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

47

A Sioux Attack on

Like-A-Fishhook Village

Alfred Morsette

wah wetatunaaʾiitíštA tsu šinikunuuNUxtaaʾii- waatihUxukú –
Now I am going to tell a story but one that they used to tell me –
niiʾAhnuutAxítIt tiiháʾ – niiʾAhnuuxitúhkUx nuxtAhčituúʾU.
what happened here – where the village was when they were together.
nootiwáčiʾ sAhkAhaáhniniʾ sáhniš AhnuxtaanoótA wiitatshaánuʾ na
They say "in the village" Arikaras their living Hidatsas, and
káNIt -- ačitaánuʾ táWIt.
Mandans -- tribes three.

wah niikohnaawíriiʾIt Axtóh kanatuhneesiíšuʾ atsú
Now whatever summer it was certainly I do not know, but
wetatunaaʾiitíhuʾ niikohnuutunaánuʾ awirítkAt.
I am telling it whatever the season was in the summer.
wetuutunaánuʾ wenaawiRIstoóku.
It was the season when it is hot.

tuuneetUhwaáhAt sanánat paatúh oopiínuʾ anuú
Those other villages Sioux, enemy different there
naahkaahunaanoótA nuu nootiRAhčituuwá sanánat.
where the country extends far off there then they gathered together Sioux.
wah Axtóh toosuxtaaNAhwísAt niitinaraanoótA ačitaánuʾ táwIt.
"Now surely let's go attack them where they live tribes three.
čituúʾuʾ toxtaakawoótIt.
All let's kill them!
šiisiišakawoótIt.
Let's kill them!"

wewitiraaʾiítUx.
Now it is the story.
noowitiRAhčituuwá wehnaahtaku- čituuwaáhNA
Then they got together when they got together as a group
nuuneetunaanoótA sanánat.
those villages Sioux.

tiwačeehUxuúkuʾ – witikaakeenutwakaʾuúʾIt – sanánat tiNAhunuuwaáWI.
They always say – they do not each talk the same – Sioux these.
tuuNAhunuuwaáWI NAhkAxiipáhAt aahwitihwa- koočíWI – na
Those others Canadians they talk a little differently, – and
tuuNAhunuuwaáWI hunaanapsíniʾ – na tiihéʾ tinaraanoótA
these others (in) the south – and here these
waahatUhkákUx na niškúsuʾ na neetAhkasčiripásIt
Fort Yates, and Cannon Ball, and Little Eagle
niinuuxituníkUx noowititeenutwa- kaʾúʾ atsú nooNAhiínaʾ
where he had his village they talk alike but beyond
nuuNAhunaanoótA kutihwakoočiiwaáWI Ahninaahiwaaxaxkú sanánat neetUhwaáhAt.
those they talk differently when they name things Sioux the villages.
tiraaNIhuúʾU sanánat.
There are many Sioux.
niinoonakuuxaWIsiihiíʾU nootIhunuuwá sanánat.
No matter where it may be there they are Sioux.

wah noowitinoohúnoʾ – naakuNAhWIsá tiihéʾ – nii-
Now then they planned – to come to attack here – where
ʾAhnatoxtaakítAt – čituúʾuʾ natakukuraakawootíkA – wiitatshaánuʾ
we were camped – all for them to kill us – Hidatsas,
káNIt – na – sáhniš.
Mandan – and – Arikaras
– čituúʾuʾ šiisiišakawoótIt.
– "All let's kill them!"
niikohnaraa- čítA – nikuwenihWIskáʾA aatohnaasaáhNA – niikohnuhnaanáʾA.
Whatever the reason was – their having wanted that 'that we do it' – whatever their reason was.

wah – niikooNAsákuuʾU – nooWIšitiitaakeéRIt sanánat
Now – whatever day it was – then they saw them Sioux
wehnooNAhčeswaáta niiʾAhniščiraawiikUxukú
when they came out of the brush where they used to dip water
nuuxitUhnoowiisákUx nuunatskatAhkáʾU.
when the village was on the bank above (the river) the other side of the river.

noowitohnaanuukaataʾiíšaʾ – Ahnuxtsteéhat – tswaarúx- tiʾ –
Then they came to the bank – at the water's edge – Missouri River –
wehniinaakitUhwaníku – niitineetUhnoowii- sákUx.
as they were shooting at the village – where the village was on the bank above.
noowitiRAhkaʾiíšAt.
Then they went into the woods.

wah niikanaahniiNIštaawiʾiiruhkoóčI AhnuuxunuuwaáWI
Now the ones who were daring when they went around
witinehkunuunaahukoósU witišwačiʾaáhuʾ noo- NAsúx.
the ones who had held themselves brave they were saying: "Let it be!
noonuuxunuuwá.
Let them go around!
kutiraáNIš nohnaanuukataʾá witiitohnaakawiítIt čeésuʾ.
It is true when they come across then we will avenge ourselves too.
noosuxtaanuukatáʾ áriišIt.
Let them come across themselves!
niikohnihnaanuúʾU tiwenatakuraakitUhwaawaníkA.
Whatever their reason is their shooting at our village."

wah tsu nakutawé kananakuuraawiteeriwó
Now but there always being one one who does not pay heed
noowitanaanoorúhkUt apAhníniʾ.
then they got in the water in the distance furtively.
wehna- raanuukataátA noowitiitaakAsštoohaásAt.
When they went across the river then they convinced them (others).
noowituhnaanuukatáWA.
Then they swam across.
– nooWIšitiiNAhnáʾAx.
– Then they chased after them.
– nuu witikaatAhaanúʾAt.
– There it was level land along the base of the incline.
nuuwitiWIsuúʾU iiwenuxtaanawáNA šiniinaakiiwaatIhú čítUx sAhaánuʾ.
It extended to the point there where they used to live their telling about it Beaver Creek.
witiraanuukaaʾuúkUt čítUx sAhaánuʾ.
They went down a coulee Beaver Creek.
nuukunoowituuNAsaakaáhAt.
Then they circled around over there.

