ini
full	they sat around,	they said.	And	the spirits

waráčire	siók'ereírerá	šaną	č'ą́pirak'ére	hímįną́ki'uže,
[various]	the place where they put their feet	only	they kept my eyes	[pointed to,]

p. 56 —

'ąíreną.	Hoką́čą́k'še,	'ąíreną.	Hąpra	č'ira
they said.	They were holy,	they said.	The light	the lodge

čakųi	hatažairéskų	mįkše,	'ąíreną.	'Éki
what	[they shone]	[it lay,]	they said.	And

p. 57 —

č'įokisákeč'a	mąp'á	číną́kše,	'ąíreną.	Wasp'a'iníske
in the center of the lodge	mound	[there was,]	they said.	[Like a nipple]

wąkšíko'į	'éča	hikią́na (?)	wažą́	ki'anéra
life	there	[?]	something	[?]

hiperés	činą́kireže,	'ąíreną.	'Éki	'éč'a
to know	it would come,	they said.	And	there

mąrá	waxaną́hižé.	Wažą	'ap	'éč'a
the earth	it broke through.	Some kind	leaf	there

p. 58 —

haǧephizé,	'ąíreną.	Haǧepkáča,	wažą	č'óxč'įžerè,
it grew up,	they said.	After it grew up,	[thing]	it looked very green,

'ap.	K?áč-hará	'éreže.	Hąprok'ič'óra*	čežé,
[leaf.]	[Sunlight-skin]	[it was.]	The color of the day	it stood,

*Susman observes that this comes from hąpra-hok'ičora. However, the latter is hokičųra, "descendant".

'ąíreną.	Haną́č	horuǧúč'	mįną́kireže,	'ąíreną.
they said.	All	to have their eyes on it	[they laid,]	[it is said.]

p. 59 —

Wažį́žą	wa'ų́čeki	Wakusra	wiwéwį	hanįná
Something	that was	the Creator	the thought	[he had]

wa'ų́čeki,	hip'erésireže,	'ąíreną.	P'ąnąrá	hiǧoǧóže,*
[that was it,]	they knew,	[it is said.]	The smell	it diffused,

*Susman has a note that reads, "hiǧo — smoke-diffusing[,] spread".

'ąíreną.	P'įžé,	'ąíreną.	Waxop'ini	waráčirerà
they said.	It was good,	they said.	The Spirits	[the various]

haną́č	kizíč'	mįnąkireže,	'ąíreną.	'Éki
all of them	to lift the head	they sat up,	[it is said.]	And

p. 60 —

žiké	'ąprá	hinuprá	haǧéphužè,	'ąíreną.
[again]	leaf	another	it grew up,	[it is said.]

Žiké	hitanį́ra	haǧéphužé,	'ąíreną.	Žiké
And	a third	[it grew up,]	[it is said.]	And

hičoprá	haǧéphuže,	'ąíreną.	'Éki	časkékčane
a fourth	[it grew up,]	they said.	And	how it would be

p. 61 —

wa'ų́čeki,	hanąč'´	žeskéki,	hačarą́	k'arap'įéské,
[that was it,]	[all]	[it was this way,]	it looked	beautiful,

'ąíreną.	P'ąnąp'į́že,	'ąíreną.	Č'axíwira	skaxčį́že,
[it is said.]	It smelled good,	they said.	The blossoms	they were very white,

'ąíreną.	'Éki	waxop'íni	waráčire	ną́kre,
[it is said.]	And	spirits	[the various]	[who were sitting,]

"Hač'ąkaixčį*	hi?	'É	hitak'ánakčawira,"	hirámįną́kireže,
"Which one of us	[is it to be?]	[It]	maybe it is going to be mine,"	they thought,

*Susman has the following note: "hač'ą́įča, where, which".

p. 62 —

'ąíreną.	Žiké	hotašké,	"Né	xeté
[it is said.]	And	some,	"I	great

hi'ųk´ča,	né	'éčaxčį́	hitak'ą́nąkčanékačą,"	hik'irá
he made me,	I	maybe	I am going to manage it,"	to think

mįną́kireže,	'ąíreną.	'Éki	wanįkinį́kiža	č'axíni
[they did,]	[it is said.]	And	a little bird*	blossoms

*this is the interlinear translation given by Susman, but in the free translation she takes it to be a hummingbird.

p. 63 —

'éča	čičeké,	'ąíreną.	Ğįk'´	čeže,
there	it came,	[it is said.]	Humming	it came.

