XML version dated February 14, 2024. © Douglas R. Parks, Indiana University.

29

The Origin of the

Arikara Crazy Dog Society

Alfred Morsette

noowetatunaaʾiitíštA áxkUx haáwaʾ niinatuuxAt- kookUxúku.
Now I am going to tell a story one also what I used to hear.
nuunatoxtaakitUhwaáhAt nuu huukaa- wiraátA
There where our villages used to be there (in) the east
tiNAhunaanawaáWI weNAhkiitúhkUx psíkAt psíkAt
these lands when there was a village in winter, in winter
wenakupsíʾU psiikaríkAt .
when it is very cold, in midwinter .
.
.
.
.

tsu nooWIšitinóʾ suúnaaxuʾ.
But then they had her a young woman.
WIšitiiNAsíštA kukananakuuwaawanú – tsu nooNAhkukaákUx
They loved her, her never going anywhere – but her remaining in the lodge
– NAhkUstarihnuuwaawanú.
– where she always was sewing.

wewitinehkoowoósu witiitoxtaakawaʾús
When they were ready to go to bed, "Let's all go to bed,"
wenehkuroswaawíhA nátš nakukáʾIt – híNAx – atsú –
after they had piled things up wood to burn – at night – but –
xaátš – noowitehnuúkaʾ.
a dog – then it came inside.
uu wititáNUx.
Oh, it had the mange.
– tuhpiiraninoósiʾ xaátš.
– It was ugly the dog.
– na inoowitIhuučitákUx suúnaaxuʾ iiʾAhnaanunuhkUxaáNU.
– And there it sat on top the young woman there where her bed was.
hináxtIt WIšitiisaakeeríWAt.
In the morning they opened the door.
nooWIšitihpiNUxUhuunaWI- sitíNIt.
Then they whipped it as they threw it out.
nikuwituutaánuʾ niiwekohniiraáʾAt.
That is what it was doing however long the time was.

tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ noowitesčirikuʾá.
This young woman then she became pregnant.
noowiti- piiranóxtA.
Then she was to have a baby.
witiraaʾaanúʾ nakuráʾU.
It was getting to be the time to have it.

nooWIšitiinaaNAxwéʾ uu ka tákuʾ šiNAxwaaWIhtikú.
Then they inquired: "Oh, did you talk with anyone?"

noowitiwaákoʾ kaakíʾ.
Then she said: "No.
niiwekohnuúʾUt tiwena- tuútA tiwenaatsčirikuúʾU.
I do not know why it is the way I am my being pregnant."
wewitinaaʾiitaWIhú kanee- neetuhneesiíšuʾ tákuʾ šiNAtkuuwaaWIhtikú.
She was telling of herself: "I do not know of it my talking to anyone."

na wehnaawiRIstaʾaanuuxukú weNAhkUhunaananitawaáhNA
And when summer usually comes when the ground gets warm
noowitinaʾaanuuxítIt tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ na
then she began having pains this young woman and
noowitikároʾ xaátš.
then she bore them dogs.
čiitíʾIš wituhnaánuʾ.
Four there were.
uu noowituhniwá na noowitooNAhkaraniíʾI.
Oh, then they were nice looking and they were spotted.

wah – inástiʾ – niitapsiwaahnuuxukú – nooxíniʾ – nooxíniʾ
Now – her brother – his having winters – ten, – ten
weʾaanutpsiwaáhNA wiináxtš aa tinaroósI xaátš aniišuxkU- xawáNIt.
his having winters the boy, "Ah, these dogs you throw them away!
anuunuxwaáNIs.
Let them freeze!
tičé wenuúʾUt NIhkuraatAha- ruhkoóčI.
What is the matter their ridicul- ing her?"
nikuwitiwaawaakaáhuʾ šáxtiʾ suúnaaxuʾ.
That was all that she was saying her mother the young woman.

tinaákUx wiináxtš noowitiroosít xaátš noo- witiranaaWIsítIt.
This boy then he picked them up the dogs; then he took them out.
wenaranátA pítkUx nooWIšitanustéʾ.
As he took them two he liked them (du).
uu nooWIšitohkaraniíʾI.
Oh, they (du) were spotted.
nooWIšititaré.
He wanted to have them (du).

