Hōcąk Syllabic Text — The Blessings of the Buffalo Spirits

Hōcąk Syllabic Text — The Blessings of the Buffalo Spirits

Original Texts: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34-35 |

Stylistic Features

	hapaxlegomena: c
	rare words: wąkiku, "feast" (found only in Kinsie);
	a very heavy use of the suffix -giži.
	the usual style of quotations in chiastic form, "he said, '...,' he said," is not used. Typically, only after the quotation does he add, "he said."
	x
	x
	x

Winnebago V, #21: 1
w Ki d	A t Ki n ttiKi.	A Ko Le d.	na tto ttyi Le de.*	n tto tt.	Ai Le Ktt ne Ki di.
Wąkižą	hątaginącgi,	hagoréžą	nąjojaį́reže.	Ną̄́joją́	hirekjanegiz..i,
A man	when he fasted,	after awhile	he was blessed.	To be blessed	so he would be,

* this should be n tto ttyi Le de.

A Kow tti Le de.	rA niKi	wiyo Le ttA tte L e Ki*	A Kow tti Le de.	w Kdi Ke
haguajíreže.	Sanį́k	wiórocąjerégi	haguajíreže.	Wąkšigé
they came to him.	Direction	from the south	they came to him.	Human

* the last L is written above the line to disambiguate the letter that was originally written.

A ni Kow tti n	A Ko L Le	ayi Le Ki	A ni Kow tti n.	e Ki
hanįguajíną.	"Hagorare,"	aíregi	hanįguajíną.	Égi
he was to go after.	"Go after,"	they said, and	he went after.	Then

Ao Lo xo Ktt tt.	w Ki d	w tte Ki d.	A Ki do	Ke Le de.	Ai Lo n Kde.	A Ke.
horuǧukjają	wąkižą,	wacekižą,	hakižu	kereže.	Híroną́kše.	Hąké
[he saw ...]	a man,	a young one,	with him	he went along.	He followed him.	Not

A Li Ao w L L ni de.	ttAi n Ki d	Ai L	Ai Le de.	e Ki.	ttAi n K.
hári howararaniže.	Cinąkižą	híra	hireže.	Égi	cinąka
they did not go far.	A village	they were going	they were.	And	the village

	Winnebago V, #21: 2
rA Ke tt	ttAi rAe Le tti d	Ki di.	e ttA.	ny Ki Le de.	ttAi n Kn K
sakeja	ciserecižą,	giží	éca	nąigireže.	Cinąknąka
center	a long house,	and	there	they slept.	That village

Ai d	wi Lo K n n	Ki di	ttAo ni Kitti n	ttA tt de	e de.
hižą́	wirukanana,	giží	conixjįna,	cąjąže,	éže,
one	the chief,	indeed	the primary one,	[publicly,]	he said,

w[o] n Hi Le L	n tti Lo ni tt n	Ai Ke de	A Ko Le d.	wo n Hi Le	doo Ki di.
"Wonąxírera	nąjironijáną,"	higéže.	"Hagoréžą,	wonąxíre	š’ųgiži,
"Wars	I bless you with,"	he said.	"After awhile,	war	if you make,

w L Ki taa li L	Ko Lo doAo Ki di	A Ke	w Ki Ko no ni niy tte.
waragit’abira	kurušogiži,	hąké	wakikųnųninįaje;
[you are causing them to die ?]	?	not	it must not be forgotten;

t ni Ao L	Ki dow n K	w L Ki r Ki di.	A KeAe	tee Ai	lAi L ni ni Ktt ne n
tanihúra	gižuanąga	warakiragiži,	hąké	t’ḗhi	pįraninįkjaneną.
the pipe	to fill, and	if you do it,	not	to kill	it will not be good.

		Winnebago V, #21: 3
wo n Hi Le	Lo K n	A ni n.	Ai Ke de.	e Ki	w Kdi Ko i L.	te
Wonąxíre	rukąną́	haníną,"	higéže.	Égi	wąkšigo’į́ra	te
War	control	I have,"	he said.	And	life	this

de ni rKe Ktt ne n.	Ao Ki Ko Lo Ho ttAe	Ai Ke Ki di	Ao Ki Ko Lo Ho ttK
žénisgekjanèną."	Hokikúruxuc	higegiži	hokikuruxucga,
it will be thus for you."	To look at himself	he told him, and	when he looked at himself,

tt	n tto L	A n ttAi	rK	w Kdi Ko i. L	Ai Hitti	A Ki tt Ki Ki de.
ja	ną̄jú	haną́cį	ska	wąkšigo’į́ra	hī́xjį	hagijagigize.
he saw	hair of his head	all	white	his life	the last stage of	he had reached.

e Ki	tt n K	ttAi dow KeLe	A n ttAi	n to ni	ittyi Le n.
Égi	janąga	cišuągre,	haną́cį		ijireną.*
And	everyone	horizontal lodge poles,	all of them	?	they had come.

