Hocąk Text — Earthmaker Blesses Wešgíšega, v. 2

Hocąk Text — Earthmaker Blesses Wešgíšega, Version 2

narrated by Sam Blowsnake

Sam Blowsnake

The English interlinear text is based on the translation in Paul Radin, "Personal Reminiscences of a Winnebago Indian," Journal of American Folk-Lore, 26, #102 (1913): 294-298.

Brackets '[ ]' indicate uncertain readings.

English Translation

p. 294 —

Wēcgī́́cêga	higaírêgi.	Hotcā́ñgijᴀⁿ	herejế.	Tcëkxêdếhugi
"Wešgíšiga"	higaíregi.	Hocą́gižą	herežé.	Cekxetéhugi,
Wešgíšiga	they called him.	A Hocąk	he was.	As he was approaching adulthood,

hi-ā́ntchigi	hāⁿdā́ginantc	hak‘ārajī́́jê;	mā́ⁿᵉnuṇa	wāxopî́ni
hi-ą́c-higi	hątáginąc	hakaražíže;	Mą́’una	waxopini
father - to do	to fast	he coaxed;	Earthmaker	spirits

warā́tcirê	wā́ᵉûñgi,	djā́nᴀñga	wāxopîni	p‘íⁿṇa
warácire	wá’ųgi,	jánąga	waxopini	p’įna
various	when he made,	as many	spirits	good

ᵉûñgíji,	hanā́ⁿtciñxdjiⁿ	wā́jiⁿṇuk‘òno	wagigī́́jê.	Ŭāñkcígo-îⁿ,
’ųgíži,	haną́cįxjį	wážįnukòno	wagigíže.	Wąkšígo-’į,
as he made,	all of them	in charge of something	he made them.	Life

wonā́jirê,	kiruk‘ốnô	wagigī́́jê.	Hodā́	wātᵉḗhik‘ê
wonáǧire,*	hirukóno†	wagigíže.	Hotá	wat’éhike
war,	in control of	he made them.	Others	hunters

* Radin's wonā́jirê is a misreading of his own handwritting.
† misreading /k/ for /h/.

p. 295 —

hirekdjê,	jë́ske	nā́ntcwirodjāⁿ	hāniwagigī́́jê.	Jigế
hirekje,	žéske	ną́cwiroją	haniwagigíže.	Žigé,
they were to be,	this kind	he blessed them with	he made them to have.	Again,

hodā́	wāxopíni	worā́tcirera	hidadjếrekdjê.	Jëskê
hotá	waxopíni	worácirera	hitajérekje.	Žeske
other	spirits	the various ones	they were to become very powerful.	This kind

hiṇuk‘ốnô	wagigī́́gi,	jëskê	hagīnā́ⁿtccijề.	Ŭā́ñkcigᴇnā̀ñgᴇrê
hirukóno	wagigígi,	žeske	haginą́cšižè.	Wą́kšigenạ̀gere
in control of	they were made,	this kind	he would fast.	These people

hoixkốⁿṇa	djāgúcᴀnᴀⁿ	ᵉū́nāñk‘ī	wāxopíni	warā́tcirera
hoixkǫ́na	jagúšaną	’únąk’i	waxopíni	warácirera
practices	whatever	[they needed to live]	spirits	the various ones

hok‘irā́tcᴇra	hanā́ⁿtciⁿ	nāⁿtcwirṓdjāⁿ.	Hok‘irā́tc	hāniwagī́́gijê.
hokirácera	haną́cį	nącwiróją.	Hokirác	haniwagígiže.
the different ones	all	he blessed them with.	Different things	he gave them.

Jêê	jếjëske	hip‘érezᴇnaⁿìⁿcijê.	Gī́́ji	ᵉûⁿjế.
Žee	žéžeske	hipérezenąįšiže.	Gíži	’ųžé.
This	these kinds	he should try to find out something.	Thus	he did.

Hāⁿdā́gināntcgi	wāxopî́ni	hip‘érezᴇnā̀ⁿiⁿ	waᵉûⁿjế.	Gī́́ji
Hątáginącgi	waxopíni	hipérezeną̀į	wa’ųžé.	Gíži
When he was fasting	spirits	to find out something	he did.	So

hāⁿdā́gināntcgi	wawewíⁿwiⁿᵉāñksᵉā̀jê,	“Gīji	hagârë́jᴀⁿ	wāxopíni
hątáginącgi	wawewį́wį’ąks’àže,	"Giži	hagaréžą	waxopíni
as he was fasting	he kept thinking,	"When	at some time past	spirits

warā́tcirera	máⁿᵉuṇa	e	waᵉûⁿjế	hanā́ⁿtciñxdjiⁿ
warácirera	Mą́’una	e	wa’ųžé	haną́cįxjį
the various ones	Earthmaker	he	he made	every one of them

wajᴀnijā́ⁿcᴀnᴀⁿ	hiruk‘ốnô	wagigī́́jê,	ā́nᴀñk‘-a.	Māⁿᵉúnañk‘a
wažanižą́šaną	hirukóno	wagigíže,	ánąga.	Mą’únąka
one-thing-only	in control of	he put,	it is said.	Earthmaker

ëxdjiⁿ	wajôⁿnanā́ñtciñxdjiⁿ	hiruk‘ốnônañk‘ìcni.	Hiraitcerā́xdjiⁿnañk‘ùni.	Wāxopî́́ni
exjį	wažǫnaną́cįxjį	hirukónonąkìšni.	Hiraiceráxjįnąkùni.	Waxopíni
truly	absolutely everything	he must be in control of.	He must be much more powerful.	Spirits

warā́tcirenᴀñgᴇrêrë̀cke.	Mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	éwawaᵉû̀ñgi.	Jëske	hiruk‘onaíⁿṇekdjê
warácirenągererèške*	Mą́’una	éwawa’ų̀gi.	Žeske	hirukonaįnekje
[the various ones]	Earthmaker	[he created.]	Thus	they will have control

*Radin's text has a period here.

wogā́ra.	Derë́ckera	wā́k‘aⁿtcᴀñkdjinañk‘ā̀djaⁿ,	mā́ⁿᵉúṇa	wájaⁿ
wogára.	Teréškera	wákącąkjinąkàją,	Mą́’una	wážą
he gave them.	[Even]	as holy as they are,	Earthmaker	something

hekdjinàñk‘i,	wak‘aⁿtcā́ñᴇra,”	hiregíji.	Hihāⁿdê	nā́ⁿîñgi.
hekjinạ̀k’į,	wakącą́gera,"	hiregíži.	Hihąte	ną́įgi,
[mightier],	holy thing,"	he thought.	To dream	as he tried,

“Djaskếxdjiⁿnañgi,”	hirejế.	ᵉuā́ñkᵉû̀ⁿ	k‘iwewíwîñgā̀djaⁿ,	“Hañk‘ế
"Jaskéxjįnągi?"	hirežé.	’Uą́k’ų̀	kiwewíwįgàją,	"Hąké
"What can this one be?"	he thought.	He was doing it	after he thought to himself,	"Not

wàxopîni	warā́tcirera	hijaiⁿperếzᴇni,	wāᵉúnañk‘i;	wāxopī́́ni
wàxopíni	warácirera	hižaįperézeni,	wa’únąk’į;	waxopíni
spirits	the various ones	one has not known him,	as he was;	spirits

waratcirerarë́ckê	hañk‘íjᴀⁿ	nā́ⁿdjûⁿdjanigā̀djaⁿ.	Djagŭấna	māⁿᵉúnañk‘a
waracireraréške	hąkížą	ną́jųjanigàją.	Jaguána	Mą’únąka
of the various ones	not one	he has not blessed.	I wonder	Earthmaker

naⁿdjûⁿdjấna,	méjëske	p‘ewímoñk‘.”	Hiregíji,	nā́ⁿdjok‘idjàⁿjê,
nąjųjána,	méžeske	p’ewímǫk."	Hiregíži,	ną́jokiją̀že,
he would bless me,	thus	I am thinking."	Thus he thought,	he put himself in a pitiable condition,

γākgíji.	Hañk‘ế	naⁿcdjaⁿ	ṇuxúrukᴇnìjê.	“Mā́ⁿᵉuṇa,
ǧakgíži.	Hąké	nąšją	nuxúrukenìže.	"Mą́’una,
thus he cried.	Not	to stop	he was not able.	"Earthmaker,

tcak‘ố,	yap‘érezᴇnaⁿìñkdjê,”	hirejế;	“giji	hañk‘ế
cak’ó,	yapérezenąį̀kje,"	hirežé;	"giži	hąké
therefore,	I wish to obtain knowledge,"	he thought,	"so that	not

nāⁿdjûⁿdjā́ⁿnickê	jëgûⁿ	hāⁿdā́ginantcirègi	tcekdjê,”	hirejế.
nąjųją́niške	žegų	hątáginącirègi	cekje,"	hirežé.
if he does not bless me	then	during the fasting	I shall die,"	he thought.

p. 296 —

Giji	ep‘ā́	hāⁿdaginántcᴇra	māⁿcdjaⁿ	ᵉûⁿjế.
Giži	ep’á	hątaginą́cera	mąšją	’ųžé.
So	from that point on	the fasting	mightily	he did.

Māⁿᵉunā́cᴀnᴀⁿ	haginā́ntccê.	Tcëgếdja	djobốhaⁿ,	naⁿsᵉā́jê;
Mą’unášaną	haginą́cše.	Cegéja	jobóhą,	nąs’áže;
Earthmaker only	he fasted for.	At first	four times	he used to sleep;

hahī́́	hak‘ếwehaⁿ	naⁿsᵉā́jê;	jigiahí
hahí	hakéwehą	nąs’áže;	žigiahí
in time	six times	he used to sleep;	then

haruwốñgohaⁿ	naⁿsᵉā́jê;	hahí	k‘erêpônohaíjᴀⁿ
haruwǫ́gohą	nąs’áže;	hahí	kereponohaížą
eight times	he used to sleep;	in time	ten times

naⁿsᵉā́jê;	hahí	nûⁿbacᴀnáhaⁿ	nañgī́́ji.	Ep‘ā
nąs’áže;	hahí	nųbašanáhą	nągíži.	Ep’a
he used to sleep;	in time	twelve times	he slept.	From that point on

jêdjaíñxdjíⁿ	p‘ā	hiⁿpga	ë́gi	warutsᵉā́jê.
žejaį́xjį	p’a	hįpga	égi	waruts’áže.
that far	[it has been]	[after he had gotten]	and	he would eat.

Hiskếxdjiⁿ	jëgŭañk‘ê	wajîⁿp‘érêzᴇnìjê	hañk‘agá	wajáⁿnijᴀⁿ
Hiskéxjį	žeguąke	wažįpérezenìže	hąkagá	wažą́nižą
In truth	and not	not knowledge of something	not	a thing

naⁿdjodjaⁿníjê.	Hahík‘îñgìjê.	Jédjûñga	xêdê	wogizṓkdjᴀñgi,
nąjojąníže.	Hahíkįgìže.	Žéjųga	xete	wogizókjągi,
he had not been blessed.	Then he gave up.	Now	big	when he became of age,

rucdjā́nᴀñga	hinûñk	kanáñkcê.	Ë́gi	hitcáwina
rušjánąga,	hinųk	kaną́kše.	Égi	hicáwina
he gave it up,	woman	he took.	And	his wife

hak‘arak‘íju	gixônaíⁿṇejê	maⁿwotcaíⁿnañxdjîⁿ.	Hahí	tcirejê
hakarakížu	gixonaį́neže	mąwocaį́nąxjį.	Hahí	cireže
she was with him	they moved	out of the way place.	In time	they lived

hìtcáwinacᴀnᴀⁿ	hak‘arak‘íju.	Ëgi	jigế	haⁿdáginantcìrejê
hicáwinašaną	hakarakížu.	Egi	žigé	hątáginącìreže
his wife alone	she with him.	And	again	they began to fast

hok‘ik‘íju.	Mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	hihaⁿdế	rogúⁿnihera	jédjûñga
hok‘ik‘ížu.	Mą́’una	hihąté	rogų́nihera	žéjųga
he with her.	Earthmaker	to dream of	he wished	and now

