Craig Anderson

Ti̱kba kano, nána áchih sannakat,

‘First of all, I want to say something,’

aba bini̱li másh pima tahlitoko̱, "Yakókih," im achilihókih.

‘I would like to say thanks to the one above for preparing this for us.’

Cause mak kiyokma̱ nána kat alhtahahí kiyoh. Nána kat to̱ksalahí kiyoh.

‘Because if it weren't for him nothing would be done. Nothing would work.’

To̱ksaláchikma̱ pishnaki̱ni kat í mihchahí kiyoh.

‘If its going to work we can't do it ourselves.’

Hitokma̱ Chahta falámat oklah kil ikkanah ahnilih.

‘So, I think let's re-learn Choctaw.’

Ná building church áchihma̱, makilla kat il íhi̱ya kat, nána kat il ikkanáchi̱h kiyoh.

‘When they say the church building, if that's the only place we're going, we're not gonna learn anything.’

Chihowat ít boh-, ít pi bohlihmat, "Chahta chiyachi̱h

‘When God put us here, “You are going to be Choctaw.’

"Chahta nánakásh im ikkanáchi̱h chishnáko̱," áchi chá ít hapi ashsháchittók.

‘You going to learn about Choctaw things, yourself,” he said and placed us here.’

"Nahollo chiyáchi̱kma̱ Nahollo chikbila̱natokat nittak istáyopikmat chik sáyimmotok okat,

‘If you were going to be White, I would of made you white, on the last day, you didn't believe me,’

Lowak Chito mak iyah," ákma̱, í katihmáchi̱h?

‘so go to the Big Fire,” if he says that, what are we going to do?’

Chahta immi ha̱ nána ka̱ il im ikkanatok kiyoh.

‘When we didn't learn the Choctaw ways.’

Anáto, ha̱klot siyassano kat, allat osi yósh ano̱pola̱nat iyahmat ná ponaklána kiyo̱ áchih yohmitok ha̱klot siyassano mako̱.

‘Myself, I heard it growing up, when a small child starts to talk and happens to ask questions, that's what I heard growing up.’

Hiyato̱ mako̱ á hikít iyah sannatok.

‘So, that’s where I wanted to start. with Choctaws’

Chahtas, oklah hachi hofáyannah, nána oklah hash, Chahta immi nána oklah hash ikkanáchi̱kma̱.

‘Choctaws, don't be ashamed about the things you all, the things you all are going to learn about Choctaw ways.’

Kil ikka̱nokma̱, kí ponakloh.

‘If we dont know it, let's ask.’

Anáto mak yohmilih.

‘That's what I do myself.’

Hihkiya himaka̱ abíka chito mihi̱titósh ala ka̱

‘Even though, now the big sickeness that's been coming is here,’

anáto "Chahta i̱ Bible" álih.

‘I say the Choctaw Bible myself.’

Sipokni alhíhat tahat tahahoka̱, foka̱lih, ikshoh.

‘The elders are completely gone, almost, they're not here.’

Mako̱ nána ka̱ ikkanah sannakmat íyalih.

‘When I want to learn something that's where I go.’

O̱t i̱ ponaklolih "Pat natihma̱natok?

‘I go and ask them “Is it supposed to be like this?” ’

Pat natihmish mihcha̱natok? Nátokásh ano̱pola̱natok? Nátokásh talówa̱natok?

‘How is it supposed to be done? What should be said, What should be sung?’

Hihmako̱ ná yómi ahnih kaniyálitok kiyokakósh

‘Now I didn't really think about those things but’

took me 49 years ókih.

‘It took me forty nine years.’

49 years onat táha yósh ikkanálitok.

‘It took me forty nine years to learn.’

Anát siyabíkatok.

‘I got sick myself.’

Heart attack ishílitok. Sacho̱kash at issa náhatok.

‘I had a heart attack. My heart almost stopped.’

Hikako,̱ Chihówásh nánakano ít am ahnitókósh, nánaka̱ ít am ábaha̱chit mo̱matoka̱̱,

‘But, God planned [thought something up] something for me, and he is still teaching me things,’

Kannimikma̱ a̱ chokkoshi ma̱ bini̱lilikmat nána kat am alah.

‘and sometimes when I'm sitting in my shed a thought [something] comes to me.’

Amáfo, sappokni, amoshi,

‘My grandpa, my grandma, my uncle (mom's brother)’

sashki achaffa, a̱ki achaffa, a̱hokni.

‘My aunt (mom's sister), my uncle (dad's brother), my aunt (dad's sister).’

Yakómi kiya nána oklah áha̱chitoka̱ haklolih

‘I listen to all those things they used say.’

Hitósh anáto, Chahta yat, Chahta áki̱ni sa bi̱ka aki̱nih il ittim ano̱polikma̱,

‘And then for myself, Choctaws, since we're both the same, the same Choctaws, when we are talking to each other,’

Nahollo im anno̱pa folótah am anópolikmat sattópáli hoka̱.

‘and they speak English back to me, it hurts me.’

Nánikiyoh álish Nahollo im anno̱pa il ano̱poli kat

‘I say it's okay if we're speaking English’

hikásh Chahta sa bi̱kásh il ittim ano̱polikmato Chahta kil ano̱polih.

‘but if we're both Choctaw when we speak to each let’s speak in Choctaw.’

Nátaho̱ isht í hofayyah?

‘What are we ashamed about?’

Hopáki ya̱ ikka̱nali ka̱, sipokni kiya binohma̱yat oklah ittim ano̱polikmat

‘I know from a long time ago, if different elders were sitting around and talking to each other,’

Chihówa ako̱ isht ano̱polish binohma̱yattók.

‘They were sitting around talking about God.’

Kiyokma̱ anóti, nán i̱la kiya isht ano̱poláchi̱kmat

‘Or then, if they were going to talk about something else,’

ano̱polit hikít ilhkólit 'shokka anno̱pa' áchih.

‘they started telling so called 'hog tales.’

Jokes, Nahollo im anno̱pa ato.

‘Jokes, in English.’

Ano̱polit im alhtahakmat "toff," áchi attók.

‘When they finished talking they would say, “toff.” ’

Mak másh ikshoh.

‘That's gone too.’

Himakano shokka anno̱pa kiya nána ácháchi̱kma i̱ nokówat il issah.

‘Now when they are going to tell a hog tale we stop them, mad at them.’

Katína í yohmih ma̱?

‘Why we do that?’

Hopákit ti̱kba ma̱yattókat ilhkót tahat ít hapi pi̱sah.

‘The ancestors who lived a long time ago passed away and they are watching us.’

Nishkin okchi kiya oklah kanihi̱yah.

‘They continually shed tears’

Yammak áha̱chilih anáto. Katína í yohmih?

‘That's what I've been saying myself. Why do we do that?’

Ná kanaha̱ nokówáchi sannah kiyoh, kanaha̱ i̱ shahli sannah kiyoh, kanaha̱ miháchikmanána sannah kiyoh.

‘I don't want to make anybody mad, I don't want to be better than anybody, I don't want to criticize anybody.’

Nánína mihchi ik sanno kat kanat siyámihchiho̱ sannah kiyoh, anakmako.

‘The reason I don't want to do it, is because I don't want someone to do that to me, even myself.’

Hiyátokósh kanaha̱ mihchit aha̱ttah sannah kiyoh.

‘Because I don't want to continually do that to anybody.’

Áta̱blilitok makkítoh,

‘If I over did it,’

A̱ kashoffi hat i̱ ponaklóli.

‘I ask them to forgive me.’

Kanaha̱ nána áchit miháchiláchi̱h akkano miháchilitok kiya ponakloli bíkattók.

‘If I didn't know I was criticizing someone and I did criticize I'd usually ask them [for forgiveness].’

Hitokmat nittak tikbíma onah a̱, onnat taha makkíno, kanat a̱yakma̱ im ano̱polilih.

‘And then, further along (beyond days ahead), even the next morning, if someone is walking by I talk to them.’

Mak í yohmikmato hi̱lah.

‘If we can do it that way.’

Ná kanaha̱ itti̱sha̱lit il issa chá

‘We stop being better than each other and’

Anát Chihówa hokmanána siya kiyotósh kana siya hatósh tiballikat a̱ taka̱lánah.

‘I'm not God or anything like that, because I'm human, I can make mistakes too.’

"Ho am anóli hikma̱," álih.

‘ “Y'all tell me then,” I say.’

Taboshshik ikbit a̱ pokni iyachi̱kma̱ ta̱kla iyali sháli yattók

‘When my grandmother went to make baskets, I always went with her.’

Hikma̱, taposhshik ma̱ ikbish bini̱likmat

‘Then, when she was sitting there making those baskets’

poknít nána kiya am anóli, or

‘Grandma would tell me things, or’

áfo at a̱ nánokáchi atokma̱,

‘whatever grandpa used to say to me,’

"Pokni, afo at yappa̱ makachásh, nátihmiko̱ [nátihmi mako̱] makáchi attók," álikma̱, "am anólih, poknít."

‘ “Grandma, when grandpa said these things, why did he say them,” I'd say, “tell me, grandma.” ’

Hiyokásh amáfo álikmato

‘But when I mention my grandpa’

sanishkin okchít mítihókih.

‘my tears will come.’

Cause hattak sipokni ma̱ pisah sannah.

‘Cause I want to see that old man.’

Hattak sipokni mat ná la̱wa ka̱ am ábachittók.

‘That old man taught me a lot of things.’

Hattak sipokni mat alla osi siyah mo̱ma ka̱ ná la̱wa ka̱ am ábichittók.

‘That old man taught me a lot of things while I was still young.’

Hikma̱, "Pokni nátaho̱ makáchitok?" á[li] chá i̱ ponaklolikma̱,

‘And, I said, “Grandma, what did he say?” and when I asked her,’

"Yappako̱ ish yohmáchi̱ho̱ chi̱ makattók kiyo̱."

‘[she said] “He told you this is what you are going to do.”’

"Chiyassanot tahakma̱, pako̱ ish yohmáchi̱ho̱, chi̱ makattók kiyo̱."

‘ “When you're grown, he told you this is what you are going to do.” ’

Hitósh himonna ka̱,

‘Then one time,’

amáfót a̱ makahmat chokka amáfót í bini̱littók, kitchen,

‘when my grandpa said to me, in the house, my grandpa, we sat, in the kitchen,’

áhoponi ma̱ mak í bini̱lihma̱, i̱ ponaklolihmat,

‘when we sat there in that kitchen, and when I asked him’

"Ish talówáchi̱ himakano?," álihma̱.

‘ “Are you going to sing now?,” I said.’

"Kíyoh."

‘ “No.” ’

"Himakano ná chim anóliláchi̱h."

‘ “Now I will tell you something.” ’

"Ná chim anólilikma̱ chik sa yimmot himo chinishkin chito kaníyachi̱ hókih," am áchittók.

‘ “If I tell you something, you won't believe me and then you're eyes will get really big,” he said to me.’

Hihma̱, pist bini̱lilitoko̱ yohmihmat "Ahem" achitokósh, "Ahem" áchihmat,

‘And, while I was sitting there watching him, because he used (clears his throat) to say like this, and when he said (clears his throat),’

"twenty-twenty onakma̱ abíka chitot mítáchi̱h."

‘ “When it's twenty-twenty a big sickness will come.” ’

"Anáto a̱ttaláchi̱ kiyoh átósh oklah hachi̱ yoppalih," áchitok.

‘ “Me, I will not be here, so I'm am laughing at y'all,” he said.’

Katit ikka̱natok twenty-twenty abíka chitot aláhi̱ka̱?

‘How did he know the big sickness was coming in twenty-twenty?’

Yamma̱ ponaklolih sha̱lih.

‘I always asked that.’

Hikako̱, it goes back to that Bible.

‘But, it goes back to that Bible.’

Chahta i̱ Bible álikásh. Mato Chahta ato hapim alótalit tahli chá ilhkót tahah.

‘When I said the Choctaw's Bible. Those Choctaw [elders] accomplished it in for us and went on.’

Twenty-twenty nánohmáchi̱ka̱ ikka̱natok.

‘He knew how twenty-twenty was going to be.’

Hika̱, himaka̱ nátaho̱ oklí ma̱yah?

‘So, now how are we living?’

Himaka̱ abíka chito hiyo̱ oklí ma̱yoka̱ [ma̱yahoka̱] ik tah[l]o ki̱shah.

‘Now we're still living in the big sickness that's not over yet.’

Hika̱, hapinashshoka, hapitahka, pibíshakni yómika̱ oklí lohmik makáchi̱h.

‘So, we have to hide our faces, our mouths, our noses all those.’

Kiyotokmat, himaka̱ iksho, oklí binohma̱yánah hapinashshoka ishit lohmit ikshoho̱.

‘If not for that, now without [sickness], we should be sitting here without hiding our faces.’

Hikako̱ amáfo yakómikato, oklah anólittók.

‘But my grandpa and them, they told it.’

Hihma̱, "Nátit ikka̱nattók?" álihma̱.

‘And when I said, “How did he know?” ’

Chahta a̱lhi attók kiyo̱.

‘He was a real Choctaw.’

Mato hosho̱ti im ano̱polánah.

‘He can speak to the clouds.’

Iti im ano̱polánah.

‘He can talk to the trees.’

Sho̱shi yamma̱ya mak im ano̱polánah.

‘He can also talk to that bug crawling there.’

Iyyi oshtat abohli ma̱ya alhíha pa̱ im ano̱polánoka̱.

‘He can talk to these four leggeds living in the woods.’

Hiyokako̱, 2020 onakma̱ nána kat áyokpolókat taha ka̱, ish pisáchi̱h, chim anólittók kiyo̱.

‘But, he told you, when 2020 arrives, things are going to be ruined you will see.’

Hika̱ go fala̱t il iya na Nahollo i̱ Bible a̱

‘So we go back to the English Bible’

Nahollo i̱ Bible at makakat, "Are we ready?" áchi hoka̱.

‘The English Bible says “Are we ready?” it says.’

Chahtat i̱ Bible at makahma̱, "Was we ready?"

‘The Choctaw Bible says, “Was we ready?” ’

Í ho̱yotoko̱? Kiyotokósh.

‘Were we ready? We were not.’

Nána illít [ililli] a̱t pibá chokkowa yo̱ himo yo̱.

‘Now the virus is entering us.’

Í ho̱yoh kiyotokósh, kanit il áshwa hoka̱, abíkat pi̱ lawah.

‘We weren't prepared, we're [two of us] having a hard time, and we have a lot of sickness.’

Il achokmahnitok, pishki, pi̱ki, pimáfo [yómikat] ilhkóho̱lih.

‘We loved them, our mothers, our fathers, our grandfathers are passing.’

Nánakako̱ aha il ahnikásh il óna kiyoh.

‘There were some things we weren't careful enough about.’

Hikmat another thing ayína ka̱ a̱ makakat

‘And another thing they told me as well’

ish ano̱poláchi̱kmat, ano̱poli ho.

‘if you're going to say it, just say it.’

Ish ho̱klinnah.

‘Don't hold on to it.’

Chik áchotoko̱, nána kat yómikma̱ himo yo̱, áchili fokátok ókih ish ácháchi̱kat, chim ábachittók kiyo̱ mat.

‘Because you didn't say it, if something happens now, you are going to say I should have said it, they taught you that.’

Mak yohmilih, nána áchiláchi̱kmat, áchilikmakáchi̱h.

‘That's what I do, If I'm gonna say something, I have to say it.’

"Tiballilitokma̱, oh am anólih," álih mako̱.

‘ “If I'm wrong, y'all tell me,” that's whay I say.’

Kanah siyanát [siyah anát]. Tiballilánah

‘I'm human too. I can be wrong.’

Hiyatósh oklah am anólikma̱, am achokmah, tiballilitokmat ayiskalih.

‘And so if they tell me, I'm glad, and if I was wrong I fix it.’

Hikásh la̱wa ka̱, anóti folóta ka̱ la̱wa ka̱ ná ish ácháhi kiyókih am áchitoko̱ ma̱ kaními ka̱ álahí kiyoh.

‘But there are a lot of things, he told me I can't say a lot of things in turn, so there are some things I can't say.’

Hikmat anóti amáfot a̱ makakmat "ná mo̱maka̱ himonna achaffa hash anólinnah."

‘And my grandpa said to me, “Y'all don't tell everything at once.” ’

Hitokma̱ pokni pano, "nátihmi a̱ mihchi attók?" pam [pa̱ am] anólitokmat nittak hopáki tahakmanána, am anólih," álih.

‘Then to this grandmother, “Why did he do this for me when he told this to me? even though it's been many days, tell me,” I said.’

Nána ka̱ himonna, himonna achaffa chim anót tahlitokmat

‘ “Whatever, once, he told you once’

nittak i̱lakma̱ nataho̱ chim anólachi̱h?

‘when it's a different day, what is he going to tell you?’

Nána chim anólahí kiyo hátokósh

‘Because he can't tell you something’

pa̱ kashápolish chim anólit íya hánattók.

‘he should be telling you, he was separating these [things].’

