Alexander Hickman & David Hickman | Chahta Anno̱pa Miya Ka̱

CHAHTA ANNO̱PA MIYA KA̱

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians


Alexander Hickman & David Hickman


1)
Nána, anáto sa hohchifo yat Alexander James Hickman
‘What is it, as for me my name is Alexander James Hickman.’
2)
Sashki ato, nátah, Sadie Hickman.
‘My mother, what is it, is Sadie Hickman.’
3)
Mato i̱ki hicha ishki ato RB Wallace hicha Lolene Wallace.
‘Her father and mother are RB Wallace and Lolene Wallace.’
4)
A̱ i̱ki ato James Hickman, Jim Bear oklah hochífahíkattók.
‘My father is James Hickman, they used to call him Jim Bear.’
5)
Hihma̱, nána, mato ishki hicha i̱ki ato George hicha Emma Hickman, ka?
‘And, what is it, his mom and dad are George and Emma Hickman, ennit?’
6)
Alright, my name, nátah, sa hohchifo ato David Hickman.
‘Alright, my name, what, my name is David Hickman.’
7)
Sashki ato hicha sa i̱ki ato
‘My mom and my dad are’
8)
Willie Cotton hikma̱ sashki ato Gloria Hickman Cotton.
‘Willie Cotton and my mom is Gloria Hickman Cotton’
9)
Hihátoko̱, i̱ki ato, a̱ dad mako̱, nátah,
‘And then, his father, my dad's [parents], what was it,’
10)
John Cotton and Hattie Chapman.
‘John Cotton and Hattie Chapman.’
11)
A̱ mom, iláp ato i̱ki hicha ishki ato
‘My mom, her father and mother were’
12)
Jim Mingo and Sally Mingo.
‘Jim Mingo and Sally Mingo’
13)
Crystal Ridge pak ámítili na, a̱yali na ahchíba yappato, ahchíba álih {yoppa}. Mato.
‘I'm from Crystal Ridge, and I've been here for a long time, I say a long time {laughter}. That one.’
14)
A̱ttalih, a̱ttali na all my life [*pato, pato*] pato ná makátokma̱
‘This is where I've been living all my life, *** since then.’
15)
Chishnáto?
‘What about you?’
16)
Anáto, makáshi̱nih. Anáto Crystal Ridge ámítili, hikako̱
‘Same for me, I'm from Crystal Ridge myself, but’
17)
kanomma iyálikma̱ kaníkma̱ fala̱t alálih yohmih, like Oklahoma yohmih.
‘Sometimes if I go somewhere, like Oklahoma, then I come back.’
18)
Hitoko̱, pako̱ ámítili a̱lhi yo̱.
‘So, this is where I'm really from.’
19)
Nána, pako̱, nána, a̱ttalittók, all this time átoko̱.
‘What is it, right here, what is it, I've been here all this time.’
20)
Holisso ápisa ano katommash hash ilhkólittók?
‘Where did y'all go to school?’
21)
Holisso ápisa?
‘School?’
22)
School nátaho̱?
‘What school?’
23)
Oh, oh, wih-hih, wih-hih.
‘Oh, oh, oops, oops.’
24)
Nána, ola̱si pa̱, Nanih Waiya High School ma̱ mako̱ iyálitoko̱, mako̱
‘What is it, nearby here, I went to that one Nanih Waiya High School, that's’
25)
iyáli n-, iyáli na [hi]maka ka̱ pato, hitokósh.
‘this is where I'd been going, and so.’
26)
Ma̱ makilla, makilla school iyálih anáto, Nanih Waiya High, Nanih Waiya school ma̱.
‘That's the only school I went to, that Nanih Waiya High, Nanih Waiya school.’
27)
Anáto, Nanih Waiya school a̱yalihma̱,
‘As for me, when I was going to Nanih Waiya school’
28)
hikma̱,
‘and then,’
29)
little bit ano, nána, iyálittók, Louisville Eiland School.
‘for a little bit, I went to Louisville Eiland School.’
30)
Hikma̱, Choctaw Central iyálit, fala̱t, nána, Nanih Waiya onálih.
‘And then, I went to Choctaw Central and came back to Nanih Waiya.’
31)
Hina pí makalla illalittók.
‘And that was all I did.’
32)
Softball tóli hicha baseball tóli hash pim anólih, pim anólánah?
‘Can you tell us about softball and baseball.’
33)
Nána,
‘What is it,’
34)
Baseball tóli ano, nátah,
‘Playing baseball, what is it,’
35)
Ti̱kba ano, pisalahí kásh mano̱, nána,
‘At first, I used to watch it, like,’
36)
hopáki chásh, fokáli kano, like,
‘a long time time ago, around then, like,’
37)
1990 fokálittók yamma̱ hikakósh, nátah,
‘It was around 1990, but, what was it,’
38)
amowah am-, a̱ early, early memory ato, nána.
‘I think, it was my early memory,’
39)
Mashulaville imma ma̱,
‘towards Mashulaville,’
40)
nátah,
‘What is it,’
41)
Noxubee county imma, Mashulaville tala̱yah, dormitory tala̱ya ako̱ yamma̱, tala̱yah mo̱mah himak a̱.
‘towards Noxubee County, at Mashulaville, there's a dormitory at Mashulaville that's still there now.’
42)
Yammak fíhna mat tikba ma̱ field chitot tala̱t-, tala̱yah yamma̱.
‘Right there, there's a big field sitting in front there.’
43)
Hinalhlhi, hinalhlhi bili̱ka yamma̱ hikósh.
‘The edge of the road, near the edge of the road there.’
44)
Yammako̱ oklah, nána, baseball oklah tólih nówahíkattok.
‘That's where they used to, like, go play baseball.’
45)
Amáfo RB Wallace ma̱,
‘My grandfather RB Wallace,’
46)
másh, nána, apísahmat, nátah,
‘When he was the one hosting, what was it,’
47)
ittiyapishi yo̱ka̱ [yómika̱] hichanóti,
‘his siblings, and then,’
48)
amáfo oshi yo̱ka̱ alhíha yo̱kat [yómikat] oklah
‘my grandfather's sons, those ones, they’
49)
Nátah, tóli ittiyapílahósh oklah kana oklah apísat,
‘what is it, teamed up and they recruited teams,’
50)
naksika ámíti oklah í hoyoh.
‘we looked for people from other places.’
51)
Ná Chahta, Chahta alhíha kiyokma̱ Takósa alhíha kiyokmako̱,
‘Choctaw, Choctaw people or Black people,’
52)
yammako̱ oklah, tóli oklah, yamma̱ apísahmat,
‘when they hosted those ones, the ball players,’
53)
ohóyo alhíha ato, nána,
‘the women, like,’
54)
ballfield mato, nátah,
‘that one ball field, what was it.’
55)
dormitory ma̱, there's like two entrances ako̱, olimma imma taka̱li ma̱ mishshahma̱ omma taka̱litoko̱.
‘That dormitory, there's like two entrances, towards this way, and then towards the other side over there.’
56)
Omma, pimma pato yammat oklah, nána,
‘Over there, over this way, they, like,’
57)
ballfield mak fíhna home plate bili̱ka akka yamma̱, mak oklah
‘it's right at the ballfield, close to the home plate, where they’
58)
basówa bohli ma̱ yakót iyah ohmih.
‘put down the stripe going like this that way.’
59)
Hikmanóti, olimma ma̱ áfolóta taka̱lihmato.
‘And then, back this way at the turn around,’
60)
Á hoshi̱tika átoko̱, mato oklah, nána,
‘since its shaded there, that's where they, like,’
61)
ohóyo alhíhósh oklah hopónih ma̱yyah íkattókka (mm-hm).
‘the women did the cooking in the shade (mm-hm).’
62)
Hitoko̱, nána, tóli oklah apísachih áchihmat nána
‘When they said they were going to host a game,’
63)
shokka nipi, shokka oklah abi chá oklah yamma̱ oklah hopónih,
‘hog meat, they slaughtered a hog and they cooked it,’
64)
ta̱chi yómika̱ ma̱,
‘like the hominy’
65)
Teams oklah yammat, mo̱mi̱chit i̱pachih.
‘they fed all the teams.’
66)
Hitoko̱,
‘And so,’
67)
mako̱, amáfo at, nána,
‘that's when, my grandfather, like,’
68)
pulpwood yómi haul-ah yamma̱ oklah to̱ksali hitokósh mato weekends im alhtobah akmako̱
‘worked as a pulpwood hauler, they worked at that and they got paid on the weekends, so’
69)
nána, isht apísa yohmahíkattók mako̱, hitoko̱.
‘that's how they used to host it, so.’
70)
Nána,
‘Like,’
71)
oklah hopónit tahli chá oklah,
‘when they finished cooking and they,’
72)
ti̱kba ka̱ oklah tólih ma̱yyahma̱ ohóyo alhíhat oklah hopónih ma̱yyatokósh, oklah
‘they played first, and the women were cooking, so, they’
73)
nátah, hopónit tahli chá ittibá i̱pah, hicha anóti,
‘finished cooking and ate together, and then,’
74)
mak fokálihmat oklah, nána,
‘by that time, they, like,’
75)
amáfo i̱ chokka, amáfo i̱ chokka mako̱ oklah hilhah, oklah apísat oklah.
‘at my grandfather's house, they hosted it, and they danced there at my grandfather's house.’
76)
Nána yamma̱ ma̱yyatokma̱ anóti onnahma̱ himo oklah il alhkót tahah yohmittóko̱ (mm-hm).
‘Like, they'd be there and when it was morning is when they would just be leaving.’
77)
Mato, másh at, mato a̱ earliest memory yo̱ka̱ yohmittóko̱.
‘That's, that's, that's my earliest memory.’
78)
Yeah, mako̱, kaníkma̱,
‘Yeah, that, sometimes,’
79)
oklah mihchikma̱, nátah,
‘when they do that, what is it,’
80)
like, tournament ohmih ahwah kaníyah,
‘like, if it seems like a tournament,’
81)
hihma̱ oklah il ilhkólih hapishnakmako̱.
‘then we all go too.’
82)
Hikma̱, nána i̱pah ittahobbi chá
‘And then, we gathered food’
83)
hikma̱, nána, ittibá i̱pah.
‘and then, like, we eat together.’
84)
Yohmih-, yeah, kaníkma̱ oklah ka̱chih yohmih attók.
‘Like that, yeah, sometimes they would sell it.’
85)
Hikako̱,
‘But,’
86)
ikka̱nalih mano, nána, oklah il itti̱ play-ah yómih,
‘I remember those ones, like, those ones we used to play against,’
87)
Moose yómika̱, Frog yómika̱.
‘Moose and them, Frog and them.’
88)
Yómi ikka̱nalihma̱, oklah il ittibá play-, no, il itti̱ play-ah attók.
‘Those that I remember, we played together, no, we used to play against each other.’
89)
Yeah.
‘Yeah’
90)
You know, achokmah chohmih aki̱nittók.
‘You know, it was pretty good.’
91)
Lashpa aki̱nih mako̱.
‘Even though it was hot.’
92)
Communities i̱la hash ittibá washóhah, cho?
‘Did y'all play with other communities, or?’
93)
Umm, (Oh, yeah, ish iyahma̱.)
‘Umm, (Oh, yeah, you go.)’
94)
Nátaho̱,
‘What is it,’
95)
kaníkma̱, ná teams hapim onah kiyoh, like,
‘sometimes, we didn't have enough teams, like’
96)
I mean,
‘I mean,’
97)
kaníkma̱, nána, i̱ tóli ilápi̱nih oklah isht a̱yah hikma̱ kaníkma̱ hapishno il isht a̱yah yohmikma̱,
‘Sometimes, like, they bring their own players and sometimes we bring our own player, and when that happens,’
98)
Nátah, players hapim ónokma̱,
‘What is it, if we don't have enough players,’
99)
pí, nána kanah tólánah, okma̱,
‘just, like, whoever can play, then’
100)
Nátah, ol [oklah] i̱ panakloh hikma̱,
‘what is it, they would ask them,’
101)
nána, hapibá washóhah.
‘and they would play with us.’
102)
Hika̱, nána, kaníkma̱,
‘But, like, sometimes,’
103)
nána, hap ik im ónokma̱, teams,
‘What is it, and if we don't have enough for a team,’
104)
hikma̱, nána,
‘then, like,’
105)
ol ibá washóhah, yohmih.
‘they play with them, like that.’
106)
Mak fokáli kano, nána, nátah?
‘About that time, like, what is it?’
107)
Chahta tóli alhíha ato ná himak ano lawah chohmih oka̱ (mm-hm).
‘There are kinda a lot of Choctaw ball players now (mm-hm).’
108)
Yamm-, fokáli mano ná lawah a̱lhi kiyotok oklah
‘Tha-, around then there were really a lot, they’
109)
la̱wa kat oklah to̱ksalih chohmih ayínattók oklah yammat oklah nána,
‘A lot of them were mostly working too, they, those ones, they, like,’
110)
ná time oklah ik im ikshoh, tóli hokásh, mato.
‘they didn't have time, but they played ball, those ones.’
111)
Nátah, i̱ community maki̱ni ho̱, yammat iláp isht a̱yah yohmi hósh, oklah, nátah,
‘What is it, they take care of their own community, and they, what was it,’
112)
washóhah oklah ahnihma̱, yamma̱,
‘when they thought about playing, those,’
113)
Bók Chito, Crystal Ridge itti̱paknah áchih, yohmih kiyokma̱,
‘if Bogue Chitto challenges Crystal Ridge, or else,’
114)
Pearl River oklásha, ná
‘Pearl River community, or’
115)
Pearl River oklah pimma ála ka̱ "Ná pim ábash kiyokih," oklah ahnit anokfillih oklah washóhah kanihmih yohmáhikattóko̱.
‘Pearl River when they get over here they would think, “They're not going to beat us,” and they played pretty good.’
116)
Yup.
‘Yup.’
117)
Hika̱, ná nátah,
‘That's right, what is it,’
118)
nokówah yohmih kiyoki̱nikakósh, pí
‘they don't get mad or anything but, like,’
119)
nátah, pí kanah itti̱shahli at, nána, tóli ka̱,
‘like, whoever is better, like, playing ball,’
120)
mako̱ yohmih oklí makah shahli attók.
‘we used to say that a lot.’
