Gilbert Thompson | Chahta Anno̱pa Miya Ka̱

CHAHTA ANNO̱PA MIYA KA̱

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians


Gilbert Thompson


1)

Gilbert Thompson oklah sa hochífottók.

‘They named me Gilbert Thompson.’
2)

Ok, katiyak ish ámiti?

‘Ok, where are you from?’
3)

Bók Chito.

‘Bók Chito.’
4)

Chi̱ parents hohchifo nátah? Chi̱ki?

‘What are your parents' names? Your father?’
5)

Hector Thompson

‘Hector Thompson.’
6)

Chishki ako̱?

‘Your mother?’
7)

Rosie Wesley Thompson

‘Rose Wesley Thompson’
8)

Makkiya Bók Chito mi̱tih?

‘Is she from Bók Chito also?’
9)

Mato Mashulaville ak[o̱] ámíti.

‘She comes from Mashulaville.’
10)

Okay, Mashulaville mat katiyak?

‘Okay, where is Mashulaville?’
11)

Winston County, Macon imma iya.

‘Winston County, going towards Macon.’
12)

Ákma̱,

‘So then,’
13)

Mashulaville imma ma̱ ish pim anólána ho̱?

‘can you tell us about Mashulaville?’
14)

Nánahósh, tamáha okmannánahma̱?

‘If it's a town or something?’
15)

Kanohmi kat Chahtat ma̱ áshattók.

‘There were some Choctaws living there.’
16)

Church at tala̱yattók, nátah,

‘There was a church, what is it,’
17)

Pentecostal Church attók amówa̱lhih.

‘I think it was a Pentecostal Church.’
18)

Hikako̱, ma̱ bili̱ka mako̱ amáfo Cameron Wesley hat pit wihattók.

‘And then, my grandfather Cameron Wesley moved towards near there.’
19)

Hittókósh mattat [ma̱ attat],

‘And so he lived there,’
20)

alla- assanoh chohmit tahah, oklah, oklah áshattók.

‘child-, he was getting older when they lived there.’
21)

Ti̱kba ikka̱nali kato chokka, nátah,

‘The first thing I remember, the house, what was it,’
22)

nátah, dog trot houses yohmih ahwah kaníyah.

‘what was it, it was kind of like dog trot houses.’
23)

Chokka itti̱ toklot, nátah, á mahli lhopolli yohmih taka̱lit áyáshattók. Hikakósh.

‘The two houses were together, what was it, and a breezeway was there. But,’
24)

Afammi kanohmi onahma̱ chokka chitot o̱t attattók.

‘After so many years he went to live at a big house.’
25)

Hikakósh,

‘But,’
26)

ma a̱ttat, wihash ma̱ onattók, cause uh,

‘he was living there, he moved there, cause uh,’
27)

Nátah?

‘What was it?’
28)

Eighteen hundreds a̱t-, nátah, assanot tahattókósh.

‘He grew up liv-, what was it, in the eighteen hundreds.’
29)

Ma̱ ayína kat, kanat a̱t hóyot naksika chafficháchi̱sh nokshopattók.

‘He was also afraid someone would come pick him up and send him somewhere.’
30)

Yohmittokósh ittiyalhíha wiháchih chohmittók.

‘That's why he moved his family often.’
31)

Katak i̱ nokshopah?

‘Who was he scared of?’
32)

Nahollo, (nahollo).

‘White man, (White man).’
33)

A̱t oklah hóyo chá Oklahoma isht iyáchi̱h im ahwash.

‘He thought they would come pick him up and take him to Oklahoma.’
34)

Yamma̱ im ánokfila fo̱kah mato.

‘That's what was in his thoughts.’
35)

Mato afammi katohmih onattók?

‘How old was he then?’
36)

O̱t tahahma̱ seventy, ninteen-seventy-two he was a hundred and seven.

‘When he passed away in seventy, ninteen-seventy-two he a hundred and seven.’
37)

Okay.

‘Okay.’
38)

Hitokósh,

‘So,’
39)

Mak fokáli mano katík fokálittóko̱?

‘At that time how old was he?’
40)

Afammi ya̱?

‘His age?’
41)

Nahollot? Probably in his fifties, forties.

‘White people? Probably in his fifties, forties.’
42)

Okay, (so) makilla mako̱ assano mak o̱nah mák oklah hoyahíkattóko̱?

‘Okay, (so) even if they were that old, they would search for them.’
43)

Uh-huh, hitoko̱

‘Aha, so’
44)

kaniyak oklah mayyakma̱, nahollot mi̱tih ahwah

‘wherever they were, if it seemed a white man was coming’
45)

áloma oklah ikka̱nattókósh pit oklah yilhípattók.

‘they knew where the hiding place was, so they would run to it.’
46)

Mat abohli cho̱?

‘Was that the forest, or?’
47)

Uh-huh, hayáka, kani.

‘Yes, the woods, somewhere.’
48)

Kanak á lohmáchi̱ ka̱ ataklammi-, tahli, atahlit tahlih atókmat.

‘He had prepared where they were going to hide.’
49)

Oklah ilhkólih hikmat

‘They would go and’
50)

o̱t kanash o̱t hoyoh.

‘someone would come get them.’
51)

Oklah hiki̱yattók ma̱,

‘And they would wait there,’
52)

kanash ittanowattókma̱, o̱t lhopollikma̱.

‘whoever was there, then (someone) came through (the area).’
53)

Lawat-, Lawa kat katohmish ma̱yahíkattók?

‘How many were living there?’
54)

Allat eight attók amahwah a̱lhih.

‘I think there were eight children.’
55)

Imalla bánoh cho?

‘Were the children all his or?’
56)

Uh-huh, sappokni ato, sashkít tahlhápi fokáliho̱ illittók.

‘Uh-huh, when my grandmother died my mother was about five.’
57)

Mak fokáli kano, nátah,

‘About that time, what was it,’
58)

I guess ishko okpolot oklah ibáyitti̱bili̱ka yohmi atóko̱,

‘I guess the heavy drinkers lived near each other,’
59)

yót abohli ano̱ka pit balít oklah ma̱yat,

‘they ran into the forest’
60)

nátah, hinat, nátah

‘what was it, the road,’
61)

wagon at kolli ka̱chi at-, kolokbi ka̱chi atóko̱

‘a wagon dug a deep ditch’
62)

yamma̱ habbitoka̱ kolokbi hihma̱ iyyi kobáfittók, hihma̱

‘she stepped in that, the ditch, and broke her foot, and’
63)

yohmi ma̱, I guess, mako̱ isht illitoka̱, gangrene okmanána, so she

‘that's what happened, I guess, she died from that, probably from gangrene, so she’
64)

afammi ma̱ pilla ki[yo]ho̱ o̱t tahattók, hihtokósh.

