OKCIYAPI
A gathering place and welcoming site of reflection, Angela Two Stars’s sculpture Okciyapi (2021) makes poetic connections between land, water, language, and people. Her work focuses on Indigenous language revitalization, a process she describes as a healing medicine that strengthens Dakota culture and identity.
For Okciyapi (Help Each Other), on view in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the artist has included a series of audio recordings of fluent Dakota and Lakota speakers. This collection features the voices of treasured elders sharing traditional stories, remembrances, anecdotes, and insights. An integral part of the sculpture, the recordings help connect us to past, present, and future generations through language and storytelling.
CLIFFORD CANKU
Treasured elder
In this origin story, a large granite boulder at Big Stone Lake fractured and gave its blue blood (water), allowing the earth to start teeming with life.
Íƞyaƞ ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ bde de iwowahdake kte
Oṭokahe Daḳota wic̣oic̣aġewic̣akaġapi héehaƞ
Ehaƞna Daḳota wóyakapi waƞ , ṭuƞkdaṡida Waḳaƞṭaƞka maḳa akaƞn táku owasiƞna ókpaze k’a
Íƞyaƞ naġI ec̣eena (kiṭuƞ) ni uƞ yaƞke
Eya ṭéhaƞyaƞ iṡnana ni uƞ c̣a ic̣aƞteṡice
Táku sáƞp̣a wic̣oni úƞpi kta ec̣iƞ
1:10 toḳeṡ, toḳaṡ ?
Ituwaḣ’aƞ kiƞ, ituwaḣ’waƞ waye k’a uƞġe wapapsuƞ kiƞhaƞ uƞci maḳa akaƞn wic̣oni óta ic̣aġe kta
ec̣amicuƞ héuƞ uƞci maḳa akaƞ wic̣oni kta he wac̣iƞ
Íƞyaƞ ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ héuƞ we wapapsuƞ c̣a mniṡota kaduze hetaƞhaƞ wic̣oic̣aġe óta uƞci maḳa akaƞn ic̣aġapi yedo
Íƞyaƞ ṭaṭiƞkiƞyaƞ mni óta kaduze k’a c̣iƞcawic̣aye uƞġe ḳúdtakiya wakpa kaduze hec̣iyataƞhaƞ
íƞyaƞhde Íƞyaƞ ṭaƞka uƞġe yuḳaƞpi k’a yaƞkapi
uƞġe Daḳota c̣aże yuhapi
waƞżI C̣aske eyapi He P̣eżutazizik’api Wakpa icahda yaƞke yedo
Nakuƞ wakpa wíhinap̣e tákuye yuḳaƞpi yedo 3:10
Dena owas íƞyaƞ ṭaƞka Daḳota c̣aże yuhapi do
Bde ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ hdakiƞyaƞ maḳoc̣e icahda ehaƞnataƞhaƞ Daḳota ṭípi tuḳa hena ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka táku óta nípi kta héuƞ wóyuha óta wic̣ak’u
Hoġaƞ ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ obe óta mni ekta úƞpi k’a nakuƞ ṭaṭaƞka óta wic̣akaġe nakuƞ ṭáḣca
Waḣupakoza óta ni úƞpi k’a wic̣ani owihaƞke Daḳota oyate nípi kta uƞnipi, uƞniuƞpi kta wic̣ak’u
Bde ṭáƞka núƞpa he waƞżi Bde hdakiƞkiƞyaƞ eciyapi
He wakpa kiƞ itokaġa ektakiya kaduze yedo Umaƞg Inúƞpa eṡ Bde Hdakiƞyaƞ eciyapi he wakpa kiƞ waziyata ektakiya kaduze do Bde núƞpa wic̣aye ṭaṭaƞka oc̣aƞku káġapi nína upṡiża k’a ṡkiṡkiṭuƞwaƞ Daḳota ic̣ażeṭuƞpi yedo Maḳoc̣e owasiƞ wíta ṭaƞka akaƞn Daḳota ṭípi de c̣odaya ṭípi yedo C̣ótaya ṭípi yedo Ehaƞnatahaƞ Daḳota máġa ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ wóżupi tuḳa wóyute óta ożupi k’a wamnaheza, bdo, omnica, psiƞ, wamnu nakuƞ wóyute óta ożupi k’a taƞyaƞ máġa yuhapi yedo Nakuƞ psiƞ ikceka waḳa k’a bde ekta ic̣aġe yedo 7:00 Ehaƞnataƞhaƞ Daḳota wic̣oie waḳaƞyaƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka wic̣ak’u k’a woop̣e wóokaḣniġe nakuƞ táku wic̣oni yuhapi kte hena owihaƞke wáƞniya wic̣oni waṡte yuhapi kta owic̣akiye k’a wakuƞze Owihaƞke taƞhaƞyaƞ nípi kta kiƞ hehaƞyaƞ wóyawaṡte iyahde ówic̣akiye tuḳa Daḳota oyate waṡtewic̣akidake nakuƞ ṭewic̣aḣiƞda yedo Tohaƞyaƞ Maḳoc̣e kiƞ akaƞn yanipi kiƞhaƞ tuwena nic̣iƞpi kte ṡni yedo Eya dena wódaḳota ohodaya ni uƞ po tuḳa nic̣iƞpi wac̣iƞpi kte yedo Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka eya wówaḳaƞ oc̣aƞku c̣ic’upi oc̣owasiƞ niyaṭuƞ ni uƞ po Ho mitakuyepi dena héc̣etu yedo Maṭo Watakpe miye do Transcribed by Neil McKay CLIFFORD CANKU Clifford Canku vividly describes how the Dakota language reinforces the spiritual and material belief that everything is connected. Ho mitakuyepi Táku Daḳota wóuƞspe kiƞ de iwowahdake kte Óṭokahe ekta mitakuye owas’iƞ eyapi He táku ḳápi kiƞ he uƞci maḳa akaƞn táku wic̣oic̣aġe oc̣owas’iƞ hena wótakuye uƞyuhapi Daḳota ektakiya Daḳota wóiyukcaƞ kiƞ he nína táƞyaƞ yuḳe k’a nakuƞ wóiyukcaƞ kiƞ de nína wóksape ṭaƞka iḳoyake Ahan nakuƞ táku waƞ ṭokaheya Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka káġe He ikceka káġe ahan inúƞpa kiƞ he iṡ wówaḳaƞ ohna wóiyukcaƞ he iḳoyake Óṭokahe ektakiya maḳa kiƞ de akaƞn táku owasiƞna Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞ káġe kiƞ he hena Wóyawaṡte héuƞ héc̣ed Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka káġe Táku Daḳota ikceka Daḳota hena uƞġe heyapce “Ikce wic̣aṡta hemac̣a”eyapi He táku ḳápi kiƞ he óṭokahe ektakiya Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka wic̣aṡta k’a wíƞyaƞ wic̣akaġe kiƞ he, unci maḳa etaƞhaƞ maḳa etaƞ icu ga haƞ mni kiƞ íc̣icahi Upṡiża káġe k’a nakuƞ oyate hetaƞhaƞ wic̣akaġe hena woyuonihaƞ ohna héc̣ed wóksape hena táku ec̣uƞpi kte hena owasiƞna ṭaƞiƞyaƞ owasiƞna sdodyapi kte héuƞ héc̣ed wic̣akaġe Héuƞ he wic̣oie waƞ Daḳota eyapi, he táku ḳab he óṭokahe ektakiya Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka wic̣akaġe He ḳoda héc̣api Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka he ḳodayapi Hena Ṭuƞkaṡinayapi. Hena etaƞhaƞ wic̣oie waƞ ḳoda eyapi tuwe Daḳota héc̣a kiƞhaƞ “da” eyapi kiƞ he yec’ic̣aġapi 4:30 Ḳoda eyapi kiƞ iṡ he ḳoda héc̣ed wótakuye hena óṭokahe hetaƞhaƞ hihuƞnipi Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka kc̣i sabya mánipi. Aƞpetu c̣a wóc̣ekiye eyapi nakuƞ dowaƞpi Maḳa akaƞn tuktohna wa wac̣iƞpi Tuktohna mánipi kte Tuktohna p̣iic’iyapi kte hena Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka yahde kc̣i ḳodakic̣iyapi Táku waƞżi ep̣e kte he Waḳaƞṭaƞka eyapi Wa eyapi iṡ uƞkiyapi Kaƞ eyapi he iṡ ḳaƞ uƞkiṭawapi Ahaƞ ṭaƞ eyapi kiƞ he iṡ uƞkiyepi etaƞhaƞ 5:50 Ahaƞ ahake kaƞ eyapi he iṡ waniyetu óta Ṭáƞka eyapi kiƞ he iṡ waḳaƞya ṭaƞkiya waḳaƞya Ṭuƞ eyapi kiƞ he iṡ wic̣oic̣aġe óṭokahe etaƞhaƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka táku owasiƞna káġe he ḳápi Kaƞ eyapi he iṡ iża waniyeu óta Ahaƞn ṡina eyapi kiƞ iṡ wóyawaṡtedake dápi wókicaƞpte iḳoyake nakuƞ waṡtedakapi He óṭokaheya ektakiya Waḳaƞṭaƞka héc̣ed táku owasiƞna maḳa akaƞn káġe Tuḳa wóyawaṡte uƞ waṡteuƞdakapi kiƞ ? héc̣ed wótakuye heuƞc̣api 7:40 Hena yuha owas wótakuye ohna ċaẓe uƞk’upi Ahan nakuƞ tuktohna ṭiwahe uƞkiṭawapi ṭiohnake k’a ṭioṡpaye oyate uƞnipi kte hena owasiƞna wówaḳaƞ ohna wówaṡtedake ohna (hena?) yuha uƞspeuƞḳiyapi tuḳa ikce wic̣aṡta heuƞc̣api k’a Waḳaƞṭaƞka héc̣ed táku owasiƞna ikceka káġe k’a óṭokaheya ektakiya ikceka táku owasiƞna káġe kiƞ uƞ wówaḳaƞ ohna iża uƞṡpa wic̣ak’u k’a nakuƞ Waḳaƞṭaƞka wówaḳaƞ sdodyapi kte hena okaḣniḣwic̣aye tuḳa táku awac̣iƞpi kiƞ hena waḳaƞ táku waƞżi iṭoṡ c̣aƞ waƞżi wadake kiƞhaƞ c̣aƞ kiƞ he waḳaƞ kaiṡ nakuƞ táku Ṭuƞkaṡina káġe kiƞ hena waḳaƞ hena yahde nípi héuƞ ṭáḣca iṡ ṭaṭaƞka hena iṡ ni úƞpi Hena ni yuhapi ni kiƞ he wówaḳaƞ Waḳaƞṭaƞka nakuƞ táku owasiƞna unci maḳa akaƞn káġe héuƞ mitakuye owas’iƞ eyapi Tuḳa wótakuye hena iḳoyake owasiƞ Táku kaġe kiƞ hena owas wótakuye uƞkic̣aġapi nakuƞ waṡteuƞdakapi Táku maḳa akaƞn uƞnipi kiƞ owasiƞna iyuha woyawaṡte uƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka uƞkiksuyapi K’a nakuƞ sáƞp̣a Daḳota uƞkiapi Tuwe Daḳota wóhdake kiƞhaƞ ehaƞnataƞhaƞ he Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka hena uƞspeuƞḳiyapi Hena Daḳota wic̣oie kiƞ tuwe “Mitakuye owas’iƞ” eya iye kiƞhaƞ 10:45 maḳoc̣e iyuha maḳa kiƞ he takuye Maḳoc̣e kiƞ hena iye ta wótakuye héc̣a nakuƞ bde kaiṡ wamanica hena wótakuye ic̣aġe iḳoyake 11:00 Hena héc̣ed Daḳota iapi kiƞ hena owasiƞna aiḳoyake Hena wówaḳaƞ ohna ic’ihdogapi Hena iyotaƞhaƞ nakuƞ uƞṭonipi dena hena uƞṭoni iża uƞk’upi Táku ic̣aġe owas Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka ṭóni wic̣ak’u Iṭoṡ tuwe ṭáḣca waƞżi yakte kiƞhaƞ ṭóni kiƞ he ṭaƞc̣aƞ kiƞ hetaƞhaƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka ektakiya ḳiƞhde tuḳa he káġe maḳa akaƞn táku wic̣oni owasiƞna wówaḳaƞ wóniya kiƞ dena wic̣ak’u Uƞkiyepi nakuƞ ? kiƞ hena Waḳaƞṭaƞka táku uƞkawac̣iƞpi k’a nakuƞ táku waƞuƞyaƞkapi Táku maḳa akaƞn yuḳe kiƞ hena wóksape, wóokaḣniġe k’a wówaṡte kiƞ hena waƞuƞyaƞkapi Hena wótakuye kiƞ hena uƞkiksuyapi héuƞ he maḳa akaƞn ni uƞkuƞpi kiƞ ic̣uƞhaƞ Táku owasiƞna waƞuƞyaƞkapi wic̣oni yuhe Naġi kiƞ he Waḳaƞṭaƞka hetaƞhaƞ Wic̣oni waḳaƞ he uƞnipi ic̣uƞhaƞ unci maḳa he akaƞn ni uƞkuƞpi uƞṡkiƞciyapi Nakuƞ wóyawaṡte, wótakuye wókicaƞpte waṡte uƞyuhapi hena owasiƞna óṭokaheya ektakiya Héc̣ed Waḳaƞṭaƞka iye ṭawac̣iƞ k’a nakuƞ ṭawoġaƞ k’a nakuƞ kúƞze kiƞ hena 13:45 Iye hetaƞhaƞ maḳa akaƞn káġe He ikceka, ahaƞn nakuƞ wowáḳaƞ he kc̣i num hena uƞk’upi Daḳotaḣca kac̣iƞpi Uƞci maḳa maḳoc̣e uƞkiṭawapi kiƞ dena Waḳaƞṭaƞka hena etaƞhaƞ wóidag uƞyaƞpi kta Hena hed wóksapi uƞk’upi Tuwena maḳa akaƞn miṭawa eya kiṡ Tuḳa Waḳaƞṭaƞka hena maḳa kiƞ etaƞhaƞ uƞkaġapi nakuƞ hena hetaƞhaƞ akaƞn ni uƞk’uƞpi Mni ṭaƞc̣aƞ uƞkożupina Ahaƞn nakuƞ mni kiƞ he nakuƞ uƞyatkaƞpi kiƞhaƞ Ahaƞn uƞdeżapi kiƞhaƞ mni kiƞ he aḳe kadus Unci maḳa ektaki iyaye K’a waṡte wówaḳaƞ ohna yuwaṡte Héuƞ he táku owasiƞna iḳoyake, táku owasiƞna uƞci maḳa akaƞn uƞkaġapi kiƞ hena owas iyuha naġi kiƞ he waƞżina káġapi Ho mitakuyepi dena héc̣etu yedo Maṭo Watakpe emakiyapi yedo Transcribed by Neil McKay
EDWINA BERNARD
Edwina Bernard shares an early memory about her family moving to a new town so that she could continue her schooling.