121)
"Ná pish [pí ish] im ábash kiyoh," hikma̱
‘ “You're not gonna beat us,” and then,’
122)
nátah,
‘what is it,’
123)
fala̱t i̱ community óna chá
‘when they go back to their community,’
124)
hikma̱ "Olím ábitokka," áh kaníyah.
‘and they'd be saying, “We really did beat them.” ’
125)
Mako̱ yohmi hikma̱, "Hapishnáto olim ábitok kiyo̱," iláp ato il áchih.
‘When it happens like that, “We're the ones that beat them,” we would brag.’
126)
Hikako̱, nátah, community i̱la alhíha ma̱ hochokmah chohmih aki̱nittók.
‘But, the other communities were pretty good.’
127)
Sipokni, you know, oklah mítihma̱, oklah i̱ponnah chohmittók.
‘The old timers, you know, when they came, they were pretty skilled.’
128)
Hikako̱, hapishno himiffowa, nána,
‘But, us teenagers, like’
129)
osi hapiya ka̱, oklí pi̱sah, nána,
‘when we were little, we used watch’
130)
o[k]lí, il assanoh yohmih.
‘as we grew up.’
131)
Hihma̱, olil ikka̱nattók.
‘And, we knew it.’
132)
Nána, amáfo yo̱kat oklah naksika ilhkóláchi̱hmano,
‘Like, when my grandfather and them were going somewhere else,’
133)
fokáli kano, nátah, ittiyapishi Will Wallace mat, yammat,
‘around then, what, his brother Will Wallace, he’
134)
nána isht a̱yattók, Green Van, ishka̱nah mo̱ma̱h yamma̱ (mm-hm).
‘like, he used to drive a green van, you remember that one (mm-hm).’
135)
Mano ikka̱nalih mano
‘I remember that one.’
136)
Hippie Van ahwah kaníyah yohmahíkattók, hikakósh, nátah,
‘It used to look like a hippie van, but, what was it,’
137)
nána, oklah,
‘like, they,’
138)
Oklah alh-, oklah ittibalhlhot táha chá oklah ilhkólihmat,
‘they all got in together and they went,’
139)
one time ano,
‘one time,’
140)
Columbus ik-, chik ónoh ki̱shah,
‘before get-, you get to Columbus,’
141)
community taka̱ni Artesia áchih.
‘there's a community called Artesia.’
142)
Yamma̱ oklah o̱t oklah áyonattók hitokósh
‘They got there, and then’
143)
Takósa oklah itti̱ washóha̱nattók kiyah, yo̱kato oklah ik ittaholbotoka̱ hitako̱ pí oklah practice-ah ma̱yattóka̱.
‘they were supposed to play some Black folks but those ones didn't show up, so they just practiced.’
144)
A̱ pokni, Lolene at,
‘My grandmother, Lolene’
145)
yammichi̱nihósh yammano fokáli kano, nána,
‘around that time she was buzzed up, like,’
146)
towwa bólih bannah miya na,
‘she said wanted to bat, and’
147)
kanohmona pit i̱ pila na,
‘one of them threw it to her, and’
148)
base hit isso [i]lahbi atta na il i̱ yoppattókka.
‘she was there acting like she hit a base hit, [sounds] and we sure did at her.’
149)
Fif-, fifty, fokáli ka̱, fifty o̱t iyattók amówakakósh,
‘Fif-, around fifty, I think she was over 50 but,’
150)
kaníya kiya towwa faha̱ma ilahbi attattók yammato yoppat am achokmattoko̱.
‘she was pretending to swing at the ball anyway and I enjoyed laughing at her.’
151)
Yeah.
‘Yeah.’
152)
Yeah, sipokni alhíha oklah yohmih shahli attók, like,
‘Yeah, the older folks were always just like that.’
153)
I mean.
‘I mean.’
154)
Ná sipokni ol il[íy] ahnih kiyoh.
‘They didn't think of themselves as old.’
155)
Oklah tólih mo̱mánakako̱ pí,
‘They could still play, but, like’
156)
assanoh hapi̱ shahlih átoko̱,
‘they were older than us, so,’
157)
Hikako̱, oklah tólih mo̱mánaho̱.
‘But, they can still play ball.’
158)
Yohmíkattók.
‘It used to be like that.’
159)
La̱wa oklah yohmi hikako̱, himak ano
‘A lot of them were like that, but now,’
160)
ná hapi̱ tahah, tahatoko̱.
‘because we're all worn out.’
161)
Nána, sipokni alhíha oklah nána, tóli áttoko̱.
‘What is it, the older folks used to play ball.’
162)
A̱kána Carmen Denson am anólitok, "Tóli alhíha hopákit lha̱kkoh."
‘My friend Carmen Denson told me, a lot time ago the older folks used to be strong’
163)
Mm-hm.
164)
Hicha i̱ponnah.
‘and the best’
165)
Mm-hm.
166)
Akínih, fa-,
‘I guess so, fa-’
167)
nátah, farm oklah to̱ksalih chohmittók fokálikma̱ (mm-hm) ano̱ti,
‘What was it, around that time they worked hard on farms, and so,’
168)
mak kiyokma̱, iti sháli yómi oklah mihchika̱.
‘if it wasn't that, they were hauling wood.’
169)
Amá-, amóshi yat, nána,
‘My, my uncle, like,’
170)
Larry Wallace ma̱, Moose oklah áchittók. Yammato, kind of a big, big guy **** "Alla mato, nána, mato
‘Larry Wallace, they called him Moose. That one, kind of a big guy, big guy, ***, that kid, like, he,’
171)
towwa issohma̱, hopákichánah oklah áchittóko̱.
‘when he hit the ball he could make it go really far,” they said.’
172)
Nátah, anáto pí,
‘What is it, myself’
173)
oklah isht átapah pí makah, nána, álhíha aki̱ni ka̱, ahnilitokakósh.
‘I thought they were “saying it jokingly” around because they're related to him.’
174)
Takósa achaffa ato assanochi yat, nána,
‘This one older Black person, like,’
175)
Wal-Mart in Louisville pa̱ yammat, oklah, nána
‘at this Wal-Mart in Lousville, that, they, like,’
176)
sa písa chá mako̱,
‘saw me and’
177)
nána ishka̱naho̱, pí, Nahollo anno̱pa aki̱nikakósh,
‘ “Do you know something,” like, it was in English,’
178)
"Ishka̱naho̱ Moose?" á na,
‘he said, “Do you know Moose?” and,’
179)
"Larry Wallace" ahma̱, "A̱h, ikka̱nalittóko̱."
‘when he said, “Larry Wallace.” “Yeah, I knew him.” ’
180)
"Gah, alla mato
‘ “Gah, that kid’
181)
nátah, golf swing i̱shikakósh,
‘what was it, he had a golf swing,’
182)
towwa ma̱ hilíchihma̱ hopákichána hókih, ahwah kaníyah," á na
‘when he hit that ball right on the target he could make it go far, it seemed,” he said.’
183)
"A̱lhi ish maka ho̱?" áli ná "Uh-huh, itti̱ pla-, itti̱ washóhalikattók, alla ma̱,
‘ “Are you telling the truth?” I said and he said, “Uh-huh, I used to pla-, play against him, that kid,’
184)
"allat ok-, okpolottókih," áchittóka̱.
‘that kid was bad.” ’
185)
Yup.
‘Yup’
186)
Nátah,
‘What is it,’
187)
i̱ uncle mako̱, nána,
‘Even his uncle, like’
188)
well, Moose mako̱, nána, imóshi átoko̱ hikma̱,
‘well, that Moose, like, is his uncle and,’
189)
Frog mako̱, mato,
‘that Frog, that one,’
190)
ná chonnah chohmih átoko̱ palhkittók.
‘because he was kinda skinny, he was fast.’
191)
Mano ikka̱nalih.
‘That one I know.’
192)
Hihma̱, nátah,
‘And, what was it,’
193)
mako̱ il itti̱ play-ah chohmih attók.
‘that's who we usually played against.’
194)
Frog, Frog ato, nána, mato,
‘Frog, as for Frog, like, he’
195)
afábi bóliki̱nikakósh,
‘he bats leftie, but’
196)
pila kano apissah, yohmitoko̱.
‘throws straight, like that.’
197)
Nána,
‘Like,’
198)
baseball, washó-, oklí washówahíkahchásh mano, nátah,
‘baseball, back when we used to play baseball, what’
199)
mato, batter nokshobbih bannah i̱ taka̱littók, mato.
‘him, he always wanted to scare the batter, that one.’
200)
Mato,
‘He,’
201)
kaniht towwa ho̱klihma̱, makoffihma̱,
‘however he holds the ball, when he lets go,’
202)
i̱ shoulder fihna pit o̱ pilahoka̱,
‘he throws right at their shoulder,’
203)
isht issoh bannohmih [bannah ohmih] ahwah kaníyakakósh.
‘it really seems like he wants to hit them with it.’
204)
Onah fokálihma̱,
‘Before it gets there,’
205)
towwa folótat strike zone pit chokwa shálittók.
‘the ball always curves into the strike zone.’
206)
(Mm-hm) Hitoko̱, nána,
‘And then, like,’
207)
One day ano,
‘One day,’
208)
nátah,
‘what is it,’
209)
Konihatta ásha itti̱ washóhachi̱ttók.
‘they were gonna play against a team from Conehatta.’
210)
Hitoko̱,
211)
Mak fokálihma̱, Frog ósh, másh isht a̱yattók, baseball fokáli kano,
‘Around that time, Frog, he was the one who was coaching, in baseball around then,’
212)
Hikásh, nátah,
‘So, what was it,’
213)
warm-up ik ácho [hi]toka̱.
‘he probably didn't warm up.’
214)
Hikako̱, himót,
‘But, right then,’
215)
nána,
‘like,’
216)
pilah bannattók.
‘he wanted to throw.’
217)
Hitako̱,
‘And so,’
218)
folollichi ma̱ pilah bannah ilahbikako̱,
‘he wanted to throw that curve,’
219)
ik i̱ folóto na,
‘it didn't curve for him, and’
220)
tohchi̱na fokáli hósh issottók, amówah.
‘he hit about three of them, I think.’
221)
Oklah foháchitokka, hitoko̱.
‘They gave him a break, so.’
222)
Hina, following weekend ma̱, nána,
‘And then, the following weekend, like’
223)
Konihatta ásha hoka̱, oklah, oklah a̱ makakásh
‘The ones from Conehatta, they, they told me’
224)
hattak sipokni ná pilash kiyoki̱ni háh.
‘that old man better not still be pitching.’
225)
Hapi bólitoko̱ pi nokshópah.
‘He hit us so we're scared.’
226)
Hikako̱, hopáki alhíha ato ná nána batting helmet, nána, yómi oklah use-ah kiyottók.
‘But, the people back then, they didn't use batting helmet, like, things like that.’
227)
You know, pí,
‘You know, like,’
228)
ish hiki̱yakma̱, ish hiki̱yah illa hikma̱,
‘when you're standing there, when you're standing by yourself there,’
229)
catcher mako̱, kanah, nána, equipment i̱shikma̱,
‘even the catcher, when someone had equipment’
230)
nána, itti̱ potah yohmi attók.
‘like, they used to share with each other.’
231)
Like, hapim ikshokma̱ itti̱ potah.
‘Like, if we don't have it, we share with each other.’
232)
Hihma̱, ik im ikshokma̱,
‘And, if they don't have it,’
233)
pí ish catcha-ah mak* illa, chissokma̱, chissoh.
‘you just catch it, if it hits you, it hits you.’
234)
Hihátoko̱, mako̱ oklah yohmih, nána, sháli attók.
‘And so, they were always like that.’
235)
Nána,
‘Like,’
236)
I know this one guy, Bók Chito ámíti hikako̱ kásh, Kenny, Kenny Cotton.
‘I know this one guy, he was from Bogue Chito, Kenny, Kenny Cotton.’
237)
Mano, nátah, I think about mid-90s or, pí 2000s onah fokálihma̱, hihma̱,
‘About that time, what is it, I think about the mid-90s, just before the 2000s, and,’
238)
nána pa̱ apílattók, Robert Wallace i̱ baseball team, hitoko̱,
‘he played with this guy, on Robert Wallace's baseball team, so,’
239)
nátah, or Benjamin, okay Benjamin Willis másh baseball team isht a̱yattók fokálihma̱tóko̱, yamma̱.
‘what was it, or Benjamin, okay Benjamin Willis, he coached the baseball team around then, that one.’
240)
Mako̱ Kenny Cotton ato pi apílatoko̱.
‘That's when Kenny Cotton helped us.’
241)
Kenny ato pí about 55 o̱t iyat[tók] amahwah, sipokni, sipoknikakósh,
‘I think Kenny was about 55, or more, he was old, old but,’
242)
towwa bólihma̱ himittowa i̱ shahlichittók, nána,
‘when he hit the ball he was better than the teenagers, like’
243)
hopákichih kiyoki̱nikakósh mato,
‘he didn't hit it too far but,’
244)
nána folollichi, oklah himittowa folollichi á pilahbih [pilah ilahbih], palh-, nátah, i̱ponnat imahwattók mako̱.
‘like, the curve, the teenagers would try to throw a curve, fas-, what what it, they thought they were great.’
245)
Mato *lhaw* ahma̱, lhopollichih mato.
‘When it went “pow,” he hit it through them.’
246)
Hikma̱, nátah, mato catcher washówánah miyah maká na oklah hilíchih ilahbittóko̱,
‘And, what was it, he said he could play catcher and so they tried putting him there.’
247)
nána, pí facemask ma̱ makilla ho̱ shamáchi hósh i̱ bini̱ttóko̱.
‘Like, he would only wear a facemask sitting there.’
248)
Mm-hm, ná * iksho hikat
‘Mm-hm, it was nothing [no protection], so’
249)
towwa oklah nátah kaniht pilahma̱ i̱ makófahma̱ akkisso iyyi issoh máko̱ ná yohmánah kiyottók.
‘the ball, however they threw it, if he dropped it, it hit the ground and even though it hit his leg it didn't bother him.’
250)
(Yup) Man!
‘Man!’
251)
Himak ano, the only person I know of, ikka̱nali kano yohmána ka̱, Simeon Willis.
‘Nowadays the only person I know of, that I know of that can be like that, is Simeon Willis’
252)
Makilla hósh
‘He's the only one’
253)
baseball league couple years ago oklah ma̱yah mano másh mano yohmittók. Makilla ikka̱nalih hikoko̱, nobody else, every else ano oklah
‘There was a baseball league couple years ago he was the only one like that. That I knew of, nobody else, everybody else’
254)
nátah, pads use-ah a̱ttah.