‘was not very old when she passed, so.’
65)

I think that was makósh,

‘I think that was, that was,’
66)

amáfo at hiyo-, tohchína onah kanah ittawayyattók.

‘My grandfather was married to three different people.’
67)

Hihtokósh, alla kanohmi ka̱ pihlíchish a̱yattók.

‘So, he took care of several children.’
68)

Ma̱ o̱t tahahma̱

‘When she passed away’
69)

ná kanah ittawayyattók kiyoh amówah *a̱lhih.

‘I think he didn't marry anyone else.’
70)

Mm-hm.

‘Mm-hm.’
71)

Alla achaffa mat im attatókósh mato itt- ittawayyattók kiyoh amówah a̱lhih.

‘I think he had one child that never married.’
72)

[Hi]tokósh,

‘And then,’
73)

but ma̱ oklah í ma̱yahma̱, oklah ma̱yahmat,

‘but when we lived there, when they lived there,’
74)

oklah wihi̱yahmat ma̱ onat tahattók, hihtósh mako̱ a̱ttat o̱t tahattók.

‘They kept moving and when they got there, and he stayed there until he passed on.’
75)

Mashulaville mako̱? (Mashulaville ma̱) Okay.

‘At Mashulaville? (Mashulaville) Okay.’
76)

So I guess between

‘So I gues between’
77)

when I was born

‘when I was born,’
78)

siyalhpówahma̱ oklah [il] ilhkólih chohmi attók.

‘when I was born we went all the time.’
79)

Every other weekend o̱t,

‘Every other weekend,’
80)

o̱t oklí ma̱yash shahlih nánash oklah míchikma̱.

‘We were there all the time, when they were doing things.’
81)

Kanah im afammi i̱pat oklah ittahobah, or

‘They got together to eat for someone's birthday or’
82)

Kanash illitokma áyáya yohmih i̱ míchih.

‘If someone died, a cry ceremony happened for them.’
83)

Or,

‘Or,’
84)

pí nána yoka̱ ittimilayya kat oklah ma̱ya yattók.

‘they would just be doing different things.’
85)

Hikmat,

‘Also’
86)

a̱kít kaníkma̱

‘my father sometimes’
87)

sashki ittiyalhíha ibá ishko kat imachokmatósh ma̱ ayínah.

‘liked to drink with my mother's family too.’
88)

Ma̱ ayína nowahíkattók, tóko̱.

‘He used to go there too, so.’
89)

Oklah í[l] im ittanowah shahlih chohmittók.

‘We used to go visit them a lot too.’
90)

Mm-hm.

‘Mm-hm.’
91)

Yáya ish áchih pat náto̱shmih [nátaho̱ ish mihah]-, ish mihah?

‘You said to cry, what is this you are referring too?’
92)

Nátah, kanash,

‘What was it, someone,’
93)

kanash hachi̱ kaníyakma̱,

‘if you lose someone,’
94)

nátah, kaní fokáli o̱t, o̱t iyakma̱ ittapíha chá

‘what was it, when a certain amount of time has passed, they would get together and’
95)

nátah, pí,

‘what was it, like,’
96)

nátah, ish

‘what was it, you’
97)

pí nánaho̱ ish, ish ibá míchiho̱ ishkána yohmitókma̱ isht ano̱polih, or

‘just something you, you talk about something you remember doing with them, or’
98)

nána yót, nátah, memorial okma̱ oklah mihchih.

‘something like that, what is it, they do something like a memorial.’
99)

Mat certain kind of nána kiya? Ilokfokka i̱la cho makáshi̱nih?

‘Is there a certain kind of anything? Different clothes or the same ones (usual clothes)?’
100)

Kiyoh pí ittahoba chá i̱pah.

‘No, they just get together and eat.’
101)

Hikako̱ kanah ná yohmi picture-take-hí kiyoh ahnittók.

‘But, they requested that nobody take any pictures.’
102)

Ná holba, holbat- ikbahí kiyottók, oklah ahnittók.

‘They couldn't take pictures, they requested.’
103)

Yammat,

‘Is that?’
104)

ittbá-, ittahobat hash i̱pahmat Bók Chito ish attatósh mako̱ pí o̱t hash nowah?

‘When y'all gather and eat, if you were living in Bogue Chitto, y'all just went over there (Mashulaville)?’
105)

Uh-huh (Okay).

‘Uh-huh (Okay).’
106)

Cause,

‘Cause,’
107)

sashkít ittiyalhíhat ittiyabili̱ka chohmittóko̱ mak fokáli ka̱.

‘My mother's family were close to each other at that time.’
108)

i̱ki i̱ brothers

‘Her father's brothers’
109)

ittiyapishi yót oshi tík yo[mi]kato̱

‘his brothers' daughters, all those’
110)

naksika wihat yót oklah ilhkólih atóko̱.

‘they moved to different places.’
111)

St. Louis

‘St. Louis,’
112)

Tennessee, yo[mi]ka̱.

‘Tennessee, all those.’
113)

Oklah wihatokósh mo̱míchit ma̱yattók kiyotoko̱.

‘They moved so they weren't all living here.’
114)

Yohmikako̱ makásh sashki ittiyalhíha ako̱ ittiyapíya aki̱likatósh mako̱ oklah i̱ nówahíkattók.

‘That's why my mother's side of the family together used to visit each other.’
115)

Toko̱ mako̱,

‘And then,’
116)

ma̱ a̱ttásh o̱t tahattók, amáfo hicha,

‘that's were he lived and pased away, my grandfather and,’
117)

kaníkat makakat,

‘some would say,’
118)

hina nátah,

‘and what was it,’
119)

black magic yohmih míchih, áchittók.

‘he did black magic like that, it was said.’
120)

cause uh,

‘cause uh,’
121)

Dr. York, Dr. Kenneth York ato o̱t i̱ folot[at]oka̱ i̱ cousin, ittiyalhíha yo̱,

‘Dr. York, Dr. Kenneth York, who visited him along with his cousins, his family,’
122)

Truck alhtósh tohchinash ittonáchitokáko̱

‘three truckloads got there/a truck loaded with three got there.’
123)

Amáfot porch bini̱lit

‘My grandfather was sitting on the porch’
124)

si̱ti i̱pachish a̱ttatoko̱ oklah pi̱sattókósh.

