Hocąk Text — The War of Indian Tribes against White Soldiers
by Stella (Blowsnake) Stacey, a.k.a. Mountain Wolf Woman
transcribed by Sheila Shigley
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Stella Stacy (Mountain Wolf Woman) |
hapaxlegomena: giže’é, "and/so that one"; gųą́nąjı̨́, "immediately"; hakíšák, "to beat unconscious"; hirapé, "to lie in wait"; hiyák’ó́, "to turn around"; kóréisge, "to be incredible"; wazą́zą́, in the sense, "to pull back".
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rare words: gážeesge, "in that way," found embedded in gážeesgégiží in another of Stella's works; gážegų, "like that" (found only in Kingswan); kíká’ų, "to get up" (found only in Helmbrecht-Lehmann); žḗsgé, "that kind".
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First Line | Tape 7256 from the American Philosophical Society |
Second Line | Tape OT 7694_atm_MDPI_40000001139890_01_access.mp4 |
Third Line | Transcription |
Fourth Line | Translation |
Nota Bene: the positions indicated for the APS version of the audio seem to vary from one reader to another, so they may require a quantity added or subtracted from the values presented here.
01:21.5 ? | |||||||
01:03.78 OT | |||||||
Žé, | wą́giyą́, | wánąkše, | jásgé | híreánąga | cégéja | Waruǧápᵉną̄gre | wawa’ų́įnegi, |
This one, | a man, | he was saying, | how | it was done, and | in the past | these Warbundles | when they would be made, |
01:34 | ||||||
01:15.78 | ||||||
že’é, | že’é, | žḗsge, | áną́kže. | Hą́táraginącwiánąga, | tónįkewehíwiánąga | íwúst’érakı̨́wiánąga |
that, | that,* | that kind, | he said. | You fasted, and | you were hungry, and | you were thirsting yourselves to death, and |
* pausing to think, Stella repeats herself.
01:40.5 | 01:45.4 | |||||||
01:22.55 | 01:27.5 | |||||||
éja | te’é, | Waruǧápᵉną̄gre | wawa’ų́įneną. | Waką́já | eja | howáji, | te’é, | Waruǧápᵉną̄gre, |
there | this one, | this Warbundle | they made it. | Thunderbird | there | it came from, | these, | these Warbundles, |
01:50.5 | 01:54.9 ? | 01:58.6 | |||||||||
01:32.67 | 01:37.29 | 01:40.95 | |||||||||
wírókų | xetéxjı̨́ | me’é, | gážeesge, | te’é | péžéga | hižą́ | hísgéra | ną́’į̄́negi, | kízá | xetéxjı̨́ | ų́įneánąga, |
instruments | very great | these, | in that way, | these | whoever | one | genuinely | if he tries, | fighting | great | they did, and |
02:1.4 | 02:05.1 | 02:08 | |||||||
01:43.9 | 01:47.75 | 01:50.68 | |||||||
hokízá | xetéxjı̨́r̨a | ižą | éja, | te’é, | Waruǧápᵉną̄gᵉra | hižą́, | hanį̄́neánąga, | éja | [ų́įnešjé], |
battle | the great ones | one | there, | this, | the Warbundles | one, | they had, and | there | [they did much], |
02:17.7 | ||||||||
01:59.57 | ||||||||
hąké | wapahí | hirakíš’onįkjaną́winą, | éže, | žé | hižą́ | wáną́kše. | Giží, | žḗsge |
not | weapon | they will not have been touched, | he said, | this | one | he said. | So | that way |
02:24 | ||||||||
02:05.96 | ||||||||
hī́reže, | egi | hisgéra | ną́’ı̨́naké, | egų | žḗsge | hī́reže. | Že’é, | hohó, |
they did, | and | truly | because they tried, | and so | that way | they did. | That one, | hohó, |
02:28.4 | ||||||
02:10.29 | ||||||
ke | Hocą́gᵉra | šąną, | wa’ų́įnanįže. | Cíną́kiją, | wówacéhi, | róhą́ |
not | Hocą́gᵉra | only, | they would not do it. | Living there, | to group with them,* | many |
* meaning other tribes.