‘what is it, they use pads.’
255)
Hikako̱ 90's mano Kenny Cotton ma̱, mato okpolotókih mato hikako̱ nokshópah kiyo i̱ takánittók chícho.
‘In the 90's Kenny Cotton was good at it because I guess he was never afraid.’
256)
Nátah catcher hihako̱
‘What is it, even as a catcher,’
257)
ná anópola híkiyoh nána mute yohmih átoko̱,
‘he couldn't talk because he was kind of mute,’
258)
hikako̱ im ikka̱nah, kaniht catch-a ka̱.
‘but he knew how to catch.’
259)
Hiyako̱, nána, a̱ dad yohmih ittibá washóhattók, hopáki alhíha.
‘And he used to play with my dad back then, the old timers.’
260)
Makmako̱ George Cotton yohmi isht a̱yattók.
‘Back then, George Cotton was the coach.’
261)
Hitoko̱ nána mo̱ma nána sipokni alhíha oklah ittibá washóha.
‘All the legends played together.’
262)
I̱ki mako̱, nána Jim Hickman ma̱, Bear oklah áchi ho̱, yamma̱ ma[k]mako̱.
‘Even his father, Jim Hickman, the one they call Bear, even him.’
263)
Conehatta mako̱ oklah il albasháli áttók.
‘We always used to win against Conehatta with no mercy.’
264)
Nána undefeated yohmit il ilhkólih.
‘We used to go undefeated.’
265)
Hika̱ Jim ma̱, nána, I think last inning.
‘That Jim, I think last inning.’
266)
Isom, Ricky Anderson, yómika̱ olil [oklil] itti̱ play-attók, Conehatta sluggers, hikma̱ hapishnáto Louisville Sluggers hapiya átoko̱.
‘We used to play against Isom, Ricky Anderson and them, the Conehatta Sluggers, and as for us, we were the Louisville Sluggers.’
267)
Hihma̱, he made that last catch, I mean, yakót takálikako̱
‘And so, he [Jim Hickman] made that last catch, I mean, it [the ball] was up there like that,’
268)
nána, towwa yakót behind the back míti yako̱ yakótchihma̱ [yakót mihchihma̱], tip of the glove towwa o̱t chokkwattók.
‘like when ball was coming like this behind the back, like this, he did it like this, and the ball went right in the tip of the glove.’
269)
Hihma̱ olimábittók [oklah il im ábittók].
‘And so we beat them.’
270)
Hihma, o̱si siyat mo̱matoka̱, nátah, one of them boombox yohmih mako̱ íshilihma̱,
‘And, I was still little, and I had one of them, what was it, boombox,’
271)
"We are the Champions" mak á play-alittók. {Alexander: Chitólit yoppah}
‘I played “We Are The Champions” on it {Alexander: Laughs Loudly}’
272)
That was when I was young átoko̱.
‘And so that was when I was young.’
273)
Hikako̱, mako̱ achokmah chohmittók, hopáki alhíha okla pisakma̱.
‘But, it was really good when you watched the old-timers.’
274)
Makalla illa chohmi attók. Himak ano ná tóli mako̱ baseball ná ikshoh chohmih mako̱.
‘That was really all there was. Nowadays there aren't really any of those ball-games baseball.’
275)
I mean, ná right now ano, ná ak hakloh oklah play-ah mo̱mah hikako̱, softball ano oklah washóhah mo̱mah.
‘I mean, right now, I haven't heard they are still playing, but they still pay softball.’
276)
Hikako̱, I mean,
‘But, I mean,’
277)
mako̱, a̱ mom makattók "Softball alhíha ato ohóyo iláp," áchikako̱,
‘that, my mom used to say “Softball games are for women,” but,’
278)
but himak ano kanah mako̱ oklah washóha hóka̱, himak ano.
‘but now everyone plays it, now.’
279)
Hitoko̱, himak ano ohóyo iláp kiyoh, kanah mako̱ iláp aki̱ni hoka̱.
‘And so, now it's not for women, it's for everyone.’
280)
Baseball hicha softball mat i̱lah fíhnah, cho?
‘Are baseball and softball really different, or?’
281)
Uh-huh, ittim i̱lah.
‘Uh-huh, they're different.’
282)
Positions nátaho̱ ish, ibá-, ish ibá-, ish washóhah?
‘What positions do you play?’
283)
Anáto, baseball ano, third-base, short-stop,
‘Myself, in baseball, third-base, short-stop,’
284)
well, kanomma mako̱ play-alánah, hikako̱.
‘well, I can play anywhere, but.’
285)
Hikako̱, third hiki̱yalánah. Softball ano, third illah.
‘But, I can play third. In Softball, only third.’
286)
Makalla illa, nánaho̱, hot-spot mako̱ achokmahnilih anáto, that's where it is.
‘Only there, myself, I like that hot spot, that's where it is.’
287)
Nána, tóli pi̱salahíkatoko̱, mano chi̱ makálánah, mato, nána.
‘Like, I used to watch him play ball, I can tell you that, those ones, like’
288)
Mato ná la̱wa kat himak ano oklah towwa mak fíhnah oklah im issohma̱, mato, nátah,
‘A lot of those other ones, these days, when someone hits the ball right to them, they, what is it,’
289)
aba pilla, hiyoho-, pí aba hiyohlihósh, himo oklah towwa oklásh hoklih bannah.
‘they are standing up straight, standing up, and now they are the ones trying to catch the ball.’
290)
Yammato, yammato mato nátah towwa issohma̱ mato
‘This one here, what is it, when the ball is hit, this one’
291)
momi̱t akkiya hichano̱ti towwa ma̱, nátah,
‘squatted down, and then, that ball, what was it,’
292)
[Tikba i̱ hiki̱yah] Uh-huh, towwa, towwa ma̱ tikba i̱ hiki̱yat hoklih kiyoh mako̱ ikkishi ma̱ o̱t bóf ahma̱ yamma̱ towwa itto̱lahma̱ himak ano ishittók átok yammato.
‘He was standing in the front waiting for the ball not even catching it, when it went 'boom' on his chest and when the ball fell down, he had already got it, this one.’
293)
Yeah.
‘Yeah.’
294)
Yohmahíkattók alla mato pi̱salittók mato.
‘That kid used to be like that, I saw it, that one.’
295)
Mako̱, nána,
‘That, like,’
296)
ti̱kbano, a̱ mom, a̱ makah shahli attók, a̱ dad play-ahma̱,
‘at first, when my dad played, my mom would always say to me,’
297)
"Ná chi̱ daddy ná ish hobáchih kiyoh."
‘ “You don't play like your daddy.” ’
298)
"Ná ish lawwichih kiyoh," áchihma̱,
‘When she'd say “you aren't equal to him,” ’
299)
"I̱ shalihchilih amówatok," álih.
‘I'd say, “I thought I was better than him.” ’
300)
Hikako̱, il itti̱paknah, same, nána, team í play-akako̱,
‘But, we'd compete, we'd play for the same team, but’
301)
hikako̱, nána, il itti̱paknah ohmih a̱ dad í tokloh illa aki̱nih mako̱.
‘but, like, it was like just my dad and I were competing against each other.’
302)
Hikako̱, mak mako̱ i̱ponnah chohmih aki̱nittók.
‘But, he was pretty good, too.’
303)
Hika̱, iskitíni bóli a̱ shalihcha̱nah, iskitíni illa ano {yoppa}.
‘He could hit a little better than me, just a little {laughter}.’
304)
Hikako̱, pilah i̱ponnah chohmih, mano.
‘But, he was really good at throwing, at that.’
305)
Anáto, baseball ano, used to ano pitcher hiki̱yalahíkattók, ná,
‘As for me, I used to play as a pitcher, in baseball.’
306)
decent pitcher, I guess, hikásh, nátah.
‘decent pitcher, I guess, so, what was it.’
307)
First base hicha, if need, if need 'em, outfield iyálahíkattók hikakósh.
‘First base and, if need, If need 'em, I used to go to the outfield, so.’
308)
Nátah, baseball ano, siyassanoh iya kano baseball washóhat a̱lhih kiyottók.
‘What is it, as for baseball, growing up, I didn't really play baseball.’
309)
Anáto, softball washóhalih chohmittók, hikakósh.
‘Myself, I mostly played softball, so.’
310)
High School ma̱, baseball, one season á try-alihma̱,
‘I tried baseball for one season at that high school,’
311)
After that mako̱, nátah, amóshi yómika̱ ibá washóhah hikít iyálittók, baseball a̱.
‘After that, what was it, I began playing with my uncle and them, baseball that is.’
312)
Weekends okma̱, oklat, nána, Konihatta washóhah ilhkólih.
‘On weekends, they, like, went to play in Conehatta.’
313)
Bók Chito washóhah ilhkólih yohmahíkattók.
‘Used to go to play in Bogue Chitto.’
314)
Kaníkma̱, oklah [áy]alánahma̱ maki̱ni mako̱ oklah itti̱paknahíkattók, yamma̱.
‘Sometimes, whoever could come here, they used to compete with them.’
315)
Katíkásh, okloshi i̱la, trib-, different tribes, hash ibá washóhattók.
‘When did y'all start playing with different tribes, trib-, different tribes?’
316)
Anáto, makáshi̱nih ibá washóhalittók, Louisville Sluggers áchih.
‘Myself, I played with the same team, called the Louisville Sluggers.’
317)
Hika̱, nána, a̱ kanómi alhíha, James Cotton ma̱,
‘And, like, my cousins, James Cotton,’
318)
yómika̱, mato i̱la álhkólikma̱ [áyilhkólikma̱],
‘and them, when they went to another [team]’
319)
hapishnáto, maki̱nih olil isht a̱yah mo̱mattók, Louisville Sluggers.
‘as for us, we stuck with the same team, Louisville Sluggers.’
320)
Hikma̱, nána, maki̱ a̱ kanómi aki̱ni ka̱ olil itti̱-play-ah.
‘So then, like, we play against the same ones, my own relatives.’
321)
Cause, nána, i̱-, nána, brothers aki̱nikako̱, yómi olil itti̱-play-ah.
‘Cause, like, his own brothers, we played against them.’
322)
Pí naksika álhkólih [áyilhkólih] yohmi attók.
‘They'd just go elsewhere.’
323)
Hitoko̱, nána, kaníkma̱ team, nána, ik hapim ikshokma̱,
‘And so, like, sometimes when we didn't have enough for a team,’
324)
ibá washóhalittók, kaníkma̱, hikma̱ nána ibá washóhalih aki̱nittók, hikako̱.
‘I'd play with them, sometimes, and I used to play them, but.’
325)
Hika̱, nána, y'all know,
‘And, like, y'all know(?)’
326)
different team ish íyakma̱, nána, iskitínit chiyokpanánah oklah áchih átoko̱. Hikako̱,
‘when you go to different team, it could mess you up a little, they said. But,’
327)
Anát ná yohmih ahnilih kiyoh, pí play-alikma̱, washo̱halikma̱, nikiyaki̱nih [nánikiyo aki̱ni] álittók.
‘I never thought like that myself, as long as I played, I said it doesn't matter.’
328)
Hikako̱,
‘But,’
329)
pí kanah a̱ ponaklokma̱, ibá washóhalánah, anáto.
‘as for me, like if anyone asks me, I can play with them.’
330)
Hiyo̱, himak ano ná washóhalahí kiyotoko̱.
‘But, I can't play anymore.’
331)
Nána, 90s fokáli fihnahmato, well, softball imma ano pi̱sali kano, nátah.
‘Like, right around the 90s, well, what I saw concerning softball, what was it.’
332)
Crystal Ridge ato, pí two teams ohmihósh isht a̱yattók.
‘Crystal Ridge sponsored two teams.’
333)
Achaffa ato Louisville Sluggers, David yo̱ka̱ [yómika̱] nána Saun Cotton, Earl. Katah yohmittók? (Perry) Perry.
‘One was the Louisville Sluggers, with David and them, SaunCotton, Earl. Who else? (Perry) Perry.’
334)
Charles, Mouse, a̱ dad, hikma̱ kanohmih nána Takósa ayína hapibá play-ah ayínattók.
‘Charles, Mouse, my dad, and there were some Black people who played with us as well.’
335)
Mako̱, ná, mako̱ makálih, ná team-, I mean reservation ná chi̱to kiyotoko̱, mako̱, nána.
‘That's, that's what I say, the teams, I mean the reservation wasn't very big, those ones, like’
336)
Takósa ol itti̱kánattók hopáki átok mako̱, mayína hapibá washóhattók.
‘Black people who were friends with us for a long time, played with us, too.’
337)
Hikma̱, the other team mat apílali kásh mato, nána, Crystal Ridge Rookies áchahíkattók yammato.
‘The other team that I helped, used to be called the Crystal Ridge Rookies.’
338)
Hika̱, Wardell Wallace at isht a̱yattók, amóshi ma̱ yamma̱.
‘And, Wardell Wallace used to coach, my uncle, him/them.’
339)
Wardell Wallace, Howard Tubby,
‘Wardell Wallace, Howard Tubby,’
340)
Wardell Wallace, Howard Tubby, katah yohmih ayínattók?
‘Wardell Wallace, Howard Tubby, who else also?’
341)
Moose.
‘Moose.’
342)
Yeah, Moose hikma̱ Robert.
‘Yeah Moose and Robert.’
343)
Robert.
‘Robert.’
344)
Boscoe Hickman, is that right? Yamma̱.
‘Boscoe Hickman, (mm-hm) is that right? Him. (mm-hm)’
345)
Nána, mato pilahma̱ kanihmahíkattók? Ibbak at yakót áchi chá, ano̱ti hihma̱ yakohmi chá, yakót á pilah, softball.
‘Like, when he'd throw, what used to happen? His hands used to go like this, and then like this, and he'd throw the softball like this.’
346)
Hiko̱ pí, nána, nátah.
‘But, just, like, what was it.’
347)
Like.
‘Like,’
348)
Put some, put some onion on that softball oklah ahwah kaníya yohmahíkattók (something, something ahwah kaníyattók, yep.)
‘They used to be like “Put some, put some onion on that softball,” (something, it was something, yep.)’
349)
Hika̱ yammat, nátah, yam- oklah kaníkma̱ oklah pí itti̱paknahíkattók, hikásh.
‘So those ones, what was it, they, sometimes, they compete with each other there, and.’
