Little Herder in Winter = Haigo na’niłkaadí yázhí [PDF]

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LITTLE HERDER IN UllNTE HAlGO NHNIEKRAD~ Y ~ Z H

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ILLUSTRRTED' ''BY

HOKE DE,NETSOSIE LINGUISTICS BY

JOHN F! HARRINGTON

ROBERT W. YOUNG

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CI PUBLICRTION OF THE EDUCATION DIVISION,US.OFFKE OF INURN AFFAIRS

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SNOW

YAS

My mother's land is white with snow. Shim6 bikkyah yas bee tigai. Bikooh d60 t6 sighinigii The sandwash and the waterhole, . t%'ohtibaago doh .naazhjaa2igii the dry grass patches and the cornfield hide away d66 dh'ak'eh yas tigaigo under the white blanket, keyah beeldlei under the snow blanket nahalingo bik'esti'. that covers the land. T'66 '6t9& rit'g+,' The air is filled with falling snow, richiil yas d it%6e'go thick snow, yas yi lzh66ligo soft snow fa lling, nanidb6h1 fa1ling. nanidbbh.

Beautiful Mountain and the red rock canyons hide their faces in snow clouds.

D z i l Nizh6ni do6 tsekooh daalchi'igii yas k'os bik'edaasti'.

The wind cries.

Niyol daacha.

It piles the snow in drift banks

Dib6 bighan tsin binaneeskaaligii binahji' yas 'ahaniyi iziid. Shim6 bighan bid66dilkal yik'iji' yichogo sitj. Niyol yicha, tt'66'966

against the poles of the sheep corral. It pushes against the door of my mother's hogan, and it cries. The wind cries out there in the snow and the cold.

yas d66 hak'az bii'.

My mother's hogan is cold. Snow blows down the smoke hole. Water drops on the fire. The wet wood smokes and keeps its flames to itself. has not shown his face to tell us what time of day it is.

Shim6 bighan si k'az. Ch'ilaghi'deg' yas yah 'ahiiybt. Kg' t6 bik'iji' nanideeh. Chizh dittee'igii doo diilttaa dago tid t'eiya. J6honaa'Bi t'ah doo ch'eghaah do, 'ako 'az'anigii doo nihit b66dah6zin da.

I do not like to ask my mother,

Shim6 doo "K'adeesh 'atnk'e'aah," d66 "1s it noon now?" or "is it almost night?" "K'adeesh '6'e'aah," bidishnii do, da'j iy&j i' 'ahodoolzhish y& because she might think jinizin sh6'nii doo biniinaa. I wanted it to be time to eat. Dichin shi'ni ilhi sh6',nii doo She might think biniinaa. I wanted food.

I do 'not like to ask my mother,

Shim6 doo "K'adeesh 'alne'e'aah," d66 "Is it noon now?" or "K'adt$esh 'B'e'aah," bidishnii do, "Is it almost night?" da'j iyqqj i' 'ahodoolzhish y& because j inizin sh6'nii doo biniinaa. she might think I wanted it to be time to eat. Dichin shi'niilhj sh6'nii doo She might think biniinaa. I wanted food.

THERE IS NO FOOD

CH'IIYAAN 'ADIN

There is no food. ?

There is no flour nor cornmeal to make into bread, 'There is no coffee that my mother could boil for us to drink. '

baah bee 'adoolni%igii'adin. Gohwei shim6 niha yidodbishgo dadiidlpigii 'adin.

There is no food. 1,

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The corn my father planted in his field I

is gone.

Naadcja' shizhe'6 bida'ak'ehgi k96ididleehigii '6sdjid.

We ate it. There was so little. The corn pile in the storehouse was not high enough to last for long. It is gone.

'Attso dei id44'. 'Atch' j jdi yee' fit'&. Naadcjb' hahogeed g6ne' yanoa'ah4~ doo 'as'ahg66 nin6ks'qqd da. 'Asdj id.

Now all of it is gone. There is no food. There is food at the Trading Post in sacks and in boxes, in bins and in cans on the shelf.

T'aa 'at'e 'asdjjd. Ch'i iyabn 'adin. Naalghkhe bb hooghandi ch'i iyaon h61~, 'azis d66 tsints'aa' dabighi', tsi nts'aa' dantsaaigii d66 yadiizini dabighi'.

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There is food at the Trading Post, Noalghkhk ba hooghandi ch'iiyban but the Trading Post h616, ndi naalgheh6 ba hooghang66 is far away and snowdrifts 'ay66 'anizaad, do6 yas bich'4ah deilk'id, and snow clouds d66 k'adee n66dichiit. are heavy between. There is food at the Trading Post Naalghehe bo hooghandi but my father has nothing left ch'iiyaan h614,

of the hard, round money that he must give to the Trader for the food: There is no food here in my mother's hogan. rx

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ndi shizhe'h bib6Bso %din, bheso naalgh6h6 ya sid6hi ch'i iya6n yi k'6h baa y idooni%igii. Shim6 bighangi

/hen it is time to eat, we talk of other things, but not of hunger. his thing called hunger is a pain that sits inside me. ,t f i r s t it was little,

but now it grows bigger and bigger.

hurts me to be hungry.

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d ' i i d h j i 'anahalzhishgo t'66 t'aadoo le'b bag hdei it'ii %eh, dichin 'ei dooda. Dii dichin gholghkhigii ay6igo neezgaigo shii' si'a. 9

T'66 'atsk doo ghQh6 do ndi k'ad t'eiya 'ay66 '6nittso. Neezgai dichin nishliigo.

THE DOGS ARE HUNGRY e dogs are hungry, too. hey crowd in the hogan. he black one is not sleeping now. [:He lies with his head on his paws and looks at nothing.

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The ye1low one whimpers. e has worked hard, but there is no food.