Treasured elder
Treasured elder
Edwina Bernard emakiyapi
Waniyetu manapciwaƞka héhaƞ wayawa iyamni hemac̣a
Wakiƞyaƞ máza héc̣i ṭiblo miṭawa kc̣i wauƞyawapi
Iṡtawic̣ayazaƞ wi héhaƞ wauƞspewic̣aḳiye wíƞyaƞ kiƞ tóki ḣtani kta c̣a héc̣i iyaye
Wic̣iyaƞna na hokṡina iyuha wayawa isam uƞk’upi
Wauƞspewic̣aḳiye tákuni uƞyuhab ṡni c̣a Dupree héciya bdoketu héhaƞ wayawa yámni ówap̣a
Tóhni waṡicu waƞwic̣abdake ṡni c̣a ḳowic̣awakip̣e
Iṡ-eya Laḳota wic̣iyaƞna wayaƞkap ṡni c̣a ḳomakip̣api
Wayawa oko c̣aƞ ṭaƞkad (a)uƞkic̣iyutapi nauƞżiƞpi 1:15
Ate na ina waḳeya uƞkiṭawapi he Dupree héc̣i ékaġapi
Waniyetu ópta hed uƞṭipi
Ate híƞhaƞni c̣aƞ máni wayawa ṭípi héc̣i amai
Eṡ na wa kiƞ ṡme
Ṡiceca ṭokṡu wanice
Ate ṭaƞkad maḳa cístiƞna ok’e
hel c̣aƞ ile na I na lol’iḣ’aƞ
ṭimahed wauƞtapi
Iyec̣iƞkopte uƞyuhab ṡni
Waḳaƞhdi uƞyuhab ṡni c̣a p̣etiżaƞżaƞ uƞk’uƞp
Ate hed ḣtani
Wa ic̣aṭice káḣape
Maḳoc̣e oiyuṭe wic̣agnakapi ṡa
naiṡ c̣aƞp̣a wakpala héc̣i wáhiƞhe c̣aƞ wa kiƞ c̣aƞku iḣeyab paha éhnake
Waniyeu inuƞpa héhaƞ ate c̣áƞṭipi waƞ op̣eṭuƞ c̣a he ogna héhaƞ uƞyaƞkapi
Transcribed by Neil McKay
VIRGINIA MAX
Treasured elder
Virginia Max dives into the need to keep conversational Dakota alive and shares some of her experiences as a child.
De Virginia Max ka Daḳota c̣aże miṭawag he Wáġac̣aƞwiƞ
Aḳe aƞpetug de Daḳotaḣ wóhdakapte
Táku uƞ wówhdake kteg de ic̣iƞ Táku dena sdodwaye eceeƞa uƞ wówahdaka owakihi
Imac̣aġeg hetaƞhaƞ kaksiza ṡíca hed uƞṭipi
Hed imac̣aġe ka hetaƞhaƞ óni hehaƞna tuwena iyec̣iƞkopte yuhab ṡni ga oni mánu uƞyakuƞpi
Héc̣a tohaƞn oṭuƞwe ta uƞyaƞpi uƞc̣iƞp kiƞhaƞ
Sisiṭuƞwaƞ ḳúƞṡi uƞkiṭab hena c̣aƞpahmi yuhapi naka
he ohna Sisiṭuƞwaƞ oṭuƞwe ta uƞyaƞba wóyute kaiṡ takuku op̣euƞṭuƞpi
héc̣a tóna oṭuƞwe ta uƞyaƞp ṡni óhiƞni
Dehaƞntu tuweg owas óhiƞni oṭuƞwe ta yapi
Óhiƞn aƞpetu owas omanipi ka héktakiya tákuna héc̣ed ec̣uƞ’uƞkuƞp ṡni 2:10
Héc̣a kaksiza ṣíca ed ḳúƞṡI uƞkaƞna uƞkiṭawab hena hed ṭípi
Héc̣a bdoketu kiƞhaƞ echaƞn óni hed uƞk’uƞpi
Tḳa nína wóżupi óta káġap ce
Héc̣a hena psiƞ ga bdo ga hena owas’iƞna ożup ce
Héc̣a hena uƞkiṡ aƞpetug owas’iƞna awaƞuƞyaƞkapi
Hehaƞ nakuƞ ważustecag hena owasiƞna oyuṡpapi
Bdoketu k’aƞ héhaƞ
Hehaƞ nakuƞ Dehaƞn uƞṭib de mni óni uƞyuhapi tḳa héktakiya hena
Mni huwe uƞyaƞp ce hena nakuƞ héc̣ed uƞṡkaƞpi tḳa óhiƞn ṭaƞkad uƞṡkaƞpi
Hehaƞ ḳúƞṡi miṭawag he nakuƞ ṭaƞkad waṡpaƞyaƞ ce
Héc̣a nakuƞ ṭaƞkad wauƞtapi
Tóhni ṭimahed uƞk’uƞp ṡni
Dehaƞtu de tuweg owasiƞna ṭimahed ṭípi ṭáwa ṭimahed óhiƞni yaƞkapi
Dehaƞtu de tuwena ṭaƞkad uƞp ṡni
Dehaƞtug de tḳa héktakiya uƞkiṡ óhiƞni ṭaƞkad uƞṡkatapi
Ahan nakuƞ tohaƞn wayawa yuḣdokap kiƞhaƞ aḳe iṡto héc̣iya uƞkayab ce
Tekakwitha orphanage eyapi
hed wayawa uƞyaƞpce ec̣e héktakiya wayawa ṭípi iḳiyena oyuhap ṡni
Dehaƞn héc̣etu tḳa dehaƞn iyec̣iƞkopte buses eyapi hena ṡicecag hena wayawa ṭípi héc̣iya áyapce
Dehaƞn uƞkiṡ Tekakwitha orphanage heceena wayawa ṭípi uƞyuhapi naka
Ṭehaƞn ṭípig hena ṡicecab ṭáwab hena owasiƞna hed éwic̣ahnakapi Tekakwitha orphanage hed
Hed wayawa uƞk’uƞba hena nakun waniyetu ihuƞniya hed uƞk’uƞpi
Hehan bdoketu kaƞ he c̣aƞ aḳe ṭiyata uƞhdapce
Héc̣a aḳe héc̣ed miṡ imac̣aġe hetaƞhaƞ mauƞspe ṡahdoġaƞ ehaƞwaḳi
Tekakwitha orphanage hed, héc̣a miṡ nakuƞ imac̣aġe héc̣ed nína óta oyate ded Sisiṭuƞwaƞ waḣpeḳute ded nína óta hed wayawapi
héc̣ed miṡ héc̣ed imac̣aġe hehaƞ hetaƞhaƞ waƞna hena wayawa bduṡtaƞg
hed ḳúƞṡi miṭawag ior uƞkaƞna miṭawag dena owasiƞna hehaƞyaƞ iża nípi