Áchi attók ikkanáli yamma̱.

‘She used to say that, I've learned that [he did that] now.’

Hika̱, siyóshi yak bini̱lih pat i̱ mihchilih, nánaka̱ im anólilitok másh im anót ak tahloh.

‘And so, I do this for my son sitting right here, whatever I've told him, I don't finish telling him.’

Nittak i̱la yokma̱ "Ish ikka̱na mo̱maho̱ chi̱ makálikásh?," álikma̱, hikít iyálih.

‘On a different day I say, “Do you still remember what I told you?,” and then I begin.’

Mak í yohmih chátok miyatok átoko̱.

‘Since that's what they said we are supposed to do.’

Nána ka̱ himonna ho̱ anót í tahlikmat,

‘If we finish telling everything at once,’

nittak i̱lakma̱ nátaho̱ il anóláchi̱h?

‘what will we tell them on a different day?’

Hitósh pokni a̱ "ak im ikka̱noh chohmish" makálihma̱.

‘And then I said to grandma, “I don't quite understand.” ’

Ákmat "yappa̱" á chá yakót hallát "ná tokwisíli pa̱ chim álitoko̱ himonna achaffa apat ish tahlikmat onna ik chim ikshokána ka̱, ma̱"

‘And then “here,” she says, and she pulls out like this, “if I give this sweet thing to you, and if you finish eating it all at once, you won't have any for tomorrow,” ’

"Uh-huh," "Makohmi chi makáli kiyo̱," am áchitok.

‘ “Uh-huh,” “That's what I'm telling you,” she said to me.’

Hito̱ yamma̱ yohmi hitoka̱, himaka̱

‘And it was like that, so now’

Chahtat í la̱wa kat

‘a lot of us Choctaws’

anno̱pa hat "ano," "anásh mihchilitok," áchit ik pim iksho ka̱na tokásh

‘the words “mine,” “I did it myself,” we are not supposed to have those sayings,’

"ano, anásh mihchilitok."

‘ “mine,” “I did it myself.” ’

"Pishnásh í mihchitok," il áchih chátok miyatoko̱.

‘They said we are supposed to be saying, “We did it ourselves.” ’

In another word there’s no "I",

‘In another word there’s no “I”,’

"me", in our language.

‘me”, in our language.’

It’s "us,"

‘It’s “us,” ’

"we."

‘ “we.” ’

Hika̱,

‘So,’

Forty-nine years onat taha yo̱ nána ka̱ ikkanat iyálih anát.

‘It took forty-nine years, I'm starting to learn myself.’

Himo siyassanoh.

‘I'm just now maturing.’

Two-thousand-seventeen ásh a̱ mommat a̱ kaníyatok.

‘Two-thousand-seventeen I lost my momma.’

Hihmat siyassanotok mako̱, anáto.

‘And that's when I matured, myself.’

Áfo yohmih, and I been ittiwáyalitoka̱ 34 years áttók this year.

‘Even grandfather, and I been married thirty-four years, this year.’

Hiyokakósh, a̱ mommat a̱ kaníya másh siyassanotok.

‘But, when I lost my momma that's when I matured.’

Hikako̱, folótahma̱ ná la̱wa ka̱ ikkanáláchi̱ho̱ ít a̱ mihchittók.

‘But, in return she prepared me so that I would learn a lot things.’

Hiyokásh forty-nine years.

‘But it was forty-nine years.’

Hika̱ nánit attah wakáyat tahali chá ano̱polilihma̱

‘When I finally got better and when I spoke’

nána ka̱ makálih, "Chahta siya hátokósh tiballiláhi̱nah."

‘something I said, “I am Choctaw but I can make mistakes.” ’

"Nahollo siyatokmásh tiballiláhi̱nah."

‘ “If I was a white person I could make mistakes.” ’

"Takossa siyatokmásh tiballila̱h."

‘ “If I was a black person I could make mistakes.” ’

Hiyokakósh kanahat "ma̱ ish tiballitokókih" am áchikma̱

‘But if somebody tells me, “you really made a mistake with that,” ’

ayiska sannah, anáto.

‘I want to fix it, myself.’

Kanaha̱ i̱sha̱hli sanna kano kiyoh.

‘I don't want to be better than someone.’

Kanahat Chahta kiya ano̱polih bannash áha̱tta na

‘Somebody that's really wanting to speak Choctaw and’

i̱ yoppakma̱, nokówalána hihátoko̱.

‘if they laugh at them, I can get mad.’

Pat kaníkma̱ Chahta am ano̱poli bannakmat, ik o̱náchoh,

‘This one sometimes he wants to speak Choctaw to me, he's not quite there,’

i̱ yoppalih kiyokako̱.

‘but I don't laugh at him.’

Hika̱ makilla kiyókih, Oklahoma ma̱yah alhíha mat

‘And that's not all, the ones living in Oklahoma’

"Oklah hash mihcháchi̱nih chícho, hachishnát hachim anno̱pa ho ishih fala̱t" álitok.

‘ “I hope you all do it, y'all get your language back,” I said.’

Oklah im ano̱polilitok kanímika̱.

‘I spoke to some of them.’

ná kanáno i̱sha̱li sanna kiyokásh, anáto Chahta siyakat am achókmah.

‘I don't want to be better than anyone else, myself I am Choctaw and I'm proud.’

Ná nahollo okma̱ takossa okmanána siyakano kiyoh

‘I'm not a white person or a black person or anything.’

Chahta siyatósh am achókma hátoko̱.

‘Because I'm Choctaw and I'm proud.’

Hikat makálikásh ohmi kanah i̱sha̱hli siya kiyókih Chihówa siya kiyo hátoko̱

‘And like I said, I'm not better than anyone else because I'm not God.’

Hátoko̱ mako̱ Jason ako̱ kaníkma̱ il ittimano̱poli átokósh

‘And that's why Jason and I we talk sometimes,’

kaníkma̱

‘sometimes,’

holissochi kásh ak ikka̱no hatósh i̱ pa̱yalikma̱ nána ka̱

‘If I don't know how to write it, I call him about anything’

"pako̱ mihchih, mihchih am ahwah," ít áchih makmáko̱.

‘ “Do it this way, I think they do this,” he also says to me.’

Kaníkmano̱ kil ikka̱nót isht il iyah.

‘Sometimes we neither of us understands.’

Himakósh aha̱ttat ikkanat tahakmat ít am anólih, "Yakókih," il áchih.

‘But then when he finally figures it out he tells me, and we both say “Thanks.” ’

Hika̱ mako̱ yohma̱natok, Chahta hapiyakat nána kil ikkánohma̱ il itti̱ ponakloh.

‘So that's how it's supposed to be, we are Choctaw and if we don't know something we ask each other.’

Makokmásh Chahta a̱ il okcha̱li mo̱máchi̱h.

‘That's how we will keep Choctaw alive.’

Himaka̱ allat ma̱yah pat

‘These kids here right now’

Nahollo im anno̱pa illlla kat o̱t iyat tahah himakano.

‘It's gotten to where only the English language is spoken now.’

Hiyoka̱, nána ka̱ yakohmi mihchikmak[a]no alhpísa hi̱la aki̱nih sa yimmih anát, mak okmano, allat,

‘So, if things are done this way, I myself believe this is right, and then the kids,’

book kiya tobakma̱ or nána kiya mihchikmano,

‘if a book is made or if anything is done,’

oklah písa chá next generation mítáchi̱h pat

‘they will see it and this next generation that is coming’

Chahta kiya ano̱polit hikít ilhkólikmásh ohmánah.

‘maybe they will start speaking Choctaw.’

Hika̱ mako̱ hichi̱ okmat, mak oklah kí mihchih, álih.

‘So if that's how it's going to be, let's do that, I say.’

Ná Chahta im anno̱pat anáto kaníya ik sannoh.

‘Myself, I don't want to lose the Choctaw language.’

Tribes i̱la kato i̱ kaníyat tahah.

‘Other tribes have completely lost it (their languages).’

Pishnáto í ho̱klih mo̱mah.

‘We are still holding on to ours.’

Kani il onakmanánakma̱, tribes i̱la kat,

‘If we happen to arrive somewhere, the other tribes’

"Are you Choctaws?" oklah am áchi bíkah.

‘they always ask me, “Are you Choctaws?” ’

Hikma̱ folótat, "How do you know that?"

‘And then replying, “How do you know that?” ’

"You still speaking your language.

‘ “You still speaking your language.’

Hikma̱ I’ve heard that before átokósh mak am ahwah

‘And because I’ve heard that before, I thought that’

átosh chi̱ ponaklolitoka̱." "A̱h, Chahta siyah."

‘and so that's why I asked you.” “Yes, I'm Choctaw.” ’

Hikat Chahta siya kat achokma̱hnili kat.

‘So I like that I'm Choctaw.’

I got these made.

‘I got these made.’

It says Chahta hapiya hókih hicha Chahta siya hókih.

‘It says we are Choctaw and I am Choctaw.’

Yamma̱ makah álih.

‘That's what I've been saying.’

Sipokni alhíhat oklah makáchikmat nána kat imí to̱ksaláhí kiyoh.

‘When the elders says something is not working for them.’

Nána kiya osápa kiya mihcháchi tokma̱ mihcháhí kiyoh.

‘Anything, like if they were going to garden, and they couldn't do it.’

Hikmat hopáki ano tohchínaho̱ makáchi áttok miyah,

‘It's said, back then they said it three times.’

Chahta siya hókih, Chahta siya hókih, Chahta siya hókih, hákmat ilhkólikmat o̱t oklah mihchi attók.

‘They said I am Choctaw, I am Choctaw, I am Choctaw and then they went and they did it.’

Hitokma̱ hobáchilih. Kaníka̱ nána ka̱, nána kat a̱ yohmahí kiyokma̱,

‘And so I copy them. Sometimes some thing, some things won't go right for me,’

makáchilikmat siyapíla kat a̱lhi ahóba, anáno.

‘and when I say it seems to really help me, me.’

Hihátoko̱, nána oklil ah...oklah il ittapílácho oklah kil ittapílah, álih.

‘And so, something we, if we are going to help each other, let's help each other, I say.’

Ná noshkobo achaffa chá mat kaníkma̱ noshkobo toklo másh kanihmánah, ittapíláchikmako̱.

‘Not one head but sometimes two heads can be better, when they help each other.’

Hiyokaśh anóti pa̱ noshkobo anóti noshkobo yokma̱,

‘And so then, if it's this head and that head’

ná to̱ksaláchih kiyo cause iklanáka̱ ma̱ nothing but air hátoko̱.

‘it's not going to work cause there in the middle is nothing but air.’

Hihátoko̱, achaffa oklí tobakmato hi̱lah.

‘If we become as one.’

Yamma̱ yesterday piláshásh ít, ít a̱- Jason at ít a̱ tahpalahma̱ sipokni achaffat i̱ ponaklolitok.

‘That, yesterday, yesterday when Jason called for-, for me, for me, I asked one of the elders.’

"A̱h, ish mihcháchikma̱ mihchih, hiyokásh ish ikkána aki̱nih kanímikano ish mihchahí kiyo ka̱," am áchitok.

‘ “Yes, if you're gonna do it, do it, but you do know some of the things you can't do,” he told me.’

"A̱h, ikkánali aki̱li," nán átosh, ná mo̱ma ka̱, kaniyohmi kano hachim anóliliahí kiyoh.

‘ “Yes, I know about it,” is what I said, not everything, there are some things I can't tell y'all.’

Chahta sabi̱ka mako̱ oklah il ittimanólih chátok miyah, mano.

‘It's said we only discussed those things with Choctaws like me, those things.’

Yammano ná oklah í lohmáchi̱h miyatok átoko̱, hiyáto,

‘We are going to hide those things they said, and so,’

Chahta sabi̱ka mako̱ im ano̱liláhi̱nah, mano kanihmi ka̱.

‘I can only tell it to other Choctaws like me, some of the those things.’

"Katína?" Il áchih. "Katína ikkana bannakako̱ ish ano̱lahí kiyoh?"

‘ “Why?” We say. “Why can't you tell what they want to know?” ’

Cause piláshash nánat kaníyohmitoka̱ pimiyaksihoka̱.

‘Cause we forget what happened yesterday.’

Mak iyásh il a̱ya hátoko̱.

‘Because that's where we're heading.’

Onnáchi̱ka̱ il ikkána kiyo nánohmáchi̱ka̱, hiyatósh himak ako̱,

‘We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, and so right now,’

il ikkána chá í ho̱klitokmat, onna onakma̱ pakáchi̱tok ókih il ácháchi̱ ohmiho̱, am anówatoko̱.

‘if we know and we hold onto it, when tomorrow comes this is what we are supposed to say, I was told.’

Hatósh kanihmi ka̱ nána anólilahí kiyoh.

‘So I can't tell you some of these things.’

Kana kiya nána kiya ponaklo bannah?

‘Does anyone want to ask anything?’

Cho nátah haklo hachinnah?

‘Or, what do y'all want to hear.’

Koni hata cho Koni hata kabotcha cho...

‘Conehatta, or Conehatta stickball or...’

A̱h.

‘Yeah.’

Okay, ákmat talhípa chito ako̱ ti̱kba kil iya, ákmat.

‘Okay, then let's go first to the drum, then.’

Talhípa chito ahmat, Nahollo im anno̱pa ano "drum" il áchih.

‘When they say talhípa chito, in the English language we say “drum.” ’

Hikako̱, kanihmi kato, "ábóli" oklah áchih, yohmih.

‘But, some of them, they say “to beat on/at,” like that.’

Hikako̱, anáto "talhípa chito" áhmako̱ ha̱klot siyassanoh.

‘But, as for me I grew up hearing them say “talhípa chito.” ’

Hikmat hopáki kaníya kiyoh, amiyaksi kaníya kani fokálika̱

‘Not too long ago, I kind of forgot about when,’

achaffa kásh a̱ makátoko̱ amiyaksitoko̱

‘one person told me and I'd forgotten.’

Hattak sipoknit a̱ttattók.

‘There lived an old man.’

Yammat am anólitok talhípa chito omma.

‘He told me the way of the drum.’

Nánaho̱ il íshitoka̱, kanit il íshitoka̱.

‘Something we got, how we got it.’

Nahollo ittibit ma̱yahmat, civil war, ohmiho̱, ma̱yaho̱, oklí, oklí sakkittók, áchittók.

‘When the White people were fighting, like a civil war, they were there, we, we caught up with them, he said.’

Hiyokakósh achaffa kat am anólihmat

‘But when one of them told me’

ittibish ma̱yatoko̱ ittibit oklah issa chá tikba ihkólihma̱

‘they were fighting, they stopped fighting and when they went forward,’

Chahtat nátósh a̱sháchi̱h nátihmittókchi ahni chá oklah o̱t pisahma̱

‘the Choctaws wondered what was there, what happened and when they went to see,’

illít laaaawash kahma̱yahma̱

‘a loooot of dead bodies were laying around, and’

alla nakni himittat yakót iyahmat

‘when a young boy went that way’

tikbíma onahma̱, doom, doom, doom, áchi haklohma̱, "Nátahósh makah?"

‘when he got a little further he heard it go, doom, doom, doom, “What is that sound?” ’

Íyattók, miyah.

‘He went on, it's told.’

Hikma̱ nána mat 'doom, doom,' ákma̱ pí mishsha ihi̱yah.

‘And something was saying 'doom, doom,' so he kept going further.’

Hika̱ alla nakni mat sakkiláchi̱h nánokma̱ ahnittókah.

‘Then that boy thought, 'I'm going to catch up to it, whatever it is.’

Ííyah hopákichittók, miyah.

‘He went a lonnnnnnng way, it's said.’

Onnahi̱liho̱ yohmitoka̱ op[i]ya̱sit tahaho o̱t pisahma̱, folótat yakót pisahmat,

‘It happened in the morning, and when he went and looked in the evening, he turned around and look liked this,’

hopákachi kat yohmi ahnih hikakósh iyakayyatok opiya̱si tahahma̱.

‘he knew he'd gone far but followed it until evening.’

Nána mat 'doom, doom,' aha̱chitokásh

‘Something kept saying, 'doom, doom,' and then’

'doom-dada doom-dada doom' át hikít iyattók miyah.

‘it started to say, 'doom-dada doom-dada doom,' it's said.’

Hihma̱ shohmalálih pisattók, miyah.

‘Then he saw something shining, it's said.’

Shohmallálih nána kat it taka̱lihma̱ pist iyatokakósh

‘When something shining bright was up there, he went to see it’

'shohmaláli mat nátachih?' ahnikakósh.

‘he thought, 'What is that shiny thing?’

O̱t tahlili alhi kat yappa̱ Nahollo i̱ Bible pit anóli[li] chá anóliláhi̱nih.

‘Before I finish this, I will tell about this White People's Bible and then I will finish tell it.’

Nahollo i̱ Bible a̱ taka̱li ka̱ nátósh shohmallálit it taka̱litok?

‘What was it in the White People's Bible up there shining bright?’

Jesus áchittokóka̱.

‘It said Jesus.’

Yamma̱ oklah kil ikkánottók miyah Jesus, ti̱kba kano.

‘At first, it's said we didn't know about Jesus.’

Hikakósh,

‘But,’

Chahtat nánihmish ma̱yatoka̱ Nahollo i̱ Bible ma̱ read-at hash tahlikma̱ ittiholba hoka̱.

‘If y'all read the White People's Bible, how the Choctaw lived, its the same.’

Hitoko̱, alla nakni mato i̱yahmat o̱t ahóchihmat

‘And so, when that boy wennnnt and found it’

drum ósh shohmalláli taka̱litokáchi̱nitok, miyah.

‘it was the drum that was up there shining bright, it's said.’

Hihma̱, mako̱ drum mat talhípa chito mat yakót tala̱yatokásh

‘And, that drum, that drum was sitting there like this,’

alla nakni mo̱t [ma̱ o̱t] pisahma̱, talhípa chito iláp yakót ittolattók, miyah.

‘and when the boy went over there to see, the drum fell like this, it's said.’

Hihmat to̱ksalit hikít iyáchi̱ho̱ im anólittók miyah.

‘And it's said, it told him he's going to start working.’

Hihma̱ alla nakni mat ik ikka̱no hókat o̱t wikílit íshihmat pisat tahlihmat

‘And the boy didn't know so he went to lift it up, and when he finished looking at it’

fallámat mi̱titokósh

‘he came back.’

Alikchi [a]no kiyohokásh a̱ttakakósh nána ikka̱na ohmihósh a̱̱ttatoko̱, o̱t pisáchihma̱

‘There wasn't a doctor there but there was someone who knows things, so he went to show him and’

nána ikkána mat i̱ makáchihmat

‘the person that knows things told him’

nána a̱lhiho̱ ít hapímatoko̱ himak nittak hikít iyah pa̱.

‘something authentic was given to us, so today is the day it starts.’

Chishnásh ti̱kba ish bólácho̱kih.

‘You are going to be the first to beat it.’

'Nátachi̱likmako̱?' áh.

‘How do I do it?' he said.’

"Issakkáchi̱nih" háchitoko̱.

‘He told him, “You'll catch on to it.” ’

La̱wa kat himakano talhípa chito oklí bólih.

‘A lot of us now, we beat the drum.’

Talhípa chitót hapímattóko̱, il anokfillikmat, talhípa chito ya̱ i̱hollot í ka̱chánatok.

‘Because the drum was given to us, when we think about it, we should honor the drums.’

Hika̱ kaními kat i̱ chokka ya̱ pí o̱t pilah im alhtáhakma̱.

‘So, some of them just throw it in their house when they are finished with it.’

Kanímikat ik potólottókósh

‘Some of them hadn't touched it and’

Choctaw Indian Fair áchi onakmako̱ hallat kotchih.

‘when the Choctaw Indian Fair comes, that's when they pull it out.’

Kaními kato makakat ish bólih chátok kiyo nanihmih mako̱

‘Some say you're not supposed just beat it any way’

hikako̱ alla nakni himitta mat makáchihmat ákmat

‘but, that young teenage boy said, well’

Chahtat himakano hilha, tóli, talówa yót oklí ma̱yáchi̱h a̱yáchi̱ho̱kih áttók.

‘now when the Choctaw dance, play-ball, sing, when we do all that, it's (the drum) going to come along with them, he said.’

Hitoko̱ ná-, a̱- bólilánah alhlhi kat bóli sannah anáto.

‘So, for me, as long as I can beat it, I want to beat it.’

A̱ttalikmat kanímikma̱ nána kiya isht ik sam onoh,

‘When I'm here, sometimes I'm upset about something,’

nána kiya sa nokha̱kloh

‘I'm sad about something,’

kana kiya kaníyatoko̱ haklolikmat, pit imi̱ bólilih, anáto.

‘or when I hear somebody passed away, I beat for them, myself.’

Hikma̱ kanímika̱ kiya oklah mihchih aki̱ni sa yimmih.

‘And I believe some of them do it as well.’

Hiyokakośh alla nakni mat iyak-, iyakkáyatoko̱ mak oklah il ohmikmato hi̱lah oklah kil isso ho.

‘But that boy was following it (the shining thing), and we should be like him, instead of quiting.’

Nána shohmalláli ti̱kba kano 'doom, doom' áho̱ iyakkáyatokásh

‘Following the thing that is shining bright and saying 'doom, doom’

shohmalláli taka̱liho̱ o̱t sakkittóka̱

‘because he caught up with that shining bright thing hanging there’

hicha yammako̱ talhípa chito ato hapi̱ tobattók.

‘and that's how the the drum was made for us.’

Náhollo ilap holba náha aki̱nih.

‘It's similar to the white people's’

hiyokásh pishnash il ikbihokásh i̱lachish il ikbih, Chahta ilap oklil ikbih átoko̱.

‘because we make them ourselves, we make them a little differently, because we make them for Choctaws.’

Chahta yósh ibbakósh ikbi háto, Chahta i̱ talhípa chitot Náhollo ilap ano kiyoh.

‘It is made by Choctaw hands, so the Choctaw's drum is not the white people's.’

Hicha ná rock and roll band áchihma̱ ilap kiyoh.

‘And they're not for what's called a rock and roll band.’

Hapishno.

‘It ours.’

Hikmat

‘And,’

Kabotcha ako̱ áchiláhi̱h

‘I'm gonna say stickball.’

Kabotcha ommak isht hachim ano̱poliláchi̱h.

‘I'm gonna talk to y'all about the way of stickball.’

Hopáki ya̱ anóli kat kabotcha yokma̱, i̱ hollo ho áchi attók.

‘Long time ago when they told about stickball sticks, they said honor them.’

Kabotcha yokma̱ chim ohoyo, chimalla, chimáfo, chipokni ohmihchi ho áchi áttók.

‘They said treat stickball sticks like your wife, your kids, your grandpa, your grandma.’

Hika̱ makáshi̱ni, himaka̱ tót [tólit] hapim alhtahakmat o̱t í pilah, pí pa̱.

‘It's the same, now when we finish playing ball we go and throw them, like this.’

Pa̱ bag kiya o̱t í fokki chá o̱t í pilah.

‘We put it in this bag and we go throw it.’

Nána ka̱ la̱wa ka̱ pi̱ tiballit tahah.

‘We've made a lot of mistakes.’

Hiyokakósh, il ikkanah mo̱máhi̱nah, mako̱ nánaka̱ ili-, yakohmáchi̱ho̱ hiki̱nitoka̱ ahnilih hátoko̱

‘But, we can still learn, that's something we-, because I thought it was going to be this way.’

Yeah, ákma kabotcha achaffa ma̱ ishit kil a̱yatokáchi̱ni hikakósh yakómiho̱,

‘Yeah, so then we didn't bring the other stickball sticks but these,’

isht-, osi-, drum stick ho̱ isht il a̱yatok.

‘with-, small, we brought the drum stick.’

Hikako̱ tólit hachim alhtahakmat, yakómi pa̱ hash showílácho, himakno.

‘And when y'all finish playing ball, you have to take these off (stickball strings), now.’

"Katímina" hash áchi ka̱.

‘ “Why?” Y'all say.’

Í tólikmat í to̱ksalichitok.

‘When we played we worked them.’

Kabotcha kiya tika̱bih.

‘Stickball sticks are tired too.’

Hiyátoko̱ tót [tólit] hachim alhtáhakmat, chi̱ chokka kiya ish ónakmat,

‘So when y'all finish playing ball, when you get home’

oka libísha kiya o̱t ish chaffichikmat

‘when you go turn on the warm water,’

yópit ish tahlikmat

‘when you finishing bathing,’

ánósi kiya o̱t ish ittolakmat, ish foháchi̱h.

‘when you go lay down on the bed, you are going to rest.’

Pak másh tika̱bitok átoko̱, pa̱ showít ish tahli chá

‘Since this one is also tired, you finish taking this off and’

chokmat kani kiya ish bohlih.

‘you place it somewhere properly/correctly/in a good way.’

Towel kiya nána kano ábonnit ish bohli chá ish foháchih chátok.

‘Wrap it up with something like a towel then you put it down and you're supposed to let it rest.’

Yammako̱ pimiyaksih!

‘That's what we forget.’

Himaka̱ Chahta la̱wa kat makálikma̱ kiyo kat nána ish ikka̱nah kiyoh.

‘Now a lot of Choctaws, when I say this, [they say] no you don't know anything.’

Am anno̱pa kiyo hikako̱ anáno, hopáki ako̱ im anno̱pa.