02:38.8 ? | ||||||
02:14.8 | ||||||
hakíšjékireánąga | že’é, | že’é* | éja, | mą́ną́pe† waxópı̨́nį, | žḗsge | kízáireže. |
they were together, and | that one, | that one | there, | spirit soldiers,‡ | that kind | they were fighting. |
* Stella is repeating herself here while gathering her thoughts.
† almost mą́ną́wąpe?
‡ meaning "white soldiers".
02:41.5 | 02:45 | |||||
92:23.64 | 02:27.13 | |||||
Žésgé | kízáirekjenégiži, | éja | howaráireže. | Že’é | wažą́ | karagų́sireánąga, |
That same kind | when they were about to go to war, | there | they went. | This | thing | they taught their own, and |
02:49.4 | ||||||
02:31.58 | ||||||
jásgé* | hírekjenégi, | ésgé | hakaragų́sire.† | Že’é | wą́kcówe, | wą́kwášoše cówé, |
how | the way they were to do, | thus | they counseled all of their own. | This | lead man, | lead warrior |
* or gają.
† sounded as ésgakaragų́sire. The ha- in hakaragų́sire would normally be the ha- meaning "I", but here we have a rare case of the prefix ha- meaning "all" (Helmbrecht-Lehmann).
02:55 | 03:00 | |||||||
02:37.35 | 02:42.13 | |||||||
ejere,* | že’é | Šų́gépága | žı̨́gáireánąga,† | égi | žigī́žą́ | Pų́zákexə́tega | higáireánąga, | [ke?] |
there he was, | this | Dog Head | [they called him,] and | and | another one | Big Sand Bar | they called him, and | ? |
* < eja heré.
† -že higáireánąga?
03:04.2 | |||||||||
02:46.61 | 02:56.99 | ||||||||
égi | žigī́žą́, | Tóšą́nąksépka | higáireánąga, | égi | žigī́žą́ | …* | kénı̨́ | žigī́žą́ | áiranį |
and | another one, | Black Otter | they call, and | then | another one | ... | [wait] | another one | they did not say, |
* this reflects a long pause of 5.93 seconds.
03:22.1 | ||||||||
03:04.72 | ||||||||
nųnįge | žé | [wákga], | karáik’ųšųnųn’.* | R̨a, | wą́gᵉrə́ | žénąka | jópíwi | [hi?]rájiren'. |
but | this | [gentleman], | they used to give it (his name) to me. | So, | the men | in total | four of them | they were named. |
* after this word there is a pause of 3.3 seconds.
03:24.7 | ||||||||
03:07.4 | ||||||||
Že’é, | hokízá | wą́kwášoše | s’írejąxjį | waworágires’a, | giži, | giži | é | žé |
These, | war | braves | for a very long time | they were repeatedly spoken of, | so, | so | they | these |
03:32.5 | 03:35.3 | |||||||
03:15.27 | 03:18.06 | |||||||
wawagánągᵉra. | R̨a, | žḗsgé | hī́reže. | Mą́įxəte | mą́ną́pe, | že’é, | kízá | [herekjenegi,]* |
it is who they mean. | So | in that manner | they acted. | Big Knife | soldiers, | these, | to fight | [when it would be time,] |
* or gekjenegi.
03:42.4 | 03:39.3? | |||||||
03:24.1 | 03:32.3 | |||||||
éja | howaráireže. | Giží, | giží, | wáireže. | Wą́gᵉną́ka, | že’é* | Šų́gépáną́ka | é |
there | they went. | So, | so, | they have said. | Those men, | this one | Dog Head | he himself |
* sounded as že and elided with the next word.
