Cherished language
Students marching along Highway 138 in protest against Quebec's language law, bill 101. Circa 1978. (Courtesy: Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Allen Simon
When I was born, my first word was “shé:kon” and I've cherished my Mohawk language ever since. I'm grateful to my Creator for giving me the strength to preserve it throughout my life. My language has become a source of help and connection for me.
I often get invited to speak with people, like that teacher up in Oneida who was teaching Mohawk. He had a few words he and others wanted to understand better and pronounce correctly.
When we met, they had everything prepared, including a little basket to collect cards with the words and phrases they wanted to learn. They’d pick a card and ask if I could translate the words. For two hours, I guided them through the pronunciation and meanings, making sure they got it just right.
People from all around reach out to me, asking how to say different things in Mohawk. Some are just beginning to learn the language, and others are parents who are both Mohawk speakers but never taught their kids because they were worried they might be laughed at for speaking it.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Kawennanó:ron
Kahnawà:ke Survival School staff, circa 1979. Photo taken along the Seaway where one of the temporary school building sights was located. Currently where the Golden Age Club resides today. (Courtesy: Alex M. McComber)
Allen Simon ROKÁ:RATON
Sha'kenákerate', nè:'e tontié:renhte' onkewennakè:tohte' ne "shé:kon" tánon' tho náhe' shikenorónhkhwa' akewén:na' Kanien'kéha. É:so tsi tehinonhwerá:tons ne ratia'tíson' tsi rake'shatstenhserá:wi nakenónhstate' tsi náhe' shikónhnhe'. Kaienawa'séhtshera' tánon' atenrò:sera' ón:ton' nakerihwà:ke.
Iotkà:te' enionkhón:karon' taiakwahthá:ren' nón:kwe, kwah tsi ní:ioht ne thí:ken shakorihonnién:ni ne Oneida nonkwá:ti néne Kanien'kéha shakorihonnienníhahkwe'. Tohkára' nikawén:nake rahá:wahkwe' tánon' ne nótia'ke ronnéhrhahkwe' sénha ahoti'nikonhraién:ta'ne' tánon' ne aontahatiié:rite' tsi nenhonnì:ron'.
Sha'akwatia'tarò:roke', kwah shos akwé:kon rotiweiennentà:'on, eh karátie' ne ken' niwa'therà:'a naierò:roke' kahiatonhsera'shòn:'a néne kawennarónnion néne rón:nehre' ahatiweientéhta'ne'. Skahiatónhsera shos enhatirá:ko' sok enionkerihwanón:tonhse' tóka' enkkwé:ni' takewennanetáhko' ne tho nikawennò:ten's. Tékeni wa'tkahwistà:'eke', wa'khenéntshine' tsi ní:ioht tsi ahontewennakenhé:ia'te' tsi rón:ton nowennna'shòn:'a tánon' ki' ne tsi nahò:ten' kontí:tons, kwah tokèn:'en wa'kate'nikòn:raren' aontahatiié:rite'.
Kwah tsik nón:we enionkewenní:sake', ratirihwanóntha' tsi ní:ioht tsi Kanien'kéha enhatiwennón:tahkwe' ne ó:ia' na'tekarihò:ten's. Ótia'ke kwah òn:wa'k thonatáhsawe' tsi rontewennaweiénstha', tánon ótia'ke tehniiáhse' rotiwí:raien' í:ken néne Kanien'kéha iahrónkha' nek tsi iah nonwén:ton tehshakotirihonnién:ni ne shakotiien'okòn:'a ase'kénh wa'thon'nikonhrhá:ren' tsi enhonwatisté:riste' tsi nè:'e rontewennontáhkhwa'.
Translated by Karonhí:io Delaronde