wah – nikuwituhnaánuʾ – taWIšaápis aniwenoosuxtaanuukaata- ʾiišá.
Now – these numbered – eight the ones who came along the bank.
tiwehnuhnaanuukataátA nikuwituhnaánuʾ taWIšaápis haáwaʾ wešohniiNAhnaáxI.
When these (Arikaras) went across they numbered that eight, also the ones chasing them.

a či wešiišeenuutAxáWI sanánat niiʾAhnihWIskáʾA aaxuútA.
And here they had set a trap the Sioux their wanting it that it be.
nikuwituxtaateehuúʾU čituúʾuʾ nakuraanuukataátA wiitatshaánuʾ
That was the plan all for them to go across Hidatsas,
káNIt na sáhniš čituúʾuʾ niiraanuuka- taátA.
Mandans, and Arikaras, all if they went across.
wah tuuháʾ niraanuukoókUt uunahUs- haanúhAt– noošiniinaakawíhAt.
Now over there when they got to the coulee the other coulee– then they'll head them off.
niiháʾ– NAhuukaawiraátA nikuwewiwitiníkUx.
There– in the east that is where they were waiting.
noonuuNIsaakaáhAt.
Then they went around.
nooniinaakáwihAt na – čituúʾuʾ – niinakawoótIt.
Then they were heading them off and – all – they will kill them.
– na – noonuhnaanuukatáʾAt.
– And – then they will cross the river to fight.
wah niikohnuhnaánuʾ – sAhkakúxuʾ čituúʾuʾ nooniinakuNAhát.
Now however many there were – the ones remaining in the village all then they will kill them.
wah nikuwituxtaateehuúʾU.
Now that was the plan.
nikuwitištoohúnoʾ sanánat.
That is what they planned Sioux.

wah nookaakuutAxítIt uunariišíNIt.
Now, then it did not happen directly.
noowiteeraníhIt aniwešohniitAhniraanátA – taWIšaápis
Then they were the only ones the ones they were chasing – the eight
AhnuhnaanuúʾA – xaá- hiniʾ aniwešiniitAhniraanátA.
their numbering, – on horse(s) the ones they were chasing.
witiraanuukaaʾuúkUt anuú NAhunaahkatAhkáʾU niiwewitininíkUx.
They went to the river there the land on the other side where they were waiting.

wah tihtaraanaáʾAs tinaraanátA.
Now they were fearless these (going).
tehnuxtawéʾ wiitatshaánuʾ.
There must have been among them Hidatsas.
tehnáʾIt.
They must have been.
kuuNUxteksaánuʾ nikuwi- tuuNUxtaaʾiitihUxuúkuʾ haáwaʾ.– witiwaákoʾ–
Bear's Ghost that is what he used to tell also.– He said:–
wenakuhnaanapitaá- hAt wenakukuraahwaníkA štoh noošitatuuNAhnáʾAx.
"When they turn around when they shoot at us, again then we will chase them."

wah kaaxtAhtšoóRUt wiítA nootuxtaahukoóʾUs.
Now, Yellow Legs a man he was brave.
kaakuuNUx- taawiʾiiruhkáʾIt.
He was fearless.

witiwaákoʾ – kuuNUxteksaánuʾ –
He said – Bear's Ghost: –
nikuwetatuunawikatAxá tiwešinatuuNAhnaáxI –
"I was running alongside of him (ie Yellow Legs) when we chased them –
aninoóčI taWIšaápis – nuhnaanuúʾA.
those eight – their numbering.
hawá nikuneetuhnaahnaánuʾ taWIšaápis.
Also we numbered eight.
aniwenuhnaanuukoókUt nakatooxUhuunoótA.
Those went in the water where the terrace is.
tišwačeehUxuúkuʾ iinaxkUskaNIhaáhkUx.
They used to say where the prairie dog village is.
niiháʾ nikunootoohnaaNIswaátaʾ witohništíkUx.
There then they were the ones who came in sight the ones who were waiting for the enemy.
a niiháʾ – nikunootiRAxUhuúna – naáNIt tinaraanoótA taWIšaápis.
And there – that is where there was a battle – really these eight.
ka naraaNIhuúʾU.
There were not many.

wititihkUxawáNIt.
"They (ie the eight) threw themselves back.
kaakuneešawíhAx.
'There is a large number of them.
tikiitoxtaa- NAhkatáʾAt waahíniʾ.
Let us go up here on the hill!
wekohnaaRAhwaáʾ niinataraakíčI.
They must be coming the Arikaras.
tuunakatAhkáʾU wekohnaaraánaʾ.
On the other side over there they must have come.'"

nikuwewitiinaahuníkUx – tinawaaríčI – nuhnaanuúʾA taWIšaápis
They were the ones waiting – these – ones who numbered eight
kuuNUxteksaánuʾ niiwenatawé.
Bear's Ghost the ones he was with.

nawáh noowitiwaákoʾ kuuNUxteksaánuʾ wiiteešútš AhnáʾU sáhniš
Now, then he said Bear's Ghost: "Young man the one Arikara
šitiisuxtehkUxuúkuʾ kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt.
they used to call him Bear Goes Into The Woods.
uu xaawaarúxtiʾ witikatariíʾI AhneečitáWI.
Oh, the horse it was swift the one he rode.
nootehnaanawi- ruuwíhuʾ weNAhkuutUhuuniikaʾiišátA weNAhkooNAhwaawaníkA.
Then he ran it into them when he rode into the middle of the group when he was shooting at them.
tsu šitiináʾAx.
However they ran after him.
kaakíʾ šiNIhkuutuuníkUt.
They were not able to catch him.
kaakíʾ šiNIhkuutunaaWIsátA.
They were not able to overtake him.
xaawaarúxtiʾ tikatariíʾI neečitáWI.
The horse it was swift the one he rode.
sanánat nootehnoosanaxkároʾ anináʾU.
The Sioux then he taunted them that one.