03:54.4 | 03:58.7 | ||||
03:37.45 | 03:41.76 | ||||
wacóžuákižu, | wéže, | "Wanı̨́ksgánįkižą́ | hų́k’ų́(į?)neže, | áireną. | Te’é, |
to those leaders with him, | he said, | "A little white bird (Snowbird) | they gave me, | it is said. | This, |
04:06.5 | |||||||
03:49.67 | |||||||
wažą́naižą́, | gážḗsge | hašjáwígi | hąké | t’éhíwinįą́je. | Že’é, | hákáranįkjanáwiną," | éže. |
something | in that way | if you see, | not | do not kill him. | This one | we will bring home," | he said. |
04.12.2 | 04:15.5 | |||||||
03:55.53 | 03:58.79 | |||||||
Giží, | éja | hégų, | haráireže. | Hišgé | gójá | mą́ną́peną́kašge | hacı̨́ja | wawamą́kiraciregi, |
So, | there | then, | they started. | Also | over there | those soldiers, but | where | they had planned to go, |
04:23.6 | ||||||
04:07.05 | ||||||
éjašge, | hajī́rekjenégi, | é | howáré | wa’ų́ną̄́kše. | Giží, | že’é |
there | if they would come, | them | to go towards | he was. | So, | these |
04:32.7 | 04:35.3 | |||||||
04:14.29 | 04:18.97 | |||||||
wákíjairekjenehégiží, | heréže. | Gają, | ų́sge, | wą́giyą́ | že’é, | Tóšą́nąksgaga* | higáire,† | giží |
if they would see them, | they did. | But, | well, | a man | this one | [Black Otter] | they called him, | thus |
* she gives his name incorrectly as Tóšą́nąksgága, "White Otter." It should be Tóšą́nąksepka, "Black Otter," as it is elsewhere.
† the initial /h/ is dropped and this word is elided with the previous name.
04:41.2 | ||||||||||
04:24.97 | ||||||||||
wa’ų́ą́kše. | Éja, | éja | xatáp | mı̨́ną́ka | éja, | gają, | éja | wažą́ | xgíxgí | nįsge |
he was. | There, | there | brush | sitting | there, | then | there | someone | he moved about | sort of |
04:50.7 | ||||||||
04:34.64 | ||||||||
[unintelligible] | éja | wą́giyą́ | huhéže. | Xatáp | éja, | xatápᵉra | wazą́zą́,* | áirešųnųną. |
[?] | there | a man | he was coming. | Brush | there, | the brush | [he hacked, ?] | they used to say. |
* an unknown word, probably for wažą́žą́.
04:54.9 | 04:58.3 | |||||
04:38 | 04:42.3 | |||||
Xatáp | horógéja | hogíémą́nı̨́,* | wagáirešųnųn'. | Šų́kxə́te | sgá | hižą |
Brush | in their midst | [the place the enemy himself walks,] | they always said. | Horse | white | a |
* this may be from ho-, spatial prefix; ki, “enemy”; e, “he”; and mą́nı̨́, “walks”. Xatáp horógéja hogíémą́nı̨́, wagáirešųnųn’, "The enemy walks through the brush," (for concealment).
05:03.2 | |||||||||
04:47.36 | |||||||||
rutíánąga, | éja | huhéže. | Giži | hákją́kjąpą́kše, | hégų́ | wą́gą́ka, | Mą́įxəté | hižą, | wa’ųą́kše, |
he was leading, and | there | he came. | And so | he looked back, | and | the man, | Big Knife | a, | he was. |
Hákją́kjąpąki | té | wą́gą́gᵉre | (hi)šgé | égų | éja, | égų́, | mą́įja | gisgáp |
When he looked back, | this | man | also | and | there, | well, | on the ground | he laid down and hid himself |
05:18.4 | ||||||||
05:02.8 | ||||||||
mı̨́k, | hirapéže. | Gają | égų́*́ | tḗja | hákją́kjąpąk, | žḗsge | hiyák’ó, | kíká’ųną́gᵉnə̨́ga, |
he lay, | to lie in wait. | And so | then | there | looking back, | just like that | he turned around | to get up, |
* voiced as, gajégų.
05:26.3 | 05:32 | ||||||||
05:10.8 | 05:16.7 | ||||||||
te’é. | Hegų | nų́wą́gᵉnə̨́ga, | haruxé | mą́nį̄́negają, | ára | rusták | harukósse.* | 'Gi | égi |
this one. | Then | he ran, | he turned around | and next he walked, | his arms | he flattened | to catch him. | And | then |
* for harukósše.
wéže, | "Hoooo, | Šų́gépága, | wažą́ižą́ | hok’ų́(į?)neže, | éra | wą́giyą́,́ | égi | hinįátukóssąnooo!"* |
he said, | "Hoooo, | Dog Head, | something | it would be given, | as it was said, | a man, | and | I have captured him for you!" |
* hinįhatukosšąną, casual (sąną instead of šąną), emphatic (-no instead of -ną).