‘It's not my words but to me, it's words from long ago.’

Makáto himaka̱, makálikásh ohmih, it took me 49 years ikkanálitok.

‘So now, like I said, it took me 49 years to learn.’

Hikakósh ná Chahta hapiyásh mo̱másh oklí ma̱yah átoko̱ kanih kiya kohchit álih bíkah.

‘But we are Choctaws and because we are still living, I always have to say it out loud.’

Nána ka̱ yohmih átoko̱ pa̱ hash showíláchikih himak ano.

‘Since something is happening y'all take these (strings) off from now on.’

Hikmat kanímikat pano oklah makáha̱chih.

‘And some of them have saying this.’

Ohóyot kabotcha tólih chátok kiyoh áh.

‘They say women should never play stickball.’

Hikako̱ pano hachi̱ makáláchi̱ hókih.

‘But I'm going to tell you this.’

Chahta nakni ako̱ oklah i̱ makálahi̱h.

‘I'm going to say it to Choctaw men.’

Chahta nakni hapi̱ fault hókih mato.

‘Choctaw men, that's our fault.’

Hapishnákosh, nána okma̱ hapish-, oklil íshih,

‘Ourselves, if anything, we get (the fault),’

oklah kil issáchottók átoko̱.

‘since we didn't stop it.’

Hiyátokósh, himakano oklah tólit kaníya yátoko̱ ohóyo a̱ oklah kil ibá hiki̱ya kanih kiya.

‘And so, since they really play now we must stand by the women.’

Hikásh anóti folótat hash pisakmat, ohoyo kaními kat nakni hachiya ka̱ tólikat hachi̱ shalihchi hoka̱.

‘And then when you look around, some women play better than y'all, y'all men.’

Palammih ayína, ohoyo kaními kat.

‘Some women are tough too.’

This past fair pa̱, tólit ma̱ya kásho̱,

‘This past fair, when they were playing ball,’

ohoyo at ohoyo aki̱ni tasi̱bolit ka̱chitok.

‘a women stunned another women.’

Hikakósh kabotcha a̱ okla kil i̱hollo nánihmih máko̱.

‘But no matter what let's take care of the stickball sticks.’

Nána kat a̱t iya, a̱t iyattók il áchi chá, tiballíchili náha, a̱t iyattók.

‘Something passing, in the past we say and, I almost made a mistake, it's in the past.’

Hiyátoko tikba yo̱ kil íyásh, himakano kil i̱hollo kabotcha yakómika̱.

‘So let's go forward, let's take care of these stickball sticks now.’

Himaka̱,

‘Now,’

Oklahoma mako̱ okli̱ makálitoko̱ nánihmih ahnichih,

‘Even Oklahoma, because I told them and whatever it made them think,’

Oklahomato, oklah to̱li na afammi achaffáchi̱h.

‘Oklahoma, they will keep playing for the whole year.’

Oklah hash fo̱ha̱ntok [fo̱ha hi̱latok], im achilitok.

‘I told them, y'all should rest.’

Hihma̱, "Hikato pa̱ fala̱t oklílakmat oklah hapilbashshákah [hapi ilbashsháka] shahlih, mato natihmih?'' átoko̱.

‘And so, “Why when we come back here we're whooped bad, why is that?,” they said.’

"Mississippi hash afámah," álitok.

‘ “Y'all are facing Mississippi,” I said.’

Hika̱ a̱lhi kano i̱ makálihmat, "Hachi̱ kabotcha ako̱ hash foháchi kiyo hátoko̱, yohmih," álitok.

‘But when I truly told them, I said, “Since y'all are not resting your stickball sticks, that's why.” ’

Ha̱kloli kat kapassat mi̱tikma̱ kabotcha aba oklí bohlih chátok miyah achokmat.

‘I heard when the cold is coming, we are supposed to put up the stickball sticks correctly, it's said.’

Hikako̱ Oklahoma ato, oklah mihchih kiyo, mako̱ oklah hash mihcháchikih im áchilitok.

‘But Oklahoma, they don't do it, I told them, y'all should do that.’

Oklah hash bohli chá oklah hash foháchikmakánah.

‘Y'all put it down and y'all have to let it rest.’

"Hachishnáki̱ni másh tika̱bit hash tahayósh hash áyalátokósh hachiyah yohmih," im áchilitok.

‘I told them, “Even yourselves, y'all are like that since you get here and your exhausted.” ’

Hiyokásh, nánaho̱ apistikílilih ayínakat,

‘So, another thing I tease them about,’

"Mak okmato hapi iláwi̱chit ish folótakmásh ohmánah" álitok.

‘I said, “If you do that, you might be equal to us all around.” ’

Hikako̱, Mississippi ma̱ya pato

‘But, these ones living in Mississippi’

himaka̱ a̱t iya ka̱ kaními kat kabotcha abohli [aba bohli] il asháchih.

‘right now, since it's passed, some of us we put up the kabotcha.’

Hika̱ kaními kato himaka̱ a̱ chokka ano opiya̱sikma̱ ishit ma̱yah mo̱ma mato.

‘And some of them are still at my house in the afternoons, [playing with the sticks].’

A̱ chokka ano ma̱yatokósh October onakmako̱ oklah issáchi̱h.

‘The ones at my house are gonna quit when it's October.’

Náni̱na October ona ka̱ issáchi̱ kat

‘The reason they quit in October,’

Green Corn Festival ma̱ oklah hash ikka̱na aki̱nih chíchok oklah im áchilih sháli.

‘I always say to them, hope you all know it's Green Corn Festival.’

Mako̱ kapassat mi̱táchi̱ka̱ nána kat annowakma̱

‘That's when the cold is coming, something that is told,’

mako̱ nána ka̱ libísha [m]o̱ma isht oklah il áshatok oklí bohlih chátok, áli átósh, isht oklah ma̱yah.

‘we always put away anything we use when it's still warm, I say, but they still use it.’

Himaka̱ makáli ohmih, opiya̱sikma̱ a̱ chokka ya̱, isht allótah,

‘Like I'm saying now, when it's evening at my house, a lot of people are there (practicing),’

oklah ik sa lawíchoh ki̱sha kásh, hichi̱ chíchok ahnilih, kani kano.

‘they are not as good as me yet, I hope maybe they will be, some day.’

Hikásh ma̱ ishit ma̱yatósh October onakma̱ oklah put up-ácháchi̱h oklah bohláchi̱h aba hitokmásh

‘But they will still be using it until October, then they will put [them] up, they're going to place them up, and then’

himak ano, Feburary, March fokálikma̱, oklah kocháwiláchi̱h.

‘now, in about February, March, they will take them out.’

Mak í yohmih chátok. Il i̱holloh.

‘That's what we are supposed to do. We care for them.’

Hiyato̱ yamma̱, kabotcha, talhípa chito, yakómi hikmat anóti,

‘So those, stickball sticks, drums, all these things again,’

Chihowat nána tohchi̱naho̱ ít hapímattokóka̱.

‘God bestowed the three *gifts* to us.’

Talówat í ma̱yachitok. Talówah mak í mihchih kiyókih.

‘We should be singing. We are not even singing.’

Hilhat í ma̱yachitok kat hilhah mak í mihchih kiyókih.

‘We should be dancing, and we are not even dancing.’

Hilhah í micháchi̱kmat Choctaw Indian Fair,

‘If we are going to dance at the Choctaw Indian Fair,’

spring festival,

‘spring festival,’

or kaníno festival, í chi̱ chiloffáchi̱ ákma̱ í hilha illa kat í tahah.

‘or a festival somewhere, we've gotten to where we only dance if they say we'll pay you.’

Hikmat tólit í ma̱yachitok.

‘And we should be playing ball.’

Achokmat ná í míchih kiyoh.

‘We don't do it right.’

Náni̱na pa̱ makáli kat a̱̱ pokni, amáfot

‘The reason I'm saying this is, my grandma, my grandpa’

nánaho̱ ish ácháchi̱kmat áchiho̱, áchi attók. Áchili hókih anát.

‘they would say, if you're going to say something, say it. I say that too.’

Hika̱, amáfot a̱ talówah.

‘And, my grandpa sang to me.’

Talówa ma̱ achokmahnili hoka̱h.

‘I love that song.’

Ikkanat táhalihmat taloho̱walih.

‘When I learned it, I sang it all the time.’

Hitósh hachi̱ talówaláchi̱ ka̱, talówa ma̱.

‘So I'm going to sing if to y'all, that song.’

Jason at am ikka̱nat tahah fokáli átoko̱,

‘Jason is about to really understand me,’

talówánat tahah aki̱nih chíchok ahnilih.

