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

46

Two Kettles and the

Assiniboine Horse Raiders

Alfred Morsette

wah – tatunaaʾiitíhuʾ – nuxtaapaatuúčI anuú
Now – I am telling a story – when there used to be enemy ways long,
naapakúhtuʾ tiihéʾ niinuuxitúhkUx táWIt nuutiitunaanuúʾAt táWIt
long ago here where the village was three there were villages, three
– ačitaánuʾ nootiwáčiʾ – sáhniš wiitatshaánuʾ na káNIt na
– tribes they say, – Arikara, Hidatsa, and Mandan, and
paatúh oopiínuʾ tuuneetUhwaáhAt AhnoxtAhWIs- waáhu naawiinakuúnuʾ.
enemy different those villages when they used to be coming (on) the warpath.
na tiwenatuunaakiítIhu witíʾIt psíʾaʾ aNAhunuuwaáWI skaweéraaʾuʾ.
And these I am telling about they are Assiniboines where they lived in the west.

wah tiwenatuhwakuuniitIhú atíʾAx wáh nuhwakareéRA nikuwetatuhwakuuniitíhuʾ.
Now here I am repeating his words my father (ie uncle) Nice Voiced Elk, I am repeating the words of that one.
tuuNUxtaaʾiiwaatíhuʾ niinúxkUx.
He used to tell stories where he lived.
tatuxWIswooxuúkuʾ NAtkuwanú nakuku- nuunaaʾiiwaawaátI.
I used to go there when I went around when he told me different stories.
wetatuhwakuuniitíhuʾ.
Now I am repeating his words.

tiNAhunuuwaáWI – psíʾaʾ taaskaweéraaʾuʾ – anuú
These – Assiniboines here in the west – over there
AhnuuxunuuwaáWI naawiinakuúnuʾ tUhkaákaʾ – na – Axuhkátit
they went around (on) the warpath Crows – and – Blackfeet
niineetUhwaáhAt – niinooNAhkuraanátA – noowitiwáčiʾ
where villages were – wherever they went, – then one of them said
psíʾaʾ číkuʾ kaakataraaNAhwaaxuúkuʾ tuuneétAt – huu-
Assiniboines: "We never go there that village – in the
kaawiraátA neetUhwaáhAt – ničiíšuʾ– niinanaáhNA.
east where the villages are – corn– where they have it.
čiraátoʾ itaraápoʾ.
Let's go.
čeétoʾ itaraápoʾ niineetUhwaáhAt.
Let's go where the villages are.
aatakuuxaWIstaakawootíkA witíʾIt naahukoósuʾ.
Even if they kill us they are braves.
witíʾIt wiítA.
They are men.
itakuraakuNAhát itakuraahnaanúNAx.
They will kill us if they should find us.
atsú koxteeraapóʾ.
But we will go (anyway)."

wah wituhnaánuʾ nooxíniʾ na pítkUx.
Now they numbered thirty-two.
nooteeraánaʾ psíkAt.
Then they came in winter.
síno– naáNIt– kaneetehnuxpsíʾ.
Yet– really– it must not have been cold.
NIhúhtš witIhunaaxá.
A little there was snow on the ground.
witaaxaaʾaáhuʾ NIhúhtš.
It was snowing a little.
noo- teeraánaʾ.
Then they came.
anuú noowiteeraanuukaaʾiíšaʾ tiihéʾ niinatoxtaakitUhwaáhAt AhnuuxitUhnoowiisákUx.
There then they came toward the river bank here where our villages were where the village was on the bank.

uu – witiRAhčítA niikohniíhiʾ – nawaanaanoótA AhnareewaawatíRA.
Oh, – they were on top it wherever it was – a line of hills when they looked all around.
– noowitiwáčiʾ – taanikutehneetúhkUx inaanaaWIštaáhkUx.
– Then they said: – "This must be the village where the smoke is in the distance.
čéstIt wetataraahnaánaʾ iinatanuunaakítAt.
Far off we have come (from) where our village is."

noowitiRAhniWAhaRIhnaákUx.
Then there was a thicket of plum bushes.
tatsuxtaaʾeerikUxuúkuʾ natuxwaawanuuxukú.
I always used to see them when I used to go around.
na nikunoowitiRAhkaʾiíšAt psíkAt.
And then that is where they went into the thicket in the winter.
tiinaaheéRIt.
They fixed it up
– uu taawiiRIščéʾ.
– Oh, it was sheltered.
– noowiteeraawaniítoʾ.
– It was warm there.
noowitihkaWAhíNIt.
Then they made fires.

noowitiwáčiʾ wah Axtóh wetiihíʾ čéstIt wenataraahnaána.
Then one of them said: "Now surely it is far off our having come.
wah xaawaarúxtiʾ číkuʾ šinaahtsehkuusiráxAt.
Now a horse maybe we'll take one back."

noowitiinakhíroʾ niišinehkunuutAsšawiʾuúʾA.
Then they picked him out one whom they considered able.
naaxaríčI číkuʾ nikutaaxUhuúʾU číkuʾ nakuraahúNAx.
"You, you may be the one to find some."

nikuwetAxtaákIt nakuraaNIsAhkaʾiišátA niiʾaniwe- neetúhkUx.
"Now you are the ones to go into the village where that village is.
xaawaarúxtiʾ nikuwetiraasšUhuúʾU.
The horses those are the main purpose."

wah áxkUx wiináxtš noowitíʾAt na tinaraanoótA noowitiraáNAt niikohnuhnaánuʾ.
Now one boy then he went, and these then they went however many there were.
noowitiraaNIsihta- ʾuúkUt.
Then they got to the outskirts of the village.
– noowitiraačitéʾ – xaawaarúxtiʾ číkuʾ kanawitiiwaawaáRIt šeéNIt.
– Then it was difficult – horses there were not any standing around in plain sight.

atsú – tinaákUx– psíʾaʾ tiwenatuhwakuuniítI
But – this– Assiniboine the one whose words I relate
wewitinuhwakuuniítI noowititaawátAt.
the one who told the words about himself then he separated from them.
noowituutaakeéRIt.
Then he saw them.
witeeká akanaanataáʾuʾ.
There was a lodge an earth lodge.
nohneeRAhkaawáʾ wehnaraanaWIsiruútIt.
Then they came out of it as they went outside.
tiwehnaRAhnuukátA noowititaWIhuúkAt.
When they went (back) inside then he entered among them.
nootikUxpaána šikanaNIhkuuteéRIt.
Then he hid so they would not see him.

xaawaarúxtiʾ witiʾookatawaáRIt.
The horses they stood along the wall.
wituhniwá.
They were nice.

noowitihnaakaʾús.
Then they secured the door.

WIšitiisuxkatawihUxuúkuʾ wešinehkuriwaáta.
They used to put (a log) against it when they lifted it up.
skarútš pítkUx šitUstaawátAt.
Hides two they (du) were doubled.
witIhaaNAhkatAxá nátš.
Poles lay against hem the wood.
wah neekawíʾuʾ witíʾ.
Now a door it was.
– witatáRIš.
– It was heavy
– WIšititkatáWI wešinehkuriwaáta NAhkuraanaWIsiruutikú.
– They put (a log) against it when they lifted it up when they went outside.
na witiraa- čeéna nooWIšitihwiʾí.
And it was a- while then they put it down.
noowitihnaakaʾús.
Then they locked the door.
WIši- tIhaakAxčíšwe kaahaahníniʾ.
The poles protruded inside.
nooWIšitihnaakIsáʾus.
Then they placed a pole over it.
wetIhaakeeriítIt.
Now it was locked.
kaakíʾ nakUhaakeeriwátAt.
One could not open it.