ë́dja	hisgếxdjîⁿ	tᵉḗkdjirejê	hāⁿdáginandjedja.	“Hañk‘agá
éja	hisgéxjį	t’ékjireže	hątáginąjeja.	"Hąkagá
there	in truth	he would die	in the fasting.	"Never

hijaⁿ	jë́skê	horā́girani.	Hāⁿdā́ginandjᴇrêgì,	tcëkdjê,”
hižą	žéske	horágirani.	Hątáginąjeregì,	cekje,"
one	that kind	it had not been told.	During the fasting,	I shall die,"

hirejế.	Hagârë́jaⁿ	hahí	nîñkdjốñgᴇnîñgĭ-aⁿ	hanínejê.
hirežé.	Hagaréžą	hahí	nįkjǫ́genįgią	haníneže.
he thought.	Once	in time	a child	they had.

Ŭañgᴇnî́ñgĭ-aⁿ	herejế.	Hitcáwina	wagêjế	hihók‘aragìjê,
Wągenį́gią	herežé.	Hicáwina	wagežé	hihókaragìže,
A male child	it was.	His wife	he spoke to her	asking her advice,

niñkdjốñkᴇnîñgra	mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	naⁿpigiruxā́tc	hirekdjê,	ejê.
nįkjǫ́kenįgra	Mą́’una	nąpigiruxác	hirekje,	eže.
their child	Earthmaker	to do sacrifice	they should	he said.

Giji	hitcáwina	k‘araxúruk‘i.	Mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	naⁿbigiruxā́djirejê.
Giži	hicáwina	karaxúruk’i.	Mą́’una	nąbigiruxájireže.
And so	his wife	she consented.	Earthmaker	they will sacrifice him.

Hazadjíjaⁿ	ᵉúiṇānᴀñga	hihagếdja	hatᵉû́ⁿpirejê.	Ëgi
Hazajížą	’úinanąga	hihagéja	hat’ų́pireže.	Egi
A platform	they constructed	on top	they placed him upon it.	And

jếdjûñga	hinû́ⁿwiñk‘ê	maⁿcdjaⁿ	γágirejê.	Haⁿhegā́djaⁿ
žéjųga	hinų́wįke	mąšją	ǧágireže.	Hąhegáją
now	both of them	mightily	they two cried.	During the night

naíⁿṇejê	mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	nāndjwodjaⁿjê	éjê.	Wiradji-ā́nᴀñga
naį́neže	Mą́’una	nąjwoją́že,	éže.	Wiraji-ánąga
when they slept	Earthmaker	he took pity on them,	he said.	He came to them and

p. 297 —

horuxúdjiregā̀djaⁿ.	Hiskenaⁿdjếxdjiⁿjê	manaⁿp‘e	waíni ᵉŭā́nañga;		wok‘ốnôñk‘
horuxújiregàją.	Hiskenąjéxjįže.	Manąp’e	waíni	’uánąga;	wokónǫk
they looked at him.	He certainly had reason.	Soldier	clothing	he makes, and	hat

stā́k‘	hañkcíjaⁿ	hok‘ônôñgā́nañga.	Hádjara	k‘arap‘iếsk‘exdjîⁿjề.
sták	hąkšížą	hokonǫgánąga.	Hájara	karap’iéskexjįžè.
[narrow]	high (cocked)	he carries on his head.	To the sight	he was very pleasing.

Horuxútcceê.	“Djagŭā́nackê	mā́ᵉuṇa	herénᴀⁿ,”	hirejê
Horuxúcše.	"Jaguánaške	Mą́’una	heréną,"	hireže
He looked at him.	"I also wonder	Earthmaker	it is,"	he thought

gadjaⁿ.	Nuⁿhaídjejê.	“Jëskegúni	yaréjarê,”	hiregádjaⁿ.
gają.	Nųhaíježe.*	"Žeskegúni	yaréžare,"	hiregáją.
[sentence terminator].	He took a step.	"I think it so	I am thinking,"	he thought.

*The phonetic rendering nųhaíježe may result from the nasal ending to the previous gają. Ruhaíje is more usual.

Jigê	ruhai-djejê.	Ép‘a	dédjañk‘i.	Ruhaidjê
Žige	ruhai-ježe.	ép’a	téjąk’i*	ruhaije
Again	he took a step.	From that place	[every now and then]	he took a step

*Radin treats this as a verb meaning 'he moved,' but tejąk’ixjį (with an emphatic suffix, -xjį) means, 'once in awhile.' He also has a period here.

dowê	ā́rejê	gā́djaⁿ.	Dê	hañk‘ế
towe	áreže	gają.	Te	hąké
to go in a certain direction	[he uttered a cry]	[sentence terminator].	This one	not

māⁿᵉuṇa	waᵉunidjếjê;	djedjếdjijaⁿ	waᵉûⁿdjếjê.	Gicdjôñk‘érêgi.
Mą’una	wa’unijéže.*	Jejéjižą	wa’ųjéže.	Gišjǫkéregi.
Earthmaker	it was he.	A bluejay†	it was.	They had fooled him.

*This is probably wa’ųježe, as below. Blowsnake's syllabary represents an /i/ with a mere dot, so that stray marks are sometimes mistaken for the letter /i/.
†Radin has 'pigeon', but 'bluejay' is well attested elsewhere as the translation of this name.

Jigê	idjaíra	nantcgera	dékcê;	jigidjaíra
Žige	ijaíra*	nącgera	tékše.	Žigijaíra
And so	more	he heart	it ached.	Even more

*More usually, hijaíra.

hogirúdjasê.	Ëgi	jigế	nañgádjaⁿ	jếdjûñga
hogirújase.	Egi	žigé	nągáją	žéjųga
he was wound up.	And	again	he slept	and indeed

māⁿᵉúṇa	hidjádjijê,	“Uañkcikᵉế	naⁿdjonidjấna.	Sᵉi
Mą́’una	hijájiže,	"Wąkšiké,	nąjonijána.	S’i
Earthmaker	came to him,	"Human,	I bless you.	Long

ragā́kcᴀnᴀⁿ.	Mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	newinḗnᴀⁿ,”	ejê.	Horuxitcgádjaⁿ
raǧákšaną.*	Mą́’una	newinéną,"	eže.	Horuxicgáją,
you have cried.	Earthmaker	I am he,"	he said.	When he looked at him,

*this should be ragákšaną.

k‘arap‘iếskijê.	Horuxúdjᴇra	p‘îⁿjế,	waíniṇa	k‘arap‘iếske
karap’iéskeže.	Horuxújera	p’įžé,	waínina	karap’iéske
he was pleasing.	the look	fine,	clothing	it was pleasing

ᵉû́ⁿjê.	“Djagŭā́nacke	dêế	mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	waᵉû́ⁿdjânaⁿ,”
’ų́že.	"Jaguánaške	teé	Mą́’una	wa’ų́janą,"
it was.	"I also wonder	this	Earthmaker	[it was],"

hirejế-gadjaⁿ.	Horuxúdjᴇra	hok‘ugági,	hiranáⁿîⁿjê.	Hidjobốhôⁿṇa
hirežé-gają.	Horuxújera	hokugági,	hiraną́įže.	Hijobóhǫna
he thought.	The look	as if he grew smaller,	he thought.	The fourth time

horuxutcgā́djaⁿ,	stastak‘éjaⁿ	waᵉûⁿdjêje.	Nantcgéra	hidjaíra
horuxucgájią	stastakéžą	wa’ųježe.	Nącgéra	hijaiíra
when he looked	[unknown species of bird]	it was.	The heart	even more

*this species of bird is also mentioned in the story Mąznį’ąbᵉra.

dëkcê.	Māⁿcdjáⁿ	γakcê.	Hidaníhôⁿṇa	jigê
tekše.	Mąšją́	ǧakše.	Hitaníhǫna	žigé
it ached.	Mightily	he cried.	The third time	again

māⁿᵉúⁿa	jếdjûñga	naⁿdjonidjáⁿjê,	“Maⁿᵉuṇa	hirahā́ⁿdê
Mą́’una	žéjųga	nąjoją́že,	"Mą́’una	hirahą́te
Earthmaker	now	he blessed him,	"Earthmaker	to dream

naⁿṇacᵉĭā́nᴀñga	hawerak‘icáwañgra.	Mā́ⁿᵉuṇa	newinénᴀⁿ,	naⁿdjonidjấnᴀⁿ.
nąnaš’iánąga	hawerakišáwągra.	Mą́’una	newinéną,	nąjonijáną.
you have tried and	you caused yourself great suffering.	Earthmaker	I am he,	I bless you.

Hañkế	‘wajáⁿnijaⁿ	ṇoragúnikdjônènᴀⁿ;	tcinốñgijàⁿ	hitᵉe
Hąké	wažą́nižą	roragúnikjonèną;	cinǫ́gižą̀	hit’e
Not	a thing	you will be in want of;	a village	language

djagúrackê	hanā́ntc	wananā́ñxgûñkdjônènᴀⁿ;	ŭañkcîgoᵉíṇa	hañk‘ế
jagúraške	haną́c	wananą́xgųkjonèną;	wąkšigo’į́na	hąké
whatever	all	you will listen to;	life	not

rorā́gunîkdjônènᴀⁿ;	djaguranaⁿtcî́ñxdjîⁿ	naⁿdjironidjā́ṇaⁿ.”	Ëgê
rorágunikjonèną;	jaguranącį́xjį	nąjironijáną."	Ege*
you will want;	everything	I bless you."	Now,

*for égi.

tcëgếdja	djaski-ā́djᴇra	hañk‘ế	horuxúdjᴇra,	jëskê
cegéja,	jaski-ájera	hąké	horuxújera,	žeske
from the very first,	[however]	not	the appearance,	so

hanîⁿdjếjê,	ëdjā́xdjîⁿ	jigế	dêế,	“Wajîⁿdjahî́ⁿjê
hanįjéže.	Ejáxjį	žigé	teé,	"Wažįjahį́že
to inspire confidence.	About that time	again	this one,	"Somebody

p. 298 —

hîngicdjốñk‘êdjegùni,”	hirejế	gadjaⁿ.	Cîñk‘ok‘ogíjaⁿ	waᵉûⁿdjéjê.
hingišjǫ́kejegùni,"	hirežé	gają.	Šįk’ok’ogížą	wa’ųjéže.
must be fooling me."	he thought	[sentence terminator].	A robin	it was.

“Jédjûñga	jëdja,	tcak‘ố,	hañk‘ê	wahádjᴇni,
"Žéjųga	žeja,	cak’ó	hąke	wahájeni,
"Now,	to end (die),	indeed	not	not to eat,

jëgûⁿ	tcëkdjê,”	hirejê.	“Djā́nᴀñga	wanîñk‘
žegų	cekje,"	hireže.	"Jánąga	wanįk
and so	I will die,"	he thought.	"As many as there are	birds

cicîgᴇrági	hîñkcakcaírê.”	Hirejê	gadjaⁿ.	Māⁿᵉuṇa
šišigerági	hįkšakšaíre."	Hireže	-gają.*	Mą’una
bad	they have made sport of me."	It is	isn't it?	Earthmaker

*treating this as a suffix, it can be used, according to Lipkind, to indicate rhetorical questions and truisms, and can be translated as "isn't it?" Radin translates this sentence as, "They were indeed doing it."

ᵉŭañgᴇrêgináñk‘i	hip‘éressê	gadjaⁿ.	Hitᵉéra	nañxgû́ⁿjê.
wągereginą́k’i	hipérese	gają.	Hit’éra	nąxgų́že.
on high where he sat	he knew of it	[sentence terminator].	The words	he heard.

“Wecgícera,	rajagᴇrádjegê	naⁿṇégi	adjī́́nᴀⁿ,”	higếjê.
"Wešgíšera,	ražagerájege	mąnégi	ajíną,"	higéže.
"Wešgíšega	you are crying	to the earth	I am coming,"	he said to him.

“Higû́ⁿ	hi-ā́ndjiṇa,	Wecgícera,”	hîñgếjê.	Horuxitcgádjàⁿ
"Higų́	hi-ą́jina,	Wešgíšera,"	hįgéže.*	Horuxicgáją̀
"Even	the father,	Wešgíšega,"	he said to him.	When he looked

*normally, higéže.

ᵉŭáñgᴇrêgi	hadak‘ā́tc	p‘îñxdjîⁿjaⁿ	maⁿṇégi	hirak‘erêdjejê.
’uą́geregi	hatakác	p’įxjįžą	mąnégi	hirakereježe.
up above	ray of light	very clearly	to the earth	extending.

Yotcíra	ë́djaxdjîⁿ	hirak‘érê	waᵉûⁿdjéjê.	“Wecgī́́cera
Yocíra	éjaxjį	hirakére	wa’ųjéže.	"Wešgíšera
The camp	all the way	it extended	it did.	"Wešgíšega

hiⁿcdjákdjê	hicéra.	Hañk‘ê	jëskê	haduxúrugᴇninᴀⁿ.
hįšjákje,	hišéra.	Hąke	žeske	hatuxúrugeniną.
you will see me,	you said.	Not	that kind	I cannot do.

Mêế	newinénᴀⁿ	hiⁿcdjánᴀⁿ,”	higếjê.	Hañk‘ế	wonáγirê
Meé	newinéną.	Hįšjáną,"	higéže.	Hąké	wonáǧire
This	I am he.	You have seen me,"	he said to him.	Not	war

naⁿdjirodjáⁿijê;	ŭañkcîgoᵉîⁿṇácᴀnᴀxdjîⁿ	naⁿdjirodjáⁿjê	Wecgīcega.	Haⁿbᴇra
nąjiroją́niže;	uąkšigo’įná šanaxjį	nąjiroją́že	Wešgišega.	Hąbera
he was not blessed;	life only	he was blessed	Wešgíšega.	The light

māⁿᵉúṇa	ëdjowádji.	Maⁿṇégi	hirak‘erêdjèga.	Hirok‘íᵉûⁿ
Mą́’una	ejowáji.	Mąnégi	hirakerejèga.	Hirok’í’ų
Earthmaker	it came from.	To the earth	it reached.	He made a copy

hisagúîⁿjaⁿ	ᵉûⁿjê.	Jêế	dani-ogíju	hahúirêgi	ŭañkcîgoᵉîⁿ
hisagúįžą	’ųže.	Žeé	tani-ogížu	hahúiregi	uąkšigo’į
a cane	he made.	This	tobacco-offering	when it came	life

gidanáñkcᴀnᴀⁿ;	higû́ⁿ	mejêgunegíckê	higûⁿ	waᵉunáñkcᴀnᴀⁿ.
gitaną́kšaną.	Higų́	mežegunegíške,	higų	wa’uną́kšaną.
they would ask for.	Even	at the present time,	still	they are doing it.

English Translation

Source:

Paul Radin, "Personal Reminiscences of a Winnebago Indian," Journal of American Folk-Lore, 26, #102 (1913): 293-318 (Sam Blowsnake, "How One of My Ancestors was Blessed by Earthmaker," pp. 294-298). See also Paul Radin, "The Story of Wešgiciga," Winnebago Notebooks, (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago II, #3 (incomplete), and the reprint of the article in Winnebago I, #2 (Freeman #3884). See the later, Sam Blowsnake (ed. Paul Radin), Crashing Thunder. The Autobiography of an American Indian (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983 [1926]) 20-23. Informant: Sam Blowsnake of the Thunderbird Clan.