héc̣a hehan, ded uƞp ṡni hehaƞyaƞ hed héc̣a miṡ hetaƞhaƞ Flandreau Indian School eyapi iża héc̣iya nína oyapte (oyate?) ábebekiya United States ed oyatep dena ṣiceca iża héc̣iya wayawapi, héc̣a héc̣i miża wai
Waniyetu yamni hed wabdawa hehan etaƞhaƞ aḳe hehaƞyaƞnaḣ miṡ wayawa wai
Hehan hetaƞhaƞ hihnawaṭuƞ ka miża ṡiceca ṡákpe bduheg nakaḣ hetaƞhaƞ hena iṡto, dehaƞn (They say you get marries and you raise your family) hetaƞhaƞ miṡ héc̣ed ni wauƞ ṡicecag dena, ṡiceca uƞkiṭawab dena ic̣aḣuƞyaƞpi
Héc̣ed miṡ macistiƞna hetaƞhaƞ héc̣ed ni wauƞ
Dehaƞn waƞna kaƞ amaye nakaha
Waƞna de Waṡicu eyapi “retirement” eyapi héc̣ed miṡ ec̣amuƞ naka
Ṭiyata eceeena hed maƞke, óhiƞni
Héc̣ed hed miṡ Daḳota wóhdakapi de miṡ eceena yus wauƞ
dehaƞyaƞ hinaḣ Daḳod wówahdaka owakihi nakuƞDaḳota owakaḣniġe
Hena miṡ nína dehaƞn Waṡicu iapi, “I’m proud. I still have my Daḳota language” eyapi
Miṡ Daḳota wóhdakapi ep̣ ace
Héc̣ed dehaƞn oyateb dena nína óta Daḳod wóhdakab okihip ṡni nakuƞ okaḣniġap ṡni ga
Hena waƞna, hena uƞspewic̣aḳiyapi c̣íƞpi wayawa ṭípi Ṭioṡpa Zina Tribal School he(d)
nakuƞ Daḳota wóhdakapi uƞspewic̣akiyapi
Hena waṡte
Ṭokatakiye tuwe Daḳod okihi kiƞhaƞ hena waṡte kte
Wibdukcaƞ ce
Héc̣a nakuƞ oyatep ded Sisṭuƞwaƞ Waḣpeḳute oyanke ded wóḣtani yuhab
1970 hetaƞhaƞ Sisṭuƞwaƞ Waḣpeḳute oyateg de wóḣtani icupi he nakaha
Hehan hetaƞhaƞ nakuƞ tribal counsel, tribal chairman, tribal treasurer, tribal secretary hena owasiƞna
hetaƞhaƞ yuhapi ded héc̣a
hetaƞhaƞ oyateb ded tag owasiƞna táku dena ec̣uƞp okihip kiƞhaƞ ec̣uƞpi tḳa mázaska nína óta icup ṡni
naka
tḳa uƞġeġe wóḣtani yuhapi
oyate uƞġeġe iṭaƞc̣aƞ yaƞkapi hetaƞhaƞ
Héc̣a dehaƞn héc̣etu
Oyateb ded oyate owas maḳoc̣e de akaƞn héc̣uƞpi dehaƞn
héc̣ed waƞna de ómaḳa 2021 eyapi detaƞhaƞ ṡiceca uƞkiṭawab hena owasiƞna
waƞna taƞyaƞ dena owasiƞna wauƞspepte okihipi
Héc̣ed miṡ tahaƞ ni uƞyakuƞpi
Héc̣a, tḳa nína hinaḣ nína oyateb nína óta hinaḣ, ṭiwahe ed, ṭípi hinaḣ nína óta yuhab ṡni ka
Dehaƞn tag owasiƞna hinaḣ ṭeḣika áye, tag owasiƞna mázaska op̣eyaṫunpte, tag owasiƞna ṭeḣika
tḳa hinaḣ aƞpetug dehaƞyaƞ hinaḣ nu uƞyakuƞpi
Hena waṡte oyateb dena owas héc̣ed miṡ ni wauƞ dehaƞyaƞ hena owasiƞna sdowaye nakaḣ
Miża, miża táku nína óta ec̣amuƞ,
miża ḣtawani ga nakuƞ tribal council hed ake yámni, ómaḳa ake yámni hed tribal council hed maƞke
Kaksiza háƞska hetaƞhaƞ iṭaƞc̣aƞ maƞke
Héc̣a hena owas miża hehaƞyaƞ ec̣amuƞ
Héc̣a aḳe waƞna aƞpetu de owaƞżina maƞke hehaƞyaƞ
hena uƞ wówahdaka owakihi Daḳota (or) nína óta Daḳod wóhwahdaka owakihi tḳa (you know)
tḳa dehaƞtu nakuƞ tuwena Daḳod wóhdaka, tuwena ṡni
Daḳod wóhdaka kc̣i owakihi ṡni ic̣iƞ (we all) owasiƞna tóna Daḳota wóhdakap hena abebekiya ṭípi
Tuwena ṭiṭoḳaƞ hi ṡni ka tuwena yaƞkaba Daḳod wóhdakap ṡni dehaƞn
Imac̣aġeg hetaƞhaƞ tuweg owasiƞna Daḳod wóhdakapi ce tḳa dehaƞn tákuna ṡni
Héc̣a tḳa uƞġeġe dena Daḳod wóhdakap okihipi hena uƞconanab aṡ henaḣ
Daḳod wóhdakapi uƞkokihi̇pi
Hena miṡ nína wóp̣ida miṡ ep̣a ce
Héc̣a hehaƞyaƞna miṡ Daḳod wówahdake kte
Transcribed by Neil McKay
HARVEY QUINN
Treasured elder
Harvey Quinn tells about some pivotal moments in his life, including his childhood, school years, and leaving and returning home.
C̣aże miṭawa Soloman Harvey Quinn emakiyapi
nakuƞ Daḳota ehaƞna ḳoda waƞżi miṭawa Daḳota c̣aże waƞżi mak’u ehaƞna inipi mahed wai
imahedtuya nína
Waƞ de nituwe tóḳed eniciyapi he? iṡ Daḳota c̣aże waƞżi duha?