‘they saw him there feeding a snake.’
125)

Pí okchilhot kaníyattó́k.

‘They were just amazed/wide-eyed.’
126)

Black Magic ish áchih pat Chahta anno̱pa nátah hochífoh?

‘You say Black Magic, what do you call this in the Choctaw language?’
127)

Nána chishba.

‘Whatever it is.’
128)

(yoppa)

‘chuckle’
129)

Okay

‘Okay’
130)

Hihokásh, pí alikchi yómikat mihchi kat

‘But then, those doctors that did it’
131)

nátah, okki̱sh áchih kaníkato.

‘what was it, some called it medicine.’
132)

Mako̱ yohmi attókósh.

‘That's how it was done.’
133)

Yappat Carmen o̱ ish makáchih?

‘This is Carmen that you are talking about?’
134)

Másh mihchih? (Cameron) Cameron (Cameron, uh-huh) I’m sorry.

‘He was the one doing it? (Cameron) Cameron (Cameron, uh-huh) I’m sorry.’
135)

Cameron másh mihchih?

‘Cameron was the one doing it?’
136)

Uh-huh, Cameron ásh si̱ti i̱pachish a̱ttattók.

‘Uh-huh, Cameron was the one feeding the snake.’
137)

Hitokósh,

‘And so,’
138)

amóshi Barnie Wesley ma̱ ayína kat alikchi attók.

‘my uncle Barnie Wesley was also a doctor.’
139)

Mato ma̱ ayína kat drums yo̱ ikbi a̱ttattó́k.

‘He would also make drums.’
140)

Hikako̱ anáto pi̱salittók kiyokako̱, sattiyapishi ato pi̱sattók miyattó́k i̱ chokka onattókáko̱.

‘But I myself didn’t see it, but my brother said he saw it when he went to his house.’
141)

Kanit attat 'skosa towwitokáko̱, nátah, ánósi,

‘When he finally came and opened the door, what was it, the bedroom,’
142)

'skossa o̱t towwitokako̱ si̱tít ak itto̱tok [itto̱latok] miyattók,

‘he said, when he went and opened the door a snake was on the the floor,’
143)

ano̱ka ma̱, átoko̱.

‘inside there, so.’
144)

Yohmih, like, oklah yohmi shahli attóka̱, alikchit si̱ti oklah, oklah isht a̱yah.

‘Like, like, they always did that, the doctors, they, they handled snakes.’
145)

Hiyatokósh,

‘So then,’
146)

yoho̱mi yo̱ kanohmi kat oklah itta nówahíkattók.

‘some of them used to go around like that repeatedly.’
147)

La̱wa kato oklah achokmáli kato,

‘Which many of them liked,’
148)

im okki̱sh ikbihmat iskati̱t Old Charter okmanánah.

‘when he made his medicine with a little Old Charter or something,’
149)

ibáni attóko̱, kani kat mako̱ oklah i̱ cha̱politoka̱ hicha kaníyah.

‘he added it and some of them liked it, maybe.’
150)

Hikma̱ oklah áchahíkattók.

‘That’s what they used to say.’
151)

Alikchi ish áchihpat nátaho̱ immi im alikchi attók?

‘When you said doctor, what kind of doctoring was it?’
152)

Pí ittim ilayyokah.

‘Just different kinds.’
153)

Kanit mihchi pi̱sali hokato.

‘I saw how he was doing it.’
154)

Himaka̱ high blood pressure oklah áchih.

‘Now they call it high blood pressure.’
155)

Yohmi ahwah kaníyakma̱

‘If it’s kind of like that,’
156)

oka kápassalít ittahobbit tahli chá

‘He would gather up cold water and’
157)

i̱ nátah i̱ fingers ma̱, nátat bashlih.

‘their, what was it, he cut their finger.’
158)

Hikma̱ oka fokkánah ahnih.

‘And wants it to be placed in water.’
159)

Mátokma̱ blood pressure akkisht iyachih.

‘And then it makes the blood pressure go down.’
160)

Yohmika̱ mihchih hicha.

‘He did things like that.’
161)

Chi na-, cha- chinnali yo̱kat ná chi ataklammakma̱,

‘If you had any problems with your back,’
162)

mako̱ bashlih áchih.

‘that’s called cutting.’
163)

Mako̱ kaníkma̱ apísa̱chili kato kanat o̱t tashkichit [it]to̱lakma̱,

‘that’s when sometimes when I was watching, a person went and laid down,’
164)

X bashli chá nátah, lapish,

‘he would cut an X, what was it, a horn,’
165)

nátah, mihchi chá nátah,

‘what was it, he did it and,’
166)

o̱ sho̱kakma̱ anót cap shamáchikmat,

‘he would suck on it (horn) and put a cap on it,’
167)

sallahat issis kallot kotchakma̱,

‘slowly the blood clot comes out,’
168)

ma̱ kotchat tahakma̱

‘when that all comes out,’
169)

oka at tala̱yah ma̱ pit fokkih.

‘the water is set, and it's (blood) placed in there.’
170)

Hikma̱t yokót towáchit pist folótat nánásh kanihmikma̱.

‘And he stirs it like this and looks around for what might be wrong.’
171)

Nánash, kanash ná kanitchitoko̱ ikkanah bannásh mihchit pisah hikmat

‘He looked at it to find out if something or someone did something, and so’
172)

Ma̱ mihchit tahlikmat ít amahíkattók hikmat

‘When he finished doing it he used to give it to me and’
173)

"Kan(i) o̱t lhálih," áchih.

‘he'd say, “Go spill it somewhere.” ’
174)

Nátaho̱ ishit bashlih?

‘What does he cut with?’
175)

A razor blade.

‘A razor blade.’
176)

Hicha, sho̱kah ish áchihma̱, nátaho̱ ishit mihchih?

‘When you said sucking it, what is it done with?’
177)

Lapish (Okay).

‘Horn (Okay).’
178)

Goat horn, (oh) a hollowed out goat horn.