'ąíreną.	Wanįkį́kčegá	hačará	k'arap'įéskeže.	Wanikį́kčeną́
[it is said.]	That little bird	it looked	it was pretty.	That little bird

'aprá	hąprá	hok'ič'óra	čežè.*	Č'axiwira
the leaves	the day	[the descendant]	[he came.]	The blossoms

*Susman has hok'ič'órčežè, which she translates as "the day color".

p. 64 —

wap'į'ų́	nąžį́že,	'ąíreną.	Hokįkįx´	nąžį́že.
to be fixed	he stood,	[it is said.]	Around	he stood.

'Éki	Waščįkéka	'exčį́	t'ą́pčireže,	'ąíreną.
And	Rabbit	himself	he got up,	[it is said.]

Hik'orokéra	wa'ųžé.	Nąksíkįą	'įnį́	šuč'
[His friends]	[did it.]	A stem	stone	red

taní	húižą	sųk'eį́ča	rúzanąka	hok'ųžé,
tobacco	a stem	back	he took, and	he gave it to him,

p. 65 —

'ąíreną.	'Éki	p'ečrá	hokįkį́xak'erįanąka	'aprá
[it is said.]	And	the fire	he went around, and	the leaves

warusóčanaka	ną́porehíčiréki	waxčukšé,	'ąíreną.
he pulled off the husks, and	he started to handle them, and	he crushed them,	[it is said.]

p. 66 —

Wús-hįánąka	taníhųéča	hožužé,	'ąíreną.	'Éki
He dried them, and	in the pipe	he put it,	[it is said.]	Then

p'eč'óweč'a	hą́pokura	hap'ahí	k'irižéže,	'ąíreną.
to the fire	the east	facing	[he returned,]	[it is said.]

'Éki	"Č'įóžušánąkre,	hičak'óró,	nįwįre	waxopíni
And	"You sit in the lodge,	my dear friends,	you	spirits

waračire	nįč'ápwira.	'Éki	te'é	Mą'ų́ra
[various]	my own relatives.	And	this	Earthmaker

wiwéwįhaniéča	howáčíną.	'Éki	hitekį́kwahara,	hi'ųnįnįkwahará,
from his thought	it came.	[And]	my dear uncles,	[my aunts,]*

*Susman has "my mother (humans)" followed in small letters by "sister".

wakšíkoį́ra	waną́čųčąįskaíreke,	wąkšíko'į	mą	kik'i-šerekče.
life	because it is poor,	life	earth	he sent me.

p. 68 —

Wąkréki	hi'áč'hará	huįkikíną.	'Éki	č'įóžušánąkre,
Up there	my father	he sent me.	And	who are in the lodge,

haną́č,	wiwéwį	hikí	horakšúwire.	'Éki
all,	thought	here	put in.	But

me'é	hąk'é	nežą́	hǫnį́nįkčanahawiną.	'Éki
this	not	one of us	we are not going to have it.	And

p. 69 —

hitékwahára	hi'unį́nįkwahára	'é	hanį́,	wąkšík'
my uncles	my aunts	this	to have,	[people]

'į́rekčanéną.*	Hąk'é	hižą́	waną'ók'ewe	wažą́
[it will be.]	Not	one	asking freely	[thing]

*this is hirekjaneną, the /h/ dropped from sandhi.