* < hijireną, the initial /h/ having been lost from external sandhi.

ttAe	ttAi n KeLe	Ki L tti n.	Ai Ki Ki di	ttAi Lo Hittiy KLe.
Cē	Ciną́gᵉre	kirajiną.	Higįgíži,	ciroxjįągre*
Buffalo	the Lodge	it had come.	When he returned,	the entire lodge

* < ci-ra-hoxjį-ągre.

wo Lo Ho ttK tt.	ttAiy KLe.	w Kdi Kow tt n KL.	A n ttAi	tteAe	w o nKde.
woroǧocgają,	ciągre	wąkšígoajaną́gᵉra,	haną́cį	cē	wa’ųnąkše.
after he looked at it,	the lodge	the life that was seen,	all of it	buffalo	it was.

Winnebago V, #21: 4
w Kdi Ke	n tto ni tt.	Ai Le Ke	A ni Ku	Ai Le n.	w Kdi Ke
"Wąkšigé	nąjoniją,"	hiregé	haniku	hiréną.	"Wąkšigé
"Human	I bless you,"	because he thought,	to bring it forth	he did.	"Human

Ai d	A l	HeAe we Ki di	t ni L	lAi n tte.	ni Ki oyi Le Ki di.
hižą́	hāpá	xewegiži,	tānį́ra	pįnaje	nigi’ųregiži,
a	I touched	when he bothered,	tobacco	it is for the best	if he does,

te de Ko L Ktte n	Ai Kyi Le de.	e Ki	w Ki oyi ne de.	w Kdi Ki d
težegúrakjeną,"	higaíreže.	Égi	wagi’ųineže.	Wąkšigížą
this will be the way,"	he said.	And	he was the one who did it.	A human

tee xitti.	ttAiyo Ki rA Ke tt	KiAi di.	tt n K	ttAi dow K	A n ttAi
t’exjį	ciókiságeja,	kíži	janąga	cīšuąka,	haną́cį,
quite dead	in the middle of the lodge,	[and]	everyone	lodge poles,	all of them,

A to deAe we Le Ki di	A Ke.	ni al Ai L ni de.	Ai Low Kini xitti
hatošeweregiži,	hąké	nį’ą́p hiraniže.	Hiroagnįxjį
?	not	they did not come to life.	The very last

	Winnebago V, #21: 5
o Ki Ki Le Ki di	de tt K.	o de.	w Kdi Kn K.	n di Ki di	A n ttAi Hitti
ųgigiregiži,	žejąga	ųže.	Wąkšiknąka	nąžígiži,	haną́cįxjį
that they made,	now	they made.	The human	he stood, and	all of them

ni Ki A Le de.	e Ki	Holo Ki Ki di	ttAe n w n K.
nįgihareže.	Égi	xópkįgiži,	Cē nąwąnąka
they breathed with him.	And	miracles [were performed], and	the Buffalo Song

L dtt Ki di.	w Kdi tee.	ttAo Ki rA Ke tt	KA.
rašjągiži,́	wąkšit’e*	cokiságeja	ka
when they were through,	dead man	in the middle of the lodge	there

* either a contraction of, or in error for, wąkšik t’e.

Ao ni A tan lde.	ttAe Kitti L	Ao we Ho Ki.	Ai no l A L	Ao we Ho de
honihat’ąpše.	Cēkjįra	howexǫgi,	hinųbahąra	howexǫže.
he breathed upon him.	The buffalo	when he blew,	the second time	he blew.

Ai t ni A L	Ao we Ho K tt.	ttl	Ki ni lde	Ai tto l A L
Hitaníhąra	howexǫgają,	jąp	kinípše.	hijobą́hąrá
The third time	when he breathed,	lightning	it became.	The fourth time

Winnebago V, #21: 6
Ao we Ho K tt	Ki K	w o	Ki Li Ke Le Ai de.	w Kdi Ke
howexǫgają,	giką́	wa’ų,	kirikerehiže.	"Wąkšigé,
when he breathed,	to knock over	he did to him,	he suddenly started away.	"Humans,

A n ttAi	wo L Ai n	Ai Ke de	tteAe	Ao Kn K	we de.
haną́cį,	worahíną,"	higéže.	Cē	hųgᵉnąka	wéže,
all,	you have won,"	he said.	Buffalo	the chief	he said,

w Kdi Ke	me de Ko	w L Ki Ki L	ni deAe Ktt ne n
"Wąkšigé,	mežegų:	waragígi	nišekjaneną.
"Human,	this is what I mean:	you are making them	you will do.