350)
Yeah, David ásh makásh ohmih, nána pishnakmáko̱ Takósa hicha náhollo nána, oklah hapiyapílahíkattók.
‘Yeah, like what David said, us too Black people and white people, they used to help us.’
351)
Most the times ano, nátah,
‘Most the time, what was it,’
352)
hapi alhíhat oklah ittatoklo ma̱ mak ol hoyo̱ hapiyapílahíkattók.
‘they would find the partners of our cousins, and they used to help us.’
353)
Nána, nátah, league pimma ano a̱shahíkattók, ahchíbat taha hikósh.
‘Like, what is it, there used to be a league over here, but it's been a while.’
354)
Late 90s early 2000s ma̱, pimma league ma̱yahmano, nátah, Lousiville ásha.
‘Late 90s, early 2000s, there was a league here and, what was it, a team from Lousiville.’
355)
Nátah ayína, Ackerman imma Weir bili̱kahma̱, Weir, yamma̱ hicha,
‘What else, toward Ackerman, near Weir, Weir, there, and,’
356)
Starkville ámíti ayína oklah, Takósalhíha, nahollo alhíhat oklah ít alhlhahíkattók yappa̱, tournament pa̱.
‘people from Starkville too, Black people, white people would enter it here, in this tournament.’
357)
League i̱la alhíhat oklah cháha chohmi hósh, oklah chilófatoka̱ about $300 fokálih.
‘Other leagues were pretty high, people paid about $300.’
358)
Hika̱ yappato $125 hitoko̱, mato yo̱kato mato,
‘And since this one was $125, they,’
359)
ná holíto̱pa kiyoh oklah ahni chá ít alhlhahíkattóka̱, yammato, lawah chohmahíkattók, you know.
‘thought it wasn't expensive, and entered it, those ones, and there used to be a lot of them, you know.’
360)
Pí about, nine, ten teams fokálitokma̱, one year a̱.
‘One year, like about, there were about nine, ten teams.’
361)
Hika̱, nátah, Takósa alhíha mato oklah, nátah, tóli ma̱yahmako̱,
‘And, what is it, the Black people even while there were games,’
362)
Takósa alhíhat oklah, nátah, long stretch high-, long stretch road right there, Indian road ma̱̱,
‘the Black people they'd, like on the long stretch high-, long stretch road there, Indian road,’
363)
yamma̱ oklah ná oklah set-up-a chá oklah balíli yohmih itti̱paknahíkattók, hika̱.
‘there, they, they set-up and they would compete in running races, so.’
364)
Iskali oklah, iskali oklah, nána, itti̱ nána mihchih yamma̱, hikat
‘Money, they, money, they'd do it for money, that, so,’
365)
Chahta alhíha kaníkma̱ oklah pit taka̱li ilahbi tokósh (mm-hm),
‘Choctaws sometimes would try to hang with them (mm-hm),’
366)
oklah ik lawwicho náha, hikásh oklah yamma̱ yót lawah ma̱ya ka̱ pisah achokmahíkattók yamma̱.
‘and they didn't quite measure up, so, it used to be fun seeing a lot of them around like that.’
367)
Himak ano, ná, pakilla kiyaki̱nikakósh, himak ano, ná softball team yo̱ka̱ ná la̱wa kiyot tahah am ahwah (mm-hm).
‘Nowadays, not just here, nowadays, there aren't as many softball teams anymore, I think.’
368)
Hard to see 'em nowadays ano.
‘Hard to see 'em nowadays.’
369)
Himak ano, nána, i̱la team alhtokma̱,
‘Nowadays, like, when other teams enter,’
370)
nána, ná paki̱t áshah kiyoh, Takósa or nahollo ma̱,
‘like, those not from around here, the Black people or white people,’
371)
itti̱ nokówah, itta ho̱ssa bannah ik yohmih oklah áshah yohmih oka̱ himak ano.
‘argue with each, want to shoot each other, that's all they want to do, nowadays.’
372)
Makallilla, I mean achokmah, nána, ála chá oklah play-ah.
‘That's all it is, I mean, it's good, that they come and play.’
373)
Hikako̱, yohmih, like one different call illa mako̱,
‘But, it's like that, like only just one different call,’
374)
hikma̱, nána oklah nokówah ikma̱ himo, nána,
‘and, if they get mad, now, like’
375)
oklah ano̱polit nokówah bannah, yohmih.
‘they want to argue, like that.’
376)
But, yohmih shálittók hikako̱.
‘It used to happen all the time, but.’
377)
Others ano, nikkiyah [nánikiyah] aki̱nittók, hika̱ achokmah chohmih aki̱nittók, hikako̱.
‘Others, it was okay, and it was fine, so.’
378)
I wanted to ask if there's like
‘I wanted to ask if there's like’
379)
unique language that might come out of the way y'all played or talked about the sport?
‘unique language that might come out of the way y'all played or talked about the sport?’
380)
Describing the game, or if there's just something about what plays happen
‘Describing the game, or if there's just something about what plays happen’
381)
Might be unique to ball players talking to each other in Choctaw?
‘Might be unique to ball players talking to each other in Choctaw?’
382)
Nána, nána mako̱ makah, like, nátah, nátah, kanat nána
‘It's like what he's saying, like, when someone’
383)
pop, pop-fly issohma̱, gah ik ittiyallo ka̱ (Oh, uh-huh) ahwah kaníya, you know yohmih maká yo̱.
‘hits a *popfly*, “gah they're kinda worthless, (oh, uh-huh) like that, you know that's what they say.’
384)
Hikako̱, ná hapishnáto yohmih, yeah, like, base hit issánah mako̱ you know, like,
‘As for us, yeah, like, even if [a teammate] hits a base hit, you know, like,’
385)
runner ná balílit, nána, third hiki̱yahma̱, nána, pop-up okma̱, mish-,
‘if the runner is on third and there's a pop-up,’
386)
pop-up áchikma̱ mishsha pilla issoh ikma̱,
‘they call it a pop-up, if it goes way out there,’
387)
balíli ma̱ nána home alánah.
‘the runner can come home.’
388)
Hikako̱, bili̱ka aki̱ni isso hikma̱,
‘But if they hit it close.’
389)
yeah, kaníkma̱, "alright, nána, yohmi ish ahnannah,"
‘Yeah, sometimes, they tell them, “Alright, don't worry about it,” ’
390)
nána "Ish issahí kiyokma̱, chi̱ glove ako̱ use-ah," im áchih.
‘like, “if you can't hit it, use your glove.” ’
391)
Ná, kaníkma̱ i̱la ato oklah nokówa-, i̱ nokówah.
‘Sometimes others get mad at them.’
392)
Mako̱ team akka ish pilah.
‘That's how you can tear down a team.’
393)
Nána, pí,
‘Like, just’
394)
nána, nátah,
‘like, what is it,’
395)
towwa hoklih yohmikma̱, fala̱t, chi̱-, nána, ish issachi̱kma̱ i̱ shalihchih,
‘like, what is it, when [they] catch the ball, it goes back, and then you're going to hit it better than them,’
396)
or something like that, yohmih makah.
‘or something like that they say.’
397)
Yako̱, yohmih kaníkma̱ yohmi taka̱li hikako̱, nána.
‘But, it's just like that sometimes.’
398)
I̱la ako̱ yohmih, I mean, hapishnáto pí,
‘Others are like that, I mean, as for us,’
399)
nátah, "Next time ohmako̱ fala̱t ish, ná ish issoh mo̱máchi̱h, hikma̱ ish i̱ shalihcháchi̱h aki̱nih yohmih ish ahninnah."
‘What is it, “Next time, you'll go back and hit, you'll do better than them, don't worry about it.” ’
400)
Mak kiyokma̱, you know, ish i̱ nokówah ohmikma̱ akka ish piláchi̱h óka̱.
‘If it's not that, you know, if you get mad at them you're gonna bring them down.’
401)
Hikma̱, whole team mako̱ akka piláhi̱h.
‘And, the whole team will be brought down.’
402)
Mak kiyokma̱, nána, nátokáchilánah yamma̱.
‘If it's not that, what can I say about that.’
403)
Oh, nátah, fokáli mat, them older days mato, oklah it-, race i̱la oklah itti̱paknáchi̱kma̱,
‘Oh, what is it, around, them older days, when they were going to compete with other races,’
404)
"Mato, ná hapi̱ shalihchásh kiyoh, ná imábash kiyo ka̱, oklí ilbasháláchi̱h," (mm-hm) oklah áchih, you know (yeah).
‘ “Those ones, they're not going to one up us, they're not going to beat us, we're going destroy them,” they'd say, you know (yeah).’
405)
Mato, ná, nátah, nátah, nokówah ano̱-, nokówah ano̱polih kiyoh, pí mo-, nátokáchi̱h?
‘So, what is it, not speaking angrily, just, what do they say?’
406)
(Motivation, yohmih) Uh-huh, itti̱pakna yohmih, (yeah) you know, hiko̱ ná hapi̱ shalihchásh kiyo hókih (uh-huh, yeah) pí il ahnitoko̱.
‘(Motivation), Uh-huh, like competitive, (yeah) you know, but they are not going to be better than us (uh-huh, yeah) we thought.’
407)
Yohm-, yohmih shálittók yammat hikásh.
‘It was always that way, that [the competition]’
408)
Nána, himak ano, ná alla alhíhat oklah washóhahma̱,
‘Like, nowadays, when the kids play’
409)
ná yohmi anokfillih kiyoh (huh-uh), hitokat, anóti oklah, im ill-, im illih yohmihmat hihmanót anokfillihma̱ yamma̱.
‘they don't think that way (huh-uh) and now, it's only after they lose that they think about that.’
410)
"Mako̱ oklí yót anokfillih hitoko̱ yohmi ish anokfillihma̱ pí,
‘Because we thought that way, you should think that way,’
411)
'ná pi̱ shalihchásh kiyohókih,' ish ahna-, ish ahnánatok kiyo̱," oklah im áchahíkattók.
‘like, you're supposed to think, 'they aren't going to one up us',” they used to tell 'em.’
412)
There'd be some good games back in the day.
‘There'd be some good games back in the day.’
413)
Well, I'll share some memories in here, nána, nátah?
‘Well, I'll share some memories here. What is it?’
414)
Peggy Wallace, Peggy Wallace okíh. Peggy Joe, Peggy Orduno? (Mm-hm) Yeah (Yeah).
‘Peggy Wallace, Peggy Wallace. Peggy Joe, Peggy Orduno? (Mm-hm) Yeah (Yeah).’
415)
[Mak] fokálihmano, nána, nátah wheelchair bini̱lih yohmittók.
‘Around then, she was in a wheelchair.’
416)
Nátah, mak fokálihma̱, Bók Chito League o̱t oklí ma̱yattók
‘What is it, around that time we were at a Bogue Chitto league [game].’
417)
Nátah a̱ makattók?
‘What did she tell me?’
418)
Hopákih chásh mat, ball field pa̱, Bók Chito ma̱, fence iksho ahíkattók.
‘At that time long ago, at this ballfield in Bogue Chitto, there didn't used to be a fence.’
419)
Hika̱, palah yo̱ka hiyohma̱yattók, hika̱ fence ikshottók* hika̱.
‘So, there were light poles, but there wasn't a fence, so.’
420)
Kanohma kano hopákichih issottók.
‘One of them hit it far.’
421)
Hina Frog, amóshi ma̱,
‘And Frog, my uncle,’
422)
himako̱ baaalít taka̱nit palhki chohmitokósh baaalít taka̱nit towwa hokli áchi̱h ahwah kaníya yakohmih taka̱a̱a̱liko̱,
‘right then was running after it, kind of fast, he was, he kept running like he was going to catch the ball, it was uuuuup there like this,’
423)
Light pole fihnayo̱, 'PÁK' á na, "Golly, yohmitoko̱?" álittók.
‘he went right into the light pole, and it went 'PÁK', and I asked, “Golly, did that really happen?” ’
424)
Yoppat kaní[yash] ít bini̱lih, "Uh-huh, yohmili yoh * ma̱," átoko̱.
‘She was sitting there laughing, she said, “Uh-huh, that's what happened.” ’
425)
"Gah, tasi̱bochih ka̱chitok ka alla ma̱" á na, "Gahlee!" áli kano.
‘She said, “Gah, it knocked that kid senseless when he hit it” and I said, “Gahlee!” ’
426)
Frog o̱t i̱ ponaklolitoko̱, "Peggy ato pí áta̱pa anóli ka," áh kaníyattók," yoppat am achokmáhi̱h.
‘I went and asked Frog and he said, “Peggy just over exaggerates,” and I enjoyed a laugh.’
427)
Yeah, hopáki alhíha ato, ná yohmi a̱lhih kiyohmako̱, ná pí kanah itti̱ yoppah bannah hikako̱,
‘Yeah, people back, even if it wasn't true, they just wanted to laugh at each other, but’
428)
oklah tólikma̱̱, you know, nátah, ná achokmat anólash kiyoh óka̱,
‘when they played ball, you know, they aren't going to tell it right,’
429)
pí áta̱bit anólih, like,
‘they're going to over exaggerate, like’
430)
"Pa̱ yohmitok ka," áh kaníyah, ná yohmih kiyoh mako̱.
‘They're going to say, “This happened right,” even if it didn't happen.’
431)
Hika̱, pí itti̱ yopilah yohmih oklah áshattók.
‘But, they just like to joke around with each other.’
432)
Yeah, yup (Yup).
‘Yeah, yup (Yup).’
433)
Nána, another one ato, Frankie Clemmons at am anolittók, yammato, hikásh nátah.
‘Like, another one, Frankie Clemmons told me, that guy, and so,’
434)
Hopáki chásh mat, Mashulaville Okla baseball, oklah. Katommak atok?
‘At that time long ago, Mashulaville folks, baseball, they. Where was it?’
435)
Dormitory áchitoko̱, cho?
‘Did he say dormitory, or?’
436)
Baseball achaff-, baseball field achaffa [m]o̱ma hiki̱yahíkattók, 14 ma̱.
‘There used to be one more baseball field, there at 14 [hwy].’
437)
(Mm-hm) Ishka̱na ho̱? (Mm-hm) Betty Cowell i̱ store ma̱ (Yeah) yamma̱.
‘(Mm-hm) Do you remember there? (Mm-hm) At Betty Cowell's store (Uh-huh) (yeah) that one.’
438)
Yamma̱ abohli iya ma̱? (Uh-huh) Uh-huh.
‘The one going towards the woods? (Uh-huh) Uh-huh.’