‘Goat horn, (oh) a hollowed out goat horn.’
179)

And a mako̱ nána kano ishit, isht akammikma̱

‘And use he used something to close it.’
180)

Nátah,

‘What’
181)

Sho̱kahmat vaccum hikma̱ issis at kochah.

‘When he sucks it, it's a vaccuum and the blood comes out.’
182)

So yót mihi̱chi pi̱salahíkattók hicha, ittim-

‘So I used to see him do it like that a lot, and with-’
183)

Ta̱kla iyálahíkattók kaníkma̱ bók alhlhi nána plants, roots yo̱ka̱ [yómika̱] ayyówat iyakma̱.

‘I used to go with him sometimes by the edge of the creek when he went to collect plants, roots, all that.’
184)

ta̱kla iyálikásh, I guess,

‘I would go with him, I guess,’
185)

osi siyah mo̱matokósh, ikka̱nalih kiyoh.

‘I was still small, so I don't remember.’
186)

Kaníka̱ nána ayyówahíkattóko̱ pí takla iyálittók ikka̱nalih.

‘I just know that I went with him when he went to collect things sometimes.’
187)

Kana oka, pond at nátah bók yohmit bili̱kakma̱.

‘Some water, if there is a pond near a creek.’
188)

Bók ish áchihmat katiyak fokáli?

‘When you say creek about where is it?’
189)

Mashulaville ma̱.

‘There in Mashulaville.’
190)

I guess,

‘I guess,’
191)

Dancing Rabbit Creek is, kanak áyattattóka̱, was probably about ten miles.

‘Dancing Rabbit Creek is where he lived at, was probably 'bout ten miles.’
192)

Ma̱ bili̱ka attattók.

‘He lived near there.’
193)

Hikakósh ma̱ attattók ahchíba, kaníkma̱ ná mihi̱chih, Nahollo ittibá míchi or

‘But he lived there a long time, sometimes he was doing stuff, he worked with the White people, or’
194)

ittibá isht átapah, or kaníkma̱, nátah,

‘he was rowdy with them, or sometimes, what was it,’
195)

foni oklah pilah yohmih gambling yót taháshakma̱ [tahat áshakma̱].

‘they threw dice like that, they got in the habit of gambling.’
196)

Hiyokásh himonna 'chaffa kano, I guess, im ábit attatoko̱, oklah bólittókah

‘Then one time, I guess, he kept beating them, so they beat him up.’
197)

Okcha̱yásh kiyo oklah imahwattók, kanah kato chokka isht onah, i̱ chokka isht onatokáko̱.

‘They thought he wasn't going to survive so somebody brought him home, took him to his house.’
198)

Hospital at Macon illásh bili̱katoko̱, oklah isht iyattók. Iyah ik bannottók.

‘The only nearby hospital was in Macon, they took him. He didn’t want to go.’
199)

"Issasht iyannah," áchikako̱,

‘He said, “Don’t take me,” but’
200)

Oklah i̱ palammikako̱ i̱ palammi chohmi ahwatto̱ko̱ oklah isht iyattók,hitókako̱

‘they were in bad shape-, they thought he was in bad shape, so they took him, but’
201)

mano kana kat ittiyalhíhat ittibá-, takla a̱ttahí kiyoh átoko̱,

‘there, no one, his family couldn't stay there with him so’
202)

ná oklah ma̱yattók kiyoh.

‘they didn’t stay.’
203)

Oklah hiki̱yahmat fala̱t i̱ chokka ilhkólittók.

‘They waited and then went back to their homes.’
204)

Hitoko̱ nittak toklo-tohchi̱na fokáli onahma̱

‘Then, after about two or three days’
205)

i̱ kani̱hmit tahachá ahnit o̱t oklah pisatokáko̱

‘they thought he was recovered and went to see him,’
206)

i̱ kani̱hmit taha fokáli i̱ chokka iya̱nat tahah achitók, alikchi.

‘The doctor said, “He is almost completely healed, and he can go to his home.” ’
207)

Hitókako̱ o̱t pisatokako̱ iyah ik bannottók, miyatok.

‘But when they went to see him he didn't want to go, they said.’
208)

Nurses at oklah im achokmali ka̱chitoko̱.

‘The nurses they treated him good.’
209)

Iyah ik bannosh a̱ttattók.

‘He didn't want to go.’
210)

Hito̱ pí yót pí isht átapattók.

‘But he was just acting foolish.’
211)

Alikchi ish áchih pa̱ makilla ish ikka̱nah?

‘You said doctor, is that all you know about this (doctor)?’
212)

Anó[li]t ish tahlikásh ma̱?

‘Are you finished telling about it?’
213)

I mean.

‘I mean.’
214)

Makillaho̱?

‘That's all?’
215)

Yeah, pí nána ishko ittim ilayyoka ikbih yohmih.

‘Yeah, he would make different kinds of drinks.’
216)

Makósh ná míchih chohmih attóka̱. Ná nihi yo̱kat,

‘He did a lot of those things. Those seeds,’
217)

nátah,

‘what was it?’
218)

boil-a tahli chá, tea okmanána oklah áchih himáno, ikbih, pato.

‘he would boil them and, now they call it tea or something like that, he made it, this one (tea)’
219)

Nátah?

‘What?’
220)

Alhípa bóli yamma̱ ikbih ish makáchikásh ma̱?

‘You said that he made that drum? (mm-hm)’
221)

Ish anólánaho̱?

‘Can you tell about it?’
222)

Ná pi̱sali tokalhlhitok kiyoh, kannihmikmako̱ isht a̱ttahíkattók.

‘I didn't see it all the time, he would work with it once in a while.’
223)

A̱ttalih fokáli kat, he was ninety, ninety-four, ninety-five years old.

‘About when I was born, he was ninety, ninety-four, ninety-five years old.’
224)

So, mihchih a̱lhih kiyoh tahattók.

‘So, he didn't hardly do it.’
225)

Hikako̱ pi̱salihkato, amoshi akósh míchi ako̱ pi̱salahíkattók.

‘But when I saw it, my uncle was the one I used to see doing it [drum making].’
226)

(Hikako̱) Chimoshi mat katah?

‘(But) Who is your uncle?’
227)

Barney Wesley.

‘Barney Wesley.’
228)

Okay másh, mat a̱ttah mo̱maho̱?

‘Okay, is he still living?’
229)

Huh-uh, kíyo, kaníyattók, hitoko̱

‘Huh-uh, he passed away, and so’
230)

i̱ drum, Cameron i̱ drum,

‘his drum, Cameron's drum,’
231)

ahóchih sanna ka̱ ahóchilahí kiyósh attalih.