AhkaakiraačeéʾA áxkUx neeneewísaʾ.
"It was a short while later one (ie another) he arrived.
xaatareeʾúx tiičítA.
A gray horse he rode.
– sáhniš tíʾ.
– Arikara he was.
– tatuhnaʾíhkuʾ kaakaátš.
– I am meaning Little Crow.
xaatareeʾúx tiičítA.
A gray horse he rode.
uu hawá nikutuúʾUt tikatariíʾI.
Oh, also it was thus: it was swift.
wešiteeNAhnunuúwa.
Now they (du) taunted them.

atsú tinehnaNAhnaáNAt niikohnaraačítA
"But here we were go- ing off whatever the reason was
axkuraahninuka- woótIt.
whether we were frightened to death.
neeneetuhnaahnaanapítaahAt.
We turned back.
atsú tinaaríčI xaataree- ʾúx neečitáWI naáNIt
But this one the gray horse the one who rode it really
Ahnootuutiikaʾišwóʾ niiNAhunuúWI sanánat.
he just went into the middle where they were Sioux.
na xaawaarúxtiʾ neešinihwaasákuʾ.
And (his) horse they wounded it.
neeneenuxtačeewíʾaʾ neečitáWI.
It slowed up the one he rode.
atíštIt wekaakuuNAxí- huʾ wenawaasakúx.
Well it was not running after it was wounded.
noowetiRAhpaáʾAt wešohnihwaa- sakú xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Then it was bloody after they wounded it the horse.

wah neeniiwaákoʾ kaxtAhtšoóRUt tíwat suxtaaʾiitáWI tinaaríčI –
"Now he said Yellow Legs: 'Nephew, tell him this –
sáhniš xaawaarúxtiʾ – wešitihwaasákuʾ.
Arikara (his) horse – now they have wounded it!
nuxkatáhAt.
Let him get away!
šooxihkoótIt.
They might kill him.'

neeneetiwaákoʾ -- neeneetiwakaraanúʾAt naaxičitáWI wešitihwaasákuʾ.
"Then I said -- I called out to him: 'The one you ride they have wounded it.'

kaneeteeNUsuxteesiíšuʾ.
"He must not have known it.
kunohnuúteeRIt.
Then he saw it.
neeniihUhtaa- wátAt.
Then he rode apart.
kunohniihUhkatáʾAt.
Then he rode up (the hill).
xaawaarúxtiʾ neenuutáwi wehnačiraaWIhú paátuʾ.
The horse it stopped when it was spilling liquid out blood.
tinaaríčI wiiteešútš neeniihUhtákaahAt.
This young man he jumped off.
– neeniihUhkatáʾAt.
– He ran up (the hill).
– neeniičitaʾuuneéRIt.
– He stood on top.
neenuuNAsaakáhAt sanánat wešinihwiraaniwiítIt.
They surrounded him the Sioux as they attacked him.

wah titaraanaáʾAs tinaaríčI wiiteešútš tinaaríčI kaakaátš.
"Now he was fearless this young man, this Little Crow.
tiinuuwaawáʾAx wenakooNAhwaawaníkA.
They all ran away when he shot at them.

atsú – weneekuunaahnaanawíʾAt xaawaarúxtiʾ – niinatuxtaah- naaničitáWI.
"But – ours were tired horses – the ones we rode.
wah čikiišisiniisuuxá wačéh tinaaríčI sáhniš.
'Now let us do something for him, poor thing, this Arikara!'

atsú neečitáWI xaakaatít naWIsá áwit
"However the one he rode black horse the one who came first
weneehUhkataátA xaawaarúxtiʾ noowitiskatáʾIt na nootíʾAt.
when he rode up, the horse then he hit its face and then he went.
neeniiʾuuneéRIt.
He stood there.
hawá neešinihwiraaniwiítIt anináʾU sáhniš kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt.
Also they attacked him that one Arikara Bear Goes Into The Woods.

hawá – nuuwehnaaraaʾIhwísaʾ – áxkUx wiiteešútš sáhniš
"Also – when he arrived charging there – another young man Arikara
-- šitiisuxtaʾíhkuʾ naahané -- hawá neešinihwiraa- niwiítIt.
-- they called him Good Dish -- also they attacked him.
a tihwirinoósiʾ sáhniš.
And they were fierce the Arikaras.

hawá áxkUx neeneeraaʾIhwísaʾ wiiteešútš.
"Also one then he came charging a young man.
hawá nikutuúʾUt sáhniš tíʾ.
Also it was thus: an Arikara he was.
watoónaašA nikUšitiisux- taʾíhkuʾ nuxkUxiíʾU nakutakaaxíku.
Watonasha that is what they called him, his being left-handed when he shoots.

wah – kaakuunaNAhuuNIšáwihAt – wenaNAhwaaruúsAt sanánat tinaraaNIhuúNU.
"Now – there was a huge number of them – his wounding them Sioux these many.
xaawaarúxtiʾ weneekuunaahnaanawíʾAt.
The horses ours were tired.
atíštIt toxtaapóʾ.
'Cautiously let us go!
toxtaNAhkatáhAt.
Let's get away!'

wah kaakuhnaaninoosičiraʾá.
"Now there was a multitude of them.
wah kohnaaRAhwaáʾ.
Now they must have been coming.