05:42.7 | 05:48.7 | |||||||
05:27.6 | 05:33.7 | |||||||
éže. | Giži | žḗsgé | hī́reže, | žégų́ | haną́cixjį | nų́wą́kire, | hijónų́wą́kireže.* | Hégų́ |
he said. | And so | like this | it was done, | then | absolutely all of them | they started to run, | there they ran. | So |
* hija ho-.
05:54.1 | ||||
05:39.14 | ||||
hižąkíšąną | hajī́rega | haną́c | hojį̄́nes’áže. | Hojį̄́nes’áže, |
one by one | they arrived, and | everyone | they repeatedly struck him. | They repeatedly struck him, |
05:58.8 | ||||||
05:43.96 | ||||||
wą́k | honą́k | áiregi, | ésgé | híwa’ų́įnes’áže, | áiren'. | Hižą́ |
man | to count coup | as they call it, | so | they were implacably angry, | it is said. | One of them |
06:03.2 | |||
05:48.4 | |||
kjénı̨́sgáirega, | hinįánukósirega, | hojį̄́nes’áže. | Rážᵉra |
as they took revenge upon him, | when they took him prisoner, | they repeatedly struck him. | Their names |
kírajírᵉánąga, | é | é | éja, | žé(e), | wą́k | honą́k | herega, | hokárákires’áže, |
they called out themselves, and | he | he | there, | this one, | man | to count coup | as he was, | they would tell him, |
06:11 | 06:14.5 | |||||||
05:56.3 | 05:59.9 | |||||||
žḗsgé | hī́reže. | Hóhóp | hajiakaráireánąga* | giží, | "Égi | hąąą, | Šų́gépága, | hokízá rukąnąna, |
that kind | it was. | War hoops | they started, and | then, | "Well | hąąą, | Dog Head, | the battle master, |
06:24.2 | ||||||||
06:09.8 | ||||||||
hacı̨́janągra, | éja | howánı̨́kerekjawįną," | áireže. | Giži | ésgé | hī́reže, | te’é | wą́gą́gᵉre xópı̨́nįą́gᵉre, |
wherever he is, | there | we will be taking him," | they said. | So | thus | they did, | this | the spirit man, |
06:30.3 | |||||||
06:16 | |||||||
éja | hanįagī́reže. | Giží, | wéže, | Šų́gépága, | "Mą́įxetenə̨́gᵉre, | wágáxšge, | hirokíkit’aires’áže, |
there | they brought him. | Then | he said, | Dog Head, | "Those Big Knives, | paper, also | they will always use to communicate with one another, |
06:39.3 | ||||||
06:25.1 | ||||||
áireną. | Ruhą́wı̨́r̨e, | wórúcgeže, | [hajáišge] | nįgé, | wagáxrášge | hižą́, |
it is said. | We must search, | guessing with our hands, | if it is seen | anywhere, | paper even | one, |
06:49.1 | |||||||
06:35.25 | |||||||
hanı̨́ | wa’ųą́k(ž?)e. | Wágáx | hanį̄́žąįšge, | wórákiyą́šge | wa’ųą́ki, | wagáǧᵉra | káránįą́(kgųnı̨́),* |
to be taken | it is. | Paper | even one taken, | even a communiqué | were there to be, | the accounts | he took with him perhaps, |
* or káránįą́(khonı̨́).
06:53 | 06:57.5 | |||||||
06:39 | 06:43.75 | |||||||
ruhą́wı̨́r̨e," | ége, | ḗsge | žḗsge | hī́reže. | Ruhą́įr̨egają́, | ké | wažą́ | hi’éranı̨́že. |
we must search," | he said, | so | that is what | they did. | When they searched, | not | anything | they could not find. |
07:01 | 07:04 | |||||
06:47.3 | 06:51.1 | |||||
Gé* | wóną́įxətera, | wóną́žįr̨ašge | égi | hogirušorojiren'. | Gają́ | kážı̨́’éranįne.† |
Again | his coat, | his waistcoat also | then | they took off him. | But | they could not find anything. |
* for Žigé.