‘I hope maybe he can sing it by now.’

Hiyokásh amáfo at bini̱likmat, talówakmat,

‘When my grandpa was sitting there, singing,’

pako̱ mihchísh talówa yattók, hobáchiláhi̱ka̱.

‘this is how he sang it, I'm going to [sing] like him.’

Mihchit talówakmat

‘This is how he sings.’

♪ Yo-way-yo-o-hay-yah, á-ho-way-ya-a̱-lih, hay-yo-o-way-ya-a̱-lih, hay-ay-yo-way-ya̱-lih ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪ Mak a-ha̱y-alik-ma̱ anno̱-pat o̱t á ta-ha̱-nókih, hay-yo-o-way-ya-a̱-lih, hay-ay-yo-way-ya̱-lih ♪

‘♪ ♪ I have been saying the language can end, hay-yo-o-way-ya-a̱-lih, hay-ay-yo-way-ya̱-lih ♪’

♪ ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪ Mak a-ha̱y-alik-ma anno̱-pat o̱t á ta-ha-nókih, hay-yo-o-way-ya̱-a̱-lih, hay-ay-yo-way-ya̱-lih ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪

‘♪ ♪’

♪ ♪ I̱ ta-ló-wa sa-toh-no-tó-ko̱ a̱t hik-i-ki̱t ta-ló-walih ♪

‘♪ ♪ They ask me to sing for them, so I am standing here singing ♪’

♪ Hay-yo-o-way-ya-a̱-lih, Hay-ay-yo-way-ya̱-lih ♪

‘♪ ♪’

Talówa ma̱ haklolikmat áfo pi̱sah kaníyalih.

‘When I hear that song I can almost see grandpa.’

Hikat, [hat]tak sipokni mat makáchikmat "hakloh talówa ma̱."

‘And so, that old man said “listen to that song.” ’

Achokmat oklí haklotok kiyoh álih, himaka̱ anno̱pat pi̱ taha hoka̱ foka̱lit tahah.

‘I say we didn't pay attention, and now we are about to lose our language.’

Mak aha̱yalikma̱ anno̱pat o̱t hapi̱ taha̱nókih, áha̱chittók.

‘I've been saying the language can end for us, he kept saying.’

Hitoka̱, anno̱pat hapi̱ tahah foka-, pollásit tahah.

‘And, the language is ending for us, it's nearly gone.’

Himaka̱, older generation mat tahakma̱,

‘Now, if the older generation is gone’

nána kat ik pim ikshokáchi̱h.

‘we will not have anything.’

Chahta iláp nána kat pi̱ kaníyat taháchi̱h.

‘We will lose anything that belongs to Choctaws.’

Hikmat anóti, i̱-, "talówah satohnotoko̱ a̱t hikiki̱t talówalih," áchih.

‘And again, he said “since they've asked me to sing, I am standing here singing.” ’

Mat makáshi̱nih, ano̱p, an, ish ano̱poláchi̱kmat ano̱polih! I̱ talówah!

‘That's the same thing, if you are going to talk, talk! Sing for them!’

"Talówa illa hokmákósh ishit lha̱kko chima̱na hoka̱," áchi attóko̱, pisálih.

‘He said, “Even just singing can give you strength,” and now I see.’

Nána kat ik sam achokmokáchi̱h holbakmat, talówa li hoka̱.

‘If it seems I'm not feeling good, I sing.’

Anáto, Chahta siyah, Chahta siyh, Chahta siyah.

‘Me, I am Choctaw, I am Choctaw, I am Choctaw.’

Hiyátósh mako̱ yohmilih.

‘And so that's what I do.’

Hikat anáto Chahta im asilhlhalih. Chahta oklah kí tobah falámat.

‘And me, I pray for Choctaws. Let's become Choctaw again.’

Himonna móma ka̱ nána kat mi̱táchi̱ ka̱ am anóho̱-, am anóho̱li attók, amoshi at. Makáchikmat hina faláya ilhkoho̱litoka̱ mi̱tácho̱kih [mi̱táchi̱ hókih].

‘Once again, something is coming, he used to tell me, my uncle. When he said that, they've gone on a long road at it's coming back.’

Second coming of Trail of Tears.

‘Second coming of Trail of Tears.’

Hika̱ il ónáchi̱h am ahwa hoka̱, yamma̱, aha kil ahnokmat.

‘And I think we will get there, to that, if we're not careful.’

"Hikma̱ nána ka̱ ish ácháchi̱kmat nokwiya kiyohósh áchi ho," áchi attók.

‘ “And whatever you are going to say, don't be timid saying it,” he'd say.’

Hikmat am anólikmat, ibbak kiya yakmihchi chá ibbak a̱ yakmihchit akammi chá

‘And when he tells me, his hand are like this and his hands close like this and’

pat Nahollo yokma̱ pat Chahta yókih, hikako̱

‘if this is white people, this is Choctaw, but’

aha hachik ahnatokma̱, Nahollot yakmihchish *hachíshácho̱kih [hachi ísháchi̱ hókih]*.

‘if y'all are not careful, the white people are going to grab y'all like this.’

Hikakósh, Chahta fala̱t oklah hash tobakmat, Chahtat Nahollo iláp nána hash yakmihchikmat,

‘But, if y'all become Choctaw again, the Choctaw, if y'all do anything of the white people's,’

hachishnakkiya [hachishno akkiya]

‘you all as well,’

nána ka̱ hachi̱ponna kat oklah hash lawi̱cha̱noka̱ [lawi̱cha̱na hoka̱]" áchi attók.

‘y'all can be just as good at anything,' he would say.’

Hikako̱, nánaho̱ iyásh il a̱yah, pato, Chahtano, Chahta ano yakót í pila hoka̱.

‘But, whatever we are going towards, this, the Choctaw, the Choctaw, we are throwing it [to the side] like this.’

Anáto, that’s wha-, "mak hiki̱yalih," álih, that’s what I stand for.

‘Myself, that's wha-, I say “I'm standing for that,” that's what I stand for.’

I stand for my Chahta people álih.

‘I say I stand for my Choctaw people.’

Kaníkma̱, anakkiya nána yakómi mihchi chá áha̱ttali attók.

‘Sometimes, I did things like that too.’

Anáto, mato different aki̱nih, nánaho̱ mihchili kat

‘For me, that was something different, whatever I do,’

anáto Chahtásh hottopa ka̱ pisa kat am achihbat taha yátoko̱̱.

‘me, I'm tired of seeing Choctaws getting hurt.’

Hiyatósh nána áchilih mato, nittak i̱lakma̱ isht ano̱poliláchikih mano̱.

‘So I'll say something about that, but I will say it another day about that.’

Hiyokakósh pako̱,

‘But this one (his son),’

anno̱pa yakómi nána oklah il ikkanáchi̱tokma̱, oklah kil ikkanah.

‘if we are going to learn these words, let's learn them̨.’

Himaka̱ hapi̱ community pond at taka̱lihma̱ Chahta katohmi kásh ikka̱nah?

‘Now, how many Choctaws know our community pond is there.’

Si̱ti chitot fo̱katoka̱, [y]amma̱ á chokkowatoka̱.

‘There's a big snake in there, that's where it got inside.’

Pí ha̱kloli oklah il ácháhi̱lah.

‘We can say that's what I've heard.’

Hiyokásh akka ilhkót íyatoklahmat anno̱pa nátokato̱?

‘When the two [big snakes] went down what words did they say?’

Chahta katohmi kásh ikka̱nachih, Koni Hata ma̱yat?

‘How many Choctaws living in Conehatta know?’

Anáto, yamma̱ ha̱klot siyassano anno̱pa ha̱ makahmat "Falámat alálikmat alla alhíha ha̱ chim ayyowat tah[li]láchi̱nih," áchitoko̱.

‘Myself, I grew up hearing, the words that were said, “When I come back I'm going to take all your children from you,” it said.’

Í pisakmat himaka̱ il a̱ya hoka̱.

‘When we look, we're going now.’

Nána kat ik achokmoh, drugs,

‘Things are wrong, drugs,’

yakómikásh pim íshiho̱ il a̱y[ah]okásh alla ya̱ achokmat í mihchi kiyo ka̱.

‘these things are taking them from us, as we go along we are not doing right for our children.’

Yappa̱ himonna ka̱ a̱ makattók, hattak 'chaffat hitoko̱

‘This one man told me this one time, and so’

ano̱kfihi̱llilittók ásh yokáchit taháli.

‘I kept thinking about it and I got it.’