‘I want to find it, but I can't find it.’
232)

Kanímikma̱ different museums, or different houses in the area that I get acquainted with,

‘Sometimes different museums, or different houses in the area that I get acquainted with,’
233)

ahóchilahí kiyoh.

‘I can't find it.’
234)

Áchíba kásh ish makatok, well

‘You said it earlier, well’
235)

pa̱ ikít kil iyoh ki̱sha ka̱.

‘we hadn't started this yet.’
236)

Museum nátaho̱ i̱ picture ohnánásh [okmanána kásh] taka̱li ish makakásh ma̱?

‘What museum is it when you said his picture or something is hanging there?’
237)

Oh,

‘Oh,’
238)

Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.

‘Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.’
239)

Nátaho̱ mihchihósh?

‘What did he do?’
240)

Sidney Wesley, he was the, he had some recordings on wax.

‘Sidney Wesley, he was the, he had some recordings on wax.’
241)

Nána kanit ano̱poli attóka̱ oklah holbat ikbit oklah mihchit bohli attóko̱ hicha picture

‘They (Smithsonian) made a recording of something of how he used to speak, and they placed that there, and the picture’
242)

I guess he was in his, afammít seven-, late-seventies, early eighties.

‘I guess he was in his, his age was seven, late-seventies, early eighties.’
243)

They have a picture of him in gray hair, but

‘They have a picture of him in gray hair, but’
244)

nátah, [ip]pa̱shít tohbi kaníyaho̱, pí i̱shilih, holbattoba.

‘what's it, I have it, the picture, his hair is really white.’
245)

Hiyo̱, hiyokash,

‘So, and then,’
246)

Kani, kabotcha tóli imma,

‘Somewhere, about stickball games,’
247)

Nátah?

‘What is it?’
248)

Exhibit mihchih or hilha yohmi exhibit mihchih,

‘He did exhibits, or he did exhibits about dances,’
249)

kanohmi ka̱ newspaper clippings at-, nátah, oklah takóchittoko̱, i̱shilih ma̱ ayína ka̱.

‘some of the newspaper clippings, what was it, that they posted, I have those too.’
250)

Mm-hm.

‘Mm-hm.’
251)

That's it?

‘That's it?’
252)

Kabotcha tóli hopáki nána ish ikka̱naho̱?

‘Do you know something about old stickball games?’
253)

Bók Chito cho tóli alhíha i̱lah.

‘Bogue Chitto or different teams?’
254)

Bók Chito -ak chímo- chohmiho̱

‘Mostly in Bogue Chitto -***-.’
255)

School, high school tahlilihmat

‘School, when I finished high school’
256)

i̱ shalit college iyalittók.

‘I went further to college.’
257)

Hitoko̱ anaki̱t chilófalittók college iyáláchi̱ ka̱.

‘And when I was going to go to college I paid for it myself.’
258)

Safammi yat sixteen ósh high school tahlilittók.

‘I was age sixteen when I finished high school.’
259)

Hitokósh iyáláchihmat

‘So when I was going to go’
260)

anaki̱t chilo̱fash to̱ksalit yót a̱yalih átokósh,

‘I was working and paying for it myself so,’
261)

anáto, tólili a̱lhi attók kiyoh.

‘myself, I didn't play ball that much.’
262)

Himak ohmi, himaka̱, kanihmi ka̱ yohmi attók kiyoh makfokáli kano.

‘Like now, right now, somethings weren't like this back then.’
263)

Alla, alla alhíha yo̱ka̱ apílihchit oklah tólit kaníyah.

‘Children, kids teams, they really play ball.’
264)

Yohmi kaníyah kiyottók, youth league at ikshottók.

‘It wasn't like that, there were no youth leagues.’
265)

Basketball oklí tólihma̱, youth at,

‘When we played basketball, the youth,’
266)

I was, nátah?

‘I was, what was it?’
267)

College a̱yalish youth tóli isht hikít iyálitok,'cause I wasn't

‘I was in college when I started playing in youth games, 'cause I wasn't’
268)

eighteen ak ono ko̱shatoko̱ so I was still, alla youth ibá tólilih mato am attali ka̱

‘I wasn't eighteen yet, so I was still, I played with the youth when I was there.’
269)

Hikásh

‘And then’
270)

Oklah ábachi ka̱ pi̱sali attók,

‘I used to see them practice,’
271)

hikakósh iyali a̱lhi attók kiyoh, 'cause

‘but I hardly went, 'cause’
272)

to̱ksalit iyálih yohmih átokósh.

‘I was going to work.’
273)

Tenth grade onálihmat to̱ksali isht ikít iyálittók,

‘I started working when I got to the tenth grade,’
274)

tamáha ano̱ka áttokósh.

‘it was in town.’
275)

Mako̱, I guess,

‘That, I guess’
276)

A̱ i̱ki, sashki hicha a̱ i̱kít, pi̱sali kato to̱ksali illa pi̱sali attók.

‘My father, my mother and my father, whenever I saw them I always saw them working.’
277)

'Cause, nátah?

‘Cause, what was it?’
278)

Ti̱kba ikka̱nali kano

‘The first thing I knew (realized),’
279)

osápat hapi̱ lawattók, tahlhápi onattók.

‘we had a lot of fields, there were five of them.’
280)

Hikma̱ ponola oklí hokchih, tobi,

‘And we grew cotton, beans’
281)

pí nána apánakma̱ oklí hokchi attók, hikma̱

‘we planted whatever could be eaten, and’
282)

áyittatoba iyah sannah a̱lhih kiyotoka̱ 'cause i̱pat hapi̱ lawattóko̱.

‘I didn't ever need to go to the store because we had plenty of food.’
283)

Persimmon omma pa̱ a̱shakma̱, takkon oshta onat taka̱lih,

‘Persimmons over there, about four peaches (apple) trees,’
284)

pecans tree hiki̱ya, fig tree,

‘there were pecan trees, and fig trees,’
285)

blackberries, pers-, muscadine.

‘Blackberries, pers-, muscadine.’
286)

Just had all sorts of stuff I could eat around there, so I guess I,

‘Just had all sorts of stuff I could eat around there, so I guess I,’
287)

going to the store and having a cook was a luxury back,

‘going to the store and having a cook was a luxury back,’
288)

mak fokáli kano, 'cause,

‘at that time, cause,’
289)

skali lawat oklah ikbi attók kiyátoko̱, fokáli ka̱.

