Sesaun Williams | Choctaw Dictionary

CHOCTAW LANGUAGE DICTIONARY

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians


Sesaun Williams


1)
Ti̱kba kano chi hohchifo ish hapim ano̱polána ho̱?
‘First, can you tell us your name?’
2)
Sa hohchifo at Sesaun Williams.
‘My name is Sesaun Williams.’
3)
Bók Chito ámíti li.
‘I come from Bogue Chitto.’
4)
Chishki, chi̱ki katah?
‘Who are your mother and father?’
5)
Sashki ato Donna Williams, Aki ato Sammy Williams
‘My mother is Donna Williams, my father is Sammy Williams’
6)
Okay, hikiya.
‘Okay, then.’
7)
Nánaho̱ chiyalla kiya nána kiya ish míchi atokmat ish pim anóláno̱ iskitíni ka̱.
‘Can you tell us a little bit of somethings that you did, when you were young?’
8)
Growing up?
‘Growing up?’
9)
Growing up a̱,
‘Growing up,’
10)
sapokni yásh siyassanochittók.
‘My grandmother raised me.’
11)
It brings to my eyes, talking about grandma.
‘It brings tears to my eyes, taking about grandma.’
12)
But, assanot mi̱tih,
‘But, came up growing,’
13)
Sa pokni i̱ chokka átokma̱ alla lawásh oklah il áshahíkattók.
‘At my grandmothers house, there used to be a lot of children staying there.’
14)
Pí, pokkóli óna kato oklah il áshahíkattók, am ahwah.
‘Like, I think there used to be ten of us living there.’
15)
Itti̱kanómi bánoho̱, hikiya
‘We were all cousins, however’
16)
growing up, sapokni yat, sápaho̱ áto̱ksalit assano hiyátosh mak i̱ mo̱mat taha attók, hihátoko̱.
‘growing up my grandmother, she grew up working in the field and was used to it, so’
17)
growing up assanot oklah í mi̱tika̱, garden, sápaho̱
‘when we were groing up, garden, the field’
18)
"Kilhkólih," áchikma̱
‘if she said, “Let's go,” ’
19)
tobi, tobi ahwahmat, ta̱chi
‘peas, like peas, corn,’
20)
ahí, kalach ahwah, yakómi, "ho hokchih," ákma̱
‘potato, like collards, all that, if she said “Y'all go plant,” ’
21)
oklí hokchahíkattók.
‘we used to plant it.’
22)
Mak kiyokmat, nani hót il ilhkólih. I̱ chokka i̱tannap ma̱ bók oshít hiki̱yahátoko̱,
‘If not that, we used to go fishing. Since there was a creek across from her house,’
23)
il ilhkólahíkattók. Hihmat
‘we used to go. And’
24)
sometimes, kanímikma̱ lawah, alla lawash oklí il ásha hátoko̱
‘sometimes, sometimes, a lot, because there were a lot of us children living together.’
25)
I used to wonder why?
‘I used to wonder why?’
26)
Grandma used to make us chase chickens, Aka̱ka oklah í lhiyolahíkattók wánota.
‘Grandma used to make us chase chickens, we used to chase chickens in the yard.’
27)
"Ka̱ka ho abih" ákma̱,
‘If she said, “Y'all kill the chickens,” ’
28)
Alla oklí kanohmi onah átosh ka̱ka lhiyolit
‘Since there were several of us children we chased chickens’
29)
Oklí sakkit, iti isht oklí mokkáha̱hma̱, grandma at o̱t sakki chá ikko̱la mo̱t [ma̱ o̱t] ishihmat shannahíkattók.
‘We would catch it, and beat it with a stick, Grandma would go catch it and grab it by the neck and used to twist it.’
30)
Mikma̱ ma̱ mihchit okla í ma̱yayakma̱, abohli alhlhih
‘While we were doing this, edge of the woods’
31)
lowak ikbit issah, ka̱ka ma̱ oka lashpa fokkáchi̱h.
‘the fire was already made, she's gonna put the chicken into the hot water,’
32)
hicha, fok...oka lashpa fokkitokma̱,
‘and, pu..when it's put in the hot water,’
33)
ma̱ fo̱kkat, oka lashpa mat ka̱ka ma̱ abih.
‘while it's in there, the hot water kills the chicken.’
34)
Hikma̱, kochit, lashpat, o̱t...ka̱ka mat o̱t táhakma̱, o̱t kotchit
‘And then, taking it out, heating it, when that chicken dies, she goes and takes it out’
35)
hishi í tihlahíkattók.
‘we used to pluck the feathers.’
36)
Some of those, some of the things that we did growing up,
‘Some of those, some of the things that we did growing up,’
37)
when I think back, okma̱
‘when I think back, then’
38)
you know, Grandma did her best to raise us.
‘you know, Grandma did her best to raise us.’
39)
but the main thing was choctaw speaking.
‘but the main thing was choctaw speaking.’
40)
We didn't
‘We didn't’
41)
We didn't speak English.
‘We didn't speak English.’
42)
Grandma didn't know how to speak English.
‘Grandma didn't know how to speak English.’
43)
Chahta illa ano̱polánah ahni hátoko̱, Chahta illa oklil ano̱polih.
‘Since she wanted us to speak only Choctaw, we only spoke Choctaw.’
44)
Makilla ak chohmi íkattók. Mak kiyokmat hilhat oklí nówah.
‘That's all it used to be. If not, we would go around dancing.’
45)
Kani hilhat, hilha talówa kiya oklah tónatokma̱
‘Somewhere there's dancing, when they asked her to chant’
46)
hapishnakmásh kani kiya il ilhkólahíkattók.
‘us we had to go, too.’
47)
Kaníkma̱ lokka fokka ik hapinno anakfíhna ka̱ ilokka fokka ik sannokma̱, a̱ noko̱wat sashtiyahíkattók.
‘Sometimes we didn't want to wear a dresses, myself, I really didn't want to wear a dress. She was upset with me, but used to take my anyway.’
48)
a̱ noko̱wat sa fokkachih, himmako̱ yót áshat oklah ittanówahíkattók.
‘she was upset while dressing me, but we used to be going around like that.’
49)
Sa, sapokni átokmat ná ikbi ano kiyo akiṉitok. Pí sápa mak to̱ksalih, and nani hoyo im achokmah.
‘My, my Grandma didn't really make anything. Just worked in the fields, and she enjoyed fishing.’
50)
Which she was taught growing up to survive.
‘Which she was taught growing up to survive.’
51)
That's how she taught us.
‘That's how she taught us.’
52)
Ta̱chi átokma̱ hominy oklah áchih,
‘And the corn they call hominy,’
53)
mak ma̱ mihchih to make ends meet.
‘she did that to make ends meet’
54)
kiyohmat, a̱chi acho̱lih im achokma hattók.
‘other than that she liked sewing blankets.’
55)
A̱chi acho̱lih im achokma attók, i̱ porch ma̱
‘She liked to sew blankets on her porch.’
56)
Homemade a̱chi,
‘Home made blanket,’
57)
iti oshta aba porch ceiling ma̱ akka ít takáchitok.
‘four boards hanging down from the porch ceiling above’
58)
A̱chi ma̱, yamma̱, nátah ish ánah?
‘that quilt, that, what can you say?’
59)
á lapáchit
‘a place to attach’
60)
Á lapáchi hicha ma̱ binít porch ma̱ binít acho̱lahíkattók.
‘A place to attach, and sitting there she used to sit on the porch sewing.’
61)
Hikiya
‘And so,’
62)
sappokni átokmat
‘my grandma,’
63)
nátokánah?
‘how do you say it?’
64)
How to survive, how to make ends meet.
‘How to survive, to make ends meet.’
65)
Yomiho̱ am ábachit, sa instill-attók sa yimmi.
‘Those are the things she taught me and instilled in me I believe.’
66)
Hikiya,
‘And so,’
67)
one thing ano maka kattók,
‘one thing she said,’
68)
"yakomi ka̱ ish ikkana kiyotokmat, á sa illikma̱
‘ “if you don't learn these things, when I die’
69)
chi̱ palammáchi̱ hokih."