noowitunaaheéRIt na pítkUx nooWIšitikaáWI aNIšináʾU xaátš pítkUx.
Then he fixed a place and two he put them (du) inside these (du) dogs two.
na anináʾU xátš AhnooNUxpiirani- noosíʾU či nikUšiišéhnaʾ.
And the one dog the ugly one here that one was the father of them!
noowitaah- kaákUx šiNAhkuriwaniítU.
Then he would be inside his keeping them (du) warm.

tinaákUx wiináxtš hináxtIt noowitiRAsačiwaapí naakaanuúnuʾ
This boy early morning then he gathered them food
niinehkuxwaawáʾA na čiinaniítuʾ.
what they ate and soup.
noowiti- ranaaWIsítIt apAhníniʾ.
Then he took them outside secretly.
a či nikiišaáh- woʾ šohnuhnoswaaWIhú.
And here that is where he was going what he was putting down for them (du).

nuuwehnapsíʾU nuuwitaawiRIstaʾá naawiRIs-
Then after it was winter then it became summer, when it
taʾaanuuxukú – weNAhkukataahkaawaáhu.
usually becomes summer – when the green grass comes up
– tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ tičé NAxuutaanuuxuúkuʾ wiináxtš
– This young woman: "I wonder what you are always doing," the boy
atinás wenakuranoohuunaWIsiruútIt – tsástš – nakuu- NUxtaaniiwaáWIs.
her brother, "when you are taking them outside – meat – the things that were left?
čukú naraniwóʾ.
Where is he taking them?"

noowituutaweeráʾAt.
Then she followed him.
nooWIšitiiwanúʾ saáts.
There they (du) were going around the little puppies
– uu nooWIšituhné.
– Oh, they (du) were nice
– nooWIšitohkara- niíʾI.
– They (du) were spotted.
noowitiíkUx šohniišUhuunaWIsIhníku xaatanúxuʾ.
Then there he sat the one they had been throwing out the mangy dog.
noowituutáhnoswaáWI.
Then he put (the food) down for them.
noowiteéʾaʾ.
Then he came.

na noowituuteéRIt tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ.
And then she saw him this young woman.
noowitiwaá- koʾ uu atinás či nikUšinuhnoswaawíhuʾ
Then she said: "Oh, my brother here he is the one feeding them (du)
natuxkaráʾU xaátš.
the ones I bore dogs!
nuuwešinaanunúhkUx.
He has them over there.
atsú pítkUx šitehnaawáNIt.
But two he must have thrown them (du) away."

wah niikoNAsakuúʾU hináxtIt noowitétkoʾ wehnaraanoóku niiʾAhneetuuNIskáhAt.
Now whatever day it was in the morning then she heard it his singing where the end of the village was,
wehnaraanoóku.
his singing.
tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ noowiteeWIsítIt.
This young woman then she went outside.
nootíʾAt.
Then she went.
noowitiiwaáRIt wiiteešútš na wiináxtš WIšitihtatata- waáRIt.
There they stood: a young man, and boys they (du) stood beside him.

tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ – noowiteéʾaʾ – noowitikúxIt
This young woman – then she came – then she picked it up
sAhuútš kAxiítš niikóhnoʾ.
a shawl, a bag, whatever it was
– anuú nootíʾAt.
– There then she went
– a noowitaanaáNAt.
– And there they went in the distance.
nootuutaakaweeráʾAt nuu wenaátA wehnuutAhtatataátA.
Then she followed them there as they went as she went behind them.

nuukohniíhiʾ hiíš nooWIšiteehuuwiraawáʾ wiináxtš.
Whenever it was, in the evening then they (du) came running toward her the boys.
noowitiwaákoʾ atináʾ tAxuutapitaahaákuʾ.
Then one said: "Mother, you are to be turning back.
tiwaa- kaáhuʾ – atíʾAx – nuuNUsuxapitaáhAt.
He is saying – my father – 'Let her turn back!
– Axtóh – kaakoonaa- NAhuné niinoonahNAhuunuúʾA.
– Surely – she did not treat you well how she treated you.'"

