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OKCIYAPI

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A gathering place and welcoming site of reflection, Angela Two Stars’s sculpture Okciyapi (2021) makes poetic connections between land, water, language, and people. Her work focuses on Indigenous language revitalization, a process she describes as a healing medicine that strengthens Dakota culture and identity.

For Okciyapi (Help Each Other), on view in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the artist has included a series of audio recordings of fluent Dakota and Lakota speakers. This collection features the voices of treasured elders sharing traditional stories, remembrances, anecdotes, and insights. An integral part of the sculpture, the recordings help connect us to past, present, and future generations through language and storytelling.


CLIFFORD CANKU
Treasured elder

Íƞyaƞ ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ bde de iwowahdake kte

Oṭokahe Daḳota wic̣oic̣aġewic̣akaġapi héehaƞ

Ehaƞna Daḳota wóyakapi waƞ , ṭuƞkdaṡida Waḳaƞṭaƞka maