Hōcąk Text — Mr. Woodpecker
(Holy One and His Brother, Version 2b)

by Stella (Blowsnake) Stacey, a.k.a. Mountain Wolf Woman
transcribed and translated by Sheila Shigley

Stella Stacy (Mountain Wolf Woman)

English Translation

Stylistic Features

  hapaxlegomena: ą, an exclamation translated as "ah" as in English, expressing pleasant surprise; gų́s, in the sense of "to be against"; wḗa, an exclamation expressing indignation;
  rare words: gwakjįr̨a, probably meaning something like, "O great woe!" Gwa is probably a variant of gwo; o, an exclamation found elsewhere only once; 

 

00:04
Cósgéga, Hąhą, Cósgéga
Mr. Woodpecker, Yes, Mr. Woodpecker

 

00:7.2 00:19.6
Žé, wą́gížą, žé, Waxopı̨́nį warájirera haną́c gų́zireže. Haną́c gų́zire
This one, a man, this one, Spirits as they are named, all they were against him. Everyone they were against him

 

  00:26.1 00:35.5
giži, že’e, žé wa’ų́že, Hų́k nı̨́kją́k, éja, nı̨́ pų́záke eja šgácᵉną̄́k, hocı̨́cı̨́ že’e, wagúcšé,
because, that one, this [they did it.] Leader child, there water beach there they were playing, boys those, he shot them,

 

  00:43.7 00:50.58
giži wa’óre hakaráireže. Giži, že’e ḗsge wa’ų́įneže, haną́c gų́zireže. Gų́ziregíži,
thus [wounded ?]* they went home. So, that way that’s why they were being, everyone they were against him. So they were against him,

* cf. (h)óre-hi, "to wound, to hit the mark"; ’ō, "to hit a target with an arrow or bullet, to hit the mark" (Helmbrecht-Lehmann); ’ō, "to hit target with arrow or bullet, or in the Moccasin Game (Kingswan), ’o, "to shoot" (Marino). 

  00:59.7
ųsge, wažą́r̨aną̄́cixjį, égų, hanągísairekje žéesgéže. Hahí, warúc rucgús giži,
and, absolutely everything, then, [he would have to be cut off from] [just like that]. Eventually, [food] he had stored away -,

 

  01:07
haną́c, cíšúhùc* "wópı̨́kere,"† áiren', cı̨́ja wánįna, wanı̨́na hokšúires’agi, ḗsge wagáireną, "wópı̨́kere,"
all of it, the base of the poles (?) "cache," they call it, where his, meat they always store, that’s what they’re describing, the "cache"

* cīšuhuc, "the base of the poles"? There is cīhuic, foundation of the house, to consider. húic (Aooitt), "base, as a base of a tree or mouth of a river" (Kingswan), huic, "source" (Hōcąk Language Teachers, Blue Zepsicon), huį́cecá, "at the short end" (Sam Blowsnake).
† or storage rack, drying stand.

01:12.4 01:16.4
áiren'. Žéesgáiregišga e haną́c céb wakaragíže, wánı̨́ną́. Gają, žéją́ga hahí wažą́naną́c,
it is called. So it even came to be that he all to have finished it he did for himself, the meat. Then, finally it came to be everything,

 

  01:21.6 01:30.9
žéją́že. Gają, wáhúhìžēge hawahúhi híreánąga, hawuhı̨́c–wáwuhı̨́c híreže. Círáhèįgrašąną
it was depleted.* Then, it actually snowed, (everything) to be snowed on it was, and to be snowed over it was. Only in the little smoke hole

* literally, "ended".

  01:35.2 01:39.2
cówéxjį póx gója péjokit’ų́nąki.* Giži, gwa-a-akjįr̨a! žé wa’ų́že, wažą́naną́c cépkaragíži, gają
barely hole there that fire he had made for himself.† Then, O great woe!‡ that he did, everything he had used up, so at that time,

* < péja-hokit’ų́nąk-gi. 
† in other words, everything was covered except for that little smoke hole?
‡ speculative, but see gwo.

