Hocąk Text — Bear Clan Origin Myth, Version 7

Hocąk Text — Bear Clan Origin Myth, Version 7

narrated by a member of the Bear Clan


Winnebago III, #7: 1		Notebook 24: 1

Originally the text of Winnebago III, #7 had been used, but afterwards it was discovered that an interlinear text existed at Notebook 24. It is this latter text that is now used in this upgraded version.

English Translation

The text is an interlinear with occasional morpheme abbreviations. These abbreviations are set out on the table below:

α	β	γ	ε	ɜ	λ	ϕ	ω
égi	éja	-giži	ésge	-šaną	žesge	hąké	žigé

X	2	ɕ	9	-	\|	·\|	⨪	ᴗ	>
wąkšig	-nąk	-xjį,	-[i]žą	-[e]ra	-ną	-kjoneną	-že, -še	-regi	gáją

p. 1 —

maⁿúṇa	ewa-ûⁿjê	[λ]	gûⁿssê	maⁿúṇa
Mą’ų́ra	ewa’ųže.	Žesge	gųse	Mą’ų́ra
Earthmaker	he made it.	Thus	it was taught that	Earthmaker

[λ]	higếdjêni	[ε]	woráge[-]	djí[\|]
žesge	higejeni,	ésge	worágera	jiną.
in this way	he did,	and so	the story	it begins.

worag[-]	wañgiradjiwi[\|]	nicgế	me[λ]
Worágera	wągirajiwiną.	Nišge	mežesge
The story	it has reached us.	Also	in this way

wañgagûⁿzwi[\|]	[ε]	worágᴇra	djí[\|]	⁴hik‘uruhówirê
wągagųzwiną,	ésge	worágera	jiną.	"Hikuruhówire
he has made us,	and so	the story	it begins.	"We are to get ready

ha-ehihikdjáw[\|]	s’ánîñk	sîni-ógu[ᴗ]	wá[⨪][2]
haehihikjáwiną."	Sánįk	sinióguregi,	wánąkše.
to come to counsel together."	Side	where it grows cold,*	the one who said it.

*"The side where it grows cold," refers to the north, although Radin has "south." Cf. James Owen Dorsey’s sinihósuéca, "at the north."

hijáⁿ	wajaⁿgû́ⁿz[-]	nicgế	mé[λ]	wañgagûⁿzwi[\|]
Hižą́	Wažągųzera	nišge	méžesge	wągagųzwiną.
One	the Creator	also	in this way	he created us.

k‘ik‘ínûⁿb[-]	djop’íwi[2]	xêdé[-]	raj[-]	sêbi-ére[2]
Kikínųbera	jopíwiže,	xetéra*	ražera	sebi-éreže;
Brothers themselves	four,	the eldest one	the name	black - he was;

*two letters are crossed out between the /e/ and the /r/.

hinûⁿbedjere[-]	cutccê	cutcíjê	here[2]	hidaníṇa
hinųbejerera	šucše,	šuciže	hereže;	hitanína
the second	red,	red[der]	he was;	the third

tcoijaⁿ	herejê	hidjob[-]	x’uṇúṇa	waíhag[-]
coižą	hereže;	hijobera	xunúna	waíhagera
a blue/green one	he was;	the fourth	the youngest	the last

p. 2 —

heré[2]	sgaí[9]	here[2]	hisûñgêdjíwina	djasgekdjône[2´]
heréže,	sgaížą	hereže.	"Hisųgejíwina,	jasgekjonežé?"
he was,	a white one	he was.	"Our younger brother,	how will it be?"

deéjí	newahanáñgᴇrê	[ϕ]	hiraík‘iragᴇni[>]	mé[λ]
Teéži,	"Newahaną́gere	hąké	hiraikiragenigają,	méžesge
This one,	["I myself am saying]	not	I am not equal to the task,	thus

yaré[\|]	wanaⁿîⁿha-unáñgᴇrê	[ϕ]	edjowarê	hiraik‘iragᴇninaⁿ
yaréną.	Waną’įha’uną́gere	hąké	ejoware	hiraikirageniną.
I believe.	My temperament	not	[it comes up to]	being unequal to the task.