LEECH&$'[

DICHIN BI'NI IGHA

t66chqq'i a%dd6' dichin bi'ni igha. Hooghanj i' 'atk'iinoakai. Lizhinigii k'ad doo 'athosh da. Bikee' yik'i dah nkks'bqgo d66 t'66 dkez'ii'go siti. Litsoigii t'6iy6 nchadisii y6igo nashnishgo biniinaa, ndi ch'iiy66n 'adin.

The gray shadow dog stays outside close to the tree trunk making no sound asking for nothing.

LeBchqq'i tibahigii t'Biya t'aa t%'609d i tsin biyaadi t'aadoo ' iits'a'i d66 'adbkeedgo sitj.

I think

Doo bidi'ndzinigii bit bekhozin sha'shin nisin.

she knows nobody wants her.

THE SHEEP

DIBE

h e sheep are wet and cold. hey are hungry, too. i the snow keeps falling, it will be bad for the sheep.

Dibe dadittke' d66 dabi'niidli. D66 dichin bi'niigha. T'aa hchiilgo dibk doo btr ya'at'eeh do.

brhaps

'Ei daats'i

that is why the wind cries. prhaps the wind is sorry for. the sheep. hot is what I think.

biniinaa niyol 'hi. Niyol daats'i d i e yqah bini'. Shi 'akwiinisin.

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MELTING SNOW WATER My mother talks

YAS DllGHllH

to my father. Together they go out to shovel snow. The ruffles on my mother's skirts make pretty marks on the top of the snow whiteness.

Shim6 shizhe'k yich'i' yatti'. T'aa 'atah yas neigeedg60 dah dii'aazh shim6 bitt'aakat yas tigaiigii bikaa'gob nizh6nigo na'azoh.

My mother and my father shovel a round place clean of snow out near the sheep corral.

Shima d60 shizhk'h dibh bighan- biighahgi n6hazbqsgo yas hayi ig6bd.

They will build a fire to melt snow into water to give to the sheep.

Diididodjah d66 yas yididodhi dibe deidoodliP biniighe.

It takes much wood to make a fire to melt snow into water, but if the sheep have water to drink they do not hunger so much.

Chizh t'66 'ahaybigo bee deidiljah yas bee diighiih biniighe. ndi dib6 da'adl6qgo doo gh6zhQ dichin danizin da.

When the round place Nbhazbqsgo haz'aqgo is clear of snow, hasht'ehoolyaago my mother comes into the hogan 'inda shim6 hooghandee' for dry wood chizh yittseeigii nin6yij66h, to make the outdoor fire. yee diididodjah biniigh6. 20

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She picks a stick from our small pile beside the fire. She picks another and another until she has o little armful. My mother picks them up. slowly for our pile is so small y father comes into the hogan. e stomps his feet. 'ttle hills of dirty snow : melt slowly by them . on the hogan floor.

Chizh %a'neidiit6 kg' biighahgi chizh 'atch' j jdigo shijaa'd66. T'aa nayiilaahgo bigaan hadeezbin %eh. Tqqdee shima chizh nayiilaah %eh nihichizh 'atch'iidigo biniinaa. ShizhB'b hooghan gbne' yah 'an6doahgo nikidiltat teh. Yas '6daaks' iisigo d66 t'66 baadaa'i ihgo hooghan ni'g66 dadiighiih %eh.

She picks a stick from our small pile beside the fire. She picks another and another until she has a little armful. My mother picks them up slowly for our pile is so small My father comes into the hogan. He stamps his feet. Little hills of dirty snow melt slowly by them on the hogan floor. I

Chizh %a'neidiit4 kg' biighahgi chizh 'a%ch'i[digoshi jaa'd6b. T'6b nayiilaahgo bigaan hadeezbin %eh. Tqqdee shima chizh nayiilaah %eh nihichizh 'akh'lidigo biniinaa. Shizh6'6 hooghan gbne' yah 'an6d6ahgo nikidiltat teh. Yas 'bdaa%ts'iisigo d66 t'66 baadaa'i ihgo hooghan ni'g66 dadi igh[ih teh.

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My father blows on his hands to warm them. His breath looks like smoke. My father shreds juniper bark to start the outdoor fire. He takes a lighted stick from our fire. He takes it outside.. He puts it under the bark and the dry wood, and kneeling down he blows on it. '

Soon a small flame comes.

Shizhb'e bila' yiso% yiniitd66h biniighe, biz66'd&' %idnahalin. ShizhB'e 'azhiih yidinighish %eh tt'6o'di yee diididooljah biniighb. Tsin t'aa diltti'go nihik~'d66nbidiitiih. T%'66'g66ch'iitijh 'azhiih d66 chizh yiyaag i niitiih d66 ntsidbbsgo'go yisd %eh. Hodiina'go diiltta.

It takes a lot of snow in my mother's washtub to melt enough water for the sheep. When my mother comes again into the hogan she is tired. Her poor face is dark with cold.

Shim6 bibee'igisi bii' yas t'66 'ahayoigo di ighijhgo 'inda dibe t6 t'aa biighah. Shim6 hooghan gone' yah 'anodaahgo ch'Beh deeya %eh. Binii'ji' hak'az bee dinilzhin keh.

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put my arms a m n d my mother's knees. is the only way I know .to show her : that I am sorry she is colId. I

Shim6 bigod g6naa binisenii'. 'Ak6t'eego t'6iya

j izk'azgo bqqh shini'igii bee hot hashni'.

ight is slaw in corning, but at jbsts it comes i n g through the snow

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wet wpod s n ? g h ~ *

Doo hqh t#'BB' haleeh do ndi hodiina'go tt'BB' richiil bit niyolgo yii' niyh. Nizaad i mq' ii daacho yi its'a'. T'aa 'ahonigi niyol 'adaani. Chizh ditt6B'igii bits'aad66 %id. Yas bitoo' ch'il6ghi'dee' nahidi lch'aat.

