Given to me
An illustration of an Indigenous elder speaking to a non-Indigenous boy from Author Elijah Nicholas Wilson book, The White Indian Boy: The Story Of Uncle Nick Among The Shoshones. Originally published in 1910. (Courtesy: Wiki Commons)
Story told by Allen Simon
I like going to the elders’ talking sessions at the cultural centre and I like that there are people like me there too. They always ask me to come back, and I tell them that I’ll be back.
We tell stories if we have a story to tell. Some people will ask me things like, “What does it mean?” Or, “How do you say this?” We help each other out.
On Friday, there are some students from the school that will come, sit, listen and write down the words they need translated. Sometimes there's three or four of them sitting there and they’re writing down questions to ask and I help them as best as I can.
The school has asked if they can bring more kids. I never liked crowds, but I find it’s important for me to help. I give thanks to my Creator for what he’s given me. Whatever was given to me to use, I’m using that.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
↓
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Rakwá:wi
Allen Simon ROKÁ:RATON
Wakon'wéskwani eh iá:ke' akheiatahónhsatate' ne thotí:ien's tsi na'tehatihtharáhkhwa' ne Ratiwennenhá:wi nonkwá:ti tánon' wakon'wéskwani ò:ni' tsi eh ié:ien's nón:kwe néne tetsakwatié:rens. Tiótkon ionkhonkará:wis taontá:ke' tánon khehró:ris tsi orihwí:io tsi téntke'.
Iakwaká:ratons ki' wáhi' tóka' thé:nen' ionkwaká:raien'. Ótia'ke nón:kwe enionkerihwanón:tonhse' nahò:ten' tsi ní:ioht ne, "Nahò:ten' kén:ton?" tóka' ni', "Oh ní:tsi enhsì:ron' kí:ken?" Teiakwatatienawà:se' wáhi.
Né: Wískhaton tá:we', tohkára' nihá:ti ronteweiénstha' ne eh nonkwá:ti ronteweiénstha' enthón:ne', enhóntien', enhontahónhsatate' tánon' enhatihiá:ton' nowenna'shòn:'a néne rón:nehre' takawennanetáhkwen. Sewatié:rens áhsen tóka' ni' kaié:ri nihá:ti tho ratítskote' tánon' ratihiá:tons nahò:ten' enhatirihwanón:ton' tánon' enkheié:nawa'se' kwah tsi nitewakkwénion.
Rotirihwanón:ton ne tsi ionteweienstáhkhwa' thotiió'te' tóka' enwá:ton' sénha é:so ratiksa'okòn:'a entehshakotiia'ténhawe'. Kwah iah nonwén:ton tewakon'weskwanì:'on ne kanenhrowá:nen's, nek tsi kwah wakerihowanà:se' ki' wáhi' ne akheié:nawa'se'. Tehinonhwerá:tons ne ratia'tíson' ne ki' ne tsi nahò:ten' rakwá:wi. Tsi niká:ien' rakwá:wi ná:katste', ne ki' nen' nè:'e kátstha'.
Translated by Karonhí:io Delaronde