wajáⁿijaⁿ	enaⁿíⁿṇê	hosdoirekdjônihé[-]	herếgîniⁿ[\|]	wajaⁿ
Wažą́nižą	eną’į́wįre	hostoirekjonihéra	herégininą.	Wažą*
Something	try to say	they are about to have a gathering	they are.	Something

*Radin had wajaⁿ~~ijaⁿ~~ in Winnebago III, #7.

enaⁿíⁿwiṇê	[α]	hiniha[ɕ]	hisgê	wace[>´]
eną’į́wįre."	Égi,	hinihaxjį,	hisge	wašegáją,
try to say."	And,	"O elder brother,	in truth	as you have said,

nicge	jesge[\|]	[ϕ]	[β]	hiraik‘iragᴇni[\|]
nišge	žesgeną.	Hąké	éja	hiraikirageniną
I too	in that way, thus.	Not	there	I am equal to the task

deerécgê	wacacánañk[>]	hiniha[ɕ]	[ϕ]	wot’ék
teeréšge	wašašą́nąkają,	hinihaxjį,	hąké	wot’ék
[to finish] this	you having spoken of,	my dear elder brother,	not	equal

hani[\|]	hodjiá	hiniha[ɕ´]wiṇa	deerécgê	wacahacốnañkadjaⁿ
haniną."	"Hojiá,	hinihaxjį́wįra,	teeréšge,	wašahašonąkają
I do not consider myself."	"All right,	our dear elder brother,	[to finish] this	[you have told us]

p. 3 —

dêéji	[ϕ]	[λ]	hiraik‘iragᴇní[\|]	hisûñk‘hihiwira[ɜ]
teéži	hąké	žesge	hiraikirageníną;	hisųkhihiwirašaną
this one	not	thus	I am equal to the task;	only our younger brother

here[>´]	é[ɜ]	wap‘ak‘ốnôñk[>]	hiniha[ɕ]wiṇa	hisûñgᴇhiwi[-]
heregáją	éšaną	wapakonǫkają,	hinihaxjįwįra,	hisųgehiwira
he is	alone,	having cleverness,	our dear elder brother,	our younger brother

eregi[ɜ´]	heré[\|]	yaré[\|]	hodjia	hisûñgidjîⁿwiṇá
eregišáną	heréną	yaréną."	"Hojia,	hisųgejįwįrá,
only he is	it is he	I believe."	"All right,	our younger brother,

[λ][·\|]	hisgê	wacawí[\|]	hisûñgêhiⁿwíra[ɜ]	hirak‘irak‘[>]
žesgekjoneną.	Hisge	wašawiną,	hisųgehįwírašaną	hirakirakają.
he will be thus.	Truly	you have spoken,	our younger brother alone	he is fit.

sdoirekdjonihé[-]	worág[-]	djiragᴇni[\|]	xap‘e	hîñk‘uruhôkdjawi[\|]
Stoirekjonihéra	worágera	jirageniną.	Xap‘e	hįkuruhokjawiną,
The coming gathering	the announcement	it has been made.	Right away	we shall council over it,

hisûñgêdjêⁿwiṇa	ha-ek‘aragikdjawi[\|]	hisûñgêhihiwira	é[ɜ]	wanaⁿîⁿ
hisugejiwįna,	haekaragikjawiną,	hisųgehihiwira	éšaną	waną’į
our younger brother,	we will [find refuge],	our younger brother	alone	that which has mind

maⁿcdjána	é[ɜ]	here[·\|]	hisgê	wacawí[\|]	maiⁿhag[-]	howare[·\|]
mąšjáną	éšaną	herekjoneną."	"Hisge	wašawíną.	Maįhagera	howarekjoneną,
strong	alone	he will be."	"Truly	you spoke.	On the earth	he will go,

p. 4* —

higi-anihekdjônihawirê	tciap‘ekdjôniháwirê	hisûñgiⁿhihiwi[-]
higianihekjonihawire,	ciapekjoniháwire.	Hisųgįhihiwira,
we will be obliged to remain here,	we are obliged to take care of the home.	The younger brother,

*at the top of this page is written, "hiⁿṇe = hįhįre".