‘back then, they didn't make a lot of money.’
290)

Hikásh, to̱ksali ato makilla oklí mihchi attók.

‘So, all we did was work.’
291)

Pako̱ allosi siyah m[o̱m]aka̱ ná ibá míchilih,

‘This is what I did with him when I was still a little kid,’
292)

osápa ná ayiskachih.

‘clearing out the fields.’
293)

Hicha nána am- a̱ i̱ki i̱ki, amáfo mano ikka̱nali kato

‘And my dad's dad, when I knew my grandfather,’
294)

ti̱kba ná ikka̱nali kato, osi siya m[om]aka̱

‘the first thing I remember, when I was still small,’
295)

afammi toklo, tohchi̱na fokási [fokáli siyah] attoka̱,

‘I was about two or three years,’
296)

sashkít ná to̱ksali kiyo ko̱shattoko̱, ponola amot nowattók,

‘my mother wasn't working yet, she went around picking cotton’
297)

toklo ma̱, hitoko̱.

‘those two, so.’
298)

Oklah ilhkólihma̱, hikakósh himonna achaffa

‘When they went, so one time’
299)

ikka̱nali kato,

‘I remember,’
300)

sa nósi ohma̱,

‘when I was asleep,’
301)

amáfo i̱ bag o̱ siyo̱bohlittók.

‘they layed me down on grandfather's bag.’
302)

Hitoka̱ ma̱ itto̱lat amokakósh shiláchittók hihma̱

‘So as I was laying there, he was picking, and sliding it (the bag).’
303)

Nánash kanáyóli ka̱ ahnilittók, iskitínit ná amot tahlikma̱, anikma̱ next one iyahma̱,

‘I thought something was moving, when he finished picking a little bit and put it in, he went to next one,’
304)

yót kanaha̱lli, kanalli pí ahnilikakósh,

‘I thought it moved, and kept moving like this,’
305)

I guess sa nosi ayínatoko̱, onnahi̱li cause

‘I guess because I was still sleeping and it was early in the morning, cause’
306)

nátah, four or five o'clock fokáliho̱ oklah yót amot nowahíkattoko̱.

‘What was it, around four or five o'clock is when they used to go around picking.’
307)

Siyokchahma̱ aba pisálikako̱

‘When I woke and looked up’
308)

makáto̱ iti cháha á hiki̱yalih am ahwatokáko̱ ano̱ka fo̱kalih am ahwatokáko̱

‘then I thought I was standing by tall trees, I thought I was inside [the trees].’
309)

ponola ** nona káko̱.

‘The cotton hadn't bloomed’
310)

mako̱ pist lhopollilikakósh iti cháha am ahwattók, fokáli ka̱.

‘when I looked through it, I thought it was tall trees, that time.’
311)

Hiyako̱,

‘So,’
312)

mako̱ áyikkanálih sashki hicha a̱ i̱ki.

‘That's what I learned from them, my mother and my father.’
313)

Nátah, pí to̱ksali illa oklah chohmi attókósh

‘What is it, they mostly only worked.’
314)

A̱ i̱kít diesel mechanic ikkanat iyattók, Chicago.

‘My dad went to learn to be a diesel mechanic in Chicago.’
315)

Hikma̱ sashki ato textile plants yo̱kako̱ work-attók.

‘But my mother worked at textile plants.’
316)

Hitokósh pí to̱ksali tókalhlhih, ná míchi tókalhlhih.

‘So, she was always working, always doing something.’
317)

Ma̱ yohmikakósh ná

‘But those things’
318)

ná isht átapa mapillali attók kiyo ka̱

‘I was not that rowdy.’
319)

'Cause, ná oklah mihchilánah am ásha tókalhlhi atokósh

‘Cause, they always had things for me to do.’
320)

Wák at hiyohma̱yásh.

‘There were cows.’
321)

Shokkat ma̱yah.

‘There were pigs.’
322)

Wahnota ayiskachih, hashshok taptolih, yohmih

‘Fixing the yard, cutting the grass, all that.’
323)

Hikmat, ta̱chít wáyat tahakma̱, you know, amoh yohmih.

‘And, when the corn is finished growing, you know, picking it, things like that.’
324)

Oklah ná, ná mihchána ka̱ ama tókalhlhi attók, so (Mm-hm).

‘They always gave me something to do, so (Mm-hm).’
325)

Pí toksa̱li chi assanoh?

‘You grew up working?’
326)

Mm-hm.

‘Mm-hm.’
327)

Hiyátoko̱, farm oklah áchih, ma̱, mak ish áyimma.

‘So, you're all about what they call the farm.’
328)

Mm, uh-huh.

‘Mm, Uh-huh.’
329)

Iti alhíha i̱la katommásh isht ish ikka̱nah?

‘Which different trees do you know about?’
330)

Hochífohósh[sic] ish ikka̱nah?

‘Do yo know what they are called.’
331)

I just look at them.

‘I just look at 'em.’
332)

Pí pi̱salikmat tabbilih.

‘I just cut them when I see them.’
333)

'Cause I guess that's one of things when a̱ i̱kít, nátah, innali hottopáchih,

‘Cause I guess that's one of things when my dad, what was it, hurt his back.’
334)

Land Enterprise.

‘Lennon Enterprise,’
335)

Tribe i̱ company, Land Enterprise at ma̱yahma̱ to̱ksalihmat

‘when the tribe's company, Land Enterpise was around, when he worked there,’
336)

I guess he, nátah?

‘I guess he, what was it?’
337)

Bath tub chokka ayiskachi yohmi oklah ibá to̱ksalitoko̱.

‘He worked with those that fixed bath tubs in homes.’
338)

I guess kanat ibá to̱ksalánattók ik hayákottoko̱,

‘I guess someone that was supposed to work with him didn't show up.’
339)

iláp akillásh Red Water tubs isht iyattók,

‘He took the tubs to Red Water by himself.’
340)

hátoko̱ iláp aki̱t akka kowáchi bannat a̱ttat

‘He was trying to take them out by himself’
341)

i̱ disc okpanittók, átoko̱.

‘and he hurt his disc, so.’
342)

Ik to̱ksálo ná, 'bout five, six years hihma̱ pulpwood truck cho̱pattók.