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STORY TELLING

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Then my father tell us stories. Long stories made up of many words. H i s words have power. They have strength. They seem to hold me. They seem to warm me. They seem to feed me.

NAHANI' 'Aad66 sh izh6'6 nihit nahalni'. Hani' 'ay6i 'adanitn66z saad t'66 'ahay6i. Bizaad 'ay66 '6t'e. Bizaad bidziil. T'66 dashbtq' nahalin. T'b6 bee sBdo nahalin. T'66 shi'iiscj nahalin. ..

: My father's words,

shizh&'b bizaad

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bee hasht'e' nin6h6shd66h. . Bizaad 'ay66 "6t'B.

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they comfort me. H i s words have power.

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My father tel Is The Star Story.

Shizhe'6 SQ' baa honi' yaa halni %eh.

"When the world was being made, being made." My father tells us, "When the Gods were placing stars, the stars, the stars in patterns in the sky, coyote stole the star bag."

"Nahasdzoan 'olnbehgo, 'alneehgo, dighin dine'6 SQ' ndeinilgo s~'igii SQ' y6 di%hi% yii' hasht'e' ndeinilgo mq'ii 'azis SQ' bighi'go I, yineez II , niigo shizh6'6 nihit halni' teh. 9??'

"Mq'ii ya di%hi% SQ' yii' neezgh66d Coyote spilled the stars out t'aadoo 'et5h6zini neezghaad in the sky, nahosdzaan 'alnt5ehgo." helter skelter in the sky, when the world was being made. T'66 hazh6b9bgo Softly my father tells it, the story of the stars.

baa hani' shizhb't5 yaa halni' %eh. SQ'

Outside, the wind and the night push against

my mother's hogan door. Outside, big flakes of snow fall thickly, fall softly, fa1I steadily.

T%'6o'di niyol d66 t%'& shim6 bighan bidaadilka%yi%jizh. T%'6o'di Yas 'ahineesti hgo nanidhhh,

t'aadoo 'iits'a'i nanidhhh, t'aadoo bita' hoo'aahi nanidbbh.

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Inside,

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Ghbne'6 t'biy6

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drips down the smoke hole :and the words of m y father's voice drop softly into the quiet .. of: my m0ther.l~hogan.

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doo 'iits'a'i . da yileeh 1 shim6 bighan @bne' ' . .

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ch'il6c~hi',d&'ndahidilch'&% %eh, d66 shizk'e bizhi . t'66 kbdfgo

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yas too'i,..,.:

. snow. water

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NA'ATL'O' The Star Story made m y mother think of the string game, "It-Is-Twisted." She said that the Spider People gave it t o us to use in winter evenings. .My mother showed us how t o make the game. he made Twin-Stars and Many-Stars, Big-Star and Horned-Star with pieces of string.

Shim6 na'att'o' daan6'6 yaa tsideezkeez SQ' baa hani' yidi izts'4q'go. Na'ashje'i i Dine'e bits'a4dM haz Ii[' hitiij [jhgo bee na'a9n86h biniighe, ni shimtr. Shim6 nihinaat na'att'o' doane'6 ayi iloo. 'Abd66 shimo SQ: naaki d66 sg' %hi d66 ssg'tsoh d66 sg'dee'i nanoolzhee' yee 'ayii taa.

PAWN

' M H 'AZLAH

I heard myself saying, "I want some bread."

K'ad 'inda "B66h %a9," dishnii 16go b66h '6k6ni izii'.

My father is not talking now. He is looking a t me. .My mother is looking at me.

Shizh6'e k'ad doo yatti' da. T'66 shinit' i. Shim6 d6' shinit'[.

Just now, \

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Doo shi '6diiniid do shighi'di They do not know it was not I, dichin sid6higii ga' but this hunger pain inside me ';f- . -Y : "B66h %a' nisin" nihigii that said those words, 4 + "I want some bread:" doo ho%b66dah6zin da. Doo ho%b66dah6zin da They do not know that, d66 shi 'a%d6' haashii yit'6ego and I do not know how to tell them. bee hol hodeeshnih. c,

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My He He My

father sits still. sits quietly. is thinking. mother looks down at her hands where they are resting in the folds of her skirt.

Outside, the wind cries . the wind cries to my thinking.

Shizhb'b t'aadoo naha'nani sid6h. T'aadoo 'iits'a'i sidah. T'66 ntsekees. Shim6 bila' i n ' bit%'aaka% 'ah6qh niilahigi doh d6esnii'go. '?

niyol '6daani niyol '6daani

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Hazhoo96go Slowly shizhe'e beesh ligaii biziiz my father takes his concho belt 'adeidi idloh, from about his waist. hozh66'6go Slowly sis yik'ideesnii' his fingers touch the belt, bkbsh tigaii counting, ysta'go counting, ysta'go. counting the conchos.

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r8.!Slowly ...

Hazh66'6go shim6

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mymother takes her coral string biyootchi'i yoo' from about her neck. 'adeidii'nil. She looks at it. T'66 yinR'i, She looks at it. t'66 yinU1i. Slowly Hazh66'6go she puts it back again azeenaankest' i'. around her neck. 'A6d66 shim6 Then biyoostsaah ntsaaigii my mother bila' takes from her finger yaa yidii'4. her largest turquoise ring. . '

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My father puts his concho belt upon the floor. My mother puts her turquoise ring upon the floor.

Shizh6'6 b66sh %igaii biziiz ni'g66 niihlah. Shima doott'izhi i biyoostsaah ni'g66 niihlah.

The concho be1t and the turquoise ring make a splash of color in the gray-l ighted hogan.

BBesh tigaii sis

H e will pawn them because our food is getting low. .

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The concho belt

B6bsh %igaii sis

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and the, turquoise ring are for pawn.

d66 yoostsaah doott' izhi i binaa'go t'66 nizh6nigo sinil hooghan g6ne' ha lbaago. 'qqh niidoonit

nihich'iyq' '6bi'ni idlidgo biniinaa. d66 yoostsaah doott'izhi i bin66'go 'qqh niidoonit biniigh6. 41

They are for pawn. Pawn to the Trader for food. Pawn to the Trader that we may eat.