djagú	e[γ´]	[λ]kdjônihe[\|]	[λ]	hiⁿṇekdjônihawi[\|]
jagú	egíži,	žesgekjoniheną.	Žesge	hirekjonihawiną.
what	when he speaks,	this way it shall be.	Thus	it will be.

maⁿúṇa	wegếdjîni	sdoik‘ârohoriré[\|]	[α]	[X]oîⁿ
Mą’ų́ra	wegéjini	stoikorohoiréną,	égi	wąkšigo’į
Earthmaker	he ordained	that they should gather together,	and	lives

haníwi[\|]	[β]hi	[X]ôiñkdjône[\|]	hisûñgihiⁿwi[-]	ewa-ûñkdjoné[\|]
haníwina	ejahi	wąkšikoįkjoneną.	Hisugihįwira	ewa’ųkjonéną.
we have	there	to be lived.	Our younger brother	[he will do it].

hisûñgêdjiⁿ	cerekdjônihárê	hironik‘ip‘ûnûkdjoniháwi[\|]	maiⁿhag[β´]
Hisųgejį	šerekjoniháre	hironikipunukjoniháwiną.	Mąihagéja
Younger brother	you will be going	we will ask you to remember us.	On earth

rahi[γ´]	naⁿbiraxádjᴇnîñgᴇra	hi[9]	curutcap[γ]	hakdja	huhiadjê
rahigíži	nąbiruxájenįgera	hižą	šurucapgiži	hakja	huhiaje
when you arrive	the little offerings	one	if you obtain	some	send them back to us

cerekdjônihárê	hirahicônôpcerê[γ´]	haⁿpdjaⁿṇê	hiraraγêp‘cerekdjôné[\|]
šerekjoniháre.	Hirahišonopšeregíži	hąpjąre	hiraǧepšerekjonéną.
you will be going.	When you will start out going	Light and Life (daylight)	you will go in the guise of.

p. 5 —

[X]o-îⁿ[-]	hirasá	hacînicere[·\|][\|]	haraγếp[γ]	higŭâⁿna	herekdjônigêni[\|]
Wąkšigo’į	hirasá	hašinišerekjoneną	haraǧepgiži.	Higuona	herekjonigeniną.
Life	with	you will take along	when you appear.	Now	it will be his.

¹⁶wocgáⁿ	hacîni[\|]	hoixgáñxgaⁿ	hacînina
Wošgą́	hašinina.	Hoixgą́xgą	hašinina.
[The ones who are companionable]	you have.	[The ones who move]	you have.

herekdjônihagêni[\|]	hanaⁿtc	hirak‘aradjê	rac	wacînina	higŭâⁿna
Herekjonihageniną.	Haną́c	hirakaraje	raš	wašinina	higuona
[You will do it].	Everyone	to take care	to name	of you	now

hirasa	herekdjônagêni[\|]	[α]	cûñgᴇrajᴇracge	herekdjônihé[\|]
hirasa	herekjonageniną.	Égi	šųgeražerašge	herekjonihéną,
with	[you will do].	And	to name dog-names	you will do,

hosdora	radjik‘erêgi	eharap‘ahi[·\|]ne[\|]	radjik‘ere[γ]	higŭâⁿna
hostora	rajikeregi	eharapahikjoneną	rajikeregiži.	Higuona
the gathering place	after you have gone	you will start out	when you’re going.	Now

wak‘áⁿtcañk	radjik‘erekdjônihé[\|]	[α]	djik‘ere[2´]	waihag[-]
waką́cąk	rajikerekjonihéną."	Égi	jikerežé	waihagera
holy	you will go forth."	And	to start	the last

p. 6 —

wa-ûⁿ[2]	de	tcekdjí[\|]	rajᴇra	deerérekdjôné[\|]
wa’ųže.	"Te	cekjíną	ražera	teerékjonéną:
he was.	"This one	the first	the name	this will be it:

xedê	rajera	tcekdjina	wañgᴇri[9]	[X]’îñ[γ]	rajᴇra
xete	ražera	cekjįra	wągerižą	wąkšik‘įgiži	ražera
oldest	the name	the first	a male	if a man	the name

wagaírekdjôné[\|]	sepdjîñga	hiñgaíre[·\|]ne[\|]	[α]	[ω]
wągaírekjonéną,	'Sepjįga',	hįgaíreną.	Égi	žigé
they will call him,	'Very Black,'	they will address him.	And	again

hinûⁿbếdjêre[-]	wajigá	higaî́rekdjôné[\|]	hidanina	xêde	ráj[-]
hinųbéjerera	'Wažigá,'	higaírekjonéną.	Hitanina	xete	rážera
the second one	'Yellowish Red,'*	they will call him.	[The third]	oldest	the name