439)
(Yeah) Yamma̱ baseball field hiki̱yahíkattók yamma̱ átoko̱. (mm-hm) Yammat, nátah
‘(Yeah) There used to be a baseball field there. That, what is it,’
440)
nátah, Bók Chito ásha, Lloyd Clemmons yómikásh isht a̱yatoko̱ mak fokálihma̱ (Yammat Sundowners attók kiyo̱) I think so.
‘what is it, people from Bogue Chitto, Lloyd Clemmons and them used to coach around then ** (It was the Sundowners) I think so.’
441)
Yeah Sundownders am ahwah. Yeah Lloyd Clemmons, Frankie, yo̱ka, uh-huh (Yeah).
‘Yeah, I think the Sundowners, Lloyd Clemmons, Frankie and them, uh-huh (Yeah).’
442)
Mak oklah nána [a]máfo yo̱ka itti̱paknattók yamma̱ tokósh, nátah,
‘They're the ones who competed against my grandfather and them.’
443)
Robert Wallace másh Short-Stop hiki̱yah, mato. Hikma̱, Moose akósh, másh outfield hiki̱yattók, centerfield hitoko̱.
‘They say Robert Wallace used to play at short stop and Moose was in outfield, in center field.’
444)
Kanomma kano towwa issot Robert Wallace tokólichitok, short-stop ma̱ na Moose at
‘Someone hit the ball through Robert Wallace at short stop, and Moose’
445)
second base, kanah second base hikíyatokósh yakót iyat home plate iyatoko̱.
‘second base, whoever was at second base went like this going towards home place.’
446)
Moose at himo towwat íshi chá ibbak ̱aya kat, áh kaníya, yót áh kaníya ano,
‘Moose then got the ball and went like this with his hands, and like this,’
447)
Robert Wallace ako̱, "Ít pilah, Moose, to̱shpat ít pilah," áh *** toko̱
‘and Robert Wallace said, “throw the ball here, Moose, hurry up and throw the ball here” and so,’
448)
Moose at *kaníya kiyah ibbak yakohmi na, Robert akkiyattók,
‘Moose's hands were already moving like this and Robert’
449)
He said, he said some word which I ain't, we won't utter right here pakósh, nátah, maka na,
‘He said, he said some word which I ain't, we won't utter right here, whatever he said,’
450)
he turned, mak fíhna na folóta fíhnahma̱ baseball innoshkobo ásh ako̱ lása̱naha̱.
‘he turned, he turned right then, right when he turned around the baseball smacked him in the back of the head.’
451)
Robert at nokówa chá Moose a̱ lhiyohlih hikít iyah-{yoppa}.
‘Robert got mad and started chasing Moose.’
452)
Hikma̱, nána, a̱ pokni hiki̱nitokósh, nátah, keep her memory alive in a funny way I guess, hikásh.
‘And then, because she was my grandmother, “[I'm gonna] keep her memory alive, in a funny way I guess.’
453)
Pí anóliláchi̱kako̱, nátah, nátah,
‘I'm just going to tell it, what is it,’
454)
that same ballfield makálikásh ma̱, Cowell store ma̱ yamma̱, nátah,
‘that same ballfield like I said, at the Cowell store, what is it,’
455)
Takósa achaffat hohchifo 'Shahp' áchih, hiko̱.
‘there was this one Black guy named 'Shahp’
456)
Nakni alhíha oklah baseball washóhat ma̱yahma̱, Takósa mato, nátah,
‘While the guys were there playing baseball, the Black guy, what is it,’
457)
Chahta ohóyo á tasi̱bo ilahbi bíkattók.
‘he was crazy about Choctaw women.’
458)
You know, pí, yamma̱ "Issa̱po̱sáchi̱h," áchih, yohmih pí, yohmitokko̱.
‘You know, he'd say “you're going to kiss me,” that's how he was’
459)
Hina, Chahta ohóyo alhíhat oklah bat íshi chá oklah lhiyohlih hattak ma̱, hikako̱ sakkahí kiyoh.
‘And so, the Choctaw ladies would get a bat and chase after that man, but they couldn't catch him.’
460)
Hina, nátah, mako̱ kanat a̱ makah amiyaksikásh yamma̱ mako̱.
‘And so, what is it, I forget who told me that, about that.’
461)
"Chahta ohóyo katah" álitok, hochífot tahlihma̱, "Malene" á na,
‘I asked, “Which Choctaw women?” and when he named them all, he said Malene.’
462)
"Omaline ana̱?" "Uh-huh," átok.
‘ “Was it Omaline?” “Uh-huh,” he said’
463)
"She's about 6-foot, she's about 6-foot, or a little bit over ho̱?"
‘ “She's about 6-foot, she's about 6-foot, or a little bit over?” ’
464)
"Cháha kat ik sakkotoko̱?" áli ka̱.
‘ “She's tall but didn't catch him?” I asked.’
465)
"Huh-uh, ik sakkolih mak mako̱," á na.
‘ “Huh-uh, she didn't catch him either,” he said.’
466)
"GAH!" áli ka̱.
‘I said “GAH!” ’
467)
Anóti, nána,
‘So then, like,’
468)
anóti, kanash am anóli kásh mato,
‘then, the one who told me, that one [said],’
469)
"Chi̱ pokni akkít katihmi chim ahwatoko̱?
‘ “What do you think that grandma of yours did?” ’
470)
"Nátaho̱?" áli ka̱, Shahp akkiya, "Come on Lolene, give me kiss, give me kiss," and
‘I said “what did she do?” That guy Shahp said, “Come on Lolene, give me kiss, give me kiss,” and’
471)
Grandma kiya, "Mítihma," á na.
‘Grandma said, “Come here then.” ’
472)
Takósa ma̱, "A̱lhih?!" áh kaníyatok.
‘That Black guy said, “For real?!” ’
473)
Grandma, "Uh-huh," átok.
‘Grandma said, “Uh-huh.” ’
474)
Fokálihma̱, hakchoma apachi̱tok, Grandma, hitoko̱
‘Right at that time, she had eaten tobacco, Grandma, so’
475)
i̱ po̱sa fíhnahma̱, hakchoma ma̱ pí mómít pit ibánit tahli ka̱.
‘right when she kissed him she put all of that tobacco in there.’
476)
Oh man na, takósa ma̱ toffat ammót ka̱chi chá
‘Oh man, and that Black guy spit it all out and’
477)
"Pí ish yohmit ishka̱na ka," á na oklí shinnitoko̱, hitoko̱.
‘ “You know you're just doing that!” he said, and we laughed at him, so.’
478)
Yeah, a̱ dad mako̱, nána, Bók Chito, mano,
‘Yeah, my dad, like in Bogue Chitto, there,’
479)
mano new field oklah mihchih óka̱.
‘they had done a new field there.’
480)
Hitoko̱, nána, old field,
‘So, like, the old field’
481)
nána from when you go in, nána, Bók Chito ako̱, nána,
‘like, from when you go in, in Bogue Chitto,’
482)
Hikma̱, yakót bóli átoka̱ abohli mimma.
‘And, they'd hit like this over there towards the woods.’
483)
Yeah, mako̱ a̱ dad i̱ name oklah ishittók, you know, Bók Chito.
‘Yeah, they have a name for my dad there, you know, in Bogue Chitto.’
484)
Nána, baseball oklah itti̱ play-ahma̱,
‘Like, when they played baseball against each other,’
485)
mako̱ hohchifo attók, "Pine" oklah áchittók.
‘that name they called him was “Pine.” ’
486)
Nána, nána, tiyak "pine" ma̱, nána.
‘Like, like that pine tree “pine.” ’
487)
Towwa issokma̱ aba pilla taka̱lit, nána
‘When he hits the ball, it's high up in the air, and’
488)
pine ma̱ pit shamáchih.
‘he sticks it to those pines.’
489)
Yammako̱ oklah hochífottók.
‘That's what they called him.’
490)
Nána ma̱ mako̱, takósa mako̱ kanah ibá washóhattók, nána.
‘So like, those Black folks, played with anyone.’
491)
Naksika iyakma̱ takósa oklah hoyoh i̱ponnah chohmih átoko̱, hihma̱.
‘When they'd go somewhere else they'd look for other Black people who were really good, and so.’
492)
Short-stop play-átoko̱, glove táha i̱shi attók.
‘Since he played short stop, he had a worn-out glove.’
493)
Hikako̱, nána,
‘But, like,’
494)
kani yokowácha̱nohma̱ yokowáchi attók, makattók.
‘however he can catch it, he was gonna catch, that's what he said.’
495)
Kaníkma̱, a̱ mom anóli attók.
‘Sometimes, my mom used to tell that.’
496)
Hihma̱, mako̱
‘And, even’
497)
na "Chi̱ki ato i̱ponnah chohmih," áchitoko̱, mako̱
‘because she'd say “Your dad is really good at it,” that's why’
498)
i̱ shalihchih sanna attók, mako̱.
‘I wanted to be better than him.’
499)
Hikako̱, il ittibá play-ah mo̱mattók, hikako̱,
‘But, we still played together, but,’
500)
nána,
‘like,’
501)
kaníkma̱, naksika apílakma̱, or naksika apí[la]likma̱,
‘sometimes, if he's playing with someone else or I'm playing with someone else,’
502)
ná il itti̱paknah aki̱ni kako̱, same team hikako̱.
‘we still compete against each other, even on the same team.’
503)
Nána, "Pí kanah itti̱ shalihchih, ná chi̱ki ish lawwichih kiyoh," áh kaníyah.
‘She'd say, “He's just trying to out do someone, you're unable to measure up to your dad.” ’
504)
Hitoko̱, nána, like nátah,
‘So, like, what is it,’
505)
Lousiville ma̱ Dizzy Dean play-alihma̱,
‘In Lousiville, when I played in the Dizzy Dean,’
506)
All-Stars yohmi iyálih yohmáchi̱hma̱,
‘when I was going to All-Stars like that,’
507)
i̱shko mako̱, ná a̱ catch-ah ilahbikma̱,
‘even if he was drunk, he'd catch for me,’
508)
nána, before play-at iyálih fokálikma̱.
‘like, before, when I was about to go play.’
509)
Hikma̱, nána,
‘And, like,’
510)
pí practice-at, nána, "Ammót-, nátah,
‘just practicing, like, all of it-, what was it,’
511)
"Towwa ma̱ lhi̱kachih," áchih, nána, hakloh bannah, mi̱tihma̱.
‘he'd say, “Rev up the ball,” he wanted to hear it coming.’
512)
Nána, katohmih, nána, palhkit pilálánah hakloh bannah makátoko̱.
‘Like, he wanted to hear how fast I could throw.’
513)
Hihma̱, i̱shkotokáko̱ yako̱ "BÁK" isht issolitokka.
‘And because he was drunk, it went “BAK” right here when I hit him with it.’
514)
Hihma̱ makallatoko̱, ano a̱híyachih ahnilitoko̱ ik [s]a̱híyoh aki̱nittók.
‘And that was it after that, I thought I was going to get in trouble but I didn't get in trouble.’
515)
Yeah, mako̱, nána,
‘Yeah, that one, like,’
516)
mako̱ am ábachih aki̱nittók.
‘that's what he had taught me.’
517)
Hikako̱, ti̱kba ano a̱ mom ibá washóhalittók, nána, ohóyo alhíha.
‘But at first I played ball with my mom, like, the women.’
518)
Ti̱kba, softball, mato ná play-alikma̱ pilla kiyotoko̱.
‘At first I didn't play that as much, softball.’
519)
Hihma̱, nátah, ik im ónohma̱,
‘And when they didn't have enough,’
520)
ohóyo kako̱, nána, "Short-stop play-ah," ákma̱,
‘even though they're women, like, she'd say, “Play short stop,” ’
521)
a̱ mom ato third-base play-ah.
‘and my mom played third-base.’
522)
Hikma̱, nána, short-stop play-alih.
‘And, I'd play short stop.’
523)
Hikma̱, nátah takósa ohóyo Louisville áshahma̱ olil itti̱ play-ah, Blue Angels, yómika̱.
‘And, what is it, we'd play against the Black women living in Louisville, the Blue Angels and them.’
524)
Hika̱, mako̱ ti̱kba start-alittók, play-a ka̱.
‘And so, that's what I started with, playing.’
525)
Anáto, they started me up playing
‘As for me, they started me up playing’
526)
12 or 13 years old fokáli, oklah apílah bannahma̱, ittapít [ittapílat] taka̱lilahíkattók.
‘about 12-13 years old, and when they needed help, I used to be out there helping them.’
527)
Ak ittiyallo mako̱ kaní kiyah,
‘Even though I wasn't worth much,’
528)
"Get enough players to make a game," áhma̱, oklah mihchahíkattók.
‘When they said, “Get enough players to make a game,” they'd do that.’
529)
Hika̱ nána, softball imma mano̱,
‘And like, when it comes to softball,’
530)
15 hikít, 15, 14 siya kat, ma̱ hikít iyah pitching-li himakka mato.
‘starting at 15, I5, I was 14, I started then and I'm still a pitching now.’
531)
Kanohmona oklah, nána, mato towwa oklah lha̱kkochit bóli alhíhat oklah middle ilhkólihma̱,
‘There were some, like, them, they were some strong hitters who, when they hit it towards the middle,’
532)
gahlih, it used to be some mano fokálihma̱ palammi nahatok ka yamma̱.
‘gahlih, there used to be some. It was almost difficult, wasn't it.’
533)
Mak, nának fíhna ayína ka̱,
‘Especially somebody else,’
534)
katah, Benjamin akósh towwa nátah,
‘who, Benjamin, the ball, what is it,’
535)
softball ano pí, you know,
‘just softball, you know,’
536)
nátah, easy-ki̱nikakósh kaní kiyah,
‘what is it, even though its easy,’
537)
easy ahwah kaníya ka̱ towwa isso kano.
‘it seems like it's easy to hit the ball.’
538)
Hikanóti, pitcher ish hiki̱ya kano, towwa folólichi na ma̱ kaniht fahámahma̱,
‘But then, if you are playing pitcher and you throw a curve ball, no matter how they swing at it,’
539)
mak fíhnahma̱ chiyo̱ mítáchi̱h, mato palhkáchi̱kako̱.
‘it's going to come at you and it's going to be really fast.’
540)
Well that's mato palammih mato.
‘Well that's going to be tough.’