' 'qqh niidoonil biniighe. Naalghehe -yo s i d h i bqqh ndoo'nit ch'i iyaan bee. Naalghehe y.6 sidahi bqqh ndoo'nit 'ako naada'diidiv.

Our hard goods,

Nihiyoddi dantl'izigii

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our possessions

we give them for salt and for flour.

They are for pawn. Who knows when we can buy them back.

' i 'aqh niidoonit biniighe'. - . hahgoshji n6t'441:nin&J&idiilnih' el doe bit b&h6z.i'nf!,do. '.. , -'.

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The snow water drops from. the smoke hole like tears. The wind cries.-

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Quickly my father sings a funny song to make laughter come to my mother and me.

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Hanok'eeshto' naha I ingo yas dahtoo' chTi16ghi'dee' ndohidilch'441. Niyol 'adaani. Shizh6'6 t'oadoo hodiina'i sin baa dloh hasin I&' haidii'ilqgo shima

666 shi ch'idiniildlo'.

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MORNING The wind lies still. t has not pone away for I can feel it lying there outside hiding in the snow. The wind lies still behind the snowdrifts, but sometimes it starts up with a low cry, then falls again to hide. 44

'AHBINiGO Niyol doo diits'a' do.

T'6adoo niyol h66ji do 'iigh6ah daigii '6i shit b66h6zin tt'bo'di yas yii' nin66dit' j j. Yas deilk'idig ii bine'dee' niyol t'6adoo 'iits'a'i siti, ndi %ahda n66diid66h hazhb6'6go '6niigo ndi t'66 6ko '6n6diih.

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Cold bends over the land. The white' feathers of snow fall slower and slower.

K6yah bik66'966 deesk'aaz. Yas 'at'a' ndahal ingo hazh66'6go bidah daneed46h.

My mother and my father get up early. My mother will kill a sheep so my father can eat something before he starts for the Trading Post.

Shizh6'6 d66 shim6 t'ah chaha%hee%go naadiit'ash. Shim6 dib6 %a' yidiyool.hbe%, '6ko shizh6'6 %a' yidooghii% t'6adoo naalghbhk b6 hooghang66 dda diighahi.

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father waits for my mother to butcher the sheep and to cook a piece for his breakfast.

Then my father finds his horse. He ties an empty flour sack behind his saddle. He wraps his blanket about him and leaning his body against the storm he rides to the Trading Post.

Shizhe'e shima 'atsj' 'iileehgo yiba' sidah 'otsi' a ' yayidoolt'is t'ah doo 'aycjq dago biniinaa. 'A6d66 shizhe'6 biI[[' yaa niya. 'Azis bilii' bigheel bik&d&' yi ist%'6. Bibeeldlki 'ak'iideesdis d66 chiil yi k'ij i' n66s dineetijgo naalghdhe b6 hooghang66 % ' bit 'eeldloozh.

My father rides into the His blanket are the moving through

snow-f i lled world. and his horse only colors the white.

Snow comes into my heart filling it with cold when 1 see . my father ride away.

Shizh6'6 yas bighi'g60 4 ' bit 'eeldloozh. Bilii' d60 bibeeldlei t'biya naha'na, yas yigoi bikaa'goo. ~ h i z h e ' etii' bit 'eeld loozhgo nish'iigo shighi' t'66 hazkk'z yas shighi' nahalingo.

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SHOVELING SNOW

YAS NAAGEEDGl

For a little while I s i t in the hogon thinking of my father riding along the snowy trail to the Trading Post.

T'oo konighaniji'

Snow stops falling. Cold blows its blue breath across the white. I help my mother shovel snow.

'iichiil. Hok'az bits'aniyol

hooghan g6ne' sedbh, shizhe'e naalghkhe ba hooghang o % ' biY y iidlooshgo baa ntseskees.

yos bikaa'gob. Shim6 bit yas naashgeed. We make a path to the sheep corral b e bighand60 and to my grandmother's hogan. shim6 sanibighanji' 'atiin 'iilyaa. The snow, so soft to feel Yas yilzhooli yee' is hard to shovel. ndi njigeedgo 'ay6o naanish. 49

The cold slaps at my face. I t traps my hands and my feet in icy feeling.

Hak'az shinii'j i' neinikod. Shila' d6o shikee' neinitk'as.

My mother takes me into the hogan. .. She rubs my face and my hands and my feet with snow. Soon little hot pains come to play my cold fingers my cold toes.

Shim6 hooghan g6ne' shit yah 'ii'66zh. Shinii'ji' do0 shilo' do6 shikee' yas yiidinighish. Hodiina'go shilo' si k;az& dbo shikee' hado neezgaigo bqqh naaldoh. Hodiina'go hak'o; shaa diildoh.

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cv feeling goes

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away.

CAT'S CRADLES

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The day moves slowly. My father does not come back along the trail. It is far to the Trading Post. The snow is deep.

Doo hqh 'oo'oat do. Shizhh'k t'ah doo nadaah -da. Naalghehe ba hooghang60 nizaad. Yas ntsaa.

I think of my father

Shizhe'B d60 bibe8sh tigaii sis baa ntseskees. Shim6 bila' nish'i bila' %a' yoostsaah doott'izhii binua'go b;qqh 'adin.

and his concho belt. I look at my mother's finger. One finger looks bare without its turquoise ring.

I pull my sleeve down

Shilatsini shi'86' bik'isilti'.' Shizhe'e daats'i baa deeshtip

over my bracelet. Perhaps I should, have given it to my father.

tweet.

My grandmother comes to see us. She brings a piece of bread tor me and for my mother to eat with. our meat. .- , %?;nj She brings a piece of string. shows me how to make Cat's Cradles. :

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Shim6 sani nihaa niya. B66h %a'nihaa yini'b, '4i shi do6 shima 'atsi' bit diidjl% biniighh. T%'66% '6tts'iisi lei' yinil6h. Na'at%'o' shin664 '6yiilaa.

NaYat%'o'igiishin661 'ayiilaa. She shows me how Tsidi i bit'oh do6 k'aal6gi i to make "It-Is-Twisted." d66 mq' ii 'atts'b4' yi l g h d i We make Bi rd's-Nest. and Butterf lies shinaat 'ayi iloo and Coyotes-Running-Apart ' 6 tYa6%a' i yig ii bee. with the piece of string.

FATHER COMES BACK We hear my father singing as he rides along - the snowy trail.

SHIZHE'E NADZA Shizhb'e yas yi i'd&' t i ' bit naaldlooshgo hotoa%godasidiits'aq'.

My grandmother goes to her hogan Shim6 sani bighang66 and my mother and 1, shim6 d66 shi we stand together, t'aotkh6gi si idzi laughing. 'an& idlohgo. T'aa%ohagi si idzi We stand together outside our door, nihich'B'ed66'gi nihi% h6zh~~go happy shizhe'6 nodzaago because my father comes back again. biniinaa.

Behind my father's saddle is tied the flour sack filled with food. It is not empty now, but a sack of bumps and bumps, and heavy looking. : . In front of him my father carries a dry wood box that the Trader gave him

'Ak'66n bizis ch'i iyaan bii' hadeezbingo shizh8'6 bikeb' b8st4'0. K'ad 'azis hadeezbin. 'Azis bikah' dah daask'id d66 ndaaz nahalin. Shizhe'e bileqj i' tsints'aa' yittsei lei' yoo'aat naalghehe ya sidahi baa yini'tjqgo.

My mother takes the sack of food. I take the dry wood box. My father takes the saddle from his horse. We go into the hogan with our bundles in our arms. My mother breaks the box with her foot. She breaks the pieces across her knee. She feeds them to the fire. The dry wood box makes the fire flame dance in the hogan fire. My mother puts meat to cook. '

58

Shima ch'iiyaan 'azis bighi'igii n6idiihsooz. Shi .t'6iyb tsints'aa' ndii'a. Shizhk'e %ii' bigh6jt.l bit[[' yi kaa'dee' nayii'a. Hooghan gone' yoh 'iikai, doh 'iiniijhahgo. Shimb bikee' yee tsints'aa' niyiizti'. Bigod yee niyiitiih. Yee diidiitjjt.6'. Tsints'oa' hooghan gone' k ~ ' 'alzhishgo '6yiilaa. Shim6 'atsi' yi'nii%t98h.

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She mixes flour and water, a little ball of lard, a little pinch of salt in our round tin .bowi. She takes some out and pats it flat, . and pats it round, :! . . . and pats it thin, and throws it in a kettle full of boiling fat.

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This hynger pain inside me is bigger now than I. am. It is the smell of cooking food that makes it grow, I think.

. >

'Ak'aan d66 t6 d60 'ak'ah d60 'ash jjh 'o%ch'i~digo bii' to'oo'nihi yii' tayoonih. Taos'nii' %a' yee diitts'i' do6 nteelgo nkinikad do6 nazbqsgo neinikad d M 'a&2j&igaa&nini--do6 tsee'e bii' 'ak'ah neezgaigo yiih yiyiiniit.

------

Dichin shighi'di sidhhigii k'ad bilaah 'bnittso silii'. Ch'iiyban 'adaalnhhigii halchingo shi loah 'anittso si lii'.

Soon the fried bread in the hot fat swells big and brown.

Hodiina'go dah diniilghaazh 'ak'ah neezgaigo bii' de'adzaa d66 daat'ees.

Soon the meat in the stew pot makes bubbling noises.

Hodiina'go 'atsj' 'osaa' bee'abkzhi bii' yibkkzh.

Coffee boils smelling strong and good.

Gohwei yibeezhgo nizh6ni 466 bidziil halchin.

The hunger pain

Dichin shi166h \ '6ni%tsosi lii' haashii '&%ego doo yish'ij da.

is now so big I cannot understand . why I do not see it.

SUPPER Now we ore eating the good food. We eat slowly. . . We eat a long time. The hunger pain is gone. It went somewhere, but I 'do not it left so quickly. I

'E'E'AAHGO 'ADAN[GI[ K'ad ch'iiyaan ti konigii dei id4. Tqqdee do'iid4. Da'iidbago hodiina'. Dichin k'ad doo nihaa yinit'ii do. H66ji shii 'iiyb t'aodoo hooyani ... . .

1 I I'1 I

Shizhe'e nihit hoolni'go My father tells us that'the wife of TaI I-Man's brother Hastiin Neez bik'is be'esdz66n ,

suffers from something. She is sick.

ha'ot'ii shii bi'niilhii ni. Daatsaah.

My father tells us

mizh'6'8 nihil hoolni'go

that tomorrow there .will be a Sing for this- woman -. who has sickness.

'asdz6ni daatsaahigii bik'i 'ahozhniitbal ni.

Y iskGqgo ya'bhoot'B6hd~a' We will go, he says, '6k& diikah, if the sun shines tomorrow. nihitni. We will go to the hogan Hostiin N B B bik'is ~ be'esdzdbn of the wifi of Toll-Man's brother. bighang66 deikah.

SLEEP

DA'I ILGHOSH

Shim6 ch'iiyaan likango Now that I am warm 'ayiilaaigii bee naniichaad and have no pain and feel well fed do6 doo yishdlooh da with my mother's good cooking, do6 doo dichin nisin da I feel sleepy t'66 bit nisin and I glad. do6 shi% h6zh~. Lying on my blanket bed on the floor of the hogan, I say to myself over and over, "If the sun shines tomorrow we will go to the Sing."