či siinó kohnaaraanaáhuʾ haáwaʾ sáhniš.
"Here yet they must have been coming also Arikaras.
NIhúxuʾ nootíʾIt sáhniš wiitatshaánuʾ.
Only then they were Arikaras, Hidatsas.
nootatinaah- naníhIt taWIšaápis.
We were the only ones eight.

wiiteešútš kutuuxAxaáʾA haakariiWAhnaaníkUx na NAhkAxiikatít.
"A young man he was named Drum Beater, and (one) Black Robe.
neešiiníhkootIt tišináʾU wiitatshaánuʾ.
They killed them these (du) Hidatsas.
wah tinawaaríčI táWIt čiitíʾIš čituúʾuʾ tiraanunáhAs niihéʾ.
Now these three (or) four all they were dead there.

tuuNAhunaanoótA niiweNAtWIswaawáNA naahatúhkAt kaakuhnaaninoosičiraʾá.
"That land where I had gone all around the last there was a multitude.
wekaakuúʾUt niikohniišískaʾ aatohnaasaáhNA
It was not now thus as they had wanted 'that we do'
niiniiNAhčiteeʾá sanánat.
its being difficult for them the Sioux.
tinaraanoótA wenaRAhWIswáNA niikohnihnaahukoosuúʾA nootiiNAhnaačiteeʾá.
These when they arrived there however brave they must have been then it became hard for them.
neewitiinihkUxawáNIt – sanánat – na neeraaNIhuúʾU
They fell back (ie withdrew) – the Sioux – and there were many
weniinaNAhwaaruúsAt weniinakawootíkA.
their being wounded, their being killed."

anináʾU huunúxAx kaakaátš AhnuxtaáhNA nikuWIšitihkoótIt
The one society staff Little Crow the one who had it, they killed that one
anináʾU wiiteešútš kaakaátš AhnuuxA- xaáNU.
the one young man Little Crow the one who was named.
nawáh šitehnuxtawéʾ taróxpa tišinawaaríčI.
Now, they (du) must have been members of it Taroxpa these (du).
tišiNAstaraʾó nikU- šitehnihkoótIt.
These (du) I am talking about they (du) were the ones who were killed.

wah witsuxtaanuukatáʾAt.
Now they crossed the river.
noowititihkUxawáNIt saná- nat.
Then they pulled back the Sioux.
aráh Axtóh wekaakatakuunaaNAhuuNIšáwihAt.
"Say, surely they have overcome too many of us.
na kaneeniiraaNIhuúʾU wenatakuuraaNAhwaaruúsAt.
And there are not many they who have wounded us.
wenatakuuraaNAh- katoókUt kaakiraaNIhuúʾU.
They who have gone against us they are few.
na iiraaNIhuúNU a čituúʾuʾ aatakuuraakawoótIt – čituúʾuʾ –
And if there were many, and all they would kill us – all –
oohnaána – niikoh- nuhnaánuʾ wekohniinawireehaáʾAs.
if they had come – however many there are they must all be ready.
aataraahNAhwii- sátA huukaatAhaáhniniʾ kaakatakuunaaNAhuuNIšaWIháxtA.
If we had gone closer to it on the river bank, they would indeed get the best of us.

tinaraanoótA sáhniš tihwaaRUxtíʾ.
"These Arikaras they are holy.
šinitkAxá tuunaáhu tsUhiínuʾ šinitkAxáhu
If they call it the thunder, the rain if they call it,"
wehninaaʾiitawaaWIhú šinittsUhiihkAxá kaakatakuunaaNAhuuNIšaWIháxtA.
as they were telling about each, "if they call the rain they're certainly going to overwhelm us!
koxtakuuraakuuNAhát
We will be dead."

wah tákuʾ niikukohnaaroohuúʾU sanánat sanánat tinaa- čitaanoósI
Now whoever had the idea the Sioux, Sioux these bands
číkuʾ niikohnuutačitanaánuʾ tákuʾ niikukohnóxta AhnuuxIskáʾA –
however many bands there were, whoever had the idea his having wanted –
sáhniš čituúʾuʾ aatakawootíkA – na wiitatshaánuʾ na –
Arikaras all 'that I kill them,' – and Hidatsas, and –
káNIt – wah – niikohnáʾAt – niikoh- nuúta čeésuʾ.
Mandans, – now – wherever he went, – whatever he did too.

na wiiteešútš witiraanunáhAs.
And young men they were dead.
tatsuxwaaʾeéRIt naátU.
I saw the hill I.
kaakiraačeéʾA NItkuwaawanú šinikuusuxtaaʾiitawaawihUxukú.
It was not a long time when I wandered around what they used to tell me.
iiháʾ siinó tiwaákUx.
There yet the hill is.
iineewaákUx.
The hill is there.
tiwaaNIhuúʾU.
It is a big hill.
iiháʾ nikuwitiʾiínos sanánat.
There that is where the bodies lay Sioux.
nikuwitičitáros.
That is where they lay on top.
áxkUx šihUxtaánuʾ NAsawíʾuʾ na áxkUx nikuwituhnaánuʾ
One hu ndred thirty-one that was the number
AhnuuxIhčitaroósI na tuuhéʾ Ahniškawooruutikú.
the bodies lying on top and there their having been killed.