† from ke wažą hižą eranįne ?
07:11 | ||||||
06:57.6 | ||||||
Ho | 'gų́ | wažągá | wóką́nągᵉra | gišorójirega, | hakaranı̨́mı̨́kjéną.* | "Wóką́nąk |
Ho, | then | that | his hat | when they took it off him, | he grabbed hold of it. | "Hat |
* the initial /h/ is dropped and this word is elided with the previous word.
07:14.5 | ||||||
07:01.2 | ||||||
[gajéšge] | wažą́s’áre," | airege, | ésge, | wóką́nągᵉra, | egé,* | rús |
even that how | it might be something," | they said, so | therefore | the hat | because he told them, | to take |
* perhaps this is more likely wóką́nągᵉra egi.
07:18 | |||||||
07:04.69 | |||||||
hireánąga, | horoǧojᵉre.* | Gają,† | wóką́nąk | úkᵉrógéja, | rucák | ą́ka | rókéja, |
they did, and | they must examine it. | And so, | hat | [at its edge ?] | he sewed up | on each side | inside there |
* or horoǧocire?
† or gaja.
07:24.8 | ||||||||
07:11.66 | ||||||||
té | wágáx | hot’ų́bią́kše. | Giži, | "Ąhooo!" | Žaᵂanų, | wórágᵉną́kašge, | hotᆠ| wagáx |
this | paper | it lay. | Then, | "Ąhooo!" | Prophet,* | this information, also, | some of them | writing |
* Žawanų in these stories is generally understood to be the Shawnee Prophet, Tenskwatawa.
† sounded as wórágᵉną́kašgotá.
‡ an initial /h/ was lost from external sandhi.
07:33.1 | 07:35.2 | ||||||||
07:20 | 07:22.2 | ||||||||
hipéres* | wa’ų́ną̄́kšąną.† | "Hajáwíre | jágú | é | wágiží. | Kóréisgešge | né | wažą́ | wą́gigái |
to understand | they do. | "We are doing | what | he | he calls for.‡ | Perhaps | us | something | to say to us |
* an initial /h/ was lost from external sandhi.
† elided with the previous word to sound like, hipereza’ų́ną̄́kšąną.
‡ or, "look what it itself calls for."
07:39.3 | 07:41.9 | |||||||
07:29 | ||||||||
wa’ųą́ks’áre," | áireže. | Wą́kwášoše | cówéjerénąk, | ḗsge | žḗsgé | hī́reže. | Hajáiregają, | te’é |
he does," | they said. | Warrior | the leading, | so | that kind | he was. | When they saw, | these |
07:47.2 | ||||||||
07:24.4 | ||||||||
howaréire, | ésge | é | wákše, | "Hócą́k, | cíną́giją | hokírác | wa’ųą́kiži, | wą́kšígᵉną̄́gre |
they went forward, | so | he | he told them, | "Hócą́k, | member of a foreign tribe | different | as they are, | these people |
07:56.5 | 07:59.5 | ||
07:43.88 | 07:46.9 | ||
žéją́įwahíkjawíną. | Hakíšák* | hį́wahíkjawíną. | Žéją́įwahíkjawíną." |
we will annihilate them. | I will kill them by hand (?) | we will beat them. | We will annihilate them." |
* probably a mis-hearing of hagisák, "I will kill them by hand."