Hooghan g6ne' ni'g66 shibeeldlei bikao' setiigo '6ch'j' yashti', "Y iskbqgo t'aadoo nah63taag66 hata6lg66 di ikah," dishni.

MORNING SUN

JOHONAAEI

Last night went quickly with sleeping. It is tomorrow now.

Da' iilghoshgo t'6adoo hodiina' i hayii%k4. K'ad n66n6ta' han66'oot'B.

I open my eyes

Ch'bbnisdzidgo t%'66'g66 jbhonaa'bi d66 yas bee h6zh6ni yee'. T'66 naashhalg66 yas bik'inizdidlaad sg' diizbego bik'ijiznil nahalin.

to a beautiful world of 'sun and snow. Everywhere I look the snow shines as if someone had sprinkled it with broken bits of stars. 66

., -1

I*:-. dMy father

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says, "snow is good for the land. When the sun melts it the thirsty sand drinks in the snow water." Grass patches show again. They look fresh and clean. The goats hurry about eating all they can. Even the sheep move more quickly, eating.

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"Yas kByah ba ya'at'eeh, . yas diighijhgo , ski dibaa' danizingo yas bitoo' deidl4," nfi e h shizhe'B. T%'oh doh naazhjao' daat'i, t'66 danizh6ni yee'. Tt'izi tsij%go ndaha'n6 tt'oh deitchozhgo. Dibkjigo 'iighisii . tsiitgo ndaha'n6 t%'oh deitchozhgo. -

'

GOING TO THE SING My father .goes for dry wood. He has to go to the foothills

HATPIALG66 DEIIKAI Shizhe'e chizh yittseeigii ho'iiya. Doh daask'id bitsiidee'

to get it. niyiigheeh. . My mother cooks bread and meat. Shim6 b66h 'iilkeh d66 'atsi' yi%b&zh. Nihich'8'6tiingi sheq'ji' sBd6h I s i t by the door in the sunshine d66 hat661 baa ntseskees. and think about the Sing. My grandmother comes shim6 bighangi niy6. to my mother's hogan. She will look after the sheep HataaIg66 neiikaigo while we are gone to the Sing. nihidib6 nih6 yaa '6haIyeq doo.

Nizh6nigo '00'66%. Nizhonigo 'oo'aa%go

The sun shines. The sun shines. Soon we w i l l go to the Sing, . . the Sing.

t'aadoo hodiina'i hat661g66 doh didiikai,, hataalg66.

Hodiina'go my father comes back w i t h shizh6'6 &-2% ,*;:the wagon. na'nilb44z. He piles the wood near the hogan. Hooghan biighahgi chizh hadayiiznil. K'ad hasht'e' 'ad iishyaa He says he is ready , hataaIg66 biniigh6 ni shizh6'6, to go to the Sing nihi 'aM6' hasht'e' 'adadii lyaa. and we are ready, too.

After awhile

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Doo Aizaad da. T'6adoo gh6zhQ hitiijihi the sun has finished with the day we will get there. '6a d'iikdh. Hastiin N&&z bik'is be'esdz66n We will get to the hogan P::I;Y .- of the wife of Tall-Man's brother. bighandi diikah. We will be at the Sing, Hatbaldi diikah. the Sing, Hatbaldi, the Sing. hatdaldi. It is not far. Not long after '

The ruts in the road

are deep and frozen. The wheels of the wagon have a song of their own.

'Atiingk ghbyahgo dahooldzis d66 hastin. Tsinaobqqs bij66d t'66 bi dabighiin dah61Q.

I sit in the back of the wagon in a nest made of blankets. I listen to the song of the rot ling wagon wheels.

My father sits on the wagon seat. He is driving his horses. My mother sits beside him. Straight and tall my mother sits on the wagon seat beside my father. My father 'sings as he drives along. He is happy. 72

Tsinaabqqs bikeedee' beeldlei bitah &doh. Tsinaobqqs bija6d dohatoatgo yisinists'6a'. Shizhe'e bik'idah'asdahi yik'i dah sidbh. Bilii' yee 'oolbqs. Shim6 yi%doh sike. Shima nineez d66 k'ezdongo shizh6'6 biighahgi tsinaabqqs bik'idah'asdahi yikaa' doh sid6h.

He sings, "Now is winter.

"K'ad hai.

Thunder sleeps: Falls the snow. Thunder sleeps. Grass is gone. Thunder sleeps. Birds are gone. Thunder sleeps. Warmth is gone from the sands, from the red rocks, from the canyons. Thunder sleeps. It sleeps."

'Ii n da'athosh. Yas nonideeh. i ' n i da'athosh. ' T%'oh 'adin. i n i da'athosh. Tsidii 'adin. I i n ' da9a%hosh. Ski d66 tse daalchi'igii

d% tsbkooh t'66 'a4tso daazk'az. i n i da'athosh; da'o%hosh."

Behind my father's horses we go. On the Trail of the Holy Songs to hear the voices of the Gods.

ShizhB'B bitsinoabqqs bee yiikoh. Sin dodighinigii bich'i' 'atiing66 yiikoh, dodighinigii 'badi dad idiits'iit.

THE SING It will b e ' a long time before the night sky bends down and the stars hang low and the supper fires of the camping people dot the night. Our wagon comes within the circles of supper f ires, comes within the circle of f ire1ight, and I see all the People who have come t o the Sing. 7iS

HATAAL T'hh 'iighisii hodiina'go 'inda chahodoo%hi%, d66 sp' hadadookah d66 Din6 'i'ii'aqgo da'ni iy4q'go dabi k ~ ' tt'ke'go doh daalchii' doo. Nihitsinaabqqs I 1 1 qqgo k ~ ch'iiy66n ' bee 'CldaaIn6higii bee ndeezdiingo da'ni ilb44z. Din6 hat6algi niheeskaiigii t'66 'attso yish'i. ' - 9 r r ~I

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There There There There

are many People here. are many horses here. are many wagons here. is one truck.