Hiya tákuna Daḳota c̣aże tóhni mak’up ṡni
De waƞżi nic’u wakte
Hau! He táku kte nína omíhiteke .37
Núƞpakpi he c̣aże niṭawa kte waṡte
Hau!
Waƞna de ṭiyata demuc̣a tohaƞtu c̣aże bduhe ate imawaƞġa ṭiyata
He nakuƞ kíka wace Núƞpakpi he miye. (Room for Two) eyapi he héc̣ed ḳápi
Ohaƞ de miye ehaƞna miża itoṡ táku wayawa ṭípi hokṡina macist héhaƞ
ḳúƞṡi kc̣i waṭi hehan suƞkaku waƞżi kc̣i uƞṭiba “Big Coulee” héc̣a ḳápi iyoḣpata déc̣ataƞ
ḳúƞṡi kc̣iyata waṭi, wówapi ṭípi cístiƞnata he waṡicu eyapce “Country School” he ówap̣a
He waƞna owawa, wáƞca haƞ núƞpa ed wahi eṡ makeṡ áta yámni ed wahi c̣iƞ áta,
Wayawa ṭiba waƞżi “First grade” eyap ce he he núƞpa ec̣a ate ec̣amuƞ c̣iƞ.
He waƞżi bduṡna. Waṡicu eyap ce “first grade flunk” ho.
Aḳe áta, first grade aḳe áta ec̣amuƞ hekṡa bduṡtaƞ wakaġe
Second grade éceda wówapi ṭib núƞpa ed wahiyotaka
he nakuƞ áta iwacu áta bduṡtaƞ.
Hau waƞna nawaṭakapte
Waƞna oṭuƞwe héċiya wayawa ṭib ṭáƞka ta de kta. Hau!
Ehaƞna ate aḳe áta Country School hinaḣ ed waṡkaƞ tohaƞtuca waniyetu osni áta u
Suƞkaku waƞżi “Chucky” c̣aże ṭáwa nína háƞska inażaca
Tohaƞcata ci macistina áta nína ṡokṡoka nakuƞ áta tohaƞtuca “thick” áta hed omawani emakicetu
Tóḳed eyapce iyutkiya áta akaƞntu áta imakicu ca hehan
Imakeke ca toṡta niṭokṡu waye kte. Hau!
Héc̣i wayawa ṭípi héc̣iya uƞyaƞp cehaƞ héc̣ed áta wakaġa c̣a
Hehan aḳe áta aƞpetu he wayawa ṭíb áta uƞyuṡtaƞpi aḳe
Suƞkaku miṭawa háƞska heyata hícata
Waƞna ṭiyata uƞhdapte waƞna. Hau!
Ho nakuƞ suƞkaku miṭawa nakuƞ ḥeyata u ce 3.50
Hekṡe napeyata dayuze ce
Haƞṭiyata hékṡe ṭehaƞtaƞ ṡni héc̣i uƞkaġap ce
ḳúƞṡi ata waƞna táku waṡpaƞye ga ṭado, táku ṭáḣca ṭado ṡpaƞyaƞ ḳáta
Ómna c̣a ta nína ómna waṡteḣṡte áta
Nína wótewahda naka owasiƞna ṭebwaye, nakuƞ aġuyapi ṡpaƞ he nakuƞ áta káġa ce
na takuku bdo ṡpaƞye he nakuƞ héc̣ena he wéksuye
Hékṡe waƞna Sisiṭuƞwaƞ héc̣iya waƞna wayawa ṭípi hed áta ówap̣a he nakuƞ áta wéksuya nakuƞ
Hékṡe waƞna, tóḳed Waṡicu eyapta, “Elementary” waƞna he owasiƞna bduṡtaƞ.
Waniyetu ṡákpe kepce bduṡtaƞ “Fifth grade” áta bduṡtaƞ
Ahaƞna waƞna áta ṭib waƞna, wayawa ṭípi waƞ nína ṭáƞka áta,
he Sisiṭuƞwaƞ Courthouse isaḳib he áta ówap̣a he tóḳed eyap ce “Junior High” ówap̣a
Hed ówap̣a áta, hékṡe tohantu ṭeḣika ce
nakuƞ áta tohantu wayawa hed áta miye waṡkaƞ ceṡ, tohantu uƞġeġe áta makic̣izapi c̣íƞpi s’e
Hau ho p̣éta ap̣e tuwe áta Waṡicu waƞżi áta amap̣e áta, he tóḳed héc̣anuƞ he?
Ic̣iƞ áta, niwaḣtedawa ṡni. He tóḳed.
He kic̣iza c̣iƞ. Wakc̣iza wac̣iƞ ṡni. Aḳe amap̣e
Waƞna c̣aƞmaza. Uƞġeġe áta kc̣i kc̣iza waye áta ohiwaye, iyokp̣iwaye áta
Waƞna áta, waƞna na naġemaye ṡni ce
He áta makuƞ wéksuya
Waƞna aḳe áta, aḳe “Big Coulee” héc̣iya aḳe, héc̣iya ḳúƞṡi waƞna, amakeke
héc̣iya aḳe, oṭib héc̣iya wauƞyawapta aḳe.
He tóḳed? Ic̣iƞ áta de tuktetu, ṭib áta ode owakihi ṡni
“So” wíƞyaƞ waƞżi, Clears Fredericks waƞżi hed, wíƞyaƞ he sdodye.
“Lloyd’s Country Store” he waƞżi ṭib tóḳed eyap ce “trailer house” waƞżi yuhe
Ḳúƞṡi he op̣eṭuƞ.
Hau, waƞna aḳe áta Big Coulee ed waṭi, aḳe
“Big Coulee Day School” waƞna iyopte.
Hékṡe henuḣ hed, nakuƞ ṭib henuḣ héc̣iya henaḣ uƞ.
Hékṡe waƞna, wayawa ṭib he héc̣ed iyopte ṡni.
He nakuƞ áta, hásapa ṭio hed wic̣aṡta he owawa uƞspe uƞkuƞpi ce.
He nakuƞ ówap̣a ce.
Hokṡina ṭawa he kc̣i waṡkata cée
Tohaƞn áta “Harvey.” “Hau,” tuweni ṡni kc̣i waṡkate.
Howaye ṡni c̣iƞ. Miṡnana c̣a détkiya yau oyakihi k’haƞ, “Army Man” áta uƞṡkatapte.
“Hau, wau kte.”
Ṭiyata aḳe p̣a ka na ṭib héc̣iya, ṭib héc̣iya ḳud áta ṭibyata héc̣iya wai c̣a
“Army Pants” de áta “you tell” áta cístiƞna mahed áta, tóḳed eyap ce makip̣i ṡni eyaṡ henaḣ mac̣epa naka áta he áta héc̣ed nínaḣ mac̣epa áta
Hékṡe áta, Hásapa hokṡina kc̣i waṡkata kepce
Hehan aḳe áta, ṭib héc̣i aḳe mawani.
Aḳe ḳúƞṡi imawaƞġa, “Waƞna tukted yaṡkate”
“Stuart, he kc̣i waṡkate”
“Waṡte do”
Waƞna de ókpaza áta, waƞna hétkiya ókpaza owekekakwanahdu
Hau, héc̣ed he, héċed wéksuye.
Hékṡe tag owas nakuƞ suƞkaku miṭawa nakuƞ iża óp̣e ce tohaƞtu
Transcribed by Neil McKay
DELBERT PUMPKINSEED
Treasured elder
Delbert Pumpkinseed talks about his childhood, his log cabin home, and his work ethic throughout his life, among other reflections.
Hau de Wagmusu emaciyape do
De uƞṡpa Oglala hemac̣a, lala
Sisiṭuƞwaƞ ded maṭuƞpi, oc̣aƞku ogna maṭuƞpi kéyapi. Old 81 déc̣iya ḳúya hed maṭuƞpi.
ḲúƞṡI, húƞku miṭawa kiƞ wóżuha omagnake héc̣iya, wóḳuże kiƞ ekta amaye na héc̣a.
He awaƞmayaƞkab he hetaƞ ibdabde.
Waƞna ic̣aḣ amaya. Wowokiya wauƞ
Héc̣iya ósmaka ṭaƞka déc̣a “Big Coulee.”
Héc̣iya uƞṭipi okaḣmi ekta.
Waniyetu c̣aƞ iyoke wayaƞkapi
C̣aƞ nape kc̣i uƞkaksapi na ṭouƞṡupi
Na bdoketu c̣a aḳe “Pine Ridge” ta uƞkihuƞnib héc̣a.
Ate miṭawa kiƞ “Timber Land” eyapi he yuha.
Héc̣iya aƞpetu áta ṡni hena yuha waṣkaƞpi, c̣aƞ obaksapi aƞpetu áta.
He maźaska kamna.
Ṭiwahe ṭáwa kiƞ wówic̣ak’u.
Hena uƞ takuƞ waṡteṡte icu.
Hena aḳe waƞna waniyetu owayawa waƞna gdawe kta ca ḍeciyatkeya uƞgdiyacupi okihipi
Wilmont hed wabdawa. “Public school” Waṡicu ob.
Eṡ hena taƞyaƞ ob uƞṡkaƞpi.
Táku owasiƞni ṭabṡkatapi na siha uƞ ṭabṡkatapi na héc̣ed takuku hena uƞṡkaƞpi ókc̣iya uƞkuƞpi.
Wóyukseḣ ta tóhni kic̣izap ṡni, uƞkic̣izap ṡni héc̣ed taƞyaƞ op̣iic’iya uƞkuƞpi.
Ehaƞna waƞna waniyetu num (or) “20 years” iwahuƞni na, (or) 18 akiċita ówap̣a wac̣iƞ.
Waƞna ate ina owakiyake, “De akic̣ita bde wac̣iƞ.” Iyokp̣ip ṡni.
Wátama iyukcaƞpi nac̣ece.
Hau héc̣anuƞ yac̣iƞ kiƞ. Tokṡa wówapi hena uƞkaġa na waƞna he émayapi.
Héc̣iya “physical” mak’upi. Takuku hena, akic̣ita ṡkaƞpta hena.
Yuƞḳaƞ watohanl Waṡicu akan ṭimahu náżiƞ.
“We cannot take it today Mr. Pumpkinseed, sir.”
“Why?”
“Diabetes.”
“Diabetes?!”
“Ya, you’ve got a touch of diabetes. We can’t take you.”
Cạƞteṡiba héc̣a aḳe amakip̣e na ṭuḣa miṭawa.
“Yagdihuƞni. Tak eyapi?”
“De we skúya hemac̣a kéyapi hda. “Sugar”
Tóṡke iyacu héci?
Yúƞḳaƞ watohaƞl húƞku miṭawa omakiyaka he, “It runs in the family.”
“Tuwa hena wóḳużeyapi c̣a íƞyaƞka.”
Déc̣a ḳúƞṡi miṭawa eye. “Ṭeḣiya eha.”
“Nína, aƞpetu iyohina “shots” icu héc̣ed ni uƞ kte, taƞyaƞ uƞ kte”
“Táku owasiƞni yútap okihip ṡni kéyapi c̣a ṭeḣiya uƞ héc̣ed.”
Hena wéksuya k’a ate miṭawa watohaƞl, uƞkaƞna miṭawa déc̣iya Earl Williams eciyap déc̣iya.
He sdodwaye ṡni ṭéhaƞn, watohaƞl héc̣iya “Big Coulee” héc̣a inażiƞ na takuku ahi.
Wóyute óta iyec̣iƞka ṭéca uƞkaḣab.
He kc̣i wóuƞgdakap hena húƞku miṭawa kc̣i, “Ṭakoża, de awagda wac̣iƞ.”
Eṡ he wéksuya “I don’t know if he said Ṭakoża or there’s a different way. But he was going to take me back to town Sisseton.”
Heƞhaƞn dena ṭéhaƞtaƞ séce.
Nena híyena Dekṡi waḳi na A&W ed isaḳib ṭípi zi waƞ he.
Nahaḣ he náżiƞ. He ṭi tḳa. He ṭáwa tḳa ca hed uƞk’uƞpi.
Ate “spoil grandson” eyapi he waƞżi ówap̣a.
A&W héc̣iya wai na Rootbeer Float iwacu s’a.
Uƞkaƞna Leroy Quinn ṭib ekta, hed maḳoc̣e hena yuha tḳa
he uƞkaƞna miṭawa húƞku ṭawa k’a atkuku ṭáwa hed yaƞkapi
Héc̣iya uƞkipi k’a makipazo.
Úƞḳaƞ waniyetu ópta ye waƞna ópta hena owasiƞni t’ápi iƞṡ-eya, uƞkaƞna miṭawa kiƞ iƞṡ eye t’e.
Tóhni wabdake ṡni tóṡke ṭípi he ehaṡ ṡkaƞpi héci sdodwaye ṡni.
Héc̣iya Nebraska héc̣iya ḣtani wai héc̣iya wauƞ na ḣtawani.
Waniyetu óta héc̣iya wauƞ. Waṡicu ob waṭi c̣a hed nakuƞ wic̣oie wagnuni.
Wagnuniṡ naṡ? (neṡ?) tóhni kc̣i wówaglake ṡni ce. Waṡicu ob waṭi.
Hau ṭeḣike do
Watohaƞ ṡni wakṡicana waḳi wac̣iƞ ic̣iƞ héc̣iya Pine Ridge ekta
Ṭeḣike eṡ héc̣iya iyomakp̣i
Ṭípi gmigmiya, c̣áƞgmigmiya uƞkoṭipi.
na c̣aƞ, oc̣eṭi he c̣aƞ uƞ ṭiyopa ḳadya waƞyaƞkapi nah ed wayaƞkapi na
He nakuƞ waḳaƞhdi uƞnicapi “kerosene lamps” eyapi héc̣a
He net użers olena haƞhepi c̣a uƞyaƞkapi na
Héhaƞ nakuƞ itepazop TV waƞ níca c̣a
Waƞna wi ḳod iyaya c̣a ṡna owasiƞna uƞkiyuḳaƞpi na iṡtiƞmapi.