08:01.6 | 08:05.8 | |||||||
07:49 | 07:53.3 | |||||||
Hą́įnįgíži, | é | wa’ųą́kše. | Giži | ḗsge | wáireže, | 'gi | égų́ | žé |
When morning arrives, | he himself | he is going to do it. | And | thus | it was said, | and | then | these |
08:14.1 | |||||||
08:01.8 | |||||||
wákíšjekiregiži, | éja | égų́ | mą́ną́peną́ka, | "Égi | hą́įnįgiží, | hįkízákjawiną. | Hą́įnįgi |
they cooperated, | there | then | those soldiers, | "Then | in the morning, | we shall fight. | In the morning |
08:20.2 | ||||||
08:08 | ||||||
ų́kjáinįšgáicawiną,"* | áireže, | mą́ną́peną́ka. | 'Gi | wą́kšígᵉną́gᵉre, | "Hą́," | áireže, |
we choose that it will be done tomorrow," | they said, | those soldiers. | And | these men, | "Hą́," | they said, |
* < ų́kje-háinįšgá-haicą́winą, "it will be done - tomorrow - we choose."
08:23.8 | |||||||||
08:11.67 | |||||||||
"Hojiá," | áire(gi?). | Nų́nįgé, | wáireže, | že’é | hokízá hų́k, | hiruką́ną, | wą́k | cówéjera | jópíwi, |
"Alright," | they said. | However, | they said, | these | war-chiefs, | those in charge, | men | the lead | four, |
08:33.8 | 08:34.8 | ||||||||
08:21.29 | 08:22.9 | ||||||||
wáwíže, | "Hijá, | ho, | jágú | hį’ų́kjáwíže. | Wóróhą | wa’ųą́nąk, | wapáhí | cų́ | wa’ų́ną́kžį (?), |
they said, | "There, | ho, | what | we will do. | Many | [there were,] | weapons | many | there were in this case, |
08:41.4 | |||||||
08:29.6 | |||||||
ké | wažą́ | [ųwia]páhí* | wą́gacų́xjı̨́nįahą́kwíną. | Ną́įnegi, | žégų | gųą́ną | hérekjéną.† |
not | anything | [...] sharp | we do not have plenty. | When they sleep, | then | right away | it will come to pass. |
* páhí, in any case, means "sharp."
† or hairekjéną.
08:44.5 | 08:45.7 | |||||
08:32.7 | 08:34.1 | |||||
Jágú | jı̨́ | ukjáwįn'. | Gųą́nąjı̨́ | kíkárati, | herékjéną." | Ḗreže. |
Whatever | it is hard | we will do. | Immediately | to make our own move, | let it be so." | They dispersed. |
08:49.7 | 08:56.3 | |||||||
08:48.14 | 08:44.9 | |||||||
Ḗsge | žḗsge | hī́reže. | Hą́héregi | ną́įnegáją, | wánímı̨́gireže. | Éja, | róhą́ | t’éhī́reže. |
So | that is how | they did. | At night | when were sleeping, | they jumped them.* | There, | many | they killed. |
* they rushed them, attacked them.
08:59.5 | 09:04.4 | ||||||
08:48.1 | 08:53 | ||||||
Éja, | nįgé, | nįgé | gixgáp kı̨́(nh)įsgé, | t’éhī́reže. | Mą́įxete | róhą́ | mą́ną́pera |
There | somewhere, | somewhere, | they [became sort of trapped,?] | they were killed. | Big Knife | many | soldiers |
09:07.4 | 09:10 | ||||||||
08:56.2 | 08:58.9 | ||||||||
róhą́ | t’éhī́reže. | Hąké | hą́įnį | hapé(i)ranįže. | Gáisge* | ákšąną, | žésgéxjį | éja, | ną́xgų́n'. |
many | they were killed. | Not | morning | they did not wait for. | That's how | it was, | just like that | there, | I heard. |
* < gá-esge, but often pronounced closer to gáisge.
09:14.3 | || 09:15 | |
09:03.29 | || 09:03.96 | |
Žéną́ka | hán'.* | |
That's all | I (have to) say. |
* the /h/ is lost through external sandhi, and elided with the previous word: žéną́kán'.
Source:
Stella Stacy, "War of Indian tribes against white soldiers" (formerly, "The red man's plaint against the white man about white supremacy"), reading by Sheila Shigley, from audio tapes in the American Philosophical Society. Fraenkel, Gerd. Mss.Rec. 29, recorded 11 July 1959, 1 .mp3; 00:01:21.5 - 00:09:15. 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 524. APS accession number 7256; APSdigrec_0940; Recording Number: 02; Program Number: 01.