It makes me happy to see a l l of the People walking around d f +m€l+ngan$4iFlg.-It makes me happy to see a l l the colors that there are in the skirts of the women in the shirts of the men and in the blankets that a l l the People wear.

Kwii Dine t'66 'ahoy& Kwi i % ' t'oo 'ahayoi. Kwi i tsinaobqqs t'60 'ahoy&. Chiditsoh t'8iya t'6a%d9isi'4. Din6 t'bh 'a%tso tadad ik66h d60 ndaazi' d66 nddohazt~qgo

hnsb2hoih~. 'Asdzani bit%'aaka% 'at'qg '6daat'6higii boa shi% hQh6 Din6 bi'66' do6 beeldl6i d66 din6 t'66 'a%tso yee hadadft'8higii d6'.

I can see the horses, all the .horses. I can see a race horse that belongs to a man

my uncle knows. After the Sing is over, the men will race their horses. M y father will bet which horse will win.

W9, 4 ' t'66 'attso yish'i. Lii' n6iltih I6i' yish'j '6i din6 ,J6i9 shida'i y68hbingo bi. , Nihozhnit6algo din6 bilii' deidooltih. Shizh6'6 %ii' %aa' yee nihidood66t.

And then perhaps !;' he will win . .., . a better cpnchb belt' than, the one'ib. he.has in pawn to the Trader.

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'Ako 'inda daats'i bttsh %igai i siS : %a' ' yidodlbijh, naaighehi y6 sid6hi iggh yinilkhigii bi166h 'dt'bii. \r

6.

There is a new hogan built just for the Sing. There are some shelters built just for the Sing, and at one side is the Cook Shade where all kinds of foods are cooking.

Hooghan 'ani id niit'4 'ei bi i' hozhdootat. Chahash'oh %a' naaznil hat661 t'diy6 biniigh6, %ajigo t'Biy6 chahash'oh ch'iiyaan bii' al !!go si'4, 'a kwe'8 ch' iiya6n 'altah 'bdaat'eego 'adaalne'.

The smell of food makes me happy,.

Ch'i iyaan yishchingo baa shi% h6zh~. Ch'i iya6n '6hanig66 hbl&go h d h6zh~~go ya'at'68h, sha'shin nisin.

I think it is good

to be happy when food is near.

9 I

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As it gets darker more fires are lighted and within the circle a big one burns. Smoke gets in my eyes and I can taste it in my mouth.

GhdzhQ hi%iij ii'go k ~ $a' ' naadodii It%ah k~'tsohlei' 'atnii'gi di1t%i9. Lid shinak'e ' i i j d do6 siz6e' halniih.

In the folds of my mother's blanket, Shima bibeeldldi sidogo bighi' in the warmth of my shim6 bibeeldldi bighi' mother's blanket, doo 'iits'a'i dogo in the quiet of my biighahgi 'ashhosh, mother's blanket, d66 ch'6nasdzi'go close to her heart dahataotii dadighinii I sleep yich' j' dahataatgo d iists'a'. and awaken to hear the Gods, the Singers of Songs.

Now is the for the Now is the for the

K'ad t'biya hataal ba hoo'a'. K'ad t'6iya sin b6 hoo'a'.

time singing. time songs.

Sin dadighinigii bik'eh 'atiing66 on the Holy Trail of Song. ------------

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w e go, , we go, to hear the voices of the Gods. 8

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yi ikah, yiikah. .Dadighinii bizhi dadidiits'iilgo

.

8

yiikah, yi ikah.

They say, 'on the path of the rainbow, they say, on the bridge of the lightning, they say on the trail of pollen went the Elder Brother, Reared-in-the Mountains, Young Man,

Chief. We go to hear them say it.

'Adaani, "Noats'iil id bee 'atiing66 'hdaani, 'atsini Itt'ish bee tsi'naa ne'ati ingi 'adaani, t6didiin bee 'ati ing66 ' anaaigii I~ya, Dzi%Yii' Hazlij'ii Dinkeh, Naat'bani i." 'AkOG yi ikahgo dodidi its' jit. I

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Look! Look! they say, they say, the Gods are walking. The Gods are walking. Follow the trail of song.

Shoo! Shoo! daani, '6daani dadighinii ndaakai. Dadighinii' ndaakai. Sin bee 'otiin bik66' ghohkah.

Hu-Hu-Hu-Hu.

Hu. Hu. Hu. Hu.

Look! Look! they say, they say, the Gods are dancing. The Gods are dancing. Follow the trail of song.

Shoo, shoo, daani, '6daani dadighinii da'alzhish. Dadighinii da'alzhish. Sin bee 'atiin bik66' ghohkah.

Hu-Hu-Hu-Hu.

Hu. Hu. Hu. Hu.

86

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Look! Look! .they say, they say, the Gods are singing. Thk Gods are singing. Follow the trail of song.

Shoo! Shoo!, daani, 'adaani dadighinii dohatoat. Dadighinii dahataat Sin bee 'atiin bik66' ghohkah.

Hu-Hu-Hu-Hu.

Hu. Hu. Hu. Hu.

It is finished.

Nihoniy6.

The Sing is finished.

Nihozhnitaal.

Dawn light is here. Gray light is here. Morning is here. Day is here. The sun comes again to warm the world.

K'ad hayii%kG. K'ad ni'g60 hoot'i. K'ad 'ahbini. Ha' JOhonaa'6i hanaanadza nahasdzaan yiniitd66h biniighe.

The Sing is finished. it is finished. Finished.

Nihozhnitaal. Nihoniya. Nihoniya.

ii'a.

1

THE BETTING

'ALK' I' IILDEE'

The h e n go for horses that have walked away t o find grass t o eat.

Dine tii' t%'oh deitchozhigii ha 'aheeskai.