‘He didn't work, about, five, six years, and then he bought a pulpwood truck.’
343)

So, siyafammi at about eight fokáli siyattók am ahwah a̱lhi, hittokósh,

‘So, I think I was about 8 years old, so,’
344)

mak fokálihma̱ pulpwood haul-at nówali attók.

‘about then I was going around hauling pulpwood.’
345)

'Cause, i̱ pulpwood truck a̱shaka ma̱

‘Cause, on the back of his pulpwood truck’
346)

he had a wench that, aba taka̱li yohmit,

‘he had a wench that, it was hanging up like this,’
347)

wire o̱t, nátah, iti taptoli o̱t á folóchih tahli chá asháchikma̱

‘the wire went, what was it, he would wrap it around the cut logs,’
348)

halallilikma̱, onakma̱, pí truck oklí fokkih, hittokósh.

‘when I pulled it (wench controller), and when it comes, we put it (logs) in the truck, so.’
349)

Kaníkma̱ kapassa kat am átapakma̱ especially temperatures at

‘Sometimes it would get too cold for me, especially the temperatures’
350)

kapassa kat thirty degrees onah oklah iti chaha̱li ako̱.

‘the cold would get to 30 degrees, when they were cutting trees.’
351)

Kaníkma̱ truck ano̱ka heater ano̱ka itto̱[la]lahíkattók kaníkma̱ nosi yo̱,

‘Sometimes I would be laying inside the truck with the heater on sleeping,’
352)

kapassa kat átapakma̱.

‘when it got too cold.’
353)

So, but,

‘So, but,’
354)

I guess,

‘I guess,’
355)

hochífo kano, I guess I

‘naming them, I guess I,’
356)

yót ikkanat ano̱polit kaníyattók kiyoh.

‘if he didn't know it he didn't really say.’
357)

Chi̱ kanomi si̱ti isht a̱yah, katomm, si̱ti katommásh [oklah] sháli, shálittók?

‘Your relatives went around with snakes, which snakes did they carry?’
358)

Sidney Wesley

‘Sidney Wesley’
359)

Oh, oh, si̱ti ma̱, katommásh si̱ti? Si̱tollo? Cho, ish ikka̱nah?

‘Oh, oh, those snakes, which snakes? Rattlesnakes? Or, do you know?’
360)

Kaní kato oklah a̱yatokakat pí si̱ti sha̱t a̱ya attók.

‘Some would be going around just carrying a snake.’
361)

Kaní kato noshkobo toklot taka̱lih, si̱ti.

‘Some would have two heads, the snakes.’
362)

Oklah áchittók, hikásh nánash a̱lhi ka̱ akka̱noh.

‘That's what they said, but I don't really know the truth.’
363)

Kaní kat oklah assanot a̱ sha̱lih, yót oklah am anólikma̱,

‘Some of them who are older than me, when they told me these things,’
364)

hikakósh ná ponaklolánah ikka̱nali kiyoh átokósh pí oklah am anólih pí ha̱kloli attók.

‘I didn't know what to ask, so when they told me I just listened.’
365)

Shokkanno̱pa cho ná annowa ishka̱na cho?

‘Do you know a hogtale or story, or?’
366)

Nán annowa i̱la ish ikka̱na, pim anólih.

‘Know a different story, tell us.’
367)

Nán annowa pí.

‘Like a story,’
368)

Shokkanno̱pa, cho.

‘A hogtale, or.’
369)

Nánaho̱ anokfillilih chishba, hihchishba.

‘Whatever I'm thinking about, whatever it is.’
370)

Chim áfot story nán annowa kiya chim anóli attóko̱ cho kíyoh?

‘Did your grandfather tell you any stories or no?’
371)

Cho chishki okmanána, chi̱ki okmanána, ná kiya.

‘Or possibly your mother, possibly your father, anything.’
372)

Amáfo Cameron mano̱, ittim ano̱polilitoka̱

‘My grandfather Cameron, I talked with him’
373)

amiyaskih chohmi cause osi siyo̱matoko̱. [siyah mo̱matoko̱].

‘I kinda forgot because I was still small.’
374)

Amáfo, a̱ i̱ki i̱ki mato

‘My grandfather's, my father's father’
375)

Mose Thompson mato, mano̱ ikka̱nali iskitíni [m]o̱ma̱

‘Mose Thompson, I still know a little bit about him.’
376)

Hikakósh, mato, hapibá, i̱ chokka.

‘But, him, together with us, his house.’
377)

Assanot tahahma̱ o̱, kaniyak attattóko̱, o̱t oklah il ibáshattók.

‘When he got older, wherever he lived, we went to live with him.’
378)

Hato̱ mano ikka̱nali písali tókalhlhi attók.

‘So I knew I would always see him.’
379)

Hatokósh,

‘So,’
380)

anakásh assano kat a̱ brother and sister i̱ sha̱lilikakósh

‘I was older than my brother and sister but’
381)

I wasn't his favorite.

‘I wasn't his favorite.’
382)

My sister was always his favorite, he was always singing to her.

‘My sister was always his favorite, he was always singing to her.’
383)

I̱ talówat áha̱ttah.

‘He was always singing to her.’
384)

Cause, kanah, akka̱no ka̱ pí isht átapáli attóka̱.

‘Cause, someone, I don't know but I guess I was too much.’
385)

Nánahma̱ pí chokkowat,

‘Getting into things,’
386)

kaníkma̱ i̱ fridger, refrigerator i̱ room hiki̱ya ma̱

‘sometimes, his fridger, refrigerator that was in his room,’
387)

ice cream holba yohmi ikbit asháchitokma̱,

‘after he put in the homemade ice cream’
388)

lo̱mat o̱t chokkowat tahlilahíkattók, kaníkma̱.

‘I used to quietly go inside and finish it up, sometimes.’
389)

Yohmi átoko̱ a̱ nokoho̱wahíkattók, hikakósh.

‘That's why he used to be mad at me all the time, but.’
390)

Nineteen fifties, early fifties he was still on tribal council.

‘Nineteen fifties, early fifties he was still on tribal council.’
391)

Well, and he was one of the few that, nátah, nówash.

‘Well, and he was one of the few that, what was it, walked around, they would gather, and if they didn't show up,’
392)

Oklah ittahóbattók, ik onotokma̱ ikka̱nakmat nówat i̱ chokka ona chá nánaho̱ isht ano̱politokmat,

‘If they gathered and he knew someone didn't show up he would walk to their houses and tell them what was talked about,’
393)

o̱t anó[li]t nówahíkattók, mato.