nakutawé NAhkuwaasakúx – na – WIšitinikaaʾiíšAt niiʾAhnuuxitUhwaáhAt.
At times when he had been wounded – and – they took him home where the camps were.
niihéʾ niiweneetúhkUx wenihwačee- hu – Beulah niihéʾ –
There where the town is what they call – Beulah, there –
nikuwituuxitUhkaátUx sanánat AhnuuxunaanoótA.
that is where the camp was in the ravine Sioux where they were camped.
nikuwituuxitUhwaáhAt aniweNUsuxtAhWIsátA.
That is where the camps were when they arrived to fight.

wah kanawituutAxítIt niiʾAhništoohunáʾU.
Now it did not occur what they had planned.
nootiraa- nunáhAs.
Then they died.
nikuwituhnaánuʾ čiitíʾIš sáhniš wiiteešútš –
That is how many there were: four Arikaras young men –
niiwenaraanunáhAs – na – pítkUx – wiitatshaánuʾ NAhkAxiikatít
the ones who died – and – two – Hidatsas: Black Robe
AhnuuxAxaáNU haakariiWAhnaaníkUx.
his having been named, Drum Beater.

tinaákUx haakariiWAhnaaníkUx nikuwitóx hiʾáxtiʾ tiíʾAt.
This Drum Beater that one was his his father He Flies.
nooweteeríhIt sápat wenuuniíWIs.
She is now the only one woman the one who remains.
tiíʾAt – nooxaanaáNU – čituúʾuʾ – wetiraanunáhas.
He Flies – his children – all – they are dead.
– nooweteerí- hIt tinaákUx sápat wenuuniíWIs.
– She is the only one this woman the one who remains.
nikuwituuxAxaáʾA wiitatshaánuʾ haakariiWAhnaaníkUx.
That one was named the Hidatsa Drum Beater.

atsú tinaákUx– NAhkAxiikatít– wiitatshaánuʾ tehnuuxaana-
But this– Black Robe– the Hidatsa he must have
níkUx sáhniš.
been married to her an Arikara.
staNAhaakaatít atípaʾ nikuwitóx na neetAhkaráni.
Black Buffalo Woman her grand- father he was the one, and Spotted Tail.
kuúNUx kananiikatariíNU nikutuuxAxaáʾA haáwaʾ.
Slow Bear he was named that also.
wah nikuWIšitóx anináʾU hiʾáxtiʾ káNIt witíʾ.
Now that one was his; that one his father a Mandan he was.
atsú witaáʾ íhUx wiitatshaánuʾ íhUx káNIt haáwaʾ.
But he was half Hidatsa, half Mandan also.
nišwačeehUxuúkuʾ NAhkAxiikatít kuúNUx kananiikatariíNU nikuwitóx atípaʾ.
They used to say Black Robe Slow Bear that one was his grandfather.
wah tinaákUx staNAhaakaatít nikuwitóx inástiʾ kuúNUx kananiikatariíNU.
Now this Black Buffalo Woman she was the one his brother Slow Bear.
Sanishtaaká his mother she was theirs (du).
.

wah taanikutatsuuxItkookUxúʾ pítkUx táWIt NIhku- naaʾiiwaátI
Now this is what I used to hear two, three their telling the story
tinaraaʾiítUx tiwenatunaaʾiítIhu.
this story the one I am telling.

wah tinaákUx kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt wetatunaaʾiitíštA niiʾAhnuutaáNA.
Now this Bear Goes Into The Woods I am going to tell about it what he did.
wah tinaákUx wiiteešútš wituxtaahukoóʾUs naahnuuxAxaáNU watoónaašA.
Now this young man he was valorous the one who was named Watonasha.
WIšituxtiraáhuʾ wiiteešútš.
They (du) were always together the young men.

wah taróxpa weNAhkučeehaáhkUx wenehkuraakawaakaroóku na
Now Taroxpa when it had its dance when they were singing and
witeenunuunaakaanunós taakáxtš niinooNAhkuúʾU xaátš neščiraánuʾ
they had their foods there dried meat different kinds, dog, sweet corn,
WAhúx wenehkuraakawaakaroóku taróxpa.
squash, when they were singing Taroxpa.

wah tsu tišinaákUx WIšituxwaawanúʾ iitineetuunoótA.
Now but these (du) they (du) were wandering around where this village was.
hawáh šiisiiNIšakaakawáʾAs taróxpa.
"Hey, let us eat theirs Taroxpa!"

nooWIšitIhuúpA weWIšitohnuunáWIswo.
Then they (du) entered while they sang their death song.
WIšitUtčeehaahtaakárahAt niiʾAhnaraanoóta taróxpa.
They (du) went around the inside of the room where they sat Taroxpa (members).
nooWIšitičiraahAhkúxIt.
Then they (du) took up the pot.
nooWIšitičiraahanaaWIsítIt.
Then they (du) took the pot of cooking food outside.
šiisiiNIšakaakawáʾAs.
"Let us eat theirs!"
– wah nikuWIšituúta.
– Now that is what they (du) did.
– wah nikuwituxtaateehuúʾU.
– Now that was the custom.
nikiišuutaáNA šuunačiraahAhkúxIt taróxpa – wah –
If you do that if you take their pot of cooking food the Taroxpas, – now –
nikuwetAxiniitaakaaníštA niinaraawiitoóčI naahukoósuʾ
you are going to have to do that for them what is a manly act a warrior
tinaraáčI číkuʾ nakuutaáNA.
these ways, to do something.
wewititAxwaakáWA.
You have now obligated yourself.
nikutatuuxAtkookUxuúkuʾ.
That is what I used to hear.
wah tišinaákux nikuWIšituúta.
Now these (du) that is what they did.