541)
Kaníkma̱, kocha folólichi,
‘Sometimes, with a curve ball,’
542)
yappa̱ ít hikíyah fahámachihma̱,
‘when he'd [Benjamin] be standing there ready to swing it,’
543)
apissa hiki̱yahma̱,
‘standing straight,’
544)
kocha folólichi yakót folólih fokálihma̱,
‘and when the curveball is about to curve’
545)
ibbak a̱ yakót o̱t á fokálihma̱ towwa folótahma̱,
‘when his hand is about right here, and the ball curved,’
546)
mak fíhnahma̱ ít siyo̱ mítáchi̱h ahnilihma̱ am alhtáhat hoklilahíkattók.
‘at that moment, when I knew it was going to be coming right at me, I would be ready to catch it.’
547)
Hika̱, himak ano sa saláhat tahachi̱nihósh.
‘But now, I've gotten a little slower.’
548)
This year ano,
‘This year,’
549)
toklo ohmih or tohchína ohmiho̱ sasso ka.
‘about two, or about three hit me, didn't it.’
550)
Ná, all this time ano, nána, ná towwa na ik sassoh.
‘All this time, like, the ball didn't hit me.’
551)
Hoklili kiyokma̱ i̱ kanallilikakósh, ik sassokako̱,
‘I'd catch it or I'd move away from it so it didn't hit me but,’
552)
this year ano three times fokáli kano towwa sassot pisa ka.
‘this year a balls already hit me about 3 times, huh.’
553)
Toko̱, sa saláhat tahah hihkana [hih kaníya] ahnilitok pí.
‘And so, I thought its possible I've gotten slower.’
554)
Well, a̱lhi ano, nána,
‘Well, really, like,’
555)
towwa, himak ano, oklah lha̱kkochih oka̱, himak ano.
‘the balls, now, they make the balls tougher, nowadays.’
556)
Hicha, nátah, bat, ishit bóli ma̱,
‘And, what is it, bat, the bat,’
557)
ma̱ mako̱, himak ano i̱la oklah mihchit tahlih átoko̱.
‘even those, they make them differently now.’
558)
Ilí ish ahahnik makalla illa ish play-akma̱, 'cause,
‘You have to be careful with yourself, when you play, cause,’
559)
towwa ma̱ palhkáchi̱ hoka̱, kanít oklah mihchikma̱,
‘that ball is going to be fast, how they do it,’
560)
chíkossi ish áchik makalla illa, quick like.
‘you gotta be fast like this, quick like.’
561)
Nána,
‘Like,’
562)
hopáki yómi mato [softballs] oklah, mato,
‘those older ones (softballs), they,’
563)
lha̱kkot alhtáhatokósh mato, nána, bat mato ná mak pilla kiyottók mako̱, himak ano,
‘were already strong, the bat wasn't as much, and now,’
564)
nátah, oklah kaniht oklah mihchih yohmitokósh,
‘what is it, however they make it,’
565)
nána, lha̱kkoh kiyohmako̱, oklah chitólit issánah ilahbikako̱, yohmihma̱.
‘even if [the hitters] aren't strong, they can hit it hard, it's like that.’
566)
Anáto, Standing Pine ma̱, ná towwa sa nokshopah kiyottók.
‘As for me, there in Standing Pine, I was never afraid of the ball.’
567)
Nána, short-stop play-alihma̱,
‘Like, when I played short-stop,’
568)
hihma̱, nahollo il itti̱ play-attók, Standing Pine ma̱, hihma̱,
‘and, we played against white people there in Standing Pine, and’
569)
nahollo pat pí lo̱mah issoh ahwah kaníyattók.
‘this white person seemed to hit lightly.’
570)
Hihma̱, yakót tikba hiki̱ya chá, nána
‘And so, I was standing there like this, like’
571)
yakót pí kochchilánah ikka̱nalittók ná pila ka̱ hikako̱,
‘I knew I could get them out by throwing, but’
572)
towwa ma̱, nána,
‘the ball, like,’
573)
nátah, hole issotoka̱
‘it must have hit a hole,’
574)
hihma̱ pí mi̱ti hihma̱, pí sanishkin akammilihma̱,
‘and it just came (towards me) and I just closed my eyes,’
575)
"PÁK" áchihma̱.
‘and it went “PÁK.” ’
576)
Yakohmihma̱,
‘Right here,’
577)
busted lip i̱shilihma̱, loosened all my teeth attók. hihma̱, hihma̱,
‘I had a busted lip and it loosened all my teeth. And then,’
578)
pí akka maki̱t [it]tolálittók.
‘I just fell down right there.’
579)
I mean stars illah pi̱salihma̱, pí
‘I mean, I saw only stars, like’
580)
na issis yakohmit kotcha á kaníyahma̱. Hihma̱,
‘and blood came out like this. And then,’
581)
ná sa nokshópah ma pilla kiyaki̱nikako̱,
‘even though I wasn't all that scared,’
582)
nátah, kaníkma̱ anokfilli[li]h mo̱mahma̱,
‘like, sometimes when I think about it again,’
583)
to̱shpat, nána, mihchila̱nakako̱,
‘I can do it quickly but then,’
584)
Hikako̱, ná himak ano, ná washóhalahí kiyotoko̱, ná yohmih ahnilih kiyo himak ano.
‘But, because I can't play anymore, I don't think about it anymore.’
585)
Nána,
‘Like,’
586)
Chahta achaffa ano, I want to mention him because, nátah, Jimmy Cotton hikako̱, nátah.
‘This one Choctaw, I want to mention him, what is it, and it's Jimmy Cotton, what is it.’
587)
Nátah, Serena i̱ Jimmy Cotton.
‘What is it, Serena's Jimmy Cotton.’
588)
Oh, uh-huh.
‘Oh, uh-huh.’
589)
Yeah, yammako̱, nátah, mato,
‘Yeah that one, what is it, now that one,’
590)
let's see he,
‘let's see he,’
591)
iyatokma̱ katí fokáli, about five, six years something like that?
‘how long ago did he pass away, about five, six years something like that?’
592)
About six years fokáli ka̱ (Something like that, hikásh).
‘About 6 years (Something like that).’
593)
Nátah.
‘What was it.’
594)
Up in, he was about, last time he was playing, I remember he was about sixty years old attók.
‘Up in, he was about, last time he was playing, I remember he was about sixty years old.’
595)
Sixty years old ikakósh,
‘He was 60 years old, but’
596)
he was running faster than the young cats, (Mm-hm).
‘he was running faster than the young cats, (Mm-hm).’
597)
He was running faster than young kids, (Palhkih!) I swear to God.
‘He was running faster than young kids, (Fast!) I swear to God.’
598)
In blue jean pants (Mm-hm).
‘In blue jean pants (Mm-hm).’
599)
Blue jean pants with cleats, yep.
‘Blue jean pants with cleats, yep.’
600)
He was running faster than them young cats, hitoko̱ (Mm-hm).
‘He was running faster than them young cats (Mm-hm).’
601)
Nána, one time ano, a̱ makattók, nána, he used to run dogs up and down the state hitokósh.
‘Like, one time, he told me he used to run dogs up and down the state.’
602)
I'm, I'm assuming that's coming from a little, whatever was going on then, so you know, but.
‘I'm, I'm assuming that's coming from a little, whatever was going on then, so you know, but.’
603)
Hika̱, I believe him because, nátah.
‘I believe him because, what is it.’
604)
When we, when we started playing,
‘When we, when we started playing,’
605)
Jimmy Cotton ato, he wasn't like the other guys, you know getting slower by the day, he wasn't getting slow at all, alla mato.
‘Jimmy Cotton, he wasn't like the other guys, you know getting slower by the day, he wasn't getting slow at all, that kid.’
606)
Up until he was sixty years old he was still running like a young man hitoko̱ (Mm-hm).
‘Up until he was sixty years old he was still running like a young man (Mm-hm).’
607)
Baseball washóha im achokmattók, mako̱, hika̱.
‘He enjoyed playing baseball.’
608)
Nána, but just,
‘Like, but just,’
609)
makilla, makilla ka̱ sipokni hikako̱
‘he was the only one who was older, but’
610)
balíli kat himittowa i̱ shahlih i̱ shalihchiko̱. Man that was,
‘but he ran faster than, out did, the young ones. Man that was,’
611)
that was something, that was something to watch I tell you ma̱.
‘that was something, that was something to watch I tell you.’
612)
Crystal Ridge paki̱ni, was it the focus more on softball than say kabotcha, or?
‘Right here in Crystal Ridge, was it the focus more on softball, than say stickball, or?’
613)
Uh, yeah.
‘Uh, yeah.’
614)
Was that different here, than some of the other communities?
‘Was that different here, than some of the other communities?’
615)
Mostly ano, yeah, baseball hicha softball chohmittók hicha,
‘Mostly, yeah, it was mostly baseball and softball, and’
616)
maybe volleyball and basketball hikásh ná,
‘maybe volleyball and basketball but’
617)
Kabotcha ano oklah washóhah a̱lhi kiyottók, (huh-uh) paki̱ni kano̱ hikásh,
‘They didn't really play stickball much, (huh-uh) right here, but’
618)
kaní, kaníkat oklah o̱t washóhaki̱nittók (mm-hm) hikako̱.
‘some, some of them went and played (somewhere).’
619)
(Hika̱) Hika̱ naksika apíla ho, like Bók Chito yohmih.
‘(But) But they'd help other places, like Bogue Chitto.’
620)
La̱wa kano Nanih Waiya oklah apíla ka? (Mm-hm, himak ano).
‘A lot of them, they help Nanih Waiya [stickball team], right? (Mm-hm, nowadays).’
621)
Yeah.
‘Yeah.’
622)
But, playing ball is maybe more of your tradition (Uh-huh!) now?
‘But, playing ball [baseball/softball] is maybe more of your tradition (Uh-huh!) now?’
623)
Himak a̱, right now ano, alla himaffówa ish pi̱sah, pí
‘Right now, when you see the younger kids, just’
624)
get together okma̱, field pa̱, pí oklah itti̱ bólitok, or,
‘when they get together, at the field here, they hit it to each other, or,’
625)
won't, ná lawah kiyohmako̱, like one side illah,
‘won't, even though there aren't enough, like only on one side,’
626)
oklah towwa issot hikma̱ oklah, you know, play-ah ohmih a̱lhih ahwah kaníyah.
‘they hit the ball and, you know, they play like it's a real game.’
627)
Pí one side illah, say about like four players illahmako̱,
‘Like if it's only one side, even if it's only say about like 4 players,’
628)
they still play.
‘they still play.’
629)
Oklah ittahóba chá oklah washóhat yohmitok, oklah, nána.
‘They'd gather and play like that, they, like.’
630)
Paki̱ni ballfield bili̱katokako̱, i̱ kanihmih paki̱ni áshalhíhat [áshah alhíhat] oklah. Hitokósh,
‘Here, where the ballfield is nearby,it works for them, the ones that live here. So,’
631)
Nána mako̱, every night, every night, or maybe
‘like that, every night, every night, or maybe’
632)
three or four, three or four nights out of the week okma̱, oklah if available okma̱ oklah,
‘three or four, three or four nights out of the week, if they're available, they'd’
633)
pí oklah ittahoba chá oklah washóháshahíkattók [washóhah áshahíkattók] yamma̱ (mm-hm).
‘like, they used to gather and be playing there (mm-hm).’
634)
You know, nátah?
‘You know, what is it?’
635)
To have, ná pí ná yohmih, ná mihchih im ásha na il ahnih, oklah il ahnih ittahobahíkattók yohmih pí (mm-hm) yamma̱.
‘To have, just to do something, we thought for them to have something to do, we thought to gather together like that (mm-hm),there.’
636)
Was there any, some of that,
‘Was there ever any, some of that,’
637)
superstitions, or okki̱sh okpolo related to playing ball?
‘superstition or okki̱sh okpolo related to playing ball?’
638)
Any stories y'all know?
‘Any stories y'all know?’
639)
A̱ dad i̱ side mimma, baseball okla play-a ka̱, George Cotton,
‘On my dad's side, they played baseball, George Cotton,’
640)
yamma̱ mako̱ ha̱klolih ano, yamma̱ he mihchi attók mako̱.
‘from what I heard, that one, he practiced medicine.’
641)
Hika̱, mano osi siyah mo̱mattók, ak ikka̱noh chohmikako̱,
‘But, I was still young then, I didn't know as much, but’
642)
pí makalla illa ha̱klolih chohmittók, hihma̱.
‘that's pretty much all I heard, and so.’
643)
Hika̱, lawaho̱ pi̱salih like oklah use-a ka̱, hap-, hapo̱ use-akma̱,
‘But, I saw a lot of it, like, if they used it on us,’
644)
cause, I mean oklah play-ah ma̱yahmako̱,
‘cause, I mean, even when they were playing,’
645)
katína black chicken, you know aka̱ka, nána, field o̱t chokwah, and like,
‘why was a black chicken, you know, a chicken, going on the field, and like,’
646)
Black chicken, gah?
‘Black chicken, gah?’
647)
Yeah, yohmi attók hihma̱, like,
‘Yeah, it was like that, like,’
648)
Art, hihma̱, hapi̱ makattók.
‘Art, he told us.’
649)
A̱ uncle nána illihmak máko̱, 'Yuna' oklah áchih, Junior,
‘My uncle that passed, they called him 'Yuna', Junior.’
650)
"Salt hicha pepper ittibáni tahli chá chi̱ shoes apittah kiyokma̱,
‘ “Mix up salt and pepper and put it in your shoes, or else’
651)
ná chi affowitipah," áchih.
‘you'll be cursed,” he'd say.’
652)
Like, hapiyyi lawachih ahwah kaníya mako̱ cause nána that black pepper salt ma̱
‘Like, it really seemed like our feet was burning, cause, you know, that black pepper and salt,’
653)
nána ,mix it together okma̱, lashpáchi̱h átoko̱.
‘you know, if it's mixed together, it's gonna be hot.’
654)
Hiyo̱ mako̱ hapápílah chohmi attók, mako̱.
‘But that used to kinda help us, that.’
655)
Hika̱, yohmi a̱ttattók, nána, Bók Chito ma̱,
‘So, it was like that, in Bogue Chitto,’
656)
'ka̱ka o̱o̱o̱t iyah.
‘chicken's paaaasing by.’
657)
Nána,
‘Something,’
658)
They u-, nána, differences taka̱nahíkattók yammat nána,
‘They, there used to be differences, that, what is it,’
659)
year 'chaffa kano, Nahollo i̱ league pa̱, Louisville ma̱.
