Hocąk Text — Wanihéga Becomes a Sak’į

narrated by Sam Blowsnake

Sam Blowsnake

English Translation

 

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

 

 

wanaǧirak hok’áracgas’àže p’į hip’érezirege. Hicóke
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 horacgąs’áže. Wanaǧirak horacgą́jega
he ghost he used to guess at, conjecture. Ghost stood at risk

 

 

Wanihéga higaíregi. Wanaǧirak horacgą́jega 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 tocóna 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 tocóna jobǫ́hą
But Shouts in the Distance a summer the war four times

 

 

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

 

 

ë wañgik’ik’úruxurukše. Hahí wak’ącáñkše. 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’aracgąs’áže. Hižą žésge hak’jonáwiną
ghost would put himself at risk. One of this kind we will do

 

 

wohą́ coníxjį 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.

 

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].