  01:42.1 01:47.2
ųsge, mą́cgúskąr̨a, áireną, žé, táǧwíckaragiánąga, že’e kúrucže. Égi, égi, nįgé, wárá gisápgé
well, the bowstring, they call it, there he roasted for himself, that eating for himself. Then, then, somewhere, snow to be pinned under

 

  01:59.2
ų́šgų́nįže, wažą́ honįhiánąga, karahá’ųn'. Karahá’ų, ke ruš’ákže. Ką́nįyą t’éhí jagu
it did, something he went to hunt, and he was going along. Going along, not he didn’t succeed. Nothing he  killed since

 

  02:04.2
gų́zire wa’ųą́kge. Gają́, wanı̨́giyą́ žegų cíšára hoitú éja hogiyéže.
they had cut everything off to him since they had done it. Then, a bird that way coming around he brushed* that† he came around.

* literally, "fanning".
† house part? face part? 

02:10.7   -
Nų́bąhą̀isge gigíži, gają, "Wḗa, jágú té jágú [žęregana] té," hegų áną̀ka, wógítekše, wánįgiyą́ąk hegų
Like two times when it did it, then, "[Exclamation] what [this] what [kind of thing] here!" [thus] he said, angrily, that bird [thus]

 

02:21:7
cówé gisákᵉną́. Gaja,̨ wéže, "Į-į-į, Hicų́šge, nı̨́gíjitekjege, wá’ųr̨ą! Hą́, wónı̨́gitek,"
almost he could have killed it. Then, he said, "[Exclamation] Grandson, in order to help you, I am doing this! [Exclamation] you’re angry,"

 

02:30.1 02:34:8
éže, wanįgı̨́g[šjek]. "Hą̨̄́, egi wóigiràgire ké yápéresnį wá’ųną," éže. Gają́, "Hą̨̄́, Hicų́šgé,
it said, the little bird [__]. "[Exclamation] so what's being told, not I do not know to do it," he said. Then, "[Exclamation] Grandson,

 

02:37.8 02: 42.9
haną́c nįgų́ziréną," éže. "Haną́c nįgų́ziréną. Gają, néšąną hąké hų́gírakireánąga
everything they’ve cut off to you," it said. "Everything it has been cut off. So, I alone not I haven’t been [officially] informed about anything, and

 

02:52.8
ésge honįgítak, wahá–wa-honįgítaikjege, wá’ųną," éže. Giži éja žéhésge hogʷís–hogʷírákže. "Giži ų́sgé, wa’ų́įnekjanéną,
therefore I'm telling this to you, I can be helping you to do it," it said. Thus there like that it told. "So, well, they’re going to do it,

 

  03:9.8
ų́sgé, hą́biyą́ horákną̀ka, žé éja, Wakjéxínı̨̀gra, Mą́ Nų́p warage[-gi?], žé, žé, Hégéga hikišére wagigírekjenéra.
so, one day telling, that there, the little Water Spirits, Second Earth* you mean, there, there, Mr. Buzzard† to mess with he is going to do to them.

* the underworld where the Waterspirits (Wakjexira) live.
† the meaning of Hégéga is unclear. See the Commentary.

03:16.2 03:25.6
Xeópase žé éja hoiyušánąga, égi, égi Wakjéxí hocíra hokéwekjen'.* Žé, ųą, hų́grá nı̨́kją́k wanįna rušją́, wékjége,
Hilltop that at he's going to stop, and, and Waterspirit house he is going to go into. There, well, the chief children his to stop, because he's going to say,

* for hokéwekjenén'.

  03:33.1 03:37.1
'Ésge ha'ų́kjenén'," ēže. "Hą́, Kųnįka, hųr̨ágišaraxᵉra (h)aipı̨́ną," éže. Gają, žésgže,* hą́p  hagájege† éja, éja,
'That is why I'm going to stay there awhile'," it said. "Yes, Grandma, that you've told me I am pleased," it said. Then, like that, day one there, there,

* or žésgeži.
† or hagájega.

  03:45.8 03:50
xḗ–hopásé[wagega] éja, híže. Éja hí gają, Hitókeįka té éja ną́téjé’éže, hegų, cáš,* cáš, cáš, égi,†
to the hilltop there he went. There he arrived when, Little Grandma [this one] there she was chopping wood, so, caš, caš, caš, as she was saying,‡

* caš, more commonly cas, represents the sound made by chopping wood.
† or ége.
‡ verbs meaning "to say" are often used, as here, to denote singing.