Thewomen put blankets and food in the wagons.

'Asdzani beeldlei d66 ch' iiyaan tsinaabqqs yiih dayiiniR.

M y uncle tells 'my father to wait awhile because m y uncle says he knows a man who has a horse that can win a race.

Shida'i shizh6'6 t'ah '6%ts6 yi%ni, "Dine I&' bbhhasin bilii' n6iltih d66 bilii' n6honi%n&," shida'i niigo biniinaa.

All the men stand around.

Dink t'aa 'attso t'aatahag66 naazi. dii ti[' yaa ndaat'i.

They .talk together about this horse. My father gets the things out of the wagon that my mother has put in it. He is going to bet them' on this horse that my uncle says can win a race.

Shizhe'6 t'aadoo le'6 shim6 tsinaabqqs yiih yiyiiznilee h66yii'niR.

i

dii %[i' sh ida' i nohonitnee ninigii yee yik'iniheedbbh.

The Trader comes. He does not like the horse my uncle knows. He puts up a hundred dollars against the horse.

All the Indian men take off their concho belts and rings and turquoise and bowguards and blankets. They throw them' on the ground to make a pile of things as much as a hundred dollars.

Naolghehd ya sidahi niya. Shida'i Ijj' bit b6ehdzinigii doo bit y6'6t'eeh da t'6at~htid i neeznadiin Eeso yee yik'iji' niheedza. Din6 t'66 'trltso bMsh Iigaii sis d66 yoostsaah d66 doott'izhii 'adaadeidii'nil, d60 k'eet'oh d66 beeldlbi. Ni'g66 'adayiiniil t'aat6hCldi neezn6diin beeso biighahgo.

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With another man my father bets his bowguard against a concho belt

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on that horse my uncle knows.

Shizhe'e naona%a'dine y k ii bik'eet'oh sis b&sh %igai i yee yi k'ihiidzo dii %ii' shida'i bit bhBh6zinigii yee niheedz6.

The men choose o flat place to run the race. i

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Hodilkg~hIei'gidink % bit 'a%hadidookahla. .

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They say, "We will run to that place and back." They mount their horses. They line them up. One man stands by the pool of things that are being bet against the hundred dollars.

/ffil&ji' d66 nat'44' 4 ' nihi%'ahadidookah," daani. Bilii' yik'i doh. dineezbin % ' hasht'e' bit niikai. Din4 %a' t'6646hbd i neeznddiin beeso bik'i'iildee'igii yaa '6holyQ.

They say, "We will run to that place and back." They mount their horses. They line them up. One man stands by the pool of things that are being bet against the hundred do1lars.

fffq16ij i' d66 n6t'QG' %ii' nihi%.'ahadidookah," daani. Bilfi' yik'i d o h dineezbin % ' hasht'e' bit niikai. Din6 %a' t'66%6 hodi neeznodiin b6eso bik'i'iildee'igii yaa '6holyb.

THE RACE The starter takes his hat off. He lifts it up. He lifts it up. He holds it there. He drops it. They are off. They are ofl. They are running together. No horse is in front. No horse is is behind. They are together. Together. Running, running.

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tll'

AHADl KAAH

Bik'ehgo ti[' haajeehigii bich'ah 'ok'iidoot'cj. Gh6dahgo doh yidii'e. Ghddohgo doh yidii'cj. ' ~ a d dah i yoo'aa%. Nayiitne'. *+j&*, $ok -Ji@g--

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T'66 'a%hqqhyijah. Doo ti[' to' 'ak68dee' do. Doo ti[' %a' 'alaqji' do. T'66 'athqqh yijah. 'Ahiitghoh. Yijah, yijah.

The black one that the Trader likes stretches out, running, running, gets in front, running, running. Sand flies. People shout.

tizhinigii noolgheh6 ya sidahi bit ya'at'6ehigii 'alQqji' yi lghd, yilghd; teezh hao'aogo yi lghd, yi Ighd.

The People shout.

Dine dadilghosh.

Now comes the horse my uncle knows. There he is, there he is, in front, in front, away in front.

K'ad 'oadee' shida'i ti[' bit beehozinigii yilghd

He has won the race. The horse my uncle knows

Honeesna lii' shido'i bit bekhozinee

has won the race.

'aadee' 'aadee' 'aIQqji' 'alaqji' rizaadg66 'alQqji'.

honeesn6.

The horses come back. They are sweating. Their sides go in and out just like my blouse goes in and out. We are tired, the horses and I are tired. It takes some running :. . . to w i n : a race. '

2

tii'

ninahazhjbk'. T6 baa dadiil1. Dabibid 'alidaoka', shibid nahalingo 'ahdaaka'. Ch'66h deiikai % ' d& shi ch'bbh deiikai. T'66 'iighisii nizhdiilgho'go t'biya hozhnitn66. -

HOOGHAN NIKEENI I KAI

GOING HOME

1

The horse race is finished. My father has a concho belt and money in his pocket.

tii'

Now we go back on the home trail. Back to the hogan. Back to the sheep.

K'od nihighan 'atiing66

Everything is finished.

'attso 'ohadeeskai shizhe'e-&bsh ligaii sis bee h616, do6 beeso biza'azis h616.

nikbeniikai. Hooghan bich'i' nikheniikai. Dibe b i x ~ - n i " e ~ ~ T k a ~ ~ ~

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T'aa 'attsoni ninit'i' sill['.

We have listened to the Holy Songs. We have walked on the Holy Trail.

Dadighinii bighiin dasidi its'84'. Dadighinii be'atiing66 ndasiikai.

It is finished.

Ninit'i'.

Our hearts are good. All around us is good. We ride along on the home trail.

Nihighi' ya'adahoot'e6h. Nihinaag66 $1'6dahoot'b6h. Nihighan bich'j' 'atiing66 n6iikah.

It is finished.

Ninlt'i'.

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