‘he would go around telling them, that one.’
394)

Yót folókáha̱chahíkattók.

‘He used to go around all over.’
395)

Hihatokósh makósh ti̱kbat osi siya mo̱ma church sasht iyattók.

‘So he was the first one to take me to church when I was still young.’
396)

Hittokósh mako̱ church iyat ikkanálittók.

‘So that's how I learned to go to church.’
397)

Yómi kato, amáfo Cameron mato, shapo shapóli yót kaníya kiyokako̱

‘Those ones, my grandfather Cameron, didn't hardly wear hats.’
398)

Hikako̱ amáfo Mose mato shapo shapóli tókalhlhi attók, losa or fed-,

‘But my grandfather Mose always wore a hat, black or fed-,’
399)

what is that, fedaro, f-?

‘what is that, fedaro, f-?’
400)

Fedora, fedora type (a̱h, fedora), yohmi shapóli attók.

‘Fedora, fedora type (a̱h, fedora), he wore [a hat] like that.’
401)

Hikásh church, o̱ bini̱li, ibá bini̱lilikma̱

‘So he sits in church, when I sat with him’
402)

shapo shapóli ba̱nósh oklah binohma̱yahíkattók, shapo, shapo losa.

‘there used to be all these hat wearers sitting there, hats, black hats.’
403)

La̱wa ka̱, átokósh.

‘A lot of them, so.’
404)

Afammi ato sixties, seventies yohmitoko̱ oklah binohma̱ya akósh,

‘The 60 and 70 year olds were sitting there,’
405)

they were always yo̱ppash.

‘they were always laughing.’
406)

Sakkanah mapilla kiyokásh akósh yo̱ppakmano pi̱sali tókalhlhahíkattók.

‘They didn't know me that well, I used to always see them laughing.’
407)

So, makósh siyassanóchittók, hikako̱,

‘So, he was the one that raised me, but’
408)

himonnachaffa kato ábashahlilitokkah.

‘one time I abused him.’
409)

Osi siya mo̱ma ka̱ afammi four fokáli siyahma̱,

‘When I was small, when I was about four years old,’
410)

firecracker isht attah ikkanah isht hikít iyálitoka̱.

‘I started learning to play with firecrackers.’
411)

Hihma̱, smoke-áttok, amáfo.

‘He was a smoker, my grandfather.’
412)

Nátah? Ashshowa achokmahnili kiyottók, cigarette yót smoke-a ka̱

‘What was it? I didn't like the smell when he smoked cigarettes.’
413)

Hikako̱, he always, nátah, "a̱ libichih," áhíkattók.

‘But, he always, what was it, he used say 'light me up.’
414)

Hitokakósh, one time ano, himonnachaffa kano,

‘So, one time, one time,’
415)

firecracker mihchilittók.

‘I did it to a firecracker.’
416)

Hitoko̱, itakka o̱ bokáfattók ósi attók hikakósh shátahlih.

‘So it popped on his mouth, it was small, but it swelled up.’
417)

A̱ i̱kit sa fammih bannakako̱ siyo̱ hiki̱yakako̱,

‘My father wanted to spank me and he got on to me but,’
418)

"Ish mihchinnah, ikka̱natok kiyoh," áttók, pí.

‘ “You don't do that, he didn't know,” he (grandpa) said, like.’
419)

"Nánaho̱ mihchit pisah ikkanah bannash mihchitoka," áchittók.

‘ “He just wanted to find out what will happen if he does that,” he said.’
420)

Hikakósh sa fammahí kiyoh ahnittók.

‘He didn't want him to spank me.’
421)

Hiko̱, ik chi famo̱h?

‘But you didn't get spanked?’
422)

Huh, uh kiyottók, pí a̱híyah chohmittók.

‘Huh-uh, I just got in trouble.’
423)

Cameron Talówa ka̱ talówa yattóka̱ Cameron o̱ alhípa ola ish i̱shi kiya cho kiyoh

‘Cameron was a chanter, was he a chanter, Cameron (yeah), do you have any recordings of him or no?’
424)

Kiyoh, Sidney mato, he's got wax recording in Washington.

‘No, but Sidney, he's got wax recording in Washington.’
425)

Talówa cho,

‘Songs, or **’
426)

Talówa.

‘Songs.’
427)

I have pictures of them dancing around

‘I have pictures of them dancing around’
428)

holbattoba i̱shilih, nátah?

‘I have pictures, what is it?’
429)

Newspaper Macon toko̱ a̱lhih, yammat

‘It was really that Macon newspaper, that one’
430)

picture take-ah, nátah, lowak chíto á hilhat folókáha̱chih.

‘took pictures, of dancing around the big fire.’
431)

Hicha,

‘And,’
432)

kabotcha bólish talówah takálih.

‘he was beating the stickball sticks and chanting.’
433)

And back, ma̱ mishsha,

‘And back, back then,’
434)

mato kano Queen hochífoh a̱ttattók.

‘there was someone named Queen there.’
435)

Hiko̱ hohchifo amiyaksikakósh newspaper, nátah,

‘I forgot her name but the newspaper, what was it,’
436)

nátah holbattoba kano i̱shilih.

‘I have her picture.’
437)

1940.

‘1940.’
438)

1945 when the Constitution was passed.

‘1945 when the Constitution was passed.’
439)

There are some pictures taken of tribal members around that community,

‘There are some pictures taken of tribal members around that community,’
440)

So I have makillaho̱, a̱ grandmother that passed away, my mom's mom is the only picture I have, with her in that newspaper clipping, so.

‘So I have only that, my grandmother that passed away, my mom's mom is the only picture I have, with her in that newspaper clipping, so.’
441)

Hikósh, kanómi kásh, Chahtat oklah ma̱yo̱ma [ma̱yah mo̱ma] ka̱ newspaper takáchittók.

‘So, some of them, the Choctaws that were still here, they put it in the newspaper.’
442)

Ná oklah kaníyattók kiyosh oklah ma̱yo̱maho̱ áchiho̱, yót oklah.

‘Because they didn't go away, they were still here, they said.’
443)

Cameron, nátah, ikka̱na o̱t chiho̱ newspaper oklah takáchittók.

‘Cameron, what was it, to remember, that's why they put it in the newspaper.’