hirok'ų	hiruxúruknikčanį́hiną.	'É	wąkšík'oį	tá
to use	we shall not attain.	They	life	asking

p. 70 —

hi'ųįrekčanéną.	Hižą́	ražrá	wą́karáčirawįąnąka	te'é
they are going to use.	One	name	they call us, and	[this]

hožuį́žą	waxųį́reki,	čakú	taį́reki	žeské
[a full one]	if he places for us,	what	they ask, and	[that]

hįwikírusikčanaháwiną.	Mą'ų́ra	'exčį́	'ų,	nų́nįke
we will take it.	Earthmaker	himself	he made,	but

hišké	žeskékčaniną.	Čačą́	razrá	ráčiránąka
even	he is the same as the rest of us.	[Father]	name	they call him, and

p. 71 —

hiskéki,	wahų́įreki,	čakú	hitaį́reki,	wonį́kihánąka,
[if correctly,]	if they offer it to him,	what	if he asks for it,	he will answer, and

ruzíkčaneną.	'Éki	hąpwioiré*	hap'ahí	k'iričiónąka
he will take it.	And	the west	toward	he turned, and

*after the syllable /hąp/, okura has been lined out and wioiré written above it.

honiká,	hat'ų́panąka	hanąč'´	hį'įkérekčanį́heną.
[as he asked,]	I am going to put it, and	[all]	[they will have life by means of it.]

p. 72 —

Že'é	wošką́	te'é	hiskexčį́	hanąščą́ra.
That	ceremony	this	truly	he will put our power.

'Éki	hokšúwi,	hį'eya'ų́kčąnáwiną.	Wihóhirà	č'įók'isákreki
And	it is put in,	we mean that.	The witness	[in the middle of the lodge]

Mą'ų́ra	hokiraki,	hįwa'ųkčanahániną.	Hunúpmąnį,	wąkšík',
Earthmaker	if he tells him,	we will do this.	[Two-legged walkers,]	human beings,

p. 73 —

waną́čočąį́ske,	te'é	č'akú	warųákikų́ra*	honį́hawí
because they are poor,	this	what	I wish for them	in answer

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

hiya'ų́kčanaháwi.	'Éki	nąwą́že,	Wašjįkéka.	Wežé
we will answer.	And	he sang,	Rabbit.	He said,

'aį́reną,	"Té	heréną.	Hąp	ta'ųną.
they said,	"This	it is the one.	Light	[it makes a wish for.]

Wąkšíko'į-itará,*	wąkšík	š'įkčánąháwiną́.	'Éki	wak'uruhįčrehíže,
The life-asking,	[humans]	you will live.	And	he saluted them,

*Susman has wąkšíko'į-(h)itará.

p. 74 —

č'irirókžú.	Hanąč'´	honįhą́ireže.	'Éki	ną'ų́stéžą*
the whole lodge.	All	they answered.	And	firebrand

*before the letter /ų/, /wa/ has been crossed out.

rúzanąkà	tanį́hurá	ta'éhikí	rap'orehíkiži,	hą́pokuréki
he took, and	the pipe	he lit, and	after he puffed on it,	the east

hap'ahí	hąprá	skaxjį́	č'at'į́hižé,
towards	the day	very clear	it showed

p. 75 —

'aį́reną.	'Éki	žiké	sanįk'´	siníwakúreki
they said.	And	[again]	direction	north

hap'ahí	k'iričįánąka	'éča	horap'órehíki,	hąprá
towards	he faced, and	there	he puffed, and	the day

skaxjį́	č'at'į́hižé,	'aį́reną.	'Éki	žiké
very clear	it showed,	[it is said.]	And	[again]

wioiréreki	horap'órehíki,	hižé.	Žeskéže,	'aį́reną.
west	when he puffed,	[it was.]	[Thus it was,]	[it is said.]

p. 76 —

'Éki	žiké	rek'úhuhireki	horap'óke,	žiké
And	[again]	towards the south	he puffed,	and

žeskéže,	'aį́reną.	Žeskų́ki	hąprá	k'arap'įéska
[thus it was,	[it is said.]	And then	the day	very beautiful

čežé,	'aį́reną.	'Éki	howáhįéča	č'irópsanįkečá
it was,	[it is said.]	And	near	to the door

hižaną́k'i	č'orį́xčį	'ik'érekikižé,	'aį́reną.	Čopą́hą
[the one sitting]	[the first one ?]*	he put in his mouth,	[it is said.]	Four times

*this is probably for čorįxjį, a case of the alternance of /r/ for /n/.

p. 77 —

rap'ožé,	'aį́reną.	Č'irókįkįx	hižąk'íšąną	žeské
he puffed,	[it is said.]	All around the lodge	one by one, each one	that

wakikíže,	'aį́reną.	Wak'uruhį́črehíranąka	hanąč'´	honįhaį́reka,
they did it,	[it is said.]	They saluted them, and	everyone	they received it,

'éki	čopą́hą	rap'oį́res'áže,	'aį́reną.	Žeskų́
and	four times	they puffed,	[it is said.]	And

p. 78 —

hikí,	tanį́hųrà	hižą́	č'ekčį́ra,	wąkšíkižą́
when he got through,	the pipe	one	the new one,	a human

'ų́kikínąk'í,	tanį́hu	že'é	hįánįže,	'aį́reną.
who was made to do this,	pipe	that	it came to him,	[it is said.]

"Š'áknįwíra	nįk'úrųhįčwíną.	'Éki	hą́pitaį́'ųrá	wo'éhira
"Dear parents	I salute you.	And	[the doing of the life-asking]	the saying, duty, rule

p. 79 —

méžeské	ną́xkurá,	wáheną.	Wąkšik'	wačekią
[in this wise]	I heard,	[it is why I say it.]	[Man]	a new one

hą́pirok'arakųį́rerak'é	worak	te'é	hoxeterá	heréną.
[because he is coming back in charge of life,]	[story]	this	the biggest	it is.

'É	hakitáč'	wahéną,	wąkšiki'įkčaneną."	'Éki
Him	[?]	I say this,	he will get life."	And

p. 80 —

méžegųį́če	hánąka	waxop'íni	waráčire	wičáča
[thus he did,]	[and]	spirits	[the various]	crier

č'ápirerà	hikíčąré	časké	hiánąka	'inį́kihi,
their own	[he was side by side]	[how]	he did, and	without speaking,

hanįáčiték'če.	'Éki	ha'ehánąka	nápak'érekčánahawiną.	'Éki
he took it.	And	he talked about it, and	[he would hand it on.]	And

p. 81 —

mąxíwakréki	č'įwį́huže,	'aíreną.	Čopą́hą	mąrá
up in the sky	[a great noise came,]	[it is said.]	Four	earths

hikiską́	čihužé,	'aíreną.	'Éki	Mą'ų́ra
through	it came,	[it is said.]	And	Earthmaker

wowéwį	hanįrá	wa'ųąk'i	hipérézireže,	'aíreną.
thought	[he had]	[he did it]	they knew,	[it is said.]

p. 82 —

'Éki	k'ųhą́reki	hihįanąka	himąščą́ra	hanąč'´
And	under the earth	it came, and	power	all

kuhą́reki	p'á	č'įók'isákreki	k'iričeže,	'aíreną.
under the earth	up	to the center of the lodge	it came,	[it is said.]

Wąžį́žą	wa'ų́čekí	[k?ąprá]	hįšča,	'ųžé,
Something	it was	it showed	its face,	[it did,]

'aíreną.	'Éki	nį́	'eki	mąrá
[it is said.]	And	water	and	earth

p. 83 —

'eki	ną́	'eki	nąną́ži	mąįhąkréki
and	wood	and	standing trees	[on top of the earth]

čaku´ak'i	hanąč'´	hik'ik'ų́	wa'ų́čezé,	'aíreną.
[how]	all	to be used on himself	[they were it,]	[it is said.]

'Éki	te'é	Waščįkéka	'eki	ručį́žą*
And	this	Rabbit	[here]	something to hit him with

*cf. Miner, rujį́, "to hit something".

p. 84 —

hanįanąka	hópokura	hap'ahí	činą́kąnaka	hočįžé,
he had, and	the east	toward	he faced, and	he hit it,

'aíreną.	Kiží	č'íwį́čik'ereki,	mąną́kre	hikirúkše.
[it is said.]	[Then]	when the sound rose,	the earth	it shook.