Húƞku na atkúku miṭawa tuwe ṭokṭokca hinażiƞpi na wóglakap.
Hena wógdakap uƞkiṡtiƞmap ce
Héc̣ed ṡkáƞpi ehaƞna.
Transcribed by Neil McKay
JERRY DEARLY
Treasured elder
Jerry Dearly shares a parable of forgiveness and honor in the face of human weakness.
Hau mitakuyepi.
Aƞpetu waṡte! Ṭaƞkal líla oiyokip̣i.
Heya le Suṭapi emaciyape lo
Ehaƞni he “Little Big Horn” hetaƞhaƞ c̣aṡmaṭuƞp.
Kákawaye ki, lálawaye ki ṭuƞkaṡila he mak’u welo
Eya Waṡicu ogna “Sharp Shooter” eyape lo
Ṭaiƞṡ le wic̣ooyake waƞ yuha iwacimaƞg c̣a oblakiƞ kte lo
Iƞṡ e ehaƞni, wiċaṡta waƞ, wic̣oic̣aġe ehaƞni tukteltel ? wic̣aṡta ohitika kéyap.
Hokṡila num wic̣ahna ṭaic’ina eya ṭipestola, ṭiikceya, uƞṭiwa égle na
Yup̣ikel ṭí na aƞpetu c̣aƞṡna iƞ eya iṡ tuktel takuƞn ṡna wówaṡi ec̣uƞna
Aḳe ḣtayetu chaƞ gli. Héc̣el ni uƞ ke
Wic̣aṡa ? ki tóḳeṡke táku c̣iƞto hokṡilo yuha ḳo iƞṡ eya
C̣iƞto hokṡila ṭáwa kókihi kc̣i aokic̣iyaṡícap séce
C̣a ạta tóḳe niye ṡni c̣a áta eya ṭaƞkad iya yo
Ku ṡni yo eya c̣a ṭaƞkal náżiƞ haƞ c̣a wahehaƞl le wic̣aṡa waƞ ep̣a kiƞ he
“Wáƞ keca waƞ! Ṭoṡka, tóḳiya la héc̣iya, ya le
Ṭaƞkal na ṭaƞkal iyeska ṭiyopa naṭakab c̣a tóḳe nibles na “Hiyu léc̣iya” c̣a eya ke
C̣a ṭi ekta, “Lel le yauƞ ki” “Ohaƞ” eya ke
Taiƞ he le iƞska eya, eya le p̣ikiya waƞna hel ḳowopaḳe
Taiƞ, wotahaƞl iƞska, el waƞna le waḳul bliƞ kte lo eya ke
“Yau kta?” heya,“Hiya.” heya ke c̣a “Ho, c̣eya ṡno iya ke” eya
Ehaƞni ic̣iƞṡ ṡúƞkawaḳaƞ ce le yuhap c̣a eya na yuha iya ċa nagrike
yuƞḳaƞ iƞska hokṡila ṭawa le henic̣ala hokṡila iƞ, hena yus yaƞka haƞke
nahaƞ iƞ húƞku nahaƞ iƞ he iƞ ṭoṡkaku he tóḳiyapi c̣a
He waƞ le tóḳiyap heya uƞḳaƞ
“Hiya, ate yaḳe.” “Han.”
“Le iƞska nap̣iƞ tak ehaƞna iƞ ógle kic’uƞ na inuƞp̣ap uƞyaḳeca.”
“Tóḳiyap séce”
Kta poyaƞka ḣtayetu na aƞpetu iyopte na haƞhepi ki áta aƞpetu híƞhaƞni ḣciƞ tuweni gli ṡni ke
C̣a hokṡila hena owic̣akiyakap ke eya “Niṡ eya u kte”
Tuweni awaƞniyaƞkap ṡni c̣a
Eya waƞna ? uƞspec̣ic̣ya kte waḳul yagle c̣a
Le héc̣el le owic̣akiyaka áta tóḳiyayap ki áta waƞna oko tónaḣ yuḳe ohna na wi sáƞp̣a waƞna
tóḳiya waƞna líla oko icizaptaƞ waƞ hel ogna halaka táku waƞ waƞżi hihuƞni ke c̣a
Ṭahaƞṡi! Ṭahaƞṡi! eya ke c̣a Haƞ! Léc̣iya iƞska wic̣aṡa iṭaƞc̣aƞ ki hokṡila ḳo na ṭaƞk iyela leca
iƞska, iƞ taƞ lel uƞyaṡi héc̣a gli yelo eya ke
Waṡte c̣a Áta tuwe keya ho léc̣i kaksiza ka c̣a iktaya waƞna he kte kte yukcaƞ
Ho yuƞḳaƞ, nahaƞ eya ke tákuniṡ tóḳa ṡni ke
Watohaƞl hokṡila ṭáwa ki húƞkupi ki gli ke ṭawicu ki
Iƞṡ eya tóḳi aƞpetu núƞpa séce gli ke
eyaṡ tákuni eye ṡni keya piya ahomni
Aḳe waḳul iya na táktoḳuƞ he héc̣uƞna
Eya tákuniṡ áta iƞṡ eya ṭawicu ki kikte kta kiyukcaƞb ke
Eyaṡ héc̣etu ṡni ke
Tákuniṡ icuṡ le kaksiza ka wic̣aṡa iṭaƞc̣aƞ ṭeƞaƞnla ihuƞni na áta ksíze ka ke c̣a
Yuƞḳaƞ tónala áta hiƞhaƞni ḣciƞ wi hinap̣e ṡni haƞni
Ognalaka tuwa lowaƞ ke
“Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo heye”
“Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo heye”
“Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo heyeho”
“Laḳota Hokṡila wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo heye”
“Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo heyeho”
Eya áta inażiƞp c̣a tóḳi wic̣ayaḣiƞca c̣a woṭo ognakala áta
He héc̣i iƞ hokṡila niṭawa he iƞska wécilowaƞ lo
Wíyaka le wap̣aha ki wakhi yelo eya ke
Ṭuƞma ṭaƞkal hiyu ṡi po eya ke c̣a
Ṭaƞkal hinażiƞ na eya wap̣aha ohe uƞḳiya ke
Ho hehaƞl aḳe wíƞyaƞ waƞ, wíƞyaƞ níce lo eya ke
C̣a wap̣aha níce lo eya ke
Na wíƞyaƞ ki ḳo lenic̣eca
Ho he, wíƞyaƞ ki le wak’u welo
“Wíƞyaƞ waƞ le c̣ic’u we”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heye)”
“Wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u we”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heye)”
“Wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heyeho)”
“Laḳota Hokṡila wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u we”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heye)”
“Wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u we”
“Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heyeho)”
Ho, wíƞyaƞ waƞbli wáp̣aha ki wap̣aha ki le c̣ic’u nahaƞ
wíƞyaƞ le c̣ic̣u we wíƞyaƞg ninica c̣a he c̣ic’u welo
Na wic̣aṡa nahaƞ tákuni luha ṡni c̣a he wap̣aha he oc̣iciye lo eya ke
Na ṡuƞkawaḳaƞ áta wikcemna num wic̣abluha c̣a hena áta luha kta lo eya ke
Ho ena le iƞska …
Nakuƞ tohaƞn tuktel na ta uƞkib c̣aƞ ṡna táku uƞ wic̣uƞḳizab hena átaya c̣ic’u welo eya ke
Ho lena áta hena maḳoc̣e káḳiya bluha hena ḳo c̣ic’u welo eya ke
Ho hena maḳoc̣e luha kte lo
Miye káḳiya ṭip̣estola he ki he wéc̣aġe lo eya ke
Hokṡila miṭawa na miye héc̣iya uƞṭi uƞ kta c̣a waƞna migluṡtaƞ eya ke
He héchena eya c̣aƞtożuha kic̣’u ya léc̣el óc̣iciye lo
Héc̣el wac̣iƞc̣iye lo
Héc̣el oyate ki ówic̣akiya yo
Éna kawiƞġa hokṡila ṭáwa hena ob héc̣el yagni na
ho áta ṭokatakiya héċiya ṭi ke
Transcribed by Neil McKay
JOE WILLIAMS
Treasured elder
In this story about the difference between appearances and actions, looking like a duck does not confer a duck’s experience.