atsú – tinaákUx – psíʾaʾ wewitikaákUx kaahaahníniʾ nii
But – this – Assiniboine he was inside inside where
xaawaarúxtiʾ AhnaʾookatawaaríčI.
the horses their standing by the wall.
witiraaNIt- katáWA AhnihwaawáʾA AhnihwaaWIhtikú.
They were around the fire as they ate, as they were talking.
noowiti- raaniruuWAtwaahaákuʾ.
Then they were getting up one at a time.
noowitohniinawaawaʾús.
Then they all lay down.
uu witiraačeéʾA noowitiraaNItkAxkataRUxaahUxítIt.
Oh, it was a while then they began snoring.

atsú šohnačiraaháhkUx pítkUx nootíʾAt nii
But where kettles of food (du) were two then he went where
xaawaarúxtiʾ AhnawaaríčI.
the horses their stand- ing.
wituhniwá niikohnuhnaánuʾ.
They were nice however many there were.
nootíʾAt.
Then he went.
nootiroóʾa NAhaakáxA NAhaakIsaʾiítuʾ.
Then he took it off where the pole lay fastened the cross pole.
wah noowiteeriwaátaʾ niiʾAhnuhnaačiríkUx niiʾaNIsaáhnu.
Now then he lifted it up as he was watching the way of it what they were doing.
witareekakUxtiwaátaʾ.
He lifted the door up.
noowitIhaakeeríWAt.
Then he opened the door.
xaawaarúxtiʾ tinawaaríčI noowitiRAsáʾIt.
Horses these then he hit them.
witiraanaWIsítIt.
They went out.
a – tišinačiraaháhkUx – nooWIšitičiraahAhkúxIt.
And – these (du) kettles of cooking food – then he took the kettles of cooking food.
nootíʾAt.
Then he went.
teeWIsítIt.
He went out.

noowituutakaakaʾús štoh.
Then he shut the door for them again.
na nootíʾAt.
And then he went.
witiRAhčihkaʾús xaawaarúxtiʾ wehnaraanaxtawíhAt.
They were tied in a string the horses after he tied them.
na noowitikaʾiíšAt nuuwehnakaátA.
And then he went into the brush as he went there in the brush.

noowitiraanaxtawiraná xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Then he had them tied the horses.
uu xaakaatít weNUsiRAxátA wituhné.
Oh, a black horse one that he led it was nice!

witiwísAt niiʾAhnaRAhkáWI tinaraanoótA.
He arrived where they were in the brush these.
wah tiwešineetihčiraahanáʾ niikohnáʾIt.
"Now here I have brought kettles of food whatever it is.
aaníčI taakáxtš na aaníčI NIšaátuʾ kaakatuhneesiíšuʾ.
Whether it is dried meat or whether it is ribs I do not know."

nooteeRAhWIswáʾ uunawaaríčI.
Then they came back the others.
číkuʾ kanawitihnoohuu- NAhuúnoʾ.
They had not done anything.

na tičé NAxuúta.
"And what did you do?"

uu číkuʾ kaakiwaáRIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
"Oh, there aren't any horses.
tatuxtaahnaaneéhAs.
We had it planned.
wetatuxtaahnoosawísAt niineetúhkUx.
We examined everything where the village is.
číkuʾ kaakiwaa- waáRIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
There aren't any around horses.
kaneetehninaná xaawaarúxtiʾ.
They must not have them horses."

witiwaákoʾ anináʾU wiináxtš wah tineewaáRIt čeésiʾ niiwenatuunaakawíhAt.
He said that boy: "Now here they are myself the ones that I over- took.
taanikutatuúta.
This is what I did.
wenehkaasuuhIškaawaʾá wenaRAhnuukátA neeneetitawiihunuúkAt.
After they came out to urinate when they went in I went in among them.
neeneetikUxpaána.
I hid.
šikaneeneekuuteéRIt.
They did not see me.
– šiineekutkaawiisAháNIt.
– They locked me inside.
– tiwenaret- kAxítIt neeneetireekaríkUt.
– After everyone went to sleep I opened the door.
xaawaarúxtiʾ neetiRAsá- ʾIt naaNAhkawatúx.
The horses I hit them with it a cleaning rod for a rifle.
neeneetIhuučitaʾús niišinaáxA.
I laid it on top where they (du) lay.
sitipAxookaahúNA sápat na wiítA.
Their (du) heads were close to the door a woman and a man.
neeneetIhuučitaʾús naaNAhkawatúx.
I laid it on top the cleaning rod.
neeneetireekáWI.
Then I closed the door.
šinatihčiraahanikaaʾá neeneetireekáWI.
After I brought the kettles of food out then I closed the door.
xaawaarúxtiʾ neeneetiraanaxtáWI.
The horses I tied them.
neeneetiínaʾ.
I came.
tiweneewaáRIt niiwekohnuhnaánuʾ.
Here they are, however many there are."

noowitiwaákoʾ áxkUx psíʾaʾ wah naahuunéʾ wekaa- kataraakunuuwá.
Then he said one Assiniboine: "Now we are far away (from home)!
wah parúNIt toxtaapóʾ.
Now quickly let's go!
tatakuunaahnaa- xíštA.
They are going to chase us.
taraaNAhíštA.
They are going to come.
wetAxuhnaahneésiš xaawaa- rúxtiʾ tehnakaawaaríčI kaahaahníniʾ.
You all now know the horses they must be inside inside (the lodge).
tiraačítA číkuʾ wešikananaaxIhúNAx.
That is why your not finding any.
tinawaaríčI nooweteeraníhIt.
These they are the only ones."

noowitinaaničitawiíruutIt.
Then they each mounted.
nootiinuuwáʾAx aniiNAhuu- kaahaanoótA.
Then they ran off there where the river was.
nootiraanuukaaʾuúkUt.
Then they reached bottom land.
nootiraáNAt skaweéraaʾuʾ.
Then they went west.

atsú tiihéʾ sAhkAhaáhniniʾ tiwenatuuniítI neewaákoʾ – neetuhnaáka.
But here in the village the one I am talking about he said: – "We did it.
– nuu wetAheešAhíštA weneekuhnaaNAsáʾUx.
– Then it was going to be morning now we were hungry.
či šikohnačiraahaáʾA WAhúx wešinatuxčiraahAhtaʾuútI.
Here they (du) were kettles of it squash the kettles that I stole!
neeneetiraaNAhwaraakaʾuúkUt štoh.
We got into the brush again.
takuuxUhuunaahnaanawiʾeečiwátAt.
'Let us rest for a while!
čéstIt wetataraakunuuwá.
Far off we are.'"

nikunootsá.
So that is what they did.
tiraaniʾít xaawaarúxtiʾ.
They let them go the horses.
nootihwaawaaNIšítIt.
Then they began to eat.
wah tinaaríčI wiináxtš nikuweWIši- tihtaraʾóʾ.
Now this boy they talked about that one.
skaná nikuwewitiraaničíšIt.
Alone that one saved them.
nikunoowitíʾ naahukoósuʾ.
Then that one was a brave person.

noowitiwáčiʾ atsú wetataraahnaáNAt.
Then one of them said: "But we went on.
itaraaNAh- WIsátA iinateenaakítAt – atsú xaawaarúxtiʾ –
'When we arrive where our village is – but horses –
tinawaaríčI wekutAxináʾA.
these they are yours.
tinawaaríčI wetAxtaʾút.
These you stole them.
wetAxuunaakáwi- hAt.
Now you headed them off.
atsú wetatoonaahnaaničítA tiwenataraahnaána.
But we are riding yours as we come (back).'

wah tiwenataraahnaanátA nuutAheéšaʾ.
"Now as we went back, then it was morning."

noowitiraáNAt – anuú – niineétAt psíʾaʾ.
Then they went – there – where the camp was Assiniboine.
nuuwitiRAhwísAt.
They arrived there.
na anináʾU wiiteešútš nikunooWIši- tiiNIšaxkUxítIt čiraahAhpítkUx.
And that young man then they began to call that one Two Kettles.
anináʾU wiináxtš wewititutuuNAxAhnúnax.
That boy he had found a name for himself.
wah niiháʾ nikutiíhiʾ aniNAhunaanúhAt psíʾaʾ niiNAhunuuwaáWI.
Now right there it was there that land Assiniboines where they live.