noowitiwaákoʾ suúnaaxuʾ wah nikunuúʾUt.
Then she said the young woman: "Now that is the way.
tiraáNIš.
It is true.
Axtóh kanatuhneesiíšuʾ a či nikuNAxtaá- xIt.
Surely I did not know, and here you were the ones!
aatuhneesIšú kaakíʾ nikunakuútA.
If I had known it, it would not have been thus."

nawáh nooWIšituutUhuunapitaawaáhAt.
Now then they (du) swung around.
nooWIšitiʾá xaátš wešiNAhkiihUhtatataátA niiwenaátA hiʾáxtiʾ.
Then they (du) became dogs as they (du) ran behind him where he went their father.

nooWIšiteewáʾ pítkUx wewitiihé.
Then they (du) came back, two it was days.
noowiti- waákoʾ atináʾ ka nooNAsáʾUx.
Then he said: "Mother, are you hungry?"

noowitiwaákoʾ hąąʾ tikuNAsáʾUx.
Then she said: "Yes, I am hungry."

noowitiwaákoʾ wah – niiháʾ – atíʾAx wetikoótIt NAhnunáhtš.
Then he said: "No – over there – my father he has killed it a deer.
neešiiranoowaʾá niikohnaasšoówaʾ niikoh- naaxaníštA.
You can take the parts whatever you want whatever you will eat.
atíʾAx wetikAhíNIt.
My father he has made a fire.
šaahWI- sátA witiišaahkaanúnoʾ.
When you arrive there, you will feed yourself.
koxtiraápoʾ pAhiináNIt.
We will be going slowly.
šikanaaxteehuunawáʾ.
We will not leave you."

nootíʾAt tinaákux suúnaaxuʾ na inoowitiišá NAhnunáhtš.
Then she went this young woman and there it lay the deer.
– noowituúʾUt witikáʾIt.
– It was thus: there was a fire
– tinaákUx suúnaa- xuʾ noowitiisAtkUxítIt tsástš.
– This young woman then she began to roast it meat.
uu witikaawačiíta na noowiwituutaNAxtá.
Oh, she got full and then she took meat for herself.
nootíʾAt štoh.
Then she went on again.

nuuwehnaátA híNAx wehnuutaakaweeraátA nooWI-
As she went there at night when she followed them then
šiteehuuwiraawaʾaáhuʾ wiinásts pítkUx.
they (du) came running to her the little boys two.
witi- waákoʾ NAheešá wetataraNAhwísAt nii atináʾ na
He said: "Tomorrow we will arrive there where our mothers and
atíʾAx atíkaʾ atípaʾ tiWIsíRIš niiʾAhnaraanoótA.
our fathers, our grandmothers, our grandfathers, our uncles where they are living.
– wetataraapIswóʾ.
– We are now arriving there."
– teškúNIt wewitiihíʾ.
– Close it now was.

tinaákUx nuu nootíʾAt.
This one there then he went.
nooWIšitiihuuwiraáWA tišinaákUx xaátš niiʾAhnaraanoótA.
Then they (du) ran to it these (du) dogs where they lived.

wewitAheéšaʾ.– nooWIšiteewáʾ.
Morning came.– Then they (du) came
– noowitiwaákoʾ wah atináʾ itaraahNAhčitaátA– neešUtwaaʾeéRIt –
– Then he said: "Now, mother, when we go up,– you'll see a hill –
anuunaahwaákUx naahwaakoohaahkákUx.
a hill yonder there a hill sitting (alone) off on the prairie.
niiháʾ nikuwetataraapóʾ.
There that is where we are going.
nikuwitiitúhkUx.
That is where the village is.
–– atíkaʾ – atípaʾ – tiWIsíRIš nikuwitiraanúʾAt.
–– My grandmothers – my grandfathers – my uncles that is where they live.
nikuwewitataraapIswóxtA.
That is where we are going to stop."

nootiraáNAt.
Then they went.
nooWIšitiihuuwiraáWA štoh.
Then they (du) ran to it again.
noowiti- katáʾAt suúnaaxuʾ.
Then she went up (a rise) the young woman.
noowitaahwaákUx.
There was a hill in the distance.

nootiraáNAt.
Then they went.

teškúNIt wewitiihíʾ niiʾAhnawaákUx.
Close by it now was where the hill was.
nooWIšitee- wáʾ wiináxtš.
Then they (du) came the boys.
noowitiwaákoʾ atináʾ wetataraapIswóʾ.
Then he said: "Mother, we are arriving.
wah atináʾ suuxuneehaáNIt.
Now, mother, be ready!
naNAhnuukátA NAhkUhuúpo na šuukátA na tuukutiwiítIt –
When we enter, when we go in and when you enter, you'll sit over there –
tuuháʾ – kUxAxIhaáh- niniʾ.
over there – on the left side.
– a nikiišookaawiítIt.
– And you must sit there by the door
– nuunakatAhkáʾU axíwiitIt wihkaʾuuxíniʾ.
– That other side don't sit on the right side!
tsu kUxAxIhaáhniniʾ nikišwií- tIt.
But on the left side that is where you must sit!"

wah wetihwaaWIhtikúxtA awít.
"Now they are going to talk first.
niikohninaatee- waníštA neešiitohnaaʾiitáWI.
Whatever they are going to have planned we will tell you."

wehnaraanoótA – wehnawaákUx – noowitiRAhwísAt.
Where they live – where the hill was – then they arrived.
witeehuwaáʾAt na noowitiRAhnuúkAt.
There was a doorway and then they entered.
noowitiwiítIt niiwešinihnaaʾiitawíhA.
Then she sat down where they had told her.

wah – noowitiraataʾuúkUt – wešohniiteéRIt wiiteešútš
Now – then they commenced – when they saw him the young man
tinaátA wiináxtš wešiNAsiRAxaáhNA.
this (going) the boys as he went ahead of them.
wah noowiti- kaawísAt huNAhtAhtíš.
Now then he arrived inside at the west end of the lodge.
nooWIšitiisaaka- táWI wehnaraawíšA wehnaraawíšA.
Then they handed him the pipe when he smoked, when he smoked.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah wetAxunaaʾiitíštA tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ tiwenostatataʾá.
Then he said: "Now you are going to tell it this young woman her following you here."

witiwaákoʾ heeʾ.
He said: "Yes.
tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ tatuxtoóxAt aataahtakúʾU.
This young woman I chose her 'that I marry you.'
wah taanikunuutAxíruutIt.
Now here is what happened.
wah inás- tiʾ nikUšiteeničíšAt tiwešinatiníhkUx
Now her brother he is the one who saved them (du) these (du) of mine
wiináxtš inástiʾ tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ.
boys her brother this young woman.
nawáh nikuweti- raateehuunaaníštA niinakuútA.
Now that is what the plan is going to be what is to be."

noowitiwáčiʾ nuunaRAhkatAhkáʾU wihkaʾuuxíniʾ Axtóh
Then they said those on the other side on the right side: "Surely
tinakUhunáhAs tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ šiNIhkukoo- tíkA.
she should be dead this young woman, she should be killed.
wekaakunaaNAhuné niiwenuutaáNA.
She did wrong what she did.
wešinih- naáhNA tišinaákUx – piiraneešaánuʾ tinaákUx –
The ones (du) she had for him these (du) – the chief's child this one –
tiwe- šineérikUx pítkUx wiináxtš.
he is sitting here with them (du) two boys."

tunaraanoótA kUxAxIhaáhniniʾ witihwáčiʾ Axtóh kaakíʾ nikunakuútA.
The others on the left they said: "Certainly that cannot be.
Axtóh kanohneesiíšuʾ niiwenootAxítIt.
Surely she doesn't know what happened.
tinaákUx áriišIt wetiiraanoóxIt.
This one himself he erred.
tinaákUx wiináxtš wetii- raanoóxIt šeéNIt wewitikananiiráʾU
This boy he has erred clearly when he did not make himself
niinakúʾU niinakúʾU tinaákUx – suúnaaxuʾ – niinuútA –
as he was, as he was this – young woman – as she was –
šeéNIt – nakúʾU sáhniš.
clearly – to be a human.

wah wekaakuúʾUt.
"Now it won't be.
wekaakuutAxítIt.
It won't happen.
wah wešitatuutuu- neéRIt – tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ
Now we're standing with her – this young woman
kananakuuhunáhAs – wah štoh nakuutapitaáhAt nakoótA niinanuunítAt.
that she will not die, – now again that she turn around to go where her village is.

wah tsu tinaákUx wiináxtš inástiʾ wešitatUtkaa- paačíštI.
"Now but this boy her brother we are going to bless him.
čeésuʾ tinaákUx inástiʾ wešitatUtkaa- paačíštI.
Himself this one her brother we are going to bless him."

tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ nooWIšititkáxaʾ.
This young woman then they called her.
nootiwií- tIt niišohnaákUx šiNAhaáʾU.
Then she sat down where they (du) sat her (du) children.

na noowitiwaákoʾ nawáh nikutuúʾUt.
And then he said: "Now that is what happened.
wetiraa- niwáNIt áriišIt.
He has erred himself."

wekananaatoohnaaʾiitawíhA niinatuutaáNA áriišIt kuwi- titatihkoóʾAt.
"What I did not tell you what I did myself it is my own fault.
áriišIt wetatiiraaniwáNIt.
Myself I erred.
áriišIt tatuh- náʾA.
Myself I am the cause.
wah tsu weneešuutapitaaháxtA niiNAxinii- nítAt NAxkoótA.
Now but you are going to turn around where your village is for you to go.

wah anás wešitatUtkaapaačíštA.
"Now your brother we're going to bless him.
nikuwešitAh- naanaawaʾú kananakuukaapaačíšU – ánas –
We're giving him things that he won't be poor – your brother –
kanaNAxkuraa- kaapaačíšU.
that you (pl) won't be poor.
niinakuuWIskáʾA ánas nikukooxuúʾUt.
Whatever he wants your brother it'll be thus.
kaakunaačiteewaahnúxtA niinakuutaáNA.
Things are not going to be difficult for him whatever he does.
koxtuhnaahnaáNAt.
We'll go with him.
– šikoxtuutAsíštA.
– We'll watch over him.
– niiwaawanuuxítIt naawiinakuúnuʾ na číkuʾ niinakuuWIskáʾA
– When he starts out (on) the warpath and whatever he wants
kaakiraači- téštA.
it is not going to be difficult.
nikukooxuúʾUt.
It will be that way.

nawáh ánas nikuwetikuunaahnaanuuwaawanúʾ.
"Now your brother he is taking these things from us.
wah tinaraaʾiitUxtoósI nikuwetuhneesíštA.
Now these songs he is going to learn them.
áriišIt tinaraaʾiitUxtoósI kunooxuhnaaʾiitUxtAhwísAt.
Himself these songs the songs will come (mysteriously) to him."

wah nikunoowituúta.
Now then that is what he did.

witiwaákoʾ štoh šitoosiRAxkaaʾišwóxtA.
He said: "Back they are going to take you home.
tinaraanoótA čiitíʾIš noošinoosiRAxwísAt.
These four then they will take you there.
na taanikišwaákoʾ šiniinaaʾiítI ánas.
And you will say this when you tell him your brother."

hináxtIt anuú híNAx nooWIšiteenuusiráxaʾ suúnaaxuʾ.
In the morning, then at night then they took her the young woman.
wewitAheešAhíštA.
Now it was about morning.
kanawituxtaawičeéʾA.
It was not a long time.

neešaánuʾ noowitiiRAhká.
The chiefs then there they were inside.

noowitiwaákoʾ šáxtiʾ kuNAhúx wetaWIsáʾ sehnaáʾU.
Then she said her mother: "Old man, she has come back our daughter."

wewitAheéšaʾ.
Morning came.
wah witiwaákoʾ wah taanikutuutAxí- tIt.
Now she said: "Now this is what hap- pened
– či nateeraahnaaniwáNIt.
– Here we erred.
– na áriišIt niiraaniwáNIt wenikuxtooxátA nakukohtakúʾU.
– And himself he erred the one who chose me to be my husband.
áriišIt tiiraaniwáNIt.
Himself he erred.
šeéNIt wewitikananiiraawiítIt niikohniraačítA wehnaáʾa
Clearly he did not present himself whatever the reason was when he came,
na wešiNAsiiNAhuNAhátkA piiráʾuʾ pítkUx.
and the ones (du) we lost children two.

wah tinaákUx atinás nikuwešitikaapaačíštA skána.
"Now this one my brother he is the one they are to bless alone.
wah wekaakunaačiteewaahnúxtA.
Now things are no longer going to be hard for him.
wah tinaraaʾiitUxtoósI nikuwetiraaʾiitUxtaahníštA tsu
Now these songs he will be the one to keep these songs, but
nakuraakawaakarookú – híNAx – paatúh –
when the songs are sung – at night – enemy –
kananaakuuWIsAhú – teškúNIt paatúh
so they will not be coming – close, enemy
kananaatakuraahNAhwiraaníkUx nakuraakawaakaroóku híNAx.
so they won't be molesting us when the songs are sung at night.
wah tinaraaʾiitUxtoósI kuwetiraaʾiitUxtána.
Now these songs he will keep the songs."

wah nikunoowituutá tinaákUx wiináxtš wehnaraa- NIhtšaáNA.
Now this is what he did this boy after he became older.
wewitiraanuhkáʾIt niinaraapiRIhuúNU naahukoósuʾ wehnáʾU wekanaahnuunaačiteewaahnú.
Now he had many things what were valuable things a brave his being nothing being difficult for him.
hawá naawiinakuúnuʾ NAhkoótA xaataʾuútuʾ kanawitaanunoo-
Also the warpath when he went, stealing horses it was not hard
naačiteéʾIt wešohnitkaapaatštíRA xaátš.
for him after they had blessed him the dogs.

wah – na nikuwitiíhiʾ niiháʾ– čiWAhaahwaarúxtiʾ.
Now – and that is where it was there– Devil's Lake.
šeéNIt ineewaákUx.
Prominently the hill is there.
nataakuraapIswó neewaakoohaahkákUx.
When we arrive the hill sits on the prairie.
wah nikuwitiíhiʾ xaátš niiʾAhnuxtAhkaáWI AhnuxtaanoótA.
Now that is where it is the dogs where they used to be inside where they used to live.

tunaraanoótA kUxAxIhaáhniniʾ sčiríhtš witeenuNAh- kUxkareewát.
Those who sat there on the left coyotes they had strings plaited in their hair.
tunaraanoótA kUxAxIhaáhniniʾ čitaapát –
Those who sat on the left otter (skins) –
nikuwiteenuNAhkUxkareewát – niiNAsaripiš- tawaáWI.
they had them plaited in their hair – where their braids were.
wah nikuwitíʾIt kanaahnistaruuwanuúxU čitaapát AhneenuNAhkUxkareewaápI.
Now they were the ones ones who were mean otter (skins) the ones who had them plaited in their hair.

natsú – tuuhéʾ – sčiríhtš – tuunakatAhkáʾU – čiwakuútš
And – over there – coyotes on the other side – kit foxes
nikuwitíʾIt tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ šohniituuneéRIt štoh wešohnineenuusiRAxkaaʾiišá.
they were the ones this young woman who stood up for her, back the ones who led her home.

wah tanikuwituxtaačitaWIhú ništaakawaakarookUxukú.
Now this was the foremost way the ones they used to sing.
na nootateeraapáčiʾ neekakUxpíNUx.
And then we called (them) "Whipping The Door."
tišwačeehU- xuúkuʾ xoosakhuúnuʾ.
They used to call them Crazy Dogs.

na wiitatshaánuʾ– witinaaná – xoosakahUhwiitatshaánuʾ.
And Hidatsas– they had it – the Hidatsa Crazy Dogs.
nikutatuuxAtkookUxuúkuʾ.
That is what I used to hear.
siíno tiniinaanuuwanúʾ wiitats- haánuʾ NIhkuraakawaakaroóku.
Yet they have the way the Hidatsas their singing them.

na – neetIhaakariiwáʾux – neekakUxpíNUx xoosakhuúnuʾ.
And – I know the songs – Whipping The Door, Crazy Dog.
tiraačítA – kuNAhúx – atípaʾ kuúNUx kananii-
It is the reason – the old man – my grandfather Short
wičeésU tuxtaakarookUxuúkuʾ.
Bear he used to sing them.
nikutehnikuraáʾu tinataakariiwaʾuúxU.
He must have given me the way my knowing the songs.