‘one year, it was the white people's league, the in Louisville.’
660)
Hikmanóti,
‘Then,’
661)
Chahta i̱ league,
‘the Choctaw league,’
662)
reservation kanohmona mako̱, yamma̱,
‘anywhere on the reservation, that’
663)
nátah, nahollo i̱ league mano o̱t washóhat tahlilihma̱,
‘what is it, when I finished playing in the White people's league,’
664)
fala̱t chokka onálihma̱, mato nánikiyoh bini̱lilih.
‘when I come back home, I'm doing alright there.’
665)
You know?
‘You know?’
666)
Tika̱baki̱nikakósh nánikiyoh bini̱lilih, hikósh.
‘Even though its tiring, I'm sitting here alright, but.’
667)
Chahta i̱ league mano̱, o̱t washóhat tahlilihma̱, anóti fala̱t alálihmano̱,
‘In that Choctaw league, when I finish playing, when I get back [home]’
668)
hihmót [hihma anót], sa chilhlhinowah, sayyi sattopah yohmih yót kaníyah átoko̱, yamma̱.
‘then, I'm sore and my feet are hurting me, because it's like that, there [Choctaw league].’
669)
Oklah, kanah, himak kiyokma̱ hopákih chásh, oklah,
‘They, somebody, now or back in the day, they’
670)
ballfield ma̱ oklah ayaskah kiyoh oklah ná,
‘if they hadn't cleansed the ballfield,’
671)
nátah makáshi̱ni taka̱li holbáchi̱nih ahnilitoko̱, cause
‘I think it's [okki̱sh okpolo] probably still at the same place, cause’
672)
yohmahíkattók, yamma̱.
‘it used to happen like that, there.’
673)
Ná, himaka-, himak ako̱ makálih kiyoh.
‘I not saying it's that way now.’
674)
Couple years ago, sa himitta chohmi hósh, yamma̱ mano yohmahíkattók yohmih.
‘A couple years ago, when I was younger, it used to happen like that there.’
675)
Nahollo i̱ league washóhat tahlilihmano,
‘When I finished playing in the White People's league,’
676)
nánikiyo hokakósh, Chahta i̱ league á washóhalihmano̱,
‘it was alright, but when I played in the Choctaw league,’
677)
pí ayiskachi̱nihósh, pí
‘like, it seems fixed (with medicine), like’
678)
chííílhlhinowah ohmish attah ahwah kaniyah.
‘it kinda seems like you'll be especially sore.’
679)
One time ano, nána,
‘One time, like,’
680)
paki̱nittók.
‘it was here.’
681)
Chahta alhíhat paki̱ni a̱shat oklah,
‘The Choctaws that live here,’
682)
Takósa alhíhat oklah itti̱paknattók, ohóyo alhíha.
‘the Black folks competed against them, the women.’
683)
Hitoko̱,
‘So,’
684)
nátah,
‘what was it,’
685)
Takósa ohóyo achaffa pi̱salittók.
‘I saw one Black lady.’
686)
Nána fence ma̱ atayyat i̱ hiki̱yah.
‘She was leaning against the fence.’
687)
Hikat,
‘And,’
688)
i̱ purse shót hiki̱ya hicha.
‘she was holding her purse, and.’
689)
Hitoko̱, fokálihma̱ Chahta ohóyo paki̱ni ásha mato oklah, mato, tóli ka̱ mato
‘So, around then, these Choctaw women living here, they, the ones who played’
690)
oklah lha̱kkochih bólit oklah yohmahíkattók.
‘they used to hit it really hard.’
691)
Towwa mako̱ oklah im issohma̱ oklah i̱ mokoffahí kiyoh ilahbahíkattók, yamma̱,
‘When they hit the ball to them, it used to be they hardly missed it, those ones,’
692)
Lois yómika̱ cháshma̱. (Mm-hm) Hitoko̱, yamma̱,
‘it was Lois and them. (Mm-hm) And so, that one,’
693)
nátah,
‘what was it,’
694)
Takósa ohóyo ma̱ ít hiki̱yah, yamma̱ aha̱lattók yamma̱ purse shót hiki̱ya ka̱, hikat,
‘that Black woman standing there, would come and stand holding a purse, and so,’
695)
tóli ish pisahma̱,
‘when you watch the ballgame’
696)
Takósa alhi-, Takósa ohóyo alhíha mat oklah Chahta ohóyo im issohma̱
‘and those Black women hit it to the Choctaw women’
697)
mak fíhna i̱ glove o̱t chokwah.
‘it would go right to the glove.’
698)
Hika̱ i̱ glove o̱t chokwah kotchah.
‘But it goes in and out of their glove.’
699)
I̱tiballih kiyottókmako̱, yamma̱ yohmih.
‘Even if they never missed it, it happened like that.’
700)
Kanohmona yohmittók.
‘It happened several times.’
701)
Hitoko̱,
‘And so,’
702)
Hikma̱ anóti, ohóyo alhíha, Chahta ohóyo alhíha mat oklah bóláchi̱hmano,
‘and then, the women, when it was Choctaw women's turn to hit,’
703)
okla bóli ik ittiyalloh.
‘the batters were worthless.’
704)
Aba issoh.
‘They popped it up.’
705)
Kiyokma̱, achokmah ik issoh, akka issoh.
‘Or, they didn't hit it right, hit a grounder.’
706)
Ná yohmittók kiyoko̱ yohmih, hina mako̱.
‘It never happened but it was happening, and because of that,’
707)
Nána, a̱ nephew, mako̱ basketball shót hiki̱yattók, hina
‘like, my nephew was standing there holding a basketball, and’
708)
"Ít a̱potah basketball," áli kiyo̱toko̱.
‘I said, “Lend me that basketball.” ’
709)
Basketball ma̱ ít a̱potahma̱, nátah,
‘When he lent me the basketball, what is it,’
710)
haksi̱chi ho̱, pí yakót basketball a̱ pit á, á mokoffilihma̱,
‘to trick her, when I let the basketball go like this,’
711)
taka̱li ho̱, Takósa ohóyo iyyi ma̱ issohma̱,
‘it was going, and when it the Black woman's feet,’
712)
Takósa ohóyo i̱ folótah fíhnahma̱, Chahta ohóyo achaffah at hopákichitok ka.
‘right when the Black woman turned, one of the Choctaw ladies hit it far, didn't she.’
713)
Ná hopákichittók.
‘She hit it far.’
714)
Hitoko̱, next, next batter mako̱ hopákichittók hito̱.
‘And so, the next, even the next batter hit it far.’
715)
Fokálihma̱, Takósa ohóyot purse shót hiki̱yakásh ma̱, yamma̱ mako̱ ittimano̱polit tahlilihma̱,
‘By that time, the Black woman who was holding the purse, after I got through talking to her,’
716)
nátah,
‘what is it,’
717)
mihchiliko̱, "I'm sorry," im áchilitok, pí hitoko̱ mako̱,
‘because I did that I said, “I'm sorry,” and so,’
718)
"Okay, nánikiyoh," áh kaníya chá fala̱t folótahma̱, makátokma̱, Takósa-, Takósa ohóyo alhíha mat Chahta ohóyo alhíha ma̱ ilbasháli ka̱.
‘She said, “Okay, it's nothing,” and then she turned back around. After that, the Black women beat the Choctaw women.’
719)
Hitoko̱,
‘So,’
720)
you know, alikchitoka̱ ahnilitok, yamma̱.
‘you know, I think she was doctoring, that one.’
721)
A̱lhi kano, ohóyo nátahósh i̱ purse shót hiki̱yattók, yamma̱?
‘And honestly, what kind of woman would be standing there holding a purse like that?’
722)
Mato la̱wa ka̱ i̱ purse ato car oklah fokáchih (Mm-hm) yamma̱.
‘A lot of them would put their purse in the car.’
723)
Hika̱, ohóyo mato yamma̱ hiki̱yahma̱, anóti
‘The lady that was standing over there,’
724)
nátah,
‘what is it,’
725)
atakla-, ataklammalihma̱, [hih]mano Chahta ohóyo mato oklah achokmachih nahattók.
‘when I bothered her, that's when the Choctaw women they almost did good.’
726)
Hitokósh anóti, fala̱t tóli pist hiki̱yahma̱,
‘But then she (the Black lady) turned around looking at the game,’
727)
anóti Chahta ohóyo alhíhat oklah ik tiyallotoko̱, mato.
‘and then the Choctaw women weren't any good.’
728)
Mm-hm.
729)
Yohmi mako̱ oklah ma̱yah.
‘People like that are around.’
730)
Hitoko̱,
‘So,’
731)
nátah,
‘What is it,’
732)
katattók?
‘who was it?’
733)
Amiyaksi kaníyah katash hikakósh
‘I forget who it was, but’
734)
kaníkat oklah
‘sometimes they'd’
735)
sipokni oklah, Takósa ohóyot, Takósa ohóyo álih,
‘the older people, the Black women, I say the Black women,’
736)
Takósa oklah itti̱play-achi̱kma̱,
‘when they were going to play against the Black people,’
737)
Takósa sipokni kaníkat oklah, nátah,
‘some older Black people, what is it,’
738)
kanash achokmáchi̱hma̱,
‘when someone was going to be good,’
739)
yamma̱,
‘that person,’
740)
"Chi̱-, chi̱ponna hokih, chibbak a̱ ná shake-ah sannah" áttók mako̱,
‘ “You're a good player, I'd like to shake your hand,” they'd say,’
741)
nána.
‘like.’
742)
Sashki makátok "Yamma̱, yamma̱, kanah yohmih makkiya pí
‘My mom would say, “If someone did that, just’
743)
'yakókih' ish im áchikakósh ibbak sh-, ibbak sh-, nána, shake-annah kiyokma̱
‘you tell them 'thanks' but don't shake their hand, or else’
744)
ná chi̱ponna̱natok kiya, yamma̱ chim íshánokih," áchitoka̱ na
‘you could have been the best, but they can take that away from you,” she'd say and’
745)
Chahta alhíha hopáki ako̱ yohmittók yohm[ih] áchittók, yam[ma̱] oklah.
‘It happened to old-time Choctaws, they said it happened.’
746)
Nána, Takósat
‘What is it, a Black person,’
747)
"Ish achokmachitok," áchi chá ibbak a̱ ná mihchitokósh anóti
‘told them, “You did good,” and did something to their hand and then,’
748)
o̱t onnahma̱, ibbak at nátah ataklamah yohmih i̱ taka̱ni attók, ná
‘the next day, he had a problem like this with his arm [hand], and’
749)
achokmah tow-, towwa achokmah pilahí kiyoh.
‘he couldn't throw the ball right.’
750)
Kiyokma̱
‘Or else,’
751)
nátah, towwa bólih mako̱ ik ittiyallot tahah yohmittók.
‘even when he was hitting the ball he was totally worthless.’
752)
Pí like, lommat, nána,
‘Just like, even lightly, like,’
753)
chi̱ shoulder pí yako̱t o̱ tap illakmano ná ish ikka̱noh kiyokmako̱ pí yakót chi illahmako̱
‘even if they only tapped your shoulder when you didn't know it, even just like this,’
754)
nána ná chiyá mihcháchi̱h.
‘it will do something to you.’
755)
Yómi oklah isht ano̱polahíkattók, yamma̱ (Mm-hm).
‘They used to talk about those things, that (Mm-hm).’
756)
Sipokni alhíha ato.
‘The elders.’
757)
Yeah, Chahta alhíha mako̱, oklah kaníkat oklah yohmahíkatoko̱ másh isht ano̱polahíkattók, yeah, mato.
‘Yeah, even Choctaws, some of them used to do that, and they would also talk about it, yeah, them.’
758)
Nátah, ná, well,
‘What is it, well,’
759)
yohmih na mapilla ano akka̱nokakósh
‘It's been like that for a long time, I don't know but,’
760)
nátokáchih, pí,
‘what was said, like,’
761)
hopayyi yohmi mihchihmano ma̱yattók mano
‘there were some who did bad medicine there.’
762)
Towwa, towwa achokmah hoklahí kiyoh yohmichih or something like that kiyokma̱, hikásh.
‘The ball, they'd cause them not to catch the ball right, or something like that, or, but.’
763)
Nátah,
‘What is it,’
764)
one day ano, ano hicha
‘one day, myself and’
765)
a̱ buddy Cedric Tubby yót oklah, nátah,
‘my buddy, Cedric Tubby, and them,’
766)
i̱ takáchit il ilhkólichitok, six in the morning fokálih, a Saturday.
‘we were going to catch (fish) about 6 in the morning on a Saturday.’
767)
Mak fokáli Tournament ma̱yachi̱tok.
‘At that time there was gonna be tournament.’
768)
Hitoko̱,
‘So,’
769)
nátah,
‘What is it,’
770)
Chahta sipokni yat,
‘an older Choctaw person,’
771)
il akostini̱chitok, ballfield imma il i̱ pisahma̱, Chahta sipokni akkít ballfield ma̱
‘we noticed, when we looked towards the ball field, that older Choctaw at the ball field,’
772)
momi̱t o̱ folótat a̱yah ibbak at nána yót kaníyah a̱yatok ka.
‘he was going around the whole ball field, doing something like this with his had, right.’
773)
That day mano, amiyaksih kaníyah, how the tournament kaniht yohmitoka̱ hikakósh,
‘That day, I forget, how the tournament, how it turned out, but’
774)
Chahta sipokni ma̱
‘That older Choctaw (man),’
775)
momi̱t ballfield ma̱ hikít a̱yat ibbak at yohmitoko̱.
‘went around the whole ball field with his hand like this.’
776)
Yup.
‘Yup.’
777)
Pí, kanohma kano assano̱chi im anólilihma̱
‘Like, one of them, when I told an older person,’
778)
"Yohmahíkattók, ikka̱nali kiyo̱ yamma̱ oklah áh kaníyakattok ka.
‘ “It used to happen that way, I know that, it's what they used to say.” ’
779)
So when you get back to playing you're gonna start the new Aka̱ka Losa.
‘So when you get back to playing, you're gonna start the new team the Black Chickens?’
780)
(Yoppa)
‘(Laughter)’
781)
Maka na, aka̱ka losa ma̱ nána mako̱ yohmahíkattók kiyo̱, nána
‘Like he said, those black chickens, it used to happen with something else, too.’
782)
Nátattók?
‘What was it, what was it?’
783)
Moth o̱?
‘Is it a moth?’