‘it's going to be hard on you.” ’
70)
"Áy illit oklí táhakma̱ nánakat i̱la tahachi̱," áhtók.
‘ “When we all die out, everything will be different,” she said.’
71)
Anno̱pa átokmásh hapi̱ kaníyáchi̱h.
‘We will lose even our language.’
72)
Alla hiyátokmásh pí haponaklo oklah ik banno tahachi̱h.
‘Even the children, they will not want to listen.’
73)
Chahta anno̱pa mako̱ ná oklah ikha̱náchi̱ kiyoh,
‘They will not know even the Choctaw language,’
74)
áchi attók.
‘she said.’
75)
And, when I look back, this day and age, I look hokma̱.
‘And, when I look back, this day and age, when I look,’
76)
a̱ grandma, not just my grandma, i̱ sister's,
‘my grandma, not just my grandma, her sister's,’
77)
her sisters and her brothers, mak oklah makahíkattók.
‘her sisters and her brothers, they used to say that.’
78)
And sadly I find that very true.
‘And sadly I find that very true.’
79)
Yes, nánakat change-a i̱lat iyah.
‘Yes, everything is changing, becoming different.’
80)
Pí, i̱lachi hátoko̱ mat a̱lhih, mm-hm.
‘Like, because it's different, that's true, mm-hm.’
81)
Chishki ato, pí nánakiya mihchih? (Sashki ato, sashki)
‘Your mother, did she do something? (My mother, my mother)’
82)
I forgot to introduce my grandma too, I gotta introduce her.
‘I forgot to introduce my grandma too, I gotta introduce her.’
83)
Mable Jackson ahtók, sa hohchif-sappokni hohchifoh.
‘She was Mable Jackson, my nam- my grandma's name.’
84)
Sashki ato, makmat, she liked makmat a̱chi acho̱la, acho̱lih.
‘My mother, also, she liked also to sew quilts, sewing.’
85)
Nowadays ano, himak ohmi kano acho̱li kano kiyaki̱nih [kiyo aki̱nih], hikakósh
‘Nowadays, like right now, she's not sewing now, but’
86)
ta̱chi, hominy makma̱
‘corn, hominy also’
87)
it was, sappokni ásh and her aunts aki̱nish, oklah im ábachitokka.
‘it was, my grandmother and also her aunts, they must have taught her.’
88)
Hitoko̱, ta̱chi ikbi ma̱ isht a̱ya mo̱mah.
‘So, she still carries on with corn making’
89)
She's, ma̱ binít ibbak o̱ ishit hossih.
‘She's, sits there sifting with her hand.’
90)
What, hossikmat, nátokachahíkaha̱? Yakmihchihma̱?
‘What, when she sifts, what'd they used to say? When she does this way?’
91)
Amihaksi kaníya hikásh, ma̱ binít ikbit ta̱chi mihchikmat, ibbako̱ ishit mihchih,
‘I totally forgot, if she sits making doing the corn, she does it by hand’
92)
ibbako̱ ishit mihchi ná machine nána use-a kiyoh.
‘does it by hand, she doesn't use any kind of machine.’
93)
she'd, ma̱ bini̱t she'll sit there for days and
‘She'd, sitting there, she'll sit there for days and’
94)
hakshop átokmako̱, i̱ fingers, bashpo, bashposhi íshi ishit loffih
‘also that skin, her fingers, she gets a knife, a pairing knife and peals with it’
95)
hihma̱ makmat makashi̱nih.
‘and that's also the same.’
96)
Grandma osápa ako̱,
‘Grandma and the field,’
97)
i̱ aunts, i̱ uncles growing up, ahmako̱ oklah to̱ksalit assano átokósh makmat.
‘her aunts, her uncles growing up, also, because they grew up working, too’
98)
Garden ako̱ isht a̱ya mo̱mah.
‘she still carries gardening.’
99)
Hikiya, taposhshik ahwah, yakómikano ikbit ma̱ya pi̱sali kiyo hikakósh
‘And so, I have not seen them making these things, like baskets.’
100)
One thing they know how to do is they know how to survive.
‘One thing they know how to do is they know how to survive.’
101)
Hikiya, pí tóli imma ano ná kiya ish mihchiho̱, cho?
‘So, what about playing ball are you doing anything, or?’
102)
Tólih, tólih ano issalitok. Kabotcha tólilahíkattók.
‘Ball-play, ball-play I quit. I used to play stickball.’
103)
Bók Chito í tólahíkattók, hitokósh
‘We used to play ball with Bók Chito, because’
104)
allat a̱ tólih yohmihma̱ tólih átokmako̱ amiyaksit tahatok.
‘because the kids were playing ball, I even forget about playing.’
105)
Am alla ako̱ am i̱ shahlih, másh oklah tólih mako̱ nówalih.
‘My children mean more to me, so when they play ball I go.’
106)
Kabotcha átokma̱ ak tólotoko̱, golly
‘I haven't played Stickball since, golly’
107)
pí tahlhápi onat tahah kaníyah.
‘it's been maybe five years.’
108)
Hikíya, this year,
‘And so, this year’
109)
a̱ nieces, ibayyi.
‘My nieces, nephew?’
110)
Chibayyi, chibayyi, (ibayyi)
‘Your nephews, your nephew, (nephew)’
111)
A̱ nieces a̱, átokma̱,
‘My nieces, then’
112)
a̱ cousin's i̱ daughter, a̱ kanómi alhíha oshí tik alhíha aki̱nih kiya *** ibayyi áli hihakósh
‘My cousins daughter, my cousins' daughters, I call them my nephews (nieces).’
113)
eighteen oklah toba chá oklah tóláchi̱kma ná sa yokpa chá this year ano
‘They turned eighteen and if they are going to play ball I am happy so this year’
114)
sign-a ilahbi aki̱nitokósh tóliláchi̱ ahnili kiyoh. (Pí hiki̱yalih.)
‘I signed, but I am not hoping I will play ball. (I'll just be standing)’
115)
A̱h, pí pit hiki̱yaláchi̱h.
‘Yes, I will just be standing there.’
116)
Hikásh, as far as me, anak átokma̱ sassanot taha chá
‘Although, as far as for me, as for me I am grown-up and’
117)
gardening, [o]sápa way ohmi ka̱,
‘gardening, fields and these things,’
118)
spring-time onakma̱, ak mihchih ahnit sa chokkowah.
‘when spring time is here, I think about doing it.’
119)
Like, himak ohmi,
‘Like, now,’
120)
ak mihchih osi kiya ahnilih, hikakósh,
‘I think let me do a small one, but’
121)
ak mihcho ki̱sha pí, hikakósh,
‘I just haven't done it yet, but,’
122)
a̱chi ikbi ahwah yakómi kano mihchili kiyo aki̱nih, shikalla ano isht attalih.
‘making blankets and these things I'm not doing either, I do beadwork.’
123)
Every so often akma̱ shikalla isht attalih.
‘Every so often I do beadwork.’
124)
Hikásh, nani ano hoyo kat am achokmah.
‘However, I like to go fishing.’
125)
Nani hót iyálikma,
‘When I go fishing’
126)
Nani hót, hoyot í nówa yattók, grandma ittatoklo i̱ ittiyapishi,
‘to fish, we went fishing, grandma and, her, her brother’
127)
Tom Shorty, Tom Bell ato, Tom Shorty oklah il áchahíkattók, every weekend okma̱
‘Tom Shorty, Tom Bell, but we used to call him Tom Shorty, every weekend is when’
128)
Nani hót oklah il ittanówahíkattók, hitoko̱.
‘we used to go fishing, so,’
129)
Sassanot tahakat nani hoyoh am achokmah.
‘Now that I'm grown, fishing makes me happy.’
130)
Iyálikmat,
‘When I go,’
131)
I think of those fishing trips every weekend that I had with
‘I think of those fishing trips every weekend that i had with’
132)
sappokni hikmat amóshi átokma̱ ibá nani hoyot nówalahíkattókat
‘my grandmother and my uncle, I used to go fishing together with them’
133)
ma̱ binít anokfillilánah hihma̱
‘I can sit there thinking, and’
134)
sappoknít, she used to say you're gonna miss this áchahíkattóko̱. Mat a̱lhih.