Ai do	w d	Ki di.	w too ne L	lAi ni Ki Ki Le Ki di.
Hiš’ų́	wažá,	giži	wat’ųnéra	pįnigigiregiži,
You are going to use	things,	and	the leavings*	if they make good ones,

* wat’ųné means, "the leaving of something behind (for someone)." Miner says that a wat’ųné was, "a gift given to a medicine man in return for healing or knowledge; gift or donation in honor of someone else (not the same as waixéwe)."

t ni L	tt n K	t ni Lo ni Ki doyi Le Ki di.	de n K.	wo Ko ro ttAi
tānį́ra	janąga	tānį́runįkižuiregiži,	žēną́ga	Wogų́zoci
tobacco	as much as there is	when they offer tobacco,	that much	the Creation Lodge

te Ki.	tti Ki A Ktt ne n.	e	di Ke	mo Ko ro ttAiy KeLe
tégi	jikihakjeną.	E	žigé	Mogošuciąkére*
right here	it itself will come.	There	again	to assemble at Red Banks

* < Mogošuc-hiąkére. Cf. hiąkére hi, "to put together (as a framework), to tie something to something, to connect something to something," (Helmbrecht-Lehmann).

Winnebago V, #21: 7
Ao ni Kooyi ne n	Ao Ki ttAo.	A diAi ni L.	tt tt Hitti	Ao w Le Ki di.
honik’ú-ineną.	Hokicų	hašinira	jajaxjį	howáregíži
I give you.	Descendants	your	as long as	they extend

de tt Hitti	w L Ki	A tte n.	m n KLe.	tt tt Hitti	ni Ae Ki di
žejąxjį	waragi	hajéną.	Mąną́gᵉre	jajaxjį	nįhegiži
to their end in time	you come	I have.	On this earth	as long as	that long

de tt Hitti.	Ao Ki ttAo.	A diAi ni L.	t ni Ao	w HoAo	Ke Le Le Ki
žejąxjį,	hokicų	hašinira,	tanihú	waxų́	kereregi,
to its end in time,	descendants	your,	pipe	to pour	when they place,

tt Ko [t]tyi Le Ki di	de rKe.	t ni L	wi L K	ni	A tti n Kowi do no Ktt ne n.
jasgujiregiži,	žesge	tānį́ra	wiraka,	ni	hajinąkuišųnųkjaneną.
however it comes,	that way	tobacco	to take care of,	you	I will come suddenly.

wo A L	tt n K Ki di	A Ke	A K.	Ai d	Ao ni Ke
Wohą́ra,	janągagiži,	hąké	hąká	hižą́	hōnį́ge
The kettles,	everyone of them,	not	never	one	unrewarding

Winnebago V, #21: 8
w Ki to rni Ktt ni A wi n.	wo n Hi Le	ayi Le dKe.	wo n Hi Le	Ai to K n wi n
wagitusnikjanihawiną.	Woną́ǧiré,	aíreške,	woną́ǧiré	hitukanawiną.
we will not be taking out.	War,	they also say,	war	we govern.

w d Ko rL.	de rKe Ki	Lo K n	Ai Ki Ki wi n	e Ki	di Ke.
Wažągų́zᵉra	žesgégi	rukąną́	higigiwiną."	Égi	žigé
The Creator	it was this way	control	he has made us."	And	again

w Kdi Ko i	ayi Le dKe.	di Ke.	de rKe	w wi L K	ni A tti n.
wąkšigo’į́,	aíreške,	žigé	žesge,	wawiraga,	nihajiną.
life,	they also say,	again	that way,	[as they say,]	he breathed.

Kowi doAo no Ktt ne n.	e Ki	di Ke.	HA wi Ao.	n tti Lo tt	Ai Le Ki di
Koišųnųkjaneną.	Égi	žigé	xąwįhu	ną̄́jiroją́	hiregiži,
He will always ____.	And	again	plants	to be blessed	when they were,

w Ki oyi ne de.	H wi L	Ai d	dA n	Le tt Ki Ki Le de.	de e
wak’iųineže.	Xąwį́ra	hižą́	šana	rejagigireže.	Tee
they got them.	The plants	one	only	it was made to go.	This

		Winnebago V, #21: 9
tt Ko	wi Lo Ko Ktt ne Ki di.	Ao Ki L Ki Le de	w Kdi Ki	KiAi K
jagu	wirokukjanegiži,	hogirákireže.	"Wąkšigi	kį̄́ga,
how	it will be used,	they told him.	"Life	when one makes oneself,

w o	Ai liAi ne Ktt ne de	Ai K Le de.	w L Ki Ko Ki di.	H wi Ao n KLe
wa’ų,	hipinekjaneže,"	higareže.	Waragigogiži,	xąwį́hunągᵉre,
he made it,	they should do it,"	he said to him.	When you are feasting,	these plants,

Ao dAi ltti	t ni	wo K L Ki dow tte	e	m dttyi Le Ktt ne n.	e Ki
hošípjį	tānį́	wokarakįšuaje,	e	mąšjaį́rekjaneną."	Égi
always	tobacco	you will bring your own,	they	they will be mighty."	And

di Ke.	Le H Lo lAo Lo Ki da*	n tti Lo ttyi Le de.	te e	w L Ki Ko
žigé	rḗxarupórokiža	nąjirojaireže.	"Te’é	waragigo
again	a drum	they blessed him.	"This	feast

* the terminal Ki da (kiš’a) is likely a spelling error for Ki d (kiža).

Ki	Ao L tti Ki di	tt Ko	Lo L Ko Ki di.	de rKe.	Ao Ki L Ki Ktt ni A wi n
ki	horajį́,	jagu	roragųgiži,	žesge	hogirákikjanihawiną.
?	if you beat it,	what	you really want,	this way	we will tell.

Winnebago V, #21: 10
n HKo Ktt ni A wi n.	Le H Lo lAo Lo KL	w KA ttA Kini Ki Ki wi n.	ni dKe.	w K ttAK.
Nąxgųkjanihawiną.	Rḗxarupórogᵉra	wakącąknįgigiwíną.	Nišge	wakącą́k
We will hear it.	The drum	I have sent holiness.	You also	holy

K L Kiy tte.	Ai Kyi Le de.	e Ki.	di Ke	te e
karakiáje,"	higaíreže.	"Égi	žigé	te’é
make it for yourself,"	they told him.	"And	again	this

w ttA ttA KL Ktt ne n	A Ko Le d.	wo n Hi Le	doo Ktt ne dKe
wacącąkarakjaneną.	Hagoréžą,	woną́ǧiré	š’ųkjanera,
[it, my own, will be made very great.]*	After awhile,	war	you will be doing,

* an uncertain translation. Perhaps from wa-, "it, they"; cąk, reduplicated, "very great"; -kara-, "one's own"; -kjane, third person future tense; -ną, a declarative suffix.

A K L ni ow tte.	ni Ki tti Le Ktt ne n.	w Kdi Ke.	Ao Ki Kette	w L ttA lL.
hakarani’ųaje	nįgijirekjaneną.	Wąkšigé,	hokikje	waracábara
the attending of	they will be helping you.	Human,	enemies	your

				Winnebago V, #21: 11
w n L	rK li Ktt ne n	w lA Ai L	rA ni Ki	ni Ki lA Ai Ktt ne n.
waną́ra	sgabikjaneną.	Wapahira	sánįki	nį̄kipahikjaneną.
defeats	they will press.	Weapons	one sided	I will make them sharp for you.

e Ki.	Ao ni Kow diAi ni L.	wo dK	te e	A Ke	de tt	Ai Lo ni Ktte n.
Égi	honįk’ųašinira*	wōšgą́	te’é	hąké	žéją	hironikjeną,"
And	your gifted	rite	this	not	to end	it will not be put,"

* < honįk’ų-hašinira, the second /h/ having been lost through internal sandhi.

Ai Kyi Le de.	wo dK	te e	o ne Ki.	Ao dAi ltti	tt Ko
higaíreže.	Wōšgą́	te’é	ųnēgi,	hošípjį	jagú
they told him.	Rite	this	if he does it,	always	how

[t]tyi Le Ki di	de rKe	t ni L	wi L K	niy tti n Ki Ktt ni A wi n.	e Ki
jairegiži,	žesge	tānį́ra	wiraka,	nįajinąkikjanihawina.	Égi
if they try,	this way	tobacco	he takes care of,	we will come to you.	And

w Ki Ko	Ai Le Ki di	Ai do do Ki d	w K ttA Ki Kette	Ai K Le de.	e Ki
wąkiku	hiregiži,	hišušugiža	wakącąkikje,"	higareže.	"Égi
feast	if they do,	a flute	he will make holy,"	he said to him.	"And

Winnebago V, #21: 12
Koo Kette	Ai K Le de.	e rKe.	Ai do do Ki d	w K ttK
k’ųkje,"	higareže.	Ésge	hišušugiža	wakącąk
he will make it,"	he said to him.	So	a flute	holy

Ki de.	e di K Le de.	w Lo H lL	Ai d	Ki Koo Ktte
kį́že.	Ešigareže,	Waruǧábᵉra	hižą́	kīk’ų́kje,
he made himself.	However, he said,	the Warbundle	one	he can make himself,

Ai K Le de.	tte wi	ro K n	we de	e rKe	ttAe lA d
higareže.	"Cēwį́	rokananą̄ka,"	wéže,	"ésge	cēpažą
he told him.	"Female buffalo	these are many,"	he said,	"so	a buffalo head

w Lo Hl	Ki Koo de	e Ki	di Ke	ttAe	ri Ki d.*
Waruǧáp	kīk’ų́že,	égi	žigé	cē	[sį̄jižą́]
Warbundle	it can be made for oneself,	and	again	buffalo	a tail

* this is almost certainly a transcription error for ri tti d.

w K ttA Ki de	e Ki	de e	t ni	wo Ki do	Ai L ni Ae Ktte
wakącą́giže.	Égi	tee	tānį́	wogížu	hiranihekjege,
it is made holy.	And	this	tobacco	to offer them	they would do, and

de e	w o n	rii Le tt Hitti	w o L	Ai Ko.	o n Kd n.
tee	wa’ųną.	S’irejąxjį	wa’ųra,	higų́	’ųnąkšąną.
this	they do it.	For a very long time	he did it,	still	doing it.

				Winnebago V, #21: 13
A lte e.	Ae Le dKo ni K	w o n	te e.	e Ki	di Ke.
Hą̄pte’é	Herešgúniga	wa’ųną,	te’é.	Égi	žigé
Today	the Devil	he does it,	this.	And	again

w K Le de.	ttAe	Aiyo Ki L ttL.	tto lAi wi n	n tto tt	Ai Le de.
wakareže,	cē	hiųgirájᵉra	jōpíwi	nąjųją́	hireže:
he said to him,	buffalo	[the princesses ?]	four	to bless him	they did:

rK L.	e Ki	di Ke.	rAe lL.	e Ki	di Ke.
sgara,	égi	žigé	sēbᵉra,	égi	žigé
the white one,	and	again	the black one,	and	again

ri L.	e Ki	di Ke.	doAo tti d,	de n K	n [t]to tt ne de.
zī́ra,	égi	žigé	šujižą,	žēną́ga	nąjųjąneže.
the yellow one,	and	again	a red one,	that many	they blesserd him.

e Ki	di Ke.	Ai no l A L.	w KeLe Ki	A ow tti Le de.	w KeLe Ki.
Égi	žigé	hinųbahąra	wągᵉregi	ha’ųąjireže.	Wągᵉregi
And	again	the second time	up above	they were doing it.	Up above

ttAe w Kotto	Hi d	n KdeAe.	de e	n tto tt de.	w Ke de.
cēwą́kjo•	xižą	nąkše.	Tee	nąjųjąže,	wagežé.
buffalo bull	a yellow one	there was.	This one	he blessed him,	he told him.

* cēwą́k means "buffalo bull," but the meaning of tto (jo/ju) is not known.

m o L	e Ki.	Ai KA n Kd n	Ai dKe	w d	Lo K n
"Mą̄’ų́ra	égi	hįkanąkšąną.	Hišgé	wažą́	rukąną́
"Earthmaker	here	he established it.	Also	things	to control

		Winnebago V, #21: 14
Ai Ko rA n.	Ai ttAo dKe	n tto ni tt n.	wo n Hi Le	Ai to K n n.
hįgų́saną.	Hicųšgé,	nąjonijáną.	Woną́ǧiré	hitukananą.
he created me.	Grandson,	I bless you.	War	I control.

Source

Paul Radin, "Buffalo Dance," Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.): Winnebago V, #21 (Freeman #3897): 1-35.