Best driver
A look at the fleet of school buses that serve schools both in and around Kahnawà:ke. (Courtesy: The Eastern Door)
Story told by Allen Simon
The kids on my bus were always well-behaved and orderly. I had a wonderful group of students and they each had their designated seats from the first day of school in September, to June. We had a system in place, with the younger ones seated in the front and the older ones in the back and they never strayed from their assigned spots.
I organized various field trips throughout the school year. One of the most memorable ones was a trip to Peterborough, Ontario, which marked the farthest distance we had traveled together.
Some said I was the best driver, but I never put myself out there saying I’m the best, better than my friends. I firmly believe that the best one is the Creator, not the one who boasts about it. You’ll never hear me shooting my mouth off, claiming that I’m better than anyone else.
During weekends, I used to go with my friend to have a social beer at the hotel. We would sit, talk, and enjoy each other’s company, and we always made a point to leave our job-related conversations at home. It was a way to unwind, relax, and socialize without the stress of work creeping in. I earned respect from my colleagues.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Né: naonhà:'a thorihwaié:ri ratórie's
(Courtesy: The Eastern Door)
Allen Simon ROKÁ:RATON
Tiótkon wahonteksa'tí:iohste' tánon' wahonteweienní:iohste' néne ratiksa'okòn:'a iakoia'takarenié'shne ratiia'titáhkhe'. Kanenhrí:io ronterihwaiénstha' wakenenhraién:tahkwe' tánon' skátshon énska tsi nón:we ronanitskwahra'tsheraién:tahkwe' tsi nikarì:wes ne tiotenhniseratierénhton tsi ronterihwaiénstha' ne Seskehkó:wa tsi niió:re ne Ohiaríha. Ionkwanonwaién:tahkwe', ohén:ton ronnitskótha' néne ken' nithotiièn:sa tánon' ohnà:ken ronnitskótha' néne thotí:ien's tánon' iah nonwén:ton é:ren tehonéhton tsi nón:we nihonnitskótha'.
É:so wa'katerihwahserón:ni' ne tsi nón:we ieiakwéhtha' ne tsi niióhseres. Énska né: naonhà:'a tewehiahrahtsherí:io né: ki' nen' nè:'e ne Peterborough, Ontario shieionkwenónhne', kwah nè:'e onte'nién:tenhste' tsi nón:we erenhkó:wa ieionkwéhton skátne teionkwatstikáhwhen.
Ótia'ke iaká:wen tsi ì:'i né: naonhà:'a tewakerihwaié:ri katórie's, nek tsi iah nì:'i eh nón:we tha'tewakatattáhston tsi ká:ton ì:'i né: naonhà:'a tewakerihwaié:ri katórie's, tsi khekénnion nonkwatenro'shòn:'a ne tsi sénha keweién:te'. Iohní:ron tsi tewakehtáhkwen tsi Shonkwaia'tíson' né: naonhà:'a thaweién:te', iah né: tsi niká:ien' iontenaiéhstha' neh nahò:ten'. Iah nonwén:ton thahsekhá:ra'se tsi tewakstià:kon, tsi í:kehre' tsi sénha tewatiánere' tsi ní:ioht nakò:ren.
Tsi niiotiahia'ksero'ktaníhon, ontiatén:ro shos ionkwehnéha onen'tákeri eniakenihnekì:ra' tsi iontaweia'táhkhwa' ieniákene'. Eniatianitskó:ten', teniakenihthá:ren', tánon' teniatiatate'nikonhrawén:rie', tánon' tiótkon tha'ákenehte' tóhsa aiakenihthá:rahkwe' ne onkeniio'ténhsera' tsi tiakenì:teron tkaién:tak. Tho ní:ioht wáhi wa'atiatoríshen', wa'atiaterà:karen', tánon' wa'atiatenro'serón:ni' né: ki' ne tóhsa aontontè:sere' othé:nen ne kaio'ténhsera' aoronhiakénhtshera'. Wa'tkatèn:tsha' ki' wáhi tsi ionkerihwakweniénstha' ne teionkwarihwaienawà:kon.
Edited By: Jonathan Turenne, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by Karonhí:io Delaronde