wah tinaákUx – weNAheešá –
Now this one – when morning came –
wehnuunačiraahAhkúxIt wešohnačiraahanikaaʾá wah
after they took their pot of cooking food after they brought the pot out, now
kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt suúnaaxuʾ – uu – wituhné –
Bear Goes Into The Woods a young woman – oh, – she was pretty –
AhnaahtakúʾU – hiwaaráNIt.
his wife – beautiful.
nooWIšitohnaánaʾ – naakunaánuʾ – nakaánus xuúhuniʾ
Then they (du) came after them – Juneberries, – chokecherries close by
niiNAhunaanúʾa huukaawiraátA niinuuxitúhkUx
where the land comes extending east where the village was located
nuuxitUhčituúʾU šohnaawaʾá.
when the village was combined as they (du) came.
kookuríhIt WIšitIhukákUx.
A one horse cart they (du) rode in it.

uu witiraaNIhuúʾU naakunaánuʾ nakaánus wešohna- taráʾU.
Oh, there were many Juneberries, chokecherries as they (du) picked.
uu tinaaríčI xaawaarúxtiʾ noowewitiisaNAxaánuʾ AhnačiškataWAhnaáhu.
Oh, this horse then it was uneasy its continually whin- nying.
nuukuwitireewáʾAt niišohnoxwaʾá.
Over there it looked from where they (du) had come.

wah nikunoowitiiraawiiʾót wehniinaakitUhwaawaníkA
Now then it was just about that time when they were shooting at the village
anuunatskatAhkáʾU wehnoosuxtaanuukaataʾiišá.
there (from) the other side of the river when they (the enemy) came to the bank of the river.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaaríčI kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt wah nataahtakúʾU – tatooxAsíštA.
Then he said this Bear Goes Into The Woods: "Now, my wife, – I have loved you
– wah – tsu – taanikuneetuúta tatuunakaakawáʾAs taróxpa.
– Now – but – this is what I did: I ate theirs Taroxpa.
– naahukoósuʾ neéʾIt.
– Brave men they are.
– wah číkuʾ  niiNItkuutaáNA– kaakíʾ NItkunaaninó.
– Now what- ever I do,– I cannot be afraid.
wenataahtakúʾU – tatoo- xAsíštA.
My wife, – I have loved you.
wetatAhuunawaahíštA.
I am going to leave you now."

xaawaarúxtiʾ noowewitiisaNAxaánuʾ.
The horse then it was uneasy.
nootikaruúWAt.
Then he unhitched it.
noowituhnaxtanoóʾa.
Then he took the harness off.
noowitiwaákoʾ tuhnaʾít xaawaarúxtiʾ tinaaríčI hee tičé nuúʾUt Ahnoonaakurinó.
Then he said, he told it the horse this: "Hey, what is it your fearing it?
tAxkatariíʾI na kaneeneešiwiroóhuuʾU.
You are fast, and you certainly are a winner.
nikutatíʾ nakukUhunáhAs.
I am the one for me to die.
tAxtooxuúʾU NAxkatariíNU xaawaarúxtiʾ tinaáxU.
You are beautiful your being swift, horse you here.
nikutatíʾ.
I am the one.
nikukooxikuuhunáhAs.
I will be the one to die."

nootiičitawiítIt tinaaríčI xaakaatít.
Then he mounted it this black horse.
wituhné.
It was nice looking.
wituuNIšaʾiwáNIt tinaaríčI suúnaaxuʾ.
He shook her hand this young woman.
noowiteečitstáʾ.
Then she cried.

tineečitáWI wiiteešútš noowituuNAxíNIt uhtaRAhčiíšuʾ aniwehnaaʾá.
This young man then he made it run a fast speed as he came.
aa witikatariíʾI xaawaarúxtiʾ nuuwehneesAhkoó- kUt.
Ah, it was swift the horse as it went there into the village.
noowitiihUhtawiraáʾAt niiwehnaraanuuka- tawó.
Then it ran down where they were crossing (the river).
noowitiičitaWIhaʾuúkUt.
Then he went in the water on horseback.
witIhuukatáʾAt.
He crossed.

anuú noowitiihUhkatáʾAt niiwehnaRAxUhuhteéhAt wehnooNAhčitawaʾá.
There then he ran up where the edge of the battle was where they came over the top (of the hill).
noowitiwísAt.
Then he arrived.
nootiihUhtákaahAt.
Then he jumped off.

tinaaríčI xaawaarúxtiʾ niikohnuutUhuúna WIšiteenuusuuxi- RAxwísaʾ
This horse whatever became of it they brought it for him
štoh anináʾU– xaakaatít – tsu AhnuuxičitáWI wewitIhunáhAs.
back that– black horse – but the one who rode it he was now dead.
weWIšitihkoótIt kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt tsu
They had killed him Bear Goes Into The Woods but
kanawituunaNAhuuNIšáwihAt wehnaakuNAhátkA
he had killed a large number of them when he killed them,
wehnaawaaruúsAt xaawaarúxtiʾ wehnuunakawooruutíkA.
when he wounded them, horses after he killed various ones of theirs.
wah nikuWIšitiininuʾá.
Now they became afraid of that one.

wah tuunaákUx naahané šohniisuxtéhku hawá
Now, that one Good Dish the one they used to call also
nikuwitiʾá kuúNUx.
that one became a bear.
noowitehnikawaawáRIt sanánat.
Then he scattered them the Sioux.
noowituutUhuunoohtawiítIt kuúNUx.
Then he transformed into it a bear.
noowiteekawoótIt sanánat.
Then he killed them Sioux.