Hopáki ano, allat pa̱ washohásh bini̱likma̱ si̱tít yakót mi̱tikma̱,

‘Long ago, when a child was sitting here playing, if a snake was coming towards them like this,’

hattak at hopaki ano pa̱ bini̱li chá si̱ti makkiya o̱t abána yattók.

‘a man, in the olden days, sitting there would go and kill, even the snake.’

Himak ano, si̱ti yakót mi̱tikma̱ allat si̱ti ma̱ iyásh a̱yakma̱ pí pist yakót í binohma̱yahoka̱.

‘Now, if a snake is coming like this, if that child goes toward the snake, we just sit around like this looking.’

Si̱ti álihmat, drugs, alcohol, nána ik achokmo yósh alla ma̱ a̱t hapim íshi hoka̱.

‘When I say snake, its drugs, alcohol, bad things taking our kids away from us.’

Hiyokako̱ wakáyat il apíla kiyoh.

‘But we don't get up to help them.’

Si̱ti chito mat makattókat alla oklah hapim íshísh a̱ya hoka̱.

‘Those big snakes that said that before are going around taking the children from us.’

Áchili pat himónachísh ikbili kiyókih, ittolatoko̱ pí anno̱pásh hopákiyo̱ áchili ka̱.

‘What i'm saying is not something new I made up, I'm saying words that were put down a long time ago.’

Hikat si̱ti chito mat akkiyahmat makáchitoko̱.

‘While that big snake was going down it said this.’

Pim allat la̱wa kat himaka̱ yohmih.

‘A lot of our children are like this now.’

Apíla bannakak il apílakásh il ónah kiyoh.

‘They want help but we are not helping enough.’

Anáto, api̱lalánah alhlhihmat apílalih, "ish yohmih chátok kiyoh."

‘Myself, I help as much as I can help, “you shouldn't be that way.” ’

Hopáki kiyoh pa̱ alla nakni himittat talówah bannásh áha̱ttahmat

‘Not too long ago when this teenage boy had been wanting to sing,’

"Iti ishit bóli ma̱, talówa ma̱, is sam ikba̱noho̱?," áchitok.

‘he said, “Can you make me chanting sticks?” ’

'Óh,' im áchilit im ikbilitok. Alla mat talówa shahli, himakano.

‘I told him, “Alright,” I made them for him. Now, that boy always sings.’

Ná sa yokpa yoka̱ alla ma̱ pisáli ka̱.

‘I'm proud when I see that child.’

Hihma̱, State Game of Mississippi mat a̱shahma̱ allat kabotcha oklah tólihma̱,

‘And, when it was those State Games of Mississippi, when the kids were playing stickball,’

i̱ makálihmat alla alhíha pat oklah tóláchi̱ ka̱,

‘when I told him, these kids are going to play ball,’

kabotcha talówa ma̱ talówah álihma̱, "isht iyálahí kiyoh," am áchitok.

‘when I told him to sing the stickball chant, he told me “I can't start it.” ’

"Nátaho̱ isht iyahí kiyoh?" álihma̱, "Ammona maki̱ni ka̱, nánit isht iyálahí kiyoh," áh.

‘When I said, “Why can't you start?,” he said, “I still can't start from the beginning.” ’

Ákma̱ pako̱ mihchih áchi [lih], im ábachilitok.

‘Well do it this way, I said, I coached him.’

Alla mat anóti talówat issa ik bannoho̱ oklí ma̱yatok.

‘That child didn't want to stop singing while we were there.’

Hikako̱ mak áhi̱latok, nána ka̱, si̱ti mat ik íshoh kiya il ahni kat il apílah chátok.

‘But that's how it's supposed to be, we hope that snake doesn't get anything, we are supposed to help.’

Si̱ti ma̱ noshkobo oklí tabli chátok.

‘We have to cut off that snake head.’

Hikásh í mihchi kiyoh mak máko̱.

‘But we don't do that either.’

Hika̱ Chahta hapiya kat kaní kiyah í wakáyakmakáhi̱h.

‘So us Choctaw we have to rise up.’

Chahta anno̱pa kil im ano̱polih kaní kiyah.

‘Let us speak the Choctaw language to them, regardless’

Í tiballichih pim ahwakmat kí ponakloh,

‘If we think we made a mistake let's ask,’

ma̱yah, í ma̱yah mo̱ma Chahta anno̱pa il ano̱poláhi̱na kat.

‘they're here, we're still here those of us who can speak Choctaw.’

Hikat il ano̱poláchi̱ kásh pi hohfáyah.

‘But when we're going to speak we get embarrassed.’

Hiyokásh nahollo iláp, takosa iláp, Mexican yakómi iláp áhi̱ kano, í, il íshit amót í ka̱chih.

‘But White people, Black people, Mexican, we, we really embrace talking like them.’

Nánikiyokikako̱ [nánikiyo hókikako̱], oklah mak mako̱ oklah kil ikka̱nah ahnit makálih.

‘That's fine but, let's know about those too, I say.’

Hiyokásh hikmat anóti Chahta talówa ya̱ kaními kat ish oláchi kiyah, issacha̱nah chim ahna̱na kat ma̱yah.

‘And then, if you play a Choctaw song, some of them hope you can turn it off.’

Hiyokásh ilápato i̱ car kiya o̱ chokwahma̱ radio chitót noshkobot yakót kaniyáchi̱h.

‘But when he gets in his car he turns up the radio and nod his head like this.’

Nahollo talówa, takosa talówa, taló-, talówako̱.

‘Singing white people songs, black people songs.’

Nátína mano ish mihcha̱na ka̱ Chahta iláp ano ish mihchahí kiyoh álihókih.

‘I say, why can you do those, but you can't do Choctaw's.’

Ano̱po̱lili na onna̱nah yohmih átokósh, hikkiya.

‘I can keep talking like this until morning, so anyway.’

Ak hopákícho kiya ahnilitokásh.

‘I didn't think I would take long. This is wh, this is what I say, so’

Makilla alhlhi illa̱na álit pak makálih átósh.

‘I can only say this much, this is what I'm saying so’

Hachi̱ yakókilih. Nána kiya ak ikka̱nokmat hachi̱ ponakloláchi̱nih.

‘I thank y'all. If I don't know something I'll ask y'all.’

"Yappat nátíchish o̱cho̱li chátoka̱?" mako o̱t i̱ tahpalálih bíkatok Jason a̱.

‘ “How do you write this?” That's why I am usually calling Jason.’

Ik im ikkanat tahakmat ít am anólih.

‘Whenever he finds out he tells me.’

Hikmat nána oklah hachik ikka̱nokmat, ít hassa̱ ponaklácho.

‘And if you all don't know something, y'all just ask me.’

Ak ikka̱nokmat, hey, ikka̱na ka̱ o̱t ponakloláchi̱nih.

‘If I don't know it, hey, I will go and ask someone that knows.’

Hikmat oklah hachim íshiláchi̱nih.

‘And I will get it for y'all.’

Hikat hachishnáto, pilísásh oklah hash [it]tanoho̱wa hátokósh,

‘So y'all, since you all are still working/laboring,’

achokmat oklah pilísah áhmat, to̱ksali áhókih.

‘when they say labor hard, be a hard worker.’

Yammat Chahta hopáki anno̱pa, pilísah.

‘That is an old Choctaw word, pilísah [to labor].’

Hikako̱ to̱ksalih il áchih, himakano.

‘But we say to̱ksalih [to work], now.’

Hiháto̱ to̱ksalish oklah hash ittanówatokat, hapi̱ to̱ksali pí achokmat, Chahta oklah hapiyaka̱.

‘And since y'all are working, do good work for us, us Choctaws.’

Pako̱ nána kiya oklah hash mihchi na alla himitta pakohmi i̱ generation at nána kiya oklah ikkanáchi̱h, oklah ik ikkanah.

‘This work that you all do, like this teenager's generation can learn anything, so let them learn.’

Hikakósh a̱ttali alhlhi kato satakhat ihi̱yáchi̱nih.

‘But as long as I am living my mouth is gonna keep going.’

Hikmat Chahta ayyoka ka̱ anát oklah hachi̱ sa hollókih.

‘And myself, I care for every one of you Choctaws.’

New born to oldest one.

‘New born to oldest one.’

Ná yappano achokmahnili kiyoh, áli kiyoh.

‘I don't say, I don't like this one.’

Chahta ayyoka ka̱ i̱ sa hollo, anáto.

‘Myself, I care for every Choctaw.’

Hiyátoko̱ mako̱ áchilih.

‘And so that's what I say.’

Hiyátósh oklah hachi̱ yakókili hókih, hassa hóyotoka̱.

‘And so I thank you all, that you all asked me to be here.’

CHOCTAW LANGUAGE DICTIONARY

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians