Hočąk Text — Wanihéga Becomes a Sak'į

narrated by Sam Blowsnake


English Translation


p. 480 —
Hičók'e waháwigi wa'ų́ines'àže hoišípjį hižą́
Our grandfathers they would show more than once they used to do always one


wanaǧirak hok'áračgas'àže p'į hip'érezirege. Hičóke
ghost would take a chance to become good they would consider it. Our grandfathers


waháwigi hižą́ Wanihéga higaíregi hoišípjį
they would show more than once one Shouts in the Distance they would say of him always


ë wanaǧirak horačgąs'áže. Wanaǧirak horačgą́jega
he ghost he used to guess at, conjecture. Ghost stood at risk


Wanihéga higaíregi. Wanaǧirak horačgą́jega uañgįk'į́že.
Shouts in the Distance they would say of him. Ghost stood at risk become the same as a man.


Ésge p'íną hip'érezireže. Wanihéga higaíregi
Thus a good thing they would consider it. Shouts in the Distance they would say of him


uañgwášoše xetežé. Hañk'é hik'ísge p'iną
a brave (warrior) a great one. Not equal a good one


wa'ųžé. Togižą́jane točóna hik'áwakšaną roǧires'aže
he was. In the summer the war the going on the warpath they used to forbid it.


hañk'é hop'ini howaíres'àže. Ésge roǧires'aže.
not good they would go. Thus they used to forbid it.


Nunige Wanihéga togížą točóna jobǫ́hą
But Shouts in the Distance a summer the war four times


hik'awákšaže airešanúną. Ésge wanǧirak hok'aračą́jega
he went on the warpath it is said. Thus ghost stood at risk


ë wañgik'ik'úruxurukše. Hahí wak'ąčáñkše. Hahí
he man - clothe himself in - someone who could For this reason he was holy. For this reason


Sak'į žéšge. Ésge hoišípjį hižą́
a Warbundle Bearer thus. Thus always one


wanaǧirak hok'aračgąs'áže. Hižą žésge hak'jonáwiną
ghost would put himself at risk. One of this kind we will do


wohą́ čoníxjį jáwine. Ë éja horok
kettle the very first we attempt. It there amongst them


nąjonágijąwįgi hijórogeniñk 'uñk'jége. Žéžesge niñgitáwįną.
may they bless us join with them they will partake. That sort of thing we ask for.


English Translation


Source:

[1] Sam Blowsnake, The Warbundle Feast of the Thunderbird Clan, in Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990 [1923]) 399-481 [480].