wah tinaákUx watoónaašA weWIšitihwiraaníkUx haáwaʾ.
Now this Watonasha they were attacking him also.
nikuwitUstaraaNAsúʾ haáwaʾ.
That one was just as fierce also.
tsu AhnuxkUxíʾ.
But he was lefthanded.
nikuwitunaačiteeʾá niíšuʾ wehnuNAhkatakUxiiNIhú.
It was difficult for that one shells when they were choking it.
witíʾIt šohniisuuxAhnehkUxukú nariišpAhaatíčI noowehneeRAhWIsá ništAhkatAxá.
They were ones they used to call red arrows when they first arrived breechloaders.
noowituNAhkatakUxiiníhuʾ tinaákuʾ atíštIt kanawitiirištAhká.
Then it choked (ie jammed) the gun; well (ie correctly) the shells were not loaded.
nooWIšitihkoótIt.
Then they killed him.

wehnaRAxUhuunaweétA nooWIšitiiniinaNAxwíʾAt iiʾAhnaʾiinoswaáWI niiwehniinakuNAhátkA.
After the fighting ended then they went to look for bodies where the bodies lay the ones who had been killed.

wah tinaákUx naahané tehnaawísaʾ.
Now this Good Dish he must have arrived back.
atsú uunaraanoótA táWIt wewitiraanunáhAs.
But those others three they were now dead.
kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt kaakaátš na watoónaašA – na –
Bear Goes Into Woods, Little Crow, and Watonasha, – and –
pítkUx wiitatshaánuʾ na káNIt.
two (others) Hidatsa, and Mandan.

wah – tiwenaraakoxkAhaahwaawaáhNA –
Now – when there got to be peace everywhere –
weniinaaʾiiwaawaátI sanánat wenuuxIhtakUhuhwaawanú
when they told different stories Sioux when they were wandering as a group
anuú niškúsuʾ na – waahatUhkákUx – na niihéʾ –
there Cannon Ball and – Fort Yates – and there, –
wetikuunaahunáhAs – niiNIš- taaʾiiwaawaatIhú aninaraaʾiitUxíčI
I forgot the place – when they were telling stories those stories,
wah taanikutuutAxítIt.
"Now this is what happened."

wah witiRAhkoxkAhaáNAt – sáhniš – niihéʾ niiʾAhneetúhkUx niškúsuʾ.
Now they went on a friendly visit – Arikaras – there where the village is Cannon Ball.
noowehnaRAhkaawaáhu uu witiraačiškáʾIt.
When they were dancing, oh, they had a good time!
wehnaraanoótA kananiiraaNIhuúʾU sanánat.
When they stayed there were so many Sioux!

anuú kuwitaahwé nátš.
There it was upright at a distance a stick.
pAxIskuúxuʾ witUstákUx.
A scalp it hung from it.
– hawá áxkUx uukuwitiwé.
– Also one another was upright
– pítkUx pAxIskuúxuʾ šohnuuxuhwaáWI šohnihkootíkA.
– Two scalps their (du) hair their (du) having been killed.

nooWIšitiítIsiš.
Then they recognized them (du).
– noowitiwaákoʾ – tináWI pAxIskuúxuʾ nikutíʾ
– Then he said: – "This scalp it is the one
kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt a tuu- naáhWI nikuníʾ kaakaátš.
Bear Goes Into The Woods, and that one over there it is the one Little Crow."
tehnuxpAxkariwíʾ NIhúhtš wiiteešútš.
He must had had a curly head a little the young man.
WIšitiitIswaáwiš sáhniš tatstaraʾóʾ sáhniš
They recognized them (du) Arikaras, I am talking about it Arikaras
wehninaanaawiitikú Ahnatakuraačeewá
as they were showing them off their having counted coup on us
AhniikawootíkA aninoóči.
their having killed them those.

AhništaanuhkoóčI naawaaRUxtiíʾuʾ noowitiránoʾ NAhnaaWIškáhtš.
The ones who had them holy ways then he filled it the pipe.
WIšitiisaahnoóʾA.
They offered the pipe.

na tiwenehnaNAhnaanúʾAt ačitaánuʾ niiNAsiíNU.
"And here we sit tribe ours.
wah číkuʾ šiNAxkuraáwiš.
Now you must smoke some.
– wah uunáxkUx kaakaátš – tiwenee- tinaapIsaáhu niiwešinaraáhNA.
– Now you other one Little Crow – we have come here where they have you.
wah čeésuʾ číkuʾ WIšiti- NAxkUtkawiítIt čeésuʾ
Now too maybe you will avenge yourselves (du) ourselves
NItkuraakIsšteehuúNU niiwešinooNAhuunuúʾA.
that we might be thankful after what they have done to you.
atsú wenuunaahé atíštIt šitehnaára
But it is good well they must have you (du),"
wešohnitwaaWIhtikú áwit AhnuuxunuuwaáWI.
when they were talking to them (du) formerly the ones who were living.

nootiraačiškawá AhnaRAhkaáhu.
Then they had a good time as they were dancing.

wah suúnaaxuʾ tiwitiihAxwánuʾ.
Now a young woman she was dancing around.
wituunáwiʾ piirapIskhuúnuʾ.
She resembled a doll.
nikutišwačeehUxuúkuʾ suúnaaxuʾ noonuhneeRAhú.
That is what they used to say a young woman one who was nice looking.
noowewituutuNAhkatAhaákuʾ niitiʾAhnaraanoótA sáhniš.
Then she was dancing in front of them here where they sat the Arikaras.

