River Fishing
Andrew Montour with a big catch. (Courtesy: Andrew Montour)
Story told by Andrew Montour
A long time ago, in the late 50s, I used to fish alongside the river. In the springtime, there was a lot of bullhead fishing.
Before the seaway, when the ice was gone, you’d see people fishing alongside the river. You’d see the little lights - the lanterns. You’d walk down by the river ,and you’d hear people talking about how many fish they caught.
We used to go fish down at the train bridge. We would ride our bikes there. We’d catch so many fish and tie them to a chain. We’d have a hard time riding our bikes with so much fish.
There was one guy who would fish and then he would sell it on the highway. It was a dollar a dozen. Today, you’d have a hard time finding that.
A lot of people lived off the river. Some people had boats with motors on it, and they’d go out in the middle of the river. There’s a lot of fish there. Big ones. But since the seaway passed, it’s not the same. Some people go fish over there, but not as many.
A long time ago, there’s a picture I’d seen looking downriver. Maybe it was taken from the church? Every home had a little box for little boats or little canoes. Almost everybody was fishing.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Atsa'któntie' Shos Kahriohkawí:ne's
Andrew Montour ROKÁ:RATON
Wahón:nise' tsi náhe', shiiottíhen ne 50 niiohserò:ten's, atsa'któntie' shos kahriohkawí:ne's. Né: kakwitè:ne, é:so onón:ken kontinákerehkwe' ne akonwatiié:na'.
Ohén:ton shikana'tsheratátie', shitsowisókwen, enhshé:ken' ón:kwe atsa'któntie' ronhriohkawí:ne's. Enhsatkáhtho' thí:ken ken' nikahahserà:sa - iehahserénhas. Atsà:kta iénhse' tánon' ensathón:te'ne ón:kwe rotihtharáhkwen ne tsi nikéntsake konwatiié:nen.
Thio'kéha tsi wahskóhon shos nón:we eniakwahriohkawinéha'. Onkwá:wen tékeni teiokahkwèn:tonte' ienionkwahonwì:sere'. Iawe'towá:nen kéntson eniakwaié:na' tánon' oronhkwahsà:ke eniakhiia'taniión:ten'. Kwah seronhkè:ne entsonkwahonwì:sere' onkwá:wen tékeni teiokahkwèn:tonte' tsi niió:re tsi é:so kéntson tsakwahá:wi.
Shaià:ta ki' rón:kwe enhahrióhkawine' sok iohahowanèn:ne enhatenhninòn:ra'. Skahwísta ne sewatosèn:tshera shos ia'ténkene'. Ok nòn:wa, í:non teká:ron nahsetshén:ri' thí:ken.
É:so iá:kon iakotonhnhisákston thí:ken kaniataratátie'. Ótia'ke nón:kwe rotihón:waien' thí:ken kanontsistáhere' tánon' sha'tekaniatarí:hen ienhón:ne'. É:so tkentsanákere' eh nón:we. Kontikowá:nen's. Nek tsi shahatina'tsherón:ni', iah sha'té:ioht ó:nen. Tohkára'k nihá:ti eh ienhonhrióhkawine', nek tsi iah eh teshá:ti.
Wahón:nise' tsi náhe', énska kaià:tare' wakatkáhthon néne tsi wa'kaniataratátie' iotkáhthon. Tóka' nòn:wa tsi ionterennaientáhkhwa' nón:we tkaráhston? Akwé:kon tsi nihotinónhsake rotiién:tahkwe' ken' nika'nerohkwà:'a ne ken' nikahonwà:sa tóka' ni' ken' nikanake'tà:sa aó:wen. Thóha akwé:kon nón:kwe ronhriohkawí:ne'skwe'.
Translator Karonhí:io Delaronde