  04:01
"Hų-ų-ųgewira, hų-ų-ųgewira," ájé’éže, tókeįk.* "Wea-a-a, té jágú hicųwi,̨ tókeįk* jágú, wažą́ hišé gają (ha?)šárajé?"
"You chiefs, you chiefs," she was singing, lil' grandma. "He-e-ey, [this] what aunt,† little grandma,‡ what [thing] you are singing [when] as you are saying it?"

* both a front and back clip of hitókeįka.  
† father’s sister.
‡ she is both his aunt and a grandmother, although not his grandmother.

04:09
éže. Gają, "O-o-oą," híže, "Hicų́šgé," é, gaje* "Ą-ą-ą, 'Raǧogega', higáiregíži, waxóxjı̨́ že’e, horákirešų́nųrą.
he said. So then, "Oh," she said, "Grandson," she said, then "Aha-a-a, 'Holy One', as he's called,† [very impressive]‡ [that,] the one they used to tell about.

* or gają?
† or, of whom they told?
‡ probably an alloform of waǧó-xjį, where waǧó means, "to make someone fall for you, to make someone fall in love with you, to impress someone" (Helmbrecht-Lehmann).

04:19.1
Néšge wašárajes’áre. Žé, hų́grá nı̨́kją́k, Mą Nų́p wahigéjenį, že’e, Hégéga, ą, watóšé(we)hi jíkjenéną," éže.
Even you might be him. There, the chief child, Second Earth [because he made them], there, Mr. Buzzard, ah, [victoriously?] he is going to come," she said.

 

04:34 04:38.8
"Giži žé éja ną́* péjirot’ų́gi [wágite] wá’ųąjéną," éže. "Hą́, Kųnįka, jáją́nągi jíkjené?" "’gų́ jíkjéra heréginı̨́ną́,
"So that there wood for kindling [I work] it is why I am doing this," she said. "Alright, Grandma, when he will come?" "Oh, he will come it is about time,

* voiced as, Gižéjaną́.

  04:38.8
wírárocąje áirera žésgéną," éže. [Giži,] "Hą́, Kųnįka, haipį hų́r̨ágišarak, 'tókeįka," éžešge gisákšé.
noon as they say, in fact," she said. [So] "Alright, Grandma, I am pleased that you told me, Little Grandma," he said, and he killed her.

 

04:51.7 05:02.6
Gisákgiži éja egų ų́sge, hapéja’ų́, té, hék ájega jížé, wanı̨́k xéteižą, Héka. Égi žésgé ákže,
Having killed her then, well, well, waiting, here, buzzard she had spoken of it arrived, bird a large one, Mr. Buzzard. And like this it said,

 

  05:07.5 05:11
hinąkíwą̄̀kše,* "Éja hirapé ną́žéži, ną́páse kįą́nąga éja hirapé ną́žéži. Hegų
going along singing to itself, ["There] to lie in wait it would be desirable to be able to, stump to turn into, and [there] to lie in wait be able to." And so

* < hi-ną-ki-wą-ak-še. The reflexive -ki- is inserted between the two syllables of nąwą, "to sing."

05:21.3
eajiówes’aže. Gają wákže, že’e ną́wą̄́kže,* hégą́ka hinąkíwą̄̀kše, "Hégé wą́k tóšéwe, hįgųahīrera,
it was going around all over there. Then he spoke, [that one] he sang, that buzzard he was singing about it to himself, "Buzzard doctor, whom they came after,

* < ną́wą́-akže. 

05:35.5
Hégé jáguakípı̨́, Hégé jáguakípı̨́," ánąka egų, rusų́ rárák, "Hą-ą-ą, hiráįkirakže nųnįge
Buzzard what(ever) I'm capable of, Buzzard what(ever) I'm capable of," he was saying and, side to side [moving around,] "[Yes] "I’m up to the task but

 

  05:39.8 05:42.4
žigé ų́ne, žigé ų́ne. Į-į-į! Raǧoge* jašge [wašárajes’áre,"] [ē]. "Ka-a-ažo [nįgiyagá]s’íreją́,‡ tókwēhi t’éšgų́nįže,
again do it, again do it. Į-į-į! Holy One what you must be saying,"† he said. "No-o way, you must have escaped a long time ago, hunger you must have died reportedly,

* the text has, Ráxoxejašge.
† for Ráxoxejašge [wašárajes’áre,"] the translation has, "You must be saying you’re deprived of power". 
‡ this is probably, nį-giyás-s’ireją́, "you must have escaped a long time ago."