784)
Green moth? (Mm-hm) Yeah, yammayína ka̱ (Yeah).
‘Green moth? (Mm-hm) Yeah, that one too (Yeah).’
785)
Ma̱ mak oklah Chahta alikchi iláp áchih, yómika̱.
‘That too, they said it belonged to the Choctaw medicine person, those things.’
786)
Yammak oklah, nána, mako̱ kaníkma̱ oklah tólih ma̱yahma̱,
‘Those, they'd, like sometimes while they're playing ball’
787)
moth, green moth chito ma̱ oklah pisahma̱,
‘the moth, when they'd see the big green moth,’
788)
"Abih yamma̱, abih," áhma̱, oklah abihma̱ anóti,
‘they'd say, “kill that, kill it” and when they'd kill it’
789)
kanitchit, nána,
‘somehow, like,’
790)
momentum oklah áchikakósh, a̱lhi kano,
‘they'd say momentum, but really,’
791)
yamma̱ kanat alikchih áttók mak kiyo̱ yamma̱, i̱ folólichih ohmih ahwah kaníyah yamma̱ yohmittók mako̱.
‘they said, someone doctored it, that's what it was, it seems like it was reversed back to them, (Mm-hm) it happened that way.’
792)
Anóti team chaffa ik ittiyalloh anóti yamma̱ yohmahíkattók hihoka̱.
‘And then, the other team wouldn't do well and so it used to be like that.’
793)
Good, well any other story or something we should get out.
‘Good, well any other story or something we should get out.’
794)
Anáto, makalla illa chohmih ikka̱naliho̱.
‘As for myself, that's all I really know.’
795)
Let me see.
‘Let me see.’
796)
Lawa ka̱ il ikka̱na-, ikka̱nalahíkattók a̱lhih. (yeah)
‘We knew, I really used to know a lot of them, yeah (Yeah).’
797)
Pí, we just, not like, pí
‘We just, not like,’
798)
tikba iyakma̱,
‘when it (time) goes forward’
799)
I mean, hapi̱ mind fo̱ka aki̱nih mako̱ hapimiyaksih.
‘I mean, even though it's in our mind we forget.’
800)
Ho-, nána hopákih chohmih achokmah aki̱nittók, hikako̱.
‘Even though things were good back then, but.’
801)
Hikako̱, kaníkma olil ikka̱nah himo
‘But, sometimes we remember,’
802)
Olí ikka̱nahmano, yeah, fala̱t olil ittimanólih.
‘and when we remember yeah, we tell it back to each other.’
803)
But, nána, himak a̱ nána oklí holbáchichih, nátah,
‘But, that, as for now, we're going to be like, what is it,’
804)
Chahta sipokni alhíhat oklah.
‘the older Choctaw people.’
805)
A couple years ago mano, Chahta sipokni alhíhat ittahobattók. This is pre-pandemic.
‘A couple of years ago, the older Choctaw people gathered, this is pre-pandemic.’
806)
Hika̱ yammat nána oklah ittahobattók yappa̱, hitoko̱.
‘And that was, like, they gathered here, and so.’
807)
Ano̱polit, iskitíni oklah ano̱polih akínittók, hikakósh ná mak pillah kiyottók
‘They spoke, they spoke a litte, but not that much.’
808)
Hitokósh anóti, nátah, hachi̱ camera oklah off-achihmano, himo oklah ano̱polih, ittimiháchih, shiníhah yamma̱ (Chitolit yoppa)
‘And so, what is it, when they turned off your camera, then they started talking, teasing each other, and cutting up (Big laugh).’
809)
Oh, gálih.
‘Oh, gálih.’
810)
Just, just, just story, just goofing off hikakósh, nána,
‘Just, just, just story, just a goofing off, but, like,’
811)
One time at, amóshi
‘One time, my uncle,’
812)
Frog Wallace at mako̱,
‘It was Frog Wallace,’
813)
nátah, Bók Chito league ma̱ washóhat í tahlitok kiyo̱ (Uh-huh). Hitoko̱,
‘what is it, we just got through playing the Bogue Chitto league(Uh-huh), So,’
814)
nátah, oklí falámahma̱,
‘What is it, when we were coming back,’
815)
ano hicha Brandon Eaves akósh,
‘Brandon Eaves and I were’
816)
Frog hicha Shirley i̱ van ma̱ ibá fokattók.
‘riding in Frog and Shirley's van with them.’
817)
Brandon am anólittók, nátah,
‘Brandon asked me, what is it,’
818)
"Son ako̱ Crystal Ridge stickball team isht iyáchi̱h, miya hihátoko̱,
‘ “Son is the one that's gonna start the Crystal Ridge stickball team, they said, so’
819)
ish washóháchi̱h?" á na mako̱.
‘are you going to play?” he asked.’
820)
"Mihchi kat a̱lhihma̱ hi̱nahmásh yohmih," álittók. Hitoko anóti,
‘I said, “If he really is going to do it, then I just might.” And then,’
821)
Brandon at "Frog i̱ ponakloh, Frog i̱ ponakloh," á na, "Alright," álittók.
‘Brandon said, “Ask Frog, ask Frog.” and I said, “alright.” ’
822)
"Frog,
‘Frog’
823)
Brandon makáchi kat,
‘ “Brandon said’
824)
Son at Crystal Ridge stickball team isht iyáchi̱h miyah, ish washóháchi̱h?" álitoko̱.
‘They say Son is starting a Crystal Ridge stickball team, are you going to play?” I said.’
825)
Frog akkiya "Nátah?" áh kaníyah.
‘That Frog said, “What?” ’
826)
I sitting, I'm, I'm sitting like right here between him, and he's like,
‘I sitting, I'm, I'm sitting like right here between him, and he's like,’
827)
"Nátah?" áh kaníya na, so I flipped it around a little bit, I told him,
‘he said, “What?” so I flipped it around a little bit, I told him,’
828)
"Brandon makáchi kat,
‘ “Brandon is saying,’
829)
Brandon makáchi kat Crystal Ridge chisht iyah bannah miyah, ish katímáchi̱h?" álitoko̱,
‘Brandon is saying he wants to take you to Crystal Ridge, what are you going to do?” I said.’
830)
Frog akkiya, "Mmmmm,
‘That Frog said, “Mmmmm,’
831)
nakni lawáchi̱̱kma̱ hi̱nah," á na oh, oklil shiníhah, gahlih!
‘if there are going to be a lot of guys I will,” and oh, we cracked up, gahlih!’
832)
Hina yoppat olí tahlihma̱, Frog akkiya
‘And when we got through laughing, that Frog said,’
833)
"Nátah ish áchitok?" á na,
‘ “What did you say?” and’
834)
i̱ makat tahlili kat, alhpísa i̱ makálih nána ka̱ álitoko̱, second time ma̱ and
‘I finished telling him, told him the right one, what I said that second time, and’
835)
Frog akkiya, "Alex, paki̱ni ish akwáchi̱h mati̱nah."
‘that Frog said, “Alex, you're going to get off right here!” ’
836)
Gahlih.
‘Gahlih.’
837)
Good one, I've gotta figure out what "Shiní[hah]" means.
‘Good one, I've gotta figure out what “Shiní[hah]” means.’
838)
Shiníhah, like, like, laugh, laugh, laugh out loud like a group, you know (yeah, holler out) yup.
‘Shiníhah, like, like, laugh, laugh, laugh out loud like a group, you know (yeah, holler out, yeah) yep.’
839)
(Yoppa)
‘(Laughter)’
840)
Or like bust out laughing, you know something like that. (Yeah, yeah, like that, yeah) Something like that, uh-huh.
‘Or like bust out laughing, you know something like that. (Yeah, yeah, like that, yeah) Something like that, uh-huh.’
841)
(Shiní?) Shiníhah. (Shiníhah?) Uh-huh, shiníhah, yup.
‘(Shiní?) Shiníhah. (Shiníhah?) Uh-huh, shiníhah, yep.’
842)
Yup. Each community akósh pí kani̱mat anno̱pat ittimíla̱chih (Yeah).
‘Yup. Each community uses words in a different way (Yeah).’
843)
Conehatta, Crystal Ridge, pí mo̱mah chohmih akí̱nikako̱.
‘Conehatta, Crystal Ridge, almost all of them.’
844)
Kaníkma̱, different taka̱lih.
‘Sometimes, there are differences.’
845)
Are there some things you know that are, like, that you hear a lot, that are different?
‘Are there some things you know that are, like, that you hear a lot, that are different?’
846)
(Mm-hm) Specific things?
‘(Mm-hm) Specific things?’
847)
Yeah.
‘Yeah.’
848)
What are some things that,
‘What are some things that,’
849)
(Like) you think you say differently? (I think)
‘(Like) you think you say differently? (I think)’
850)
I forgot.
‘I forgot.’
851)
'Ishkachíya', like, that's scissors (scissors).
‘Ishkachíya', like, that's scissors (scissors).’
852)
Hika̱ ish[t]kalásha (mm-hm) yeah,
‘But ishkalásha, yeah,’
853)
(yeah) ish[t]kachíya or ish[t]kachíli hikósh, then kaníkato ish[t]kalásha áchih (Yeah).
‘(yeah) ishkachíya or ishkachíli, then some say ishkalásha (yeah).’
854)
Nátah?
‘What is it?’
855)
Sipokni achaffa ato,
‘One of the elders,’
856)
nátah,
‘what is it,’
857)
Konihatta,
‘Conehatta,’
858)
Bók Chito ámíti aki̱nikakósh,
‘he is from Bogue Chitto, but’
859)
assanohmano, I mean nátah, "assano" álih.
‘when he was grown, I mean what is it, I say grown.’
860)
Allósi ohmih cháshmano, nátah,
‘When he was still a baby, what is it,’
861)
i̱ki hicha ishki at ná isht a̱yahí kiyottók, oklah ná ataklammatoko̱, hitokósh.
‘his father and mother could not take care of him, because they had problems, so.’
862)
Konihatta,
‘Conehatta,’
863)
mano a̱tta na assanotok ka, hitokósh,
‘is where he stayed and grew up and then,’
864)
nátah, yamma̱ hicha
‘what is it, that one and’
865)
Chahta achaffat oklah chokka o̱t i̱ hayakattók. Hitoko̱,
‘another Choctaw showed up at their house. So,’
866)
my step-dad,
‘my step-dad,’
867)
Brady ako̱ ayo̱ittimano̱polit attattók, hiko̱.
‘Brady, he (Chahtachaffa) was talking with him (Brady), but’
868)
Nátah?
‘What was it?’
869)
Ha̱klot hiki̱yalittók, hikósh
‘I was standing there listening, but then’
870)
hattak sipokni ma̱ makattók,
‘that old man said,’
871)
"Anát, a̱ check at himak a̱ alatokósh,
‘ “As for me, my check came in today’
872)
ano hicha, ano hicha a̱ buddy yat
‘me and, me and my buddy’
873)
casino, casino oklil ilhkólitokósh,
‘casino, we went to the casino,’
874)
il[í]okponi tahlilittók," áh kaníya na mako̱.
‘and I messed myself up,” he said and so.’
875)
Anáto, nátah,
‘Myself, what is it,’
876)
ná makat a̱lhi ka̱ ak ikka̱nottók, hika̱ makálittók,
‘I really didn't know what he said, but I said,’
877)
mako̱ "Il[í]okpanit tahlilitok," áchihma̱ i̱ makálittók,
‘so when he said “I messed myself up,” I said to him,’
878)
"Hina achokmah ish kihli ha̱?" álih kaníya na
‘ “And so did you wipe it well?” I asked and’
879)
Brady, Brady hicha Chahta sipokni ma̱ yoppat taklholálitok ka, na
‘Brady, Brady and that elderly man bust out laughing, and.’
880)
Mako̱, Chahta ma̱, "Ha, ha, ha, you full of sh*%" áh kaníyattók a̱, hitoko̱.
‘And so, that Choctaw said, “Ha, ha, ha, you full of sh*&.,” so.’
881)
Well, nátah,
‘Well, what is it,’
882)
nátah Konihatta im anno̱- anno̱pa ano,
‘what is it, in the Conehatta dialect,’
883)
kanímato [kaniyohmi kato] "Il[í]okpanit tahlilih," áchihma̱, like,
‘some of them when they say, “Il[í]okpanit tahlilih,” like’
884)
they're talking about like, you know, I've, I,
‘they're talking about, you know, I umm’
885)
like, as far as money wise, you know, I wasted my money.
‘as far as money wise, I wasted my money.’
886)
Mako̱ makah.
‘That's what they say.’
887)
But, to my knowledge ano,
‘But, to my knowledge’
888)
"Il[í]okpanit tahlilih," áhma̱, it means, you know, you messed yourself ohmih ahwah kaníyah (yeah) yohmih.
‘when they say, “il[i']okponit tahlilih” it means, you know, you messed yourself, (yeah) like that.’
889)
Hitoko̱, that's why I asked him "Ná achokmah ish kihli ha̱?" álittók.
‘And so, that's why I asked him, “Did you wipe right?” I said.’
890)
Or, did you wipe right? (Laughter)
‘Or, did you wipe right? (Laughter)’
891)
So, that's my, my confusion there, attókiyo̱, when I was little, man, ahwah.
‘That was my confusion there, back then, it seemed when I was little, man.’
892)
You know, when that old left ohma̱,
‘And then, when that old man left,’
893)
Brady ako̱, "Ishka̱na ho̱, nátokáchitoko̱?" á na,
‘Brady said, “Do you know what he said?” and’
894)
"Il[í]okpanit tahli makatok kiyo̱," álitoka̱.
‘I said, “He said he messed himself up.” ’
895)
Ná ilo̱-, ilokpani makah kiyoh a̱lhi kiyoh,
‘He's not really talking about messing himself up.’
896)
"Mato skali okmako̱ ilbashsháli makah kiyo̱," á na
‘ “He said he wasted the money,” he said,’
897)
"Ohhh!" Áli ka̱ sa hofahyah kaníya na (Yoppa)
‘ “Ohhh!” I said. I was so embarassed and (laughter)’
898)
"Oh, wih hih" álih pí yoppaho̱ am achokmatoko̱.
‘ “Oh, whoops,” I say because I had a good laugh.’
899)
Makátokma̱ mako̱ áyikkanah hikít iyálitok, i̱lat-, ittim anno̱pa ano, i̱lah yót kaníya yohmitoko̱
‘From then on, I started understanding it's different like that, our speech to each other.’