‘My grandmother she used to say you are going to miss this, she used to say. That is true.’
135)
Katimma hash ilhkólittók?
‘Where did you all go?’
136)
Oh gah, pí kanimma mako̱ il ilhkólahíkattók, Beaver Dam,
‘Oh gah, we used to go just anywhere, Beaver Dam,’
137)
Abohli lo̱sa ano̱ka oklah il ilhkóli attók hókih, ná achokmat ilhkóli attók kiyoh.
‘We used to go in the dark woods/swamps, we didn't go to good areas.’
138)
Lo̱sa ano̱ka mako̱ nanít a̱sha miyatoko̱.
‘They said there was fish in the swamps.’
139)
Beaver Dam pak oklí mítikma̱
‘We would come here to Beaver Dam.’
140)
Jackson straight on highway 21, Nanih Waiya Mound il ilhkólih, Nanih Waiya Cave.
‘Jackson straight on highway 21, we went to Nanih Waiya Mound, Nanih Waiya Cave.’
141)
Mako̱, mak oklah il áyassanoh am ahwah, Nanih Waiya
‘That's how we grew up I think, Nanih Waiya’
142)
Nanih Wayia Mound and Nanih Wayia Cave ma̱ nani á hoyot, we used to rotate each weekend.
‘fishing at Nanih Wayia Mound and Nanih Wayia Cave, we used to rotate each weekend,’
143)
ittiyalhobówat fishing hole okma̱ il ilhkólahíkattók.
‘switching out fishing holes, we used to go.’
144)
Community pond ano oklí yimmi kiyoh átoko̱ ná yimmi ilhkóli attók kiyoh (yoppa)
‘We didn't believe in the comunity pond, so we didn't go (laughter)’
145)
Jackson straight ahwahmat, kaníkma̱ bridge hinalhlhi kani oklah hoyot,
‘Jackson Straight also, sometimes they would fish on the edge of the bridge,’
146)
oklah hoyot ittanówa iyátokma̱ mak il ilhkólihmat anóti bridge on 21 it's
‘when they would go to their usual fishing place, when we went, and then bridge on 21 it's’
147)
going off of 491.
‘going off 491.’
148)
21 is second bridge ma̱ Bók Chito Chahtat mak oklah hoyot
‘21 is second bridge there, Bok Chito Choctaw's would fish’
149)
Mak il ilhkólikma̱,
‘That's were we would go,’
150)
Kemper County ohma̱ swamp, swamp, swamp road makátokma̱ ilhkólih.
‘like we also went to Kemper County, swamp, swamp, swamp road.’
151)
Ittimilayyoka̱ oklah il ilhkólahíkattók, hiyokash oklah ittalhabówah.
‘We went to different places, and we switched places.’
152)
Beaver Dam pano í mi̱tikma̱ móshít móshít boat íshih átoko̱.
‘If we came to Beaver Dam, my uncle, since my uncle had a boat’
153)
Boat ako̱ chokwah bannat, boat oklah í chokwahíkattók.
‘he wanted to get into the boat, we used to get in the boat.’
154)
That was my first time being in a boat, hikásh I remember one time we came over here, oh gosh, I used
‘That was my first time being in a boat, so I remember one time we came over here, oh gosh, I used’
155)
At the time, ohma
‘At the time, when’
156)
sometimes I used to get tired of fishing.
‘sometimes I used to get tired of fishing.’
157)
Hikmaśh, kaní kiya iyálih ta̱kla.
‘Even so, I have to go with him.’
158)
"Kil iyah," áchihma̱ il iyah, hikásh
‘When he said, “Let's go,” we go, and so’
159)
nána pisáli kiyósh pisálih.
‘I saw something I had never seen.’
160)
And to this day-ha̱ am alla i̱ makálánah, nani at yohmána hokato.
‘And to this day I can tell my children, a fish can do this.’
161)
What, nátihmi kako̱?
‘What, what do you mean?’
162)
I̱ makat you know, one day we came over here to Beaver Dam.
‘Telling them, you know, one day we came over here to Beaver Dam.’
163)
And we, boat oklah í fokka malhlhitoko̱,
‘And we were definitely in the boat,’
164)
Hapim áyi̱pahí kiyotok.
‘they couldn't bite for us.’
165)
Hapim áyi̱pahí kiyotokásh,
‘Since they woudn't bite for us,’
166)
Moshi ásh, "Ak towáchih cho̱!" áhtók.
‘My uncle stated, “Let me stir it up!” ’
167)
Hihma̱, I think I was probably seven, eight years old áttok amówah.
‘And, I think I was probably seven, eight years old, I think.’
168)
"Ak towáchih, ak towáchih cho̱!" áhtók, hihma̱
‘ “Let me stir it, let me stir it up!,” he said, and then’
169)
boat mak oklí binohma̱yatoko̱, ano̱ka mak oklí binohma̱yatoko̱, Moshít, Moshít,
‘we were sitting in the boat, we were sitting there inside it, Uncle, Uncle’
170)
Tom Shorty, i̱ paddle mat íshi chá oka ano̱ka ma̱ yakmíchitok.
‘Tom Shorty, took his paddle and did it this way in the water.’
171)
I̱ paddle ishit towáchitok.
‘He stirred with his paddle.’
172)
Towáchikma̱ towáchit tahlihma̱, all of a sudden
‘When he stirred, when he finished stirring, all of a sudden,’
173)
nanít, pí oklah tollittók.
‘fish, they were just jumping.’
174)
Tollitok, hihma̱ (gasps)
‘Jumping, and (gasps),’
175)
yohmi pisáli kiyósh pi̱sálihtók.
‘I saw something that I had never seen before.’
176)
Hihmat, "Yakah, nanít tolli ka̱, oklah kí hoklih" álittók!
‘So I said, “Whoa, the fish are jumping, let's catch them!” ’
177)
Next time you'll know ohma̱, nani achaffat, oklah kí hoklo ki̱shatoko̱,
‘Next time you'll know, one of the fish, we had not caught anything yet,’
178)
nani achaffat boat a̱t toloblit a̱t chokwah.
‘one of the fish jumped into the boat.’
179)
Hihma̱, himakma̱ achaffat a̱t chokwah, hihma̱, "Ná yomih pisáli kiyotokásh,"
‘Then, again one came in, so, “I've never seen anything like this,” ’
180)
ná sa yoppahtók, hihma̱
‘but I was happy, and’
181)
"yohmáchi̱h," móshi ato "yohmánah, yohmánah chim áchilih" áhtokiya. "Hopílah oklah í hokli áchínih," áhtók.
‘ “it's going to happen,” Uncle said, “I told you it could happen, it could happen.” “Now throw it in, we are going catch them,” he said.’
182)
Hihma̱, okay, hihma̱ lapáchit lakcho lapáchit tahli ka̱.
‘Then, okay, then stick on, finish sticking on the worms.’
183)
Mak fokálihma̱ grandma at lakcho a̱ lapáchih átósh a̱ lapáchikmat,
‘At that time grandma usually stuck the worms on for me, when she stuck it on for me,’
184)
I mean, she was, you know, superstitious hátokósh.
‘I mean, she was, you know, because she is superstitious’
185)
She had this habit of everytime she put my worms on the hook okmat,
‘She had this habit of everytime when she put my worms on the hook,’
186)
o̱ toff híkattók, snuff kopáli átoko̱.
‘she used to spit on it, because she chewed snuff.’
187)
Hikma̱ makohmikmásh hokli ahwachahíkattók. (Mm-hm.)
‘That's the way she used to think it would catch. (Mm-hm)’
188)
Yamma̱ "lakcho pit takáchih," lakcho pit takáchit tahlitok.
‘That and, “stick the worm on it,” finish sticking the worm on it.’
189)
"Pit ak toffa na!" Pit o̱ toffahma̱.
‘ “Let me spit on it!” When she spit on it,’
190)
pit oklí pilah[m]a̱, nani, that day mano, nani oklí lawáchittók amówah
‘when we threw out (casted out), the fish, on that day, I think we [caught] a lot of fish.’
191)
Started off with the two that jumped in the boat.
‘Started off with the two that jumped in the boat.’
192)
I have never seen anything like that.
‘I have never seen anything like that.’
193)
Since that day, himakma̱ yohmi pisáli kiyoh.
‘Since that day, I have never seen anything like that again.’
194)
Hikásh, they've taught me a lot of things and, you know, na sa yokpah.
‘But, they've taught me a lot of things and, you know, I am glad.’
195)
They helped raise me.
‘They helped raise me.’
196)
Kiyotokma̱ Chahta anno̱pa átokmako̱ ná ikkánalá híkiyottók sa yimmih.
‘I believe I wouldn't have known the Choctaw language.’
197)
A̱ chokka átokma̱, himak ohmi, am allat toklo kato oklah im ikkánah aki̱nih.
‘At my house, as of now, two of my children they understand it.’
198)
Okli, oklim ikkánah.
‘They understand.’
199)
I think that's where I failed when,
‘I think that's where I failed when,’
200)
am alla assano toklo mat they were about three to four years old and
‘My two older children, they were about three to four years old and’
201)
they grew up in, mak kiya grandma i̱ chokka áshwat assanot toklahtók.
‘they grew up in, they also grew up staying at grandma's house,’
202)
At that age, school iyáli malhlhi átoko̱,
‘At the age school, since I had to go to school,’
203)
Sapoknít am ápísa̱chih.
‘My grand mother watched them for me.’
204)
Hikma̱ Chahtilla im ano̱poli átoko̱ a̱ son, am alla assano toklo mat Chahta annopa i̱
‘And because she spoke only Choctaw to them, my son, the two oldest, the Choctaw language they,’
205)
ano̱polánah, ohmat us understand-ánah.
‘they can speak and they can understand us.’
206)
Hiko̱ anóti iklanna mato understand-ah himaka̱
‘But then the middle one, he understands now’
207)
i̱ponna kano kaníya kiyoh.
‘he's not really good.’
208)
Like my other two understand, ano̱poli banna kaníya. Hikmat anóti osi toklo ma̱, mato
‘Like my other two understand, they are wanting to speak. But the two little ones, they’
209)
osi a̱lhi mato ano̱poli a̱lhi kiyoh, its my fault. Hikakósh
‘the smallest one he doesn't hardly speak, and it's my fault. But,’
210)
sa understand-a kano sa understand-a everyday okma̱ Chahta ako̱ im ano̱polilih, abóha.
‘he understands me, he understands me, everyday I speak to him in Choctaw, in the home.’
211)
You know, nána chores kiya ná ká ho míchi abóha ho pa̱shpolih, abóha ho mop-a, áshko ho achífah,
‘You know, any chores, do anything, y'all sweep the house, y'all mop the house, wash the dishes,’
212)
wánota ayiskachi ho ilhkóli, álikma̱ oklah am ikkána you know hashshok amót iya hálikma̱, you know.
‘If I say, Y'all go clean the yard, they understand me, you when I tell them to go cut the grass, you know,’
213)
yohmi kat ikkánaki̱nikásh [ikkána aki̱ni kásh].
‘they know all that, too.’
214)
I know I got to work on my three boys, for them to be fluent.
‘I know I got to work on my three boys, for them to be fluent.’
215)
Hikakósh that's one thing
‘But, that's one thing’
216)
I hang on to is my, hapi̱, hapi̱ Chahta annopa, hiyátoko̱.
‘I hang on to is my, our, our Choctaw Language, so.’
217)
Tom Shorty, Tom Shorty ish ákásh hicha anót chippokni at talówa toklattóka̱?
‘You said Tom Shorty, Tom Shorty and your grandmother were both singers?’
218)
Talowattók, uh-huh, chanters attók.
‘They were singers, uh-huh, chanters.’
219)
Mo̱ma ka̱, siblings alhíha mat they were, (talówa alhíha) mo̱ma ka̱
‘All of them, the siblings they were, (chanters), all of them’
220)
Oldest ato John Levi Bell attók.
‘The oldest was John Levi Bell.’
221)
John Levi Bell, hikma̱ Tom Shorty, Tom Bell áttok hikmat toklo mat John Levi Bell cháha yattók.
‘John Levi Bell and Tom Shorty, he was Tom Bell, and those two, John Levi Bell was tall,’
222)
hikma̱ Tom Shorty attók yoskolóli yattók, hihátoko̱ cháha ma̱
‘and Tom Shorty, he was short. The tall one,’
223)
John Levi ako̱ Móshi Cháha oklí hochífahíkattók.
‘John Levi we used to name him Tall Uncle.’
224)
Hikma̱ Tom Shorty ano Móshi Kowásha oklí hochífahíkattók and i̱ sisters
‘And Tom Short we named him Short Uncle, and his sisters’
225)
Miss Bessie, Bessie Jim, BC i̱ Choctaw names,
‘Miss Bessie, Bessie Jim, BC her Choctaw name,’
226)
BC hikma̱ Mary Morris
‘BC and Mary Morris’
227)
her Choctaw name is Maowee
‘her Choctaw name is Maowee’
228)
Miss Luc, Miss Lucy, Lucy Morris
‘Miss Luc, Miss Lucy, Lucy Morris’
229)
mato i̱ Choctaw name at Chuck-bos̱
‘That ones Choctaw name was Chuck-bos.’
230)
Hikma̱ sa pokni ato Pocho attók.
‘And my grandmother's was Pocho.’
231)
They used to, mo̱ma kat Choctaw names chohmi ho̱ oklah i̱shahíkattók. Hikásh yeah mo̱ma kat oklah
‘They used to, almost all of them had Choctaw names, yeah and all of them, they’
232)
talówa yattók chanters attók.
‘they were singers, chanters.’
233)
Ná ishki i̱ki talowa okmanánattóko̱?
‘Were their parents singers as well?’
234)
Hito̱ ikkanáchih?
‘Or did they teach them?’
235)
Yeah, ikmanánatokchi, I've never
‘Yeah, maybe so, I've never’
236)
got into the details of that, hikakósh,
‘got into the details of that, but,’
237)
Hiyáki̱nittók, sa yimmih.
‘they were also, I believe.’
238)
Ishki, i̱ki talówa attók, hiyáki̱nittók, sa yimmih.
‘Their mother and father were singers̨, they were also I believe.’
239)
Hikásh talówat makmako̱ talówat pí kanomma mako̱ talówat oklah nowahíkattók. Moshít,
‘And, singing, also singing, they used travel everywhere for singing. Uncles’
240)
kani oklah
‘anywhere they’
241)
talówah Spring Festival ahwahma̱ katík[ma̱] oklah hilháchi̱kma̱
‘singing, when it seemed to be Spring Festival, when they were going to be dance,’
242)
A̱móshi oklah hoyokma̱, grandma hoyokma̱ il ilkólahíkattók kaníkma̱.
‘they looked for my uncle, they looked for grandma and we would go sometimes.’
243)
Natchez Trace Ma̱ hilhat a̱shahíkattók, a̱shah mo̱makmanah akkánokakosh.
‘There used to be dancing at Natchez Trace, but I don't know if it's still there.’
244)
Hilha some kind of festival yohmit a̱shahíkattók yamma̱
‘Dance, there used to be somekind of featival and that's’
245)
Hilhat ilhkólikma̱ alla chipo̱tat Kabotcha tóli ilhkólahikattók.
‘They went to dance and the little children would go play Stickball. At that time, at the age. I think I was’
246)
That fokáli, that age fokáli I think I was probably 3, 4 years old, you know
‘That age, that age, I think I was probably 3,4 years old, you know’
247)
I still have memory of it, you know.
‘I still have memory of it, you know.’
248)
Picture másh a̱tóna ma̱ hikít [hikíyat] sa pokni tót [ittatoklot].
‘I have the picture of my grandmother standing together.’
249)
Í tót í, náhollo at piya ikbitoko̱. Hikásh, yeah okla talówat
‘Together, a white person took a picture of us. So, yeah singers,’
250)
talówat, mót them siblings, ittiyapishi alhíha ma̱ okla talowa alhíha attók.
‘singers, all them siblings, those siblings they were singers.’
251)
Kanimma kiya nána ikbi atóko̱?
‘Did one of them make anything?’
252)
Let me see,
‘Let me see,’
253)
I believe mo̱ma kat
‘I believe all of them’
254)
they were more of share croppers attók sa yimmih.
‘they were more of share croppers, I believe.’
255)
Kabotcha, Kabotcha ikbi yakómi mano ikbi aki̱ni híkattók sa yimmih, Móshi.
‘Stickball sticks, stickball stick making, I believe he used to make those, my Uncle.’
256)
But growing up a̱
‘But growing up,’
257)
as far like taposhshik ahwa, lokka ahwa yakómi oklah ikbi aki̱nih kiya anásh pi̱sali kiyaki̱nittók [kiyo aki̱nittók] sa yimmih.
‘as far as basket things, and dress things, they made those, but I didn't really see it for myself, I believe.’
258)
Hikkiya,
‘However,’
259)
Ápisa [Áyopisa] Chito mi̱tih pa̱ washóha pa̱ fair áchi, yamma̱ nana kiya
‘This coming fair, games, fair its called, is there anything’
260)
ish anokfillikmat, ish nówatokmato
‘when you think about it, when you went’
261)
nátaho̱ achokma ish á pisatok?
‘what did you like seeing there?’
262)
Hilhah. (Hilha illa chohmih.) Mm-hm.
‘Dancing. (Only dances.) Mm-hm.’
263)
Hilha attók, that was our thing, hilhah.
‘It was the dancing, that was our thing, dancing.’
264)
Himakano tóli illásh oklah imíshahlih chohmi ho̱?
‘These days, is playing ball more important [than dancing] to them?’
265)
Awah kaníyah, uh-huh, tóli illa chohmih.
‘It seems like it, uh-huh, only the ball plays.’
266)
Hikma̱, tóli makátok mako̱, makáhikattók
‘Also, about the ball playing, it used to be said,’
267)
Hapi sipokni alhíha mat
‘Our elders’
268)
oklah tólikmat ná yakót ittibit yakót oklah ma̱ya itti̱nokówat yakót oklah ma̱yattók kiyokósh.
‘when they played ball they weren't fighting like this, they weren't geting mad at each other like this.’
269)
Himak nittak pano yómikat átapa, oklah áchahíkatok, a̱lhih.
‘These days that happens a lot, they used to say it, and this is true.’
270)
A̱lhih, pí oklah im achokmah.
‘True, they were just happy,’
271)
Just, pí oklah ittahóbat yót oklah áyásha hopáki chásh mak oklah yohmáhikattók miyah.
‘Just, it's said that long time ago they gathered together, that's the way they were, and that's the way they used to do it.’
272)
To get together and celebrate hikako̱, nowadays ano,
‘to get togather and celebrate but now a days,’
273)
Nishkobo oklah hochítoh.
‘their heads get big (prideful).’
274)
Pí oklah tólit oklah im achokmánatok kiya.
‘Like they, they should be happy playing ball.’
275)
Kaníkma̱ pí oklah isht áta̱pah am ahwahíkatok.
‘I used to think sometimes they are way out of control.’
276)
Hihkiya BČ ish ámíti ka̱?
‘However, you are from BČ?’
277)
Nána kiya oklah míchi kat
‘Something that the people did’
278)
Chahta imma yo̱ isht ittanoho̱wah mo̱mah chim ahwah kanohmi mo̱ma ka̱, pí
‘Do you think some of the people still carry on the Choctaw culture, some of it, like’
279)
ná ikbi, anóti pí talówa, anoti pí nána kano̱?
‘crafts, and like singing, and like other things?’
280)
Chahta immáchi̱ ka̱ pí isht ittanówah mo̱mah chim ahwah?
‘Do you think the Choctaw culture/way is still going to be carried on?’
281)
Kaními kat hih kabotcha ano ikbi to lawah,
‘Some of them are, there are a lot of makers of stickball sticks.’
282)
ikbít ma̱yah, talówa yátokma̱, hiyaki̱nih.
‘there are craft makers, and also singers, there really are.’
283)
Hiyaki̱nih, kannními kato, it's kind of different oklah talówa aki̱nikakósh,
‘They really are, sommme of them, it's kind of different when they sing but’
284)
talówa ano isht talówátokma̱ hilhátokma̱ isht oklah a̱ya mo̱mah.
‘the chants, if they're singing and if their dancing its still being carried on.’
285)
Nátahayínah?
‘What else?’
286)
Anno̱pa yátok mato, a̱ generation illa chohmish oklah ikkánat taha oklah ikkána illa chohmih am ahwa, alla átokmato
‘If it's about the language, only my generation is the last to know it, I think only they know it, if it's about the children’
287)
oklat im ábachit oklah il óna kiyo hátoko̱, oklah il im ano̱poli kiyo, Chahta.
‘because we don't teach them enough, we don't speak to them, in Choctaw.’
288)
Abóha hapi̱ chokka abóha ya̱,
‘Homes, in our homes,’
289)
kaniyohmi kat ná pim abóha ya̱ alla Chahta oklah il im ano̱poli kiyo ka̱.
‘some of us do not speak Choctaw to our children in our homes.’
290)
Mato hayyákah mano oklah il isht a̱ya kiyo ka̱.
‘That shows that we don't carry it on.’
291)
Mak fíhnakako̱ isht oklah il a̱yánatok sa yimmih.
‘That's the main reason I believe we should carry it on.’
292)
Nátah, hopáki osápa oklah to̱ksalit nowattók ish á ka̱ mihchit ittanówa ka̱?
‘You mentioned about back when they were working the fields, when they were going around doing it?’
293)
Naksika kiya oklah áshat míchit faláma yo̱? Cho kiyoho̱? Cho pí iláp i̱ chokka ma̱yaho̱?
‘Did they do it at other places seasonally? Or no? Or did they stay at their own home.’
294)
Náhollo i̱ yakni oklah to̱ksalahíkattók miyah.
‘They said they used to work on the white people's land.’
295)
Hikmat oklah im alhtobahmat,
‘And when they got paid.’
296)
Mama at makahíkattóko̱, ma̱ oklah im alhtobahmat,
‘Mama used to say, when they got paid,’
297)
ná chitoho̱ oklah im alhtobattók kiyoh, miyah.
‘when they got paid they were not paid a lot, it's said.’
298)
Maybe back then ano tahlhápi, pokkóli yómikat,
‘Maybe back then it was five, ten [dollars] like that’
299)
I guess it went along way yako̱.
‘I guess it went along way.’
300)
mak ohmiho̱ oklah im alhtobah yáttók, miyah, ná chitoho̱ oklah im alhtobah kiyoh, hiyokmat
‘that's about [how much] they were paid, it's said, they were not paid a lot, and’
301)
itti̱kanómi alhíha itti̱ brothers and sisters alhíha yat one house oklah ittibáshahíkattók, miyah.
‘cousins, brothers and sister, they lived together in house, it's said.’
302)
Náhollo, Náhollo i̱ yakni oklah á to̱ksalitoko̱̱
‘When they worked on the white people's land, the white people.’
303)
And
304)
Mm-hm oklah á tók-, nátokánah?
‘Mm-hm, they wor-, what can they say?’
305)
Nátokálánah?
‘What can I say?’
306)
Hikkiya, ṕi himak ohmi ish pi̱sakma̱?
‘Anyway, what do you see now?’
307)
I̱la ka̱ anát yohmi ahnili aki̱ni kiyah.
‘I understand myself things are different.’
308)
Himaka̱ illi yakómi lawa hoka̱, hika̱
‘Now there is a lot of death [dying].’
309)
Pí hopáki ano itti̱hollo kat pí chokka abayyat i̱ hopónit anót
‘Like long ago, caring people would visit the house and cook for them, and then’
310)
You know i̱ nokha̱klot oklah i̱ binohma̱yah bíkattók ako̱.
‘You know they used to sit mourning with them.’
311)
Nátihmih ish ahnih mano? Nátihmih taha chim ahwah?
‘What do you think about that? What do you think about it now.’
312)
Huh-huh, mak ma̱ himak nittak pano ish maka ohmih.
‘Huh-huh, that too, these days, it's like you said.’
313)
Mak mako̱.
‘That too.’
314)
Sa pokni hat hopónit nowahíkattók.
‘My grandmother used to be cooking around [at wakes].’
315)
Communities hokma̱ kanah mat i̱ kaníyah ákma̱ a̱t i̱ ponakloh. "A̱t ish hapi̱ hopónánaho̱?" ákma̱, íyahíkattók.
‘If the communities, if somebody loses someone, they would come ask her. And if they said, “Can you come cook for us?,” she went.’
316)
And some, most, some of them days-a takla iyálahíkattók.
‘And some, most, some of them days I used to go with her.’
317)
Hikma̱ wake ma̱ o̱t il a̱shwa na two o̱t tahah, o̱t tahah, Grandma kaníkma̱ anáto chokka iyáli kiyah, Grandma ato a̱tta attók.
‘Then we went and stayed at that wake, and two, when it was over, when it was over, Grandma sometimes even though I myself go home, Grandma stayed there.’
318)
Ná, she didnt' believe in
‘She didnt' believe in’
319)
coming over there hicha o̱t hopónit tahli chá pí iyah.
‘coming over there and going to finish cooking and just leaving.’
320)
Yohmi áttók kiyoh.
‘She wasn't like that.’
321)
She bini̱li ná o̱t tahat yohmi attók.
‘She would sit there until it was over.’
322)
That's the kind of respect that she had.
‘That's the kind of respect that she had.’
323)
Hihokmat, hikmat anóti ná im ahltobah bannah áttók kiyoh.
‘And, and then she didn't say she wanted to be paid.’
324)
Mako̱ makáchi attók, ná chim ahltoba chinnah chiyáttók kiyoh.
‘That's what she would say, you shouldn't be wanting to get paid.’
325)
Nowadays ano, oklah ittapíla banna ka̱ oklah ittapíla chátok kiyo̱, áchahíkattók, hikako̱,
‘Nowadays, when people need help, they are supposed to help each other, she used to say, but,’
326)
nowadays ano, oklah okpolot tahah.
‘nowadays, they are spoiled.’
327)
Oklah okpolot tahah, and I hate to say it but, okpolot oklah tahah im ahltoba illa oklah bannah.
‘They are spoiled rotten, and I hate to say it but, they are spoiled and they only want to be paid.’
328)
Hikma̱, yakót im ahltobah illa oklah bannah hikmat,
‘And, this is why all they want is to be paid, and’
329)
That's not respect. Not respect kiyoh.
‘That's not respect, not, not respect.’
330)
You're not there to help the family out of the goodness of your heart.
‘You're not there to help the family out of the goodness of your heart.’
331)
That's how my grandma and her sisters were.
‘That's how my grandma and her sisters were.’
332)
That's, they, they never wanted to get paid.
‘That's, they, they never wanted to get paid.’
333)
That was their respect, that's how, how, that's how they showed their respect.
‘That was their respect, that's how, how, that's how they showed their respect.’
334)
And lowak at toba ka̱ o̱t biníli kat o̱t hikít iya kat o̱t á taha ka̱,
‘And once the fire is lit, go sit down, get it started, until it ends there,’
335)
i̱ chokka ilhkólahíkattók, hika̱.
‘then they would go to their homes, and so.’
336)
Ná chim alhtoba chinna chiyáttók, ná chim alhtobah chinnatok hiyáttók kiyoh," áchi attók, hikako̱ himaka̱ oklah okpolot tahah, oklah im ahltobah banna illa hósh.
‘You should not be paid, you should not even want to be paid. It's said. But these day they are spoiled rotten, all they want is to be paid.’
337)
Oklah áyonah, oklah hopónih,
‘They all come, they cook.’
338)
kanímakat pí oklah i̱pa banna illash oklah áyonah, hikkiya
‘Some of them come only wanting to eat. But’
339)
you know wakes yakómikma̱ i̱pa yakót tobah you know oklah asháchikma̱
‘you know wakes, when they make the food, you know when they set the food. As for me, I believe it's for the family.’
340)
Anáto, I believe it's for the family.
‘As for me, I believe it's for the family.’
341)
It's not to feed the community, and I feel like that is very disrespectful.
‘It's not to feed the community, and I feel like that is very disrespectful.’
342)
Hikako, sa pokni ato na im ahltobah bannah at tók kiyoh, as well as her sisters, na oklah ihotobah bannah at tók kiyoh.
‘But my grandmother didn't want to be paid, as well as her sisters, they never wanted to be paid.’
343)
They did it out of the goodness of their heart, yohmi atók.
‘They did it out of the goodness of their heart, they werevlike that.’
344)
Tóli imma ano?
‘What about playing ball?’
345)
Tóli pí hopaki ano kanimma rag ball oklah áchi washóhat áyásha híkattók, hikatósh mish [ma̱ ish] ona kiyoh másh ohmih?
‘Playing ball, sometimes in the past they played what they called rag ball, you probably weren't around then.’
346)
Kiyo, kiyo, hihókakósh, hopáki onah
‘No, no, but, that's a long time ago’
347)
probably about round the same age a softball oklah tólihli haka tók.
‘problably about, bout round the same age when they used to play softball.’
348)
Them sisters mat softball oklah tóli mo̱mahmat oklah tóklihli haka tó
‘Them sisters, when they were still playing softball, they used to play.’
349)
A̱ mom, sashki ahwahmat hapi̱ cousins like Janet, Janna Mae, I remember one year.
‘My mom, also my mom, our cousins like Janet, Janna Mae, I remember one year,’
350)
Team oklah mihchi ilahbittók, Tólihli hosh i team name atók, mat tuchina mash i̱ hard hitters atók.
‘They made up a team, there team name was Tóli, those three were the hard hitters.’
351)
Maowee, BC
‘Mary, Bessie’
352)
hicha a̱ grandma oklah tolihli nowahíttók hikako̱, but
‘and my grandmother, they used to go play ball but, but’
353)
just iskitíni illa chomiho̱ ikkánali mano hikakósh
‘I just know a little bit about that,’
354)
That one year ano oklah ittibá tóli ilahbittókano pi̱salitók.
‘That one year they played together *unofficially*, I saw them play.’
355)
Chi pokni Mable Jackson, i hochífoh hat Jackson katmah a mitih? A̱lhih kanoh i̱ maiden name o̱t Bell. The truth is her maiden name is Bell.
‘Your grandmother Mable Jackson? her name is Jackson, where is it from?’
356)
A̱lhih kanoh i̱ maiden name at Bell
‘The truth is her maiden name is Bell.’
357)
Mable Bell Jackson
‘Mable Bell Jackson’
358)
Jackson pato, she was married to William Jackson atók am ahwah.
‘This Jackson, She was married to William Jackson I think.’
359)
Conehatta a míti?
‘Did he come from Conehatta?’
360)
Bók Chito, Bók Chito.
‘Bók Chito, Bók Chito.’
361)
And a there was a William Jackson, I didn't know where the Jackson's alhíha pat kaniya[k] oklah ámiti attókchi, hikakosh
‘And, there was a William Jackson, I don't know where the Jackson's, I don't know where they came from but,’
362)
a̱ grandma i̱ chokka yokma̱ next door neighbor hat Prentiss Jackson attók.
‘my grandmother's house the next door neighbor was Prentiss Jackson.’
363)
Mak mat singer, he, singer áttoko̱, 'koh,' Chanter attók.
‘Also a singer, he, he was a singer, 'koh,' he was a chanter.’
364)
Mato, i̱ Choctaw name at Mussin attók.
‘That one, his Choctaw name was Mussin.’
365)
Muscin frame house ma áttah haka tók, a gram sipokni i̱ chokka yokma frame house hat hikíyah mómah himaka. Yamma áttah haka tók, áttah mómah mano.
‘Mussin used to live in that frame house, my great-gram's house, that frame house is still standing today. That's where he used when he was still alive.’
366)
Homma hosh hikíyah haka tók himakano, yakohmi color amówah yellow ahwat isht iyah yohmihósh hikíyah hikak osh.
‘It used to be standing red, now I think its like this color, standing there changing to yellow, but’
367)
Yammat Mussin, Prentiss Jackson i̱ chokka ahíkattók.
‘That was Mussin's, used to be Prentiss Jackson's house.’
368)
Mm-hm.
‘Mm-hm.’
369)
Mish [Ma̱ ish] ikha̱nah ho Prentiss Jackson? Ish hakloh yo? Mm-hm.
‘Do you know him, Prentiss Jackson? You've heard of him? Mm-hm.’
370)
** Hattak sipokni mak kiya talowa yattók ókih talówa im achokmahíkattók hókih.
‘That old man was a chanter as well, he used enjoy chanting.’
371)
Alhípa oláchi yohmi ano kanah ma̱yatók o̱?
‘Was there anyone around, like those fiddle players.’
372)
Alhípa oláchih ano, Spring Festival ohmi ahwahma̱ nánahíkattók, Charlie Hickman.
‘Fiddle players, when it was like that Spring Festival, who'd it used to be, Charlie Hickman.’
373)
Charlie Hickman hicha
‘Charlie Hickman and’
374)
Golly, hattak ma̱ hohchífoh amíhaksih kaniyah, kiyokma̱ kaníkma̱
‘Golly, I have really forgotten that man's name, or else, sometimes,’
375)
Hattak mat Standing Pine ámíti attók am ahwah, Tommy (Frazier) Frazier attók am ahwah, uh-huh.
‘That man I think he was from Standing Pine, Tommy (Frazier) it was Frazier I think, uh-huh.’
376)
Mash alhíp oláchit a̱t hapim alhíp oláchahíkatók, hikma̱ anoti kaníkma̱
‘That played the fiddle, he used to come and play for us, and then sometimes’
377)
Back then ano, house dance at ásháhikattók hoka̱
‘Back then, there used to be house dances’
378)
Hihma̱ sa poknit food sale kiya mihchikma̱
‘and when my grandma did like a food sale’
379)
or oklí tólitókma̱ Basketball okli tólih attók fundraiser oklí mihchih, food sale oklí mihchikma̱
‘or when we played ball, we played basketball, we did a fundraiser, when we did a food sale,’
380)
Okiya tahakma̱ alhíp oláchih hoyáhíkattók.
‘when it's evening they used to look for a fiddle player.’
381)
Hikma̱ nánako̱, kanímikma̱ Mr. RJ Willis ocháshma̱,
‘And then, something, sometimes it used to be Mr. RJ Willis’
382)
Mako̱ hoyokma̱, i̱ mak ma̱ kiyohmat, ma̱ hicha either one of his grandsons ásh a̱t, a̱t oláchihma̱, oklah hilháhikattók.
‘When they called him, if its not him, either one of his grandsons, when they came and played, they used to dance.’
383)
Sometimes, most of the time, fundraiser í mihchikma̱ yót house dance brought, I guess, people to the house to buy things hihatóko̱,
‘Sometimes, most of the time, when we did fundraisers this way, the house dance brought, I guess, people to the house to buy things so,’
384)
They, house dance-a kaníkiya they used to throw it in there áhikattók.
‘They, house dancing was a must, they used to throw it in there.’
385)
But, ma̱ alhíp oláchihma̱, katah áyínáhikattók?
‘But, that fiddle player, and who else used to?’
386)
Kanímikma̱, hattak sipokni pa̱ amíhaksi, I want to say he passed away,
‘Sometimes, I forgot about this old man, I want to say he passed away,’
387)
couple years ago, hikásh makmásh oláchih attók.
‘couple years ago, but that one played as well.’
388)
I want to say he was a Isaac.
‘I want to say he was a Isaac.’
389)
Hohchífo amíhakshi hattak ma̱.
‘I forgot that man's name.’
390)
Nani isht chi̱ ponaklo sannah, Nani katommásh
‘Want to ask you about the fish? What kind of fish’
391)
ho̱kliht ish achokmalih? IIJL Hoklih achokmalih? A hoklih IIJL Shopik, grindle.
‘do you like to hold? Like to catch? Catch grindle, grindle’
392)
Alwasha tahakma̱ cha̱polih (yoppa)
‘After it's fried it taste good.’
393)
grindle mak ma̱, you know, nani i̱la ka̱ pí,
‘That Grindle, you know, just like other fish,’
394)
shahchit, you know, ayiskachi hoka̱, grindle mano
‘scaling it, you know, cleaning it, those grindle’
395)
you have to, i̱ scales ma̱, anno̱pa nátah, from the tail to the head-a
‘you have to, it's scales, what word, from the tail to the head,’
396)
(Sha̱ffih) Uh-huh, sha̱ffi ohmahíkatok.
‘(Shaving) Uh-huh, just like shaving,’
397)
Achokmat ish sha̱ffikmakáchi̱tok.
‘you had to shave it just right.’
398)
You had to stay off nipi ma̱ chik, achokmat chik sha̱ffohmat nipi ma̱ ish tishaffitok.
‘You had to stay off that meat, if you,if don't shave it right, you will slice that meat.’
399)
Nipi achokma ish á tishaffánah (yoppa).
‘You can slice off the good meat (laughter).’
400)
Hikmat anóti shokka abih yohmih, shokka abih yohmih.
‘And then also, slaughtering the pigs, slaughtering the pigs,’
401)
Ma̱ yómiho̱ oklí míchahíkattók.
‘We used to do all those things.’
402)
(Iskona) Iskona mo̱mah, a̱h!
‘(Intestines) All the intestines, yes!’
403)
A̱h, 'skona, chitterlings, eww!
‘Yes, intestines, chitterlings, ooh!’
404)
Apálánah chitterlings, hihókakósh
‘I can eat chitterlings, but’
405)
back then ano sa poknit iskona ma̱, mm-hm, yakmícháhikattók.
‘back then my grandmother, those intestines, mm-hm, she used to do it this way.’
406)
Hot water, á bashli chá hot water ápittat, yakmíchit clean-at, yakót yalhki kocháwílit, ew!
‘Hot water, cut it and put in the hot water, clean it this way, get out the feces like this, ew!’
407)
Hikásh, yeah, stuff like that, yómiho̱ míchikma̱ písat sassanoh,
‘So, yeah, stuff like that, I grew up watching them do those things,’
408)
hopónih, hopónit kocha, hopóni átok mako̱, makahíkattók, ish ikkanattók kiyokmat,
‘cooking, cooking outside, even that cooking, she used to say, if you didn't learn it’
409)
chi palammáchi̱ hókih, she says,
‘it's going to be hard on you,’
410)
a̱ kaníyalikma̱, hopónit ik chim iksho káchi̱ hokat ácháhikattók.
‘if I am gone, nobody will be cooking for you, she used to say.’
411)
Hitoko̱, a̱lhih, and,
‘And so, its true, and,’
412)
Ná am ábat, you know yakómika̱ am ábachitoka̱ ná sa yokpah, himáka̱ nakni bíkah a̱ mayah.
‘Something she taught me, you know, because she taught me these things I am glad, now I have only boys.’
413)
Tahlhápiho̱.
‘Five of them.’
414)
Hikakósh sashki i̱ chokka kiya il iyat
‘So when we go to my mother's house,’
415)
kocha hopóni bannakma̱ ótit oklí tahliho̱ ná kiya nonáchih.
‘if she wants to cook outside, we build the fire and she cooks anything.’
416)
Ahwah Fry bread ahwakmanánahma̱.
‘Maybe Fry bread and other things.’
417)
Im ábachilih, a̱ boys, nakni alhíha, am alla alhíha ma̱, i̱ makálih, grandma okmanána makáhi, a̱ makáhikattóko̱
‘I teach my boy, those boys, all my children. I tell them what my grandmother used to tell me.’
418)
"Ohóyo chiya kiyo̱, ish hoponánatok kiyo̱," am áchahíkattók.
‘She used to tell me, “You are woman and you are supposed to cook.” ’
419)
Hiho̱ himakano, now days ano nána kat i̱lat tahah.
‘So now, nowadays, things have become different.’
420)
Hihátoko̱ anáto am alla i̱ makálahíkatok, i̱ makálih mo̱mah,
‘But as for me I used to tell my children, and still tell them,’
421)
to this day,
‘to this day,’
422)
himaka̱ ohóyo ma̱yat ná hopóni átokma̱ ná oklah ikka̱nah kiyoh, abóha hopóni átok mako̱ oklah ikka̱nah kiyoh.
‘women of today do not know anything about cooking, they don't even know how to cook inside.’
423)
Ish ikkanátok mato chishnáto ish i̱pa na, ik i̱posh chi pist bini̱na̱nah aki̱ni im áchilih. (Yoppah)
‘If you learned it, you yourself will be eating, and she can sit there not eating, watching you, I tell them.’
424)
Hikakósh kocha hopónikma̱ alla nakni alhíha ma̱,
‘But if it's the outside cooking, those boys’
425)
"hapi apílah" il áhma̱, hapi apílah.
‘when we say “help us,” they help us.’
426)
Mak okmash ikkanáchi̱h.
‘That's how they will learn (Mm-hm).’
427)
Mak okmash ikkanáchi̱h, and,
‘That's how they will learn, and,’
428)
like bad weather ahwah yakómi ka̱
‘like some of this bad weather.’
429)
Makkíno, oh, gah, we,
‘That too, oh, gah, we’
430)
kanih kiya ittapílánah ahni híkattók.
‘(the parents required that ) we had help each other.’
431)
Kocha imma makkíno kocha oklí hopóni átoko̱ palát ikshokma̱,
‘With the weather too, we cooked outside when there were no lights,’
432)
hikma̱ kanih kiya hopónánah ahni hátoko̱, nákano oklah í mihchih ilahbi and
‘and because they required to us to cook , we would make an attempt to do something, and’
433)
Raising my boys, a few bad weathers that we had here.
‘Raising my boys, a few bad weathers that we had here.’
434)
I can say I'm that much better, I am proud of myself.
‘I can say I'm that much better, I am proud of myself.’
435)
Because, how I guess, nátokánah?
‘Because, how I guess, how would you say it?’
436)
Ikkanah sannah ki[yo]kakósh ikkanálittók.
‘I didn't want to learn but I did learn.’
437)
Ish ikkanah kiyokmat, chish, chishnáki̱náchi̱h ókíh áchi híkatoko̱ (Mm-hm).
‘If you don't learn, it will be your fault, they used to say (Mm-hm).’
438)
It paid off.
‘It paid off.’
439)
It paid off. Bad weather ahwakma̱,
‘It paid off. When it seems to be bad weather,’
440)
ná, sa nok-, sa nokshopah kiyoh, sa nokshopah kiyoh.
‘not, I'm sca-, I'm not scared, I'm not scared.’
441)
Grandma didn't raise no fool.
‘Grandma didn't raise no fool.’
442)
Ikkánalih, nánah mihchilána kat ikkánalih.
‘I know, I know I can do anything.’
443)
This last one,
‘This last one,’
444)
was it last year? (Mm-hm).
‘was it last year? (Mm-hm).’
445)
Ice storm ókásh yamma̱.
‘there was that ice storm’
446)
And we didn't have no lights, pi̱ road ma̱,
‘And we didn't have no lights, on our road,’
447)
hapishnásh ti̱kba palah hapi̱ moshólittók and the last to come on atok.
‘we were the ones whose lights went out first, and were the last to come on.’
448)
It was a whole week, a week and a half I think.
‘It was a whole week, a week and a half I think.’
449)
Hikako̱ yamma̱ yohmihma̱, am alla alhíhat ma̱yah, hihma̱ oklah i̱takóbitok.
‘But when that happened, my children were there, and they were lazy.’
450)
Pí [oklah ka̱hma-] oklah ka̱hma̱yachi̱h im ahwatok.
‘They thought that they were just gonna lay around.’
451)
Hikako̱, huh-uh, kocha ma̱ oh ilhkólih, iti, iti, shi-, iti a̱t ho asháchih, sa, sashki i̱ chokka oklil ittahóba malhitoko̱.
‘But, huh-uh, y'all go outside and the wood, the wood, bring in the wood, we actually gathered at my mother's house.’
452)
Ho mihchih, yappa̱ hapi apílah, ma̱ mihchih.
‘Y'all do this, help us with this, do that.’
453)
Hihma̱, "Mom, katína yakót oklí mihchih?"
‘And, “Mom, why are we doing it this way?” ’
454)
So I had, I had to sit them down, and I said look,
‘So I had, I had to sit them down, and I said look,’
455)
y'all going have to learn, hash ikkana hokmakáchi̱h
‘y'all going have to learn, y'all have to learn.’
456)
One day grandma's not gonna be here.
‘One day grandma's not gonna be here.’
457)
Grandma at ikshokáchi̱h, ik sakshokáchi̱h.
‘Grandma is not going to be here, I am not going to be here.’
458)
Hachishnak illash hash ma̱yachi̱h.
‘Y'all are going to be here by yourselves.’
459)
Nakni hachiyah. Hattak hachiyánatok.
‘You are boys. You should be men.’
460)
Hiyátosh, yakómi ka̱ hash ikkanakmakáchi kiyo̱, im áchilih.
‘So, I tell them, y'all have to learn these things.’
461)
Hattak siya kiyokakósh,
‘I'm not a man but,’
462)
hattak at nána mícha̱natoko̱.
‘a man should be doing something.’
463)
Chim ábachi sannásh a̱tta lih, im áchilih.
‘I am here wanting to teach you, I tell them.’
464)
And that's how my grandma was towards my, guy, boys-a̱,
‘And that's how my grandma was towards my, guy, boys,’
465)
cousins alhíha boys-a̱, yohmi attók.
‘all the boy cousins, it was like that.’
466)
You know
‘You know’
467)
she taught us the best way she could, as women,
‘she taught us the best way she could, as women,’
468)
and as men.
‘and as men.’
469)
I've, you know, like I said I am very proud of myself cause,
‘I've, you know, like I said I am very proud of myself cause,’
470)
That's what she instilled in me and that's what I try to teach my boys.
‘That's what she instilled in me and that's what I try to teach my boys.’
471)
Hopáki ano palah másh ik pim iksho másh oklah ma̱yatoko̱ (Mm-hm)
‘Long time ago we were living even without any lights (Mm-hm)’
472)
hikmat áhopóni kiya.
‘and even a stove.’
473)
Abóha anóka ato moshólit tahahma̱, nánit á hopónahí kiyokma̱ kocha oklah hopónih hitok malhlhi kat a̱lhih? (Mm-hm).
‘When the light goes out inside the home, and if they could not cook they had to cook outside, and that was actually true? (Mm-hm).’
474)
Oka átokmako̱, oklah,
‘Even the water, they,’
475)
oklah hoyahíkattók am ahwah, wells a̱,
‘they used to search for them, I think, the wells,’
476)
or spring water.
‘or spring water.’
477)
Spring water oklah hoyahíkattók.
‘They used to search for spring water.’
478)
Mm-hm, golly.
‘Mm-hm, golly.’
479)
But I find it very true that nánoka change-áchi̱h átoko̱, mak oklil ittanówah.
‘But I find it very true that because they said things were going to change, we are walking that way.’
480)
Ná ponaklo achaffa mo̱ma i̱shilih. Nanih Waiya Cave bili̱ka ma̱
‘I have one other question. Near the Nanih Waiya cave,’
481)
nani ish hoyohmat, mermaid ish pi̱satoko̱?
‘when you were fishing, did you see mermaids.’
482)
Hihmiyah oklah makahíkattók, story at á,
‘They used to say that, that's the story,’
483)
s̱tory ato á itto̱lah, hikako̱ hapishnáto oklí pi̱satok kiyoh, mermaid.
‘that's the story there, but for us we haven't seen it, mermaid.’
484)
Hikako̱, hattak achaffa pato mermaid mermaid-a pi̱sahtók miyah.
‘But, this one man said he saw a mermaid, a mermaid.’
485)
Hikakósh, many, many time we've been there.
‘But, many, many times we've been there.’
486)
Ná mermaid oklah í pisáttok kiyoh.
‘We didn't see any mermaids.’
487)
Pí nani kallo.
‘Just hard fish.’
488)
Nani kallo illásh lawa kat a̱lhahíkattók, Garfish. (Yoppa)
‘It's true there were lots of hard fish, Garfish. (Laughter)’