  05:54.3
jaguaną́c gų́sirége tókewēhi t’éhí, ną́’ı̨́ną̀kše, áiren'," éže, "gaižigé,* egu, ų́r̨e. Kúžiógiyáire, kúžiógiyáire," égi
because all it was cut off for you, to starve to death, they were trying, they say," he said, "so again, [well,] do it. They’ll go low, they’ll go low," and

* < gają žigé. 

  05:2.8
ésge žigé égų [ną̄wąisga’tiągrak]* [hirogie]† gają, gisákžé. Gisáknąka, égiži, "O-o-o waxúgᵉnąka,"‡ égi
so again then this one sang a bit, following in his tracks, and then he killed him. Of the one killed, he said, "O-o-o that smashed-up one," he said and

* nąąwą hisge tiągrak?
† hirogiwe?
‡ waxuǧenąka?

  06:14.8
žéesge e žégų́, že’e, Wakjéxí hų́k hociną́k hahiókeweže, "M-m-m girukowire, girukowire," áireže. "Haną-ą-ąc [gaisáįgeja]owaráwire
thus he said that way that one, Waterspirit chief village he finally entered, "M-m-m all make way, all make way," they said. "Everyone [...] move to the side

 

  06:23.5 06:32.55
girukówire," áiren'. Ésge híre[agają] éja, éja, a-a-a, hų́k nı̨́kją́kną̄́ka hegų, t’é wahíže, mą́s tášúchiánąga mą́r̨á,
make way, make way," they said. Thus doing there, there, uh, chief those children then, to kill he did to them, iron to be red hot, and iron

 

  06:36.5 06:46.2
wagirúšorok [nąga?] égu, o-o-o, mą́s, mą́ rušóroc[ra] éja, mą́s tákácra wógí, wógí, ą̄, wapóxgí egu, t’éwahíže. Giži
he pulled it out on them, and then o-o-o, iron, arrows he pulled out there, iron red hot [wogi, wogi, um] he poked them and he killed them. So

 

  06:53.3
égų, žé ų́sge, éja–éja warúcšé, wókíhą̀ nąga Wakjéxí rùc[še?]. Gają, žé Wakąjú(k)sekįka égų, éja, hégų
then, those, well, there - there he ate, he cooked for himself, and the Waterspirit he ate. Then, then, Little Garter Snake then, there, well

 

  06:58.7 07:5.9
éajiówe, "Wea, jágú te'e gają wa’ų́je, jágú’ų," éže Waką́jú(k)sekįka éja watōcijegi,* "Ą-ą-ą
he said as he was going around, "Hey, what this, there it was, what is the reason?" he said Little Garter Snake [there] [to the son-in-law??], "A-a-ah,

* < watohocijegi.

  07:16.2
hų́gra, hotáikjana, égi ēgų, ų-ų-ų jihúre wó(n?)įk’ųkjen'ánąga, wašı̨́, mą̀gísoso[ánągi] éjowíreregigis’áže. 'Gi égųišge Waką́júsekįka
the chief I should tell, and then, ų-ų-ų come here I’ll give you fat, and fat, he cut into strips [...] [making him come thither?]. And so Little Garter Snake

 

07:20.6 07:25.3 ||
éja, wašį r̨ùc'ra’ų́kjiš.* Égi égų žé éja že’e, t’éwahiánąga gúžé, áiren'. Žéną́ka hàn'.   
there, fat he ate with all his might. And then that one there, [those] he killed them, and he returned, they say. That’s all I have to say.  

* or r̨ùc’ra’ų́xjiš.

Source:

Reading by Sheila Shigley, from the audio tape in the American Philosophical Society: Fraenkel, Gerd. Stacy, Stella. "The story explaining why a tell-tale is called a woodpecker in Winnebago," Mss. Rec. 29, recorded 28 July 1959, 1 .mp3; 00:00:04 - 00:07:25.3. Copy made by Gerd Fraenkel of an original tape held at the Archives of Languages of the World, Indiana University. This program comes from original tape 19. APS accession number 7274; APSdigrec_2205; Recording Number: 03; Program Number: 06.