Maġaksica de itokaḣ héc̣i ta kúpi.
Waƞna pte hétig waƞna wóyute waƞ ya hed tḳa
Maġaksica he itokaġkiya úpi
Ded íyotakab, bdeg etka hiyutakab, owasiƞn hiyutakab úƞḳaƞ
Uƞktomi he de, hu ṭáƞka hda máni
Uƞktomi hena maġaksica wawic̣ayake
De tóḳiya dápi he?
P̣aġuƞta waƞżi yuhomni kiƞ ?
Itokaḣ héc̣iya uƞyaƞpte wóyute wanice.
Itokaḣ héc̣iya maṡte maḳoc̣e héc̣iya wáte, héc̣iya ?
Uƞktomi amaya po
Paġuƞte eya, “Maġaksica henic̣eca,” óbdaye owakihiṡ. Ḳóp̣edaƞ kepce
Uƞktomi heya, “? heni duha ce. Maġaksica mayakaġa.”
“Héc̣amuƞ owakihi tḳa ṭokaheya,” eya, “Umag hena iwic̣amuƞġe kte. Maġaksica.”
Héc̣ed p̣aġuƞta ed niwaƞ iyaya ob wóhdake kéyapi.
Tónaked déc̣ed akidney kukuwi
Déc̣ed omakiyakapi niwahedigadub p̣aġuƞta.
Maġaksica c̣iƞca wíyaka mak’upi tḳa táku uƞspec̣ic̣iyeg hena owas wicayada kiƞ héc̣amuƞ kte.
Hec̣uƞ kta miwic̣oia
Héc̣ed p̣aġuƞta Uƞtomi tag owas uƞspeḳiyap, tag owasiƞ maġaksica ka.
Waƞna itokaḣ waƞna de pte tóna héc̣iya maḳoc̣e maṡte.
Waƞna de kíni wabdaṡ.
Tḳa ehaƞke táku ec̣uƞkuƞpte cée.
Táku.
Owas maġaksica kupig etaƞhaƞ dena óniṡtaƞp ce.
Héc̣ed maġaksica níc̣aġapta.
Tḳa itokaḣ uƞkiyab kiƞhaƞ misaḳib kiƞyaƞ wo
Wicayadake uƞ.
Táku uƞspec̣ic̣iye. Hau héc̣amuƞ kte do
Héc̣ed itokaḣ kiƞyaƞ iyayapi, wic̣oṭi ohomni uƞkiyab ce
Aḳe núƞpa héc̣iya boƞko, héc̣iya aḳe
Uƞktomi na maġaksica káġapi tak owas iḳoyagapi, maġaksica.
Iyamni ohomni he boḣtakapi céyapi
Boḣbaḣpepi.
Ahaƞni wóyakapi
Transcribed by Neil McKay
CAROL CHARGING THUNDER
Treasured elder
Carol Charging Thunder remembers and honors her grandfather’s legacy of storytelling, focusing on a few of his tales about human origins and traditional housing.
Carol Charging Thunder [...]
C̣aże miṭawa mak’upi he Maḣpiya Wíƞyaƞ
Oohe Núƞpa na oyuḣpe Oglala oyate hemataƞhaƞ
Ḣesapa hel lala na uƞci miṭawa ki ic̣aḣmayapi
Waniyetu záptaƞ haƞ Maṭo Wakpa Wic̣oṭi ta uƞkib
Wamaḳaƞyeża haƞ lala miṭawa ki ohuƞkake uƞkokiyakap s’a
Lala ibluġiƞ nahaƞ tuktetaƞhaƞ uƞhib ic̣iƞ
Lala miṭawa ki unci maḳa na ṭaṭe iġuġa oḣlota uƞṭuƞpi
Lala miṭawa ki waġac̣aƞ waḣpe icu nahaƞ wazi ṭahiƞṡpa pasi nahaƞ ṭípi waƞ káġe
Uƞci maḳa waġac̣aƞ uƞk’upi oṭipi ḣeyata hiƞ kte ke ognaya ḳípi ktapi
Nakuƞ c̣aƞ ṭokṭokca oyate wic̣ak’upi
C̣áġa ḳo c̣aṡmu nahaƞ maḳa
Waġac̣aƞ uƞk’upi he tonakca úƞpi
Ṭípi ṭoṡu he wiwaƞg waċipi c̣okataƞhaƞ he
Ha ki he wic̣aḣpe ópta ye iyec̣eca
Aletka he luksa háƞtaƞṡ wic̣aḣpi iyec̣eca
C̣a lena huƞkaka cík’ala eṡ lala miṭawa ki hena uƞspemaḳiya hena oc̣iciyakapi
Lala miṭawa ki lehaƞ nahaḣci ṭewaḣiƞla
Eya héc̣egla oc̣iciyakapi
Mitakuyapi
Transcribed by Neil McKay
ANGELA TWO STARS
Artist Angela Two Stars reads Dakota phrases and words featured in her sculpture, expressing Native values and offering encouragement.
VALUES
PHRASES & QUOTES
(“If I can do something even in my own small way to save my language, then I have done something.” —Orsen Bernard)
Angela Two Stars
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, b. 1982
cast concrete engraved with Dakota language, enamel on steel, fountain, bound aggregate with embedded luminescent pebbles, native plantings, audio recordings
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
Commissioned by the Walker Art Center, with funds from the T. B. Walker Acquisition Fund, the Friends of the Falls, and Russell Cowles, 2021
Recordings of treasured elders transcribed by Neil McKay