Hočąk Text — Turtle and the Giant

Turtle and the Giant

interlinear translation by Oliver LaMère

p. 160 —

"Hąhą́	hičakáro,	hąp tée	wawagáx	níñgi-'uñkjanèną	uáñgeručgè
["Yes]	[my friend,]	today	writing	I will make for you	Giant

pį́na,"	e wairéną.	Hąhé	wigaíregi	é weže,	aíreną.
a good one,"	they said it.	Moon	they called him	he said it,	[they said.]

É	tée	wanáñkičiñxjįnèže	aíreną.	Uañgerúčgenòñka	wéže,
Him	this	lived very close with them they did	[they said].	The Giant	said,

"Hičakáro,	uáñkšik	rújere	ro-águną."	"Hičakáro,	žésge
"My friend,	people	go eat	I wish."	["Friend],	that kind

ragí	Mą'úna	hiñké	wañgaípinikjanèną."	éže,	higuą́sgaxiri
if you do	Earthmaker	[not]	will not like it."	he said,	but anyhow

p. 161 —

húže.	Žéjuñga	jigíži	uáñkšik	hokinínąìñgają	Kečúñgega
he came.	Now	when arrived	people	he was trying to look for but	[Turtle]

hakiránañga,	mąhí	akíp'ahira	hik'uánañga,	kisákjį	rukonokhìreže,
fought with him,	with knife	two edged	used it and,	in two	they cut him,

aíreną.	Uañgerúčgejega	nąsúra	gixuxgáją.	Worúšigra	hokíračį
[they said.]	That Giant	his head	they broke open.	Wampum	all kinds

nąsúrogra	hoixjį́je,	aíreną.	Kečúñgega	haną́čį	ruzánañga
inside his head	it was full,	[they said].	[Turtle]	all	took it and

p. 162 —

tójera	hoíxjį,	nąpíñgiže,	aíreną.	Kečúñgegàšaną	uañgerúčgera
his throat, neck	full,	wore it home,	[they said].	Turtle only	the Giant

wikšakšás'aže,	aíreną.	Mą'úna	e 'uñgigíže	aíreną.
he used them anyway,	[they said].	Earthmaker	gave him that power,	[they said].

English Translation

Source:

[1] Charlie N. Houghton, "A Story about Turtle and a Giant," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Winnebago III, #9, Freeman #3894. (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) 160-162.