wah tiwenaraakoxkAhaahwaawaáhNA noowitiinaaʾít niiNIštaaʾiiwaawaatIhú
Now after it got to be peaceful times then they told it when they told stories
wenehkuRAhWIsá – psíʾaʾ – číkuʾ  nehkuunaaʾiiwaawaátI
when they arrived – Assiniboines – when they told stories
číkuʾ niiweNAhkuusaahnú AhnuxtaačiškoóčI aninutunaanuúčI.
what they used to do when they had good times at that time.

na anináʾU wiítA nikunoowitunaaʾít wetiraačeéʾA wiiteešUtčipiríhtš tatúx.
And that man he told that story: "It was long ago a very young man I was.
taanikutatištaahnaánaʾ.
That was when we came.
wah atíʾAx nikutuuNUxtaaʾiitihUxuúkuʾ.
Now my father he is the one who used to tell it.
atíʾAx taani- kuwituúta tiiháʾ aNAxuxtaakítAt.
My father this is what he did here where your village was.

wah – niikohnáʾIt niikohnaačítaaʾA – wekaaka-
"Now – whoever they were, whichever tribe it was – I do not
tuhneesiíšuʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ tiwenuNAhtaʾuútI na –
know the horses the ones of theirs that he stole and –
tiwešinačiraahAhkúxIt – pítkUx číkuʾ niikohnaačítaaʾA NAxkuhneésšu.
when he took kettles (du) – two whichever tribe it was your knowing."

tiwáčiʾ wah aniwešiNAxuNAhčiraahAhkúxIt tíʾIt sáhniš.
They said: "Now the kettles of theirs that you picked up they were Arikaras.
wah nikutíʾIt tiwenoonaakAxUhunáʾa.
Now they are the ones the ones who came tracking you.
kooxoohnaakunaawísAt niiʾaNAxuxtaNAhkáWI.
They would catch up with you when you were in the brush.
wah tsu nuu weNAxinaahnaána nootiraataraaNIsá.
Now but there where you came then it became stormy.
nootuhnaanapítaahAt.
Then they turned back.
kaakoonaahnáʾAx.
They did not run after you.
nootohnaakuuneéRIt psíʾuʾ.
Then it covered you the winter.
nootuhnaanapítaawaahAt.
Then they turned back.
nikutíʾIt sáhniš niiwe- NAxuxtaWIhuukátA.
They were the ones Arikaras where you went inside among them.
waáwi kaakAxiičíšIt šiʾeenuuteéRIt.
You wo uld not have been saved if they had seen you."

wah taanikutišwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
Now this is what they said.
wah nikuwitUsuuxá anináʾU wiítA.
Now that is what he did that man.
wah nikutiraačítA NIhkuraataraʾó čiraahAhpítkUx čiraahAhpítkUx
Now that is the reason their telling about it Two Kettles, Two Kettles
anineétAt psíʾaʾ.
that village Assiniboine.
tsu anineetUhtáxA neéʾIt psíʾaʾ
But (on) this side of the village (ie the Fort Peck Reservation) they are Assinib
- sanánat.
oi ne - Sioux.
íhUx neéʾIt psíʾaʾ.
Half they are Assiniboines.
íhUx tíʾIt sanánat.
Half they are Sioux.
na nooNAhiínaʾ NAhunuúWI – tíʾIt – psiʾaanaaNIšíšuʾ
And farther on their living – they are – the real Assiniboines,
psiʾaaneešaánuʾ nišwačeehUxúku.
the chief Assiniboines as they used to say.

nikutišwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
This is what they used to say.
nikutiisuuxAhneh- kUxuúkuʾ čiraahAhpítkUx
This is what they used to call them Two Kettles,
čiraahAhpítkUx niineetuníkUx wenaʾaáNA neešaánuʾ niiNUsuuxaáNA.
Where Two Kettles Has His Village after he became a chief after he did it.

nawáh – noowetiiraaʾiitúxAt – ciraahAhpítkUx tiwenatuuniítI.
Now – then this is the end of the story – Two Kettles this one I have told about.