noowitiwáčiʾ wah WIšteetóʾ.
Then they said: "Now wait!
wetuhkohninoosíštA tinawanú.
She's going to be abused this one."

hawá áxkUx uuwehnawánuʾ.
Also one that was going about.
čiitíʾIš wituhnaánuʾ suúnaaxuʾ wehneenuutaakawičešwaáhnu
Four there were young women ones who were showing off in front of them
– sáhniš – tinaraanoótA wehnihnaanuúNU
– Arikaras – these, (when they ridiculed in) their action
Ahnatakuxtaačé aninoóčI tišinaákUx wiiteešútš šohnihkootíkA.
when they counted coups on ours the ones these (du) young men whom they killed.

wah – nootiraaʾíWA.
Now – then the dance ended.
núxkUx – šohniisuxtéhku kaakaawaapIsíšuʾ– na –
The one who was – the one called Iron Crow– and –
sčirí tuúNAx nooWIšitiRAhunáhAs tinaaríčI suúnaaxuʾ
Running Wolf then they eloped with her this young woman
AhnuhneéRA AhnuxtAhkAxiiNAhkataá- NU.
the pretty one the one who had a yellow dress.
uu – suúnaaxuʾ – niwaaraáʾuʾ wehniitapsiwaawaahnú
Oh – a young woman – beautiful her having winters
nooxíniʾ na taWIšaápis nuukunoowiteewítat.
eighteen she was that age.
na uunawaaríčI nooWIšitiinaNAhunuuwaáhAs wehnaahtakukaaʾišwaʾá.
And those others then they eloped with them when the party came home.

na tinaákUx – sčirí tuúNAx – na – kaakaawaapIsíšuʾ – noo-
And this – Running Wolf – and – Iron Crow – then
WIšitoosiráxaʾ tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ.
they (du) brought her this young woman.
noowitiwískaʾ tinaákUx– suúnaaxuʾ –
Then she thought this– young woman –
wešiteeNAxkuusiRAxkaaʾiišúhtA niiʾAhnatoxtaakítAt tiihéʾ.
"You (du) must be going to take me home," where our village was here.

číkuʾ wetehnuutunaánuʾ wehnatakuraahNAhčituuwaáhNA
It must have been the time when we (Indians) got together
wehnaraanawáNA koohaáhkAt.
when they were living dispersed on the north.
wehnaraa- nawáNA nikunoowetehniiraawiiʾootšaanúʾ.
When they were living dispersed it must have been getting to be that time.

noowitiwískaʾ tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ wešiteeNAxkoh-
Then she thought this young woman: "You must be
takúxtA sáhniš.
going to marry me Arikara."

či wešiišeenuusiRAxáʾ witiNIhkutAhkatAhakú niikoh-
Here they had brought her for each of them to be taking her sexually however
nuhnaánuʾ wiítA aniwenuuxunuuwaáWI.
many it was men the ones who were living then.
wah na niišaakIhtakuranuhkáʾIt.
Now and each of these had wives.
ka náʾIt wiitaníhUx.
They were not single men.

niikohniíhiʾ načiiʾuuháWI skAhuukaawíʾAt
Wherever it was Cannon Ball; Face Submerged In The Water
nikuwitiíhiʾ wehneétAt.
that was the place where the camp was.
wah čikiitooxUhuunaakaakawáʾAs na neeteeraapóʾ.
"Now let us eat something first and then we will go!"
noowitiraaninuúWA.
Then they camped (lit sat down).

noowiteečitáʾ aninaʾU kaakaawaapIsíšuʾ
Then he came over the hill that Iron Crow
wehniinakiwaaxaxkú – šiišUhuúnaʾ.
when he named different ones: – "Come here!"
– noowitikatáʾAt.
– Then he went up.
a či – nikuwešiišeeníkUx anináʾU – suúnaaxuʾ Ahnooxawičešwaahnú.
And here – that is where they had her that – young woman the one who had been showing off.
wah – niiháʾ – nikunooWIšitinuxwanuuxítIt wewitohnitkatAhakú.
Now – there – that is where they proceeded to rape her as each one took his turn.
WIšitiiNAhuunuxteéWA na nooWIšitiiníʾit.
They finally finished with her and then they let her go.

hawá uunaaríčI Ahnooxawičešwaahnú hawá nikuWIšitiiNAhuúnuʾ.
Also the other one the one who had been showing off also they did that to her.
weWIšitíʾa pítkUx.
There were (du) two.

wah – wah teéRIt sanánat – a – či – wešiišeenuNAhunáhAs
Now – Standing Elk a Sioux – and – her – they eloped with his
haáwaʾ tsu anináʾU šitehniinaáku štoh.
also, but that one they must have given her back again.
tehneenuutUhuuniraanoósaʾ sanánat.
He (the husband) must have tracked her down the Sioux.
noowi- tiisiráxAt wah teéRIt nooxAhtakúʾU sápat.
Then he took her (back) Standing Elk his wife the woman.
piiráʾuʾ wituxtá.
A baby she had.

noowitaahtakukaaʾišwáʾ.
Then they came home as a group.

wah niiháʾ nikuwituutAxíruutIt.
Now there that is what happened.
noowitaahtaku- wísaʾ.
Then the group came back.
atsú wewitiiNAhnaawaawaʾú Ahništeš- waawaahnú.
Meanwhile now they had been given things their donating to them.
wah taanikuwituutAxítIt.
Now this is what happened.
wah taanikutatuuNUxaakIt- kookUxuúkuʾ niiNIštaaʾiiwaawaatIhú.
Now this is what I used to hear from them when they used to tell stories.