*in Winnebago III, #7, Radin has 'Brown-bear' with wajigá in parentheses. Dorsey translates the name Wažiga as "Yellowish Red." This is more in conformity with the aforementioned name "Red Bear" usually given to this bear. However, zi denotes yellow as well as certain light tints of brown.

huñtcóga	higaíre[·\|]ne[\|]	xedê	ráj[-]
Hųcóga	higaírekjoneną.	Xete	rážera
Blue Bear	they will call him.	Oldest	the name

hidjobᴇra	hunt[c]sgaga	higaíre[·\|]ne[\|]	hinûñg[-]	jerêgi
hijobera	'Hųcsgaga,'	higaírekjoneną.	Hinųgera*	žeregi
the fourth	'White Bear,'	they will call him.	The girl	[when this one]

*before this word, two others have been crossed out.

raj[-]	haⁿhemanîⁿwîñga	[α]	[ω]	wagaíranana
ražera	'Hąhemanįwįga'.	Égi	žigé	wagaíranoną
the name	'She who Walks in Darkness'.	And	again	they call her

haⁿpgumaníwîñga	higaíranâ[\|]	[α]	[ω]	tciokit’uṇewîñga
'Hąpgumaníwįga'	higaíranoną.	Égi	žigé	'Ciokit’ųrewįga'
'Daylight as She Walks'	they call her.	And	again	'She who Thrusts Herself within a Lodge'

p. 7 —

higaíranâ[\|]	[α]	[ω]	wagairanâ[\|]	sitcaⁿtc’îⁿwîñga
higaíranoną.	Égi	žigé	wagairanoną	'Sicąt’įwįga'
they call her.	And	again	they call her	'Visible Footprint Woman'

higairanâna	[α]	[ω]	cûñk	hijaⁿnihi[-]	s’inihikdjegi
higairanoną.	Égi	žigé	šųk	hižąnihira	s’inihikjegi
they call her.	And	again	dog	the owning of	if they wish to keep them

wadogéga	higanaⁿ[\|]	jigígûⁿ		hi[9]
'Watogéga'	higanoną.	Žigé	higų	hižą
'Fresh Meat'	they call him.	Again	yet	one

s’inihikdjegi	waganáⁿ[\|]	hundjênûⁿpga	higanaⁿ[\|]	[α]
s’inihikjegi	waganóną	'Hųjenųpga'	higanoną.	Égi
if they keep it	they call him	'Two Bears'*	they call him.	And

*Radin has "Dog-pair."

[ω]	cûñk	hinûñg[-]	hijére[γ]	wajanáⁿna
žigé	šųk	hinųgera	hižéregiži	wažanóna*
again	dog	the girl	[when he did it]	they call

*this is probably for waganoną.

haksíga	higanáⁿ[\|]	[ω]	higûⁿ	cûñgenûñg[-]	s’inihikdje[γ]
'Haksíga'	higanóną.	Žigé	higų	šųgenųgera	s’inihikjegiži
'Third Born'	they call her.	Again	yet	the bitch	once they decide to keep it

waganấ[\|]	wajíⁿwîñga	higanấ[\|]	de[λ]kdjônihe[\|]
waganóną	'Wažį́wįga,'	higanóną	težesgekjoniheną,"
they call it	'Yellowish Red Female,'	they call her	they will do in this way,"

é[\|]	hadjiak‘araíre[-]	hasdó[-]	tcawaraíre[\|]	hadjiak‘araíre[-]
éną.	Hajiakaraírera	hostóra	cawaraíreną.	Hajiakaraírera
he said.	They started	the gathering place	they were going to.	They began

p. 8 —

waⁿwaíⁿṇe[\|]	wanañxgûⁿîṇe[\|]	maṇaⁿp‘ê*	hiwatcábwira	ahú-ire[\|]
wawaį́reną.	Wanąxguįreną:	"Manąpe	hiwacábwira	ahúireną.
[they spoke].	They heard them:	"Soldiers	our	[they came].

*the last letter looks like an /i/.

wawôⁿ[\|]	tcaⁿt’íⁿṇe[\|]	hagâré[9]	hijaⁿ	hot’aⁿpdjinañgire[\|]
Wawǫra	cąt’į́reną."	Hagoréžą	hižą	hot’ąpjinągireną.
[The speech]	they are audible."	In time	one	landed with a leap.

hitcak‘arohiwi[-]	djiré[\|]	aíre[\|]	[α]	hahíre[\|]
"Hicakorohiwira	jiréną,"	aíreną.	Égi	hahíreną.
"Our friends	they have arrived,"	they said.	And	they arrived.

hosdora	hadjiré[\|]	higi	hadjiré[\|]	wakdjêxi
Hostora	hajiréną.	Higi	hajiréną.	Wakjexi
At the gathering place	they arrived.	When he got there	they arrived.	Waterspirit

k‘ik‘aradjᴇra	tconi	hadjire[\|]	[α]	wanîñgi-
Kikarajera	coni	hajireną;	égi	Wanįk*
Clan	first	they had arrived;	and	Bird

*a /g/ is crossed out in favor of the terminal /k/.

k‘ik‘aradj[-]	hadjíre[\|]	hundjik‘ik‘aradj[-]		hadjire[\|]
Kikarajera	hajíreną;	Hųc	Hikikarajera	hajireną;
Clan	they had arrived;	Bear	Clan	they had arrived;

wañgoni[-]	hanáⁿtc	sdonaⁿ	tci[9]	u’îⁿṇe[\|]
wągonira	haną́c	stoną,	cižą	’uįreną.
the group of relatives	all	gathered together,	a lodge	they made.

tci	xêdé[9]	u-îⁿṇe[\|]	tcira	ûⁿtcêbire[\|]
Ci	xetéžą	’uįreną.	Cira	’ųcebireną,
Lodge	a great one	they made.	The lodge	they finished,

p. 9 —

[α]	waíre	tconîdjinihe[-]	wakdjêxi	hik‘ik‘aradj[-]
égi	waíreną	conijinihera	Wakjexi	Hikikarajera
and	they said	the first to come	Waterspirit	Clan

wagaíre[\|]	hûñgonitcabᴇra	djasge	hihaⁿkdjônihawi[2]
wagaíreną,	"Hugenicabera,	jasge	hihąkjonihawiže?*
they were addressed,	"The chief of our kin,	how	we will proceed?

*several letters have been crossed out between the /i/ and the /j/ of the terminal wije in Winnebago III, #7.

p‘etcᴇra	hi[9]	da-ehi	naⁿíⁿṇê	hohó	hoho
Pejera	hižą	taehi	ną’į́re!"	"Hohó,	hoho,
The fire	one	to light	try!"	"Hoho,	hoho,

hagagasgé[9]	[ϕ]	duxúrûgᴇni[\|]	duc’ák[ɜ]	hi[9´]
hagagasgéžą	hąké	tuxúrugeniną.	Tuš’ákšaną.	Hižą́
alas, has it ever happened thus,	not	I cannot do it.	I am unable.	One

hi-ûⁿdjáwirê	wiwaraíre[\|]	[ϕ]	ruxûrûgiraní[\|]	wairé[\|]
hi’ųkjáwire."	Wiwaraíreną	hąké	ruxurugiraníną.	wairéną,
we will do it."	[They were told]	not	he could not do it.	they said,

hi[9]	p‘edj[-]	da-ehi[γ]	ê	hûñgᴇrerekdjé[\|]
"Hižą	pejera	taehigiži	e	hųgererekjéną."
"One	the fire	if he were to start	he	he would become chief."

[λ]	aíre[2]	hi-ûⁿdjaíre[2]	wanîñgik‘ikaradjᴇra
Žesge	aíreže.	Hi’ųjaíreže.	Wanįk	Hikikarajera,
Thus	they said.	They tried to do it.	Bird	Clan,

wak‘aⁿdjaik‘ik‘aradjᴇra		ruxurúgire[2]	p‘edj[-]	eda-ehíre[2]
Wakąja	Hikikarajera	ruxurúgireže.	Pejera	edaehíreže
Thunderbird	Clan	they could do it.	The fire	they could start

p. 10 —

aíre[\|]	[ε]	hûñg[-]	ereré[\|]	wa-ináⁿbire[2]
aíreną,	ésge	hųgera	ereréną.	Wa’įną́bireže,
they said,	and so	the chief	they are it.	They became glad,

[α]	p‘edjᴇra	hik‘iwenine[2]	[α]	hanaⁿtc
égi	pejera	hikiwenineže.	Égi	haną́c
and	the fire	[the relatives took around].	And	everyone

p‘etc	k‘erére[2]	aíre[\|]	wogûⁿz[-]	wo-éhira
pec	keréreže	aíreną.	Wogųzera	Woéhira
fire	they placed	they said.	The Creation	Council

jegûⁿ	híre[2]	hanáⁿtc	gûⁿz	rucdjaíⁿṇe[2]
žegų	híreže.	Haną́c	gųs	rušjaį́reže.
thus	it was.	Everything	to create	they got done.

tci[⨪][-]	eruk‘ônaíⁿṇe[2]	wak‘andjaik‘ikaradj[-]		e
Cinągera	erukonaį́reže.	Wakąja	Hikikarajera	e
The village	they were to serve.	Thunderbird	Clan	it

hiruk‘ônaiⁿṇe[2]	tci[⨪][-]	tci[9]	uṇánihe[-]	e
hirukonaįreže	cinągera.	Cižą	’ųránihera	e
they were put in charge	of the village.	A lodge	[he made]	he

hiruk‘ônaiⁿṇe[2]	e	wíguⁿzire[2]	djagúri[9]	airekdjônega
hirukonaįreže	e	wígųzireže,	jagúrižą	airekjonega.
they were put in charge	he	they obeyed,	whatever thing	he would say.

hihóhires’a[2]	[λ]	hiwírê	wigéga	[λ]
Hihóhires’aže,	"Žesge	hiwíre"	wigéga,	žesge
They said of him,	"In this way	we got here,"	they would say to him,	thus

hires’a[2]	wik‘arágûⁿzire[2]	hûñktcabirera	[α]	wairé[\|]
hires’aže	wikarágųzireže	hųkšabirera	égi	wairéną.
they would	they obeyed him	their chief	and	they said it.

p. 11 —

warudjok‘íniⁿṇe[2]	djagú	rudjirekdjôṇe[γ]	hok‘îniṇe[2]
Warujokínįreže	jagú	rujirekjonegiži	hokinįreže.
They brought back food	whatever	when they would eat	they would look for it themselves.

warudj[-]	hak‘araniañk‘iri	naⁿjíⁿṇe[2]	aíre[\|]	[α]
Warujera	hakaraniąkiri	nąžį́reže	aíreną,	égi
The food	they took along with them starting back	they stood	they said,	and

hundjik‘ik‘aradjᴇnañgᴇrê		woróγí[9]	hik‘û́ⁿ[2]
Hųc	Hikikarajenągere	woróǧižą	kik‘ų́že:
Bear	Clan	a rule	they would make for themselves:

wogigoi[2]		kik‘û́ⁿ[2]	naⁿboruxádjᴇra	e	higíre[2]
wogigo	hižą	kik‘ų́že	nąboruxájera.	E	higíreže,
feast	one	to make for himself	an offering.	For him	[they gave]

wohốⁿṇa	hijañkirajê	ṇex	ksigᴇnîñgĭaⁿ	here[2´]	aíre[\|].
wohǫ́ra	hižąkiraže,	rex	ksigenįgią	herežé,	aíreną.
the kettle	just one,	kettle	a shallow one	it is,	they say.

English Translation

Source:

"The Bear Clan Feast. Part I, The Origin Legend," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3868 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) Winnebago III, #7: 1-6; Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) Notebook 24: 1-11. For the English text, see Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990 [1923]) 184-186. Informant: a member of the Bear Clan.