Hik'iskéže,	'aíreną.	Žekų́kíži	mąną́kre	čakú
[So it seemed,]	[it is said.]	Then	in the earth	whatever

hokuák'i	haną́čakúirežè,*	'aíreną.	Hinupahara	hoč'įkíži,
he started to grow,	all started to rise,	[it is said.]	[A second time]	he hit it, and

*Susman has, haną́č(' h)akúirežè.

p. 85 —

žiké	žeskéže,	'aíreną.	Mąną́kre	čakú
[again]	[he did that way,]	[it is said.]	In the earth	what

hokųák'i	č'ąt'į́	činą́kirežè,	'aíreną.	Mąxínira
he grew,	to show	it had come out.	[it is said.]	The clouds

sanį́k'i	hokoxrá	čírežé,	'aíreną.	Hitanįhąrá
to one side	to move	they started,	[it is said.]	A third time

p. 86 —

hočįka	žiké	žeskéže,	'aíreną.	Wažąra
when he hit it,	again	it was the same,	[it is said.]	[Things]

hanąč'´	mąxrá,	ną'ápra	xąwį́ra,	čaną́ka,
[all]	the fields,	the leaves	the sprouts,	all whatever,

hą́pinažįra	č'axíwira	haųíreže,	'aíreną.
what stands with life (medicines)	grass	they came up,	[it is said.]

Hičópą́hąra	hočikíži,	mąxíakreki*	Wažakų́zra	žečąį́xči
The fourth time	when it came up,	[to the sky]	Earthmaker	[as far as]

*Susman has mąxí(w)akreki.

p. 87 —

hip'á	nąxkúireže.	Mąk'úharéki	čačąįxčį	rečreki
[up to]	it was heard.	[Under the earth]	[as far as]	to the bottom

žečąį́xči	hip'á	nąxkúireže,	'aíreną.	'Éki
[as far as]	[up to]	it was heard,	[it is said.]	And

hą́pokuréki	móžečąį́ča	hip'á	nąxkúireže,	'aíreną.
in the east	of the world	[up to]	it was heard,	[it is said.]

p. 88 —

'Éki	žiké	wioiréreki	móžečąį́ča	hip'á
And	[again]	[to the west]	[of the world]	[up to]

nąxkúireže,	'aíreną.	Žekų́ki	mąną́kre	hanąč'´
it was heard,	[it is said.]	And then	in the world	[all]

čakúra	haǧiže,	'aíreną.	Mąį́xkąxką́ra	čak´ra
[how]	it was ripe,	[it is said.]	[That move on the earth,]	[outside]

hanąč'´	k'arap'įeskaireže,	'aíreną.	'Ahuį́rasára	hanąč'´
everything	it was good,	[it is said.]	Winged ones	everything

horá	č'ąt'į́	hačįaníreki,	hanąxkų́ra	p'įže,
voices	to sound	when they began,	[to listen]	it was good,

'aíreną.	Hąprá	k'eráč'orà	hąk'é	mąxíwira
[it is said.]	The day	the sky	not	clouds

nįké	mįną́kniže,*	'aíreną.	Hąprá	ruk'irik'íri
anywhere	it had,	[it is said.]	The day	shimmering

*the letters /ire/ in the original mįną́kireže were crossed out and /ni/ written above them.

p. 90 —

nąžį́že,	'aíreną.	Wak'irihók'erera	čákųiroį́k'araireske*	nąžį́že,
it stood,	[it is said.]	The spider	it was suspended	it stood,

*below this word is the note, "hoik'ara to be suspended".

'aíreną.	Žéžekų́ki	wąkšíko'ira	wokúzra	hoixčį
[it is said.]	Then	life	the creation	full

p'į́	k'inį́pše,	'aíreną.	'Éki	wičáčąréča
good	it showed, it got to be,	[it is said.]	And	[the crier]

p. 91 —

horá	č'ąt'į́čirekì,	mąnąkre	hą́pinąžįra	p'įhí
the voice	when he kept sounding,	this earth	what stands with life (herbs)	a little

ksųksų́že,	'aíreną.
it swayed,	[it is said.]

Source:

Sam Blowsnake, Unititled account of the Medicine Rite, in Amelia Susman, Notebooks (Philadelphia, American Philosophical Society, January 13-17, 1939) Notebook 8, 52-91.

'Éki	š'áknįwį́ra	č'ekéča	wokús	te'é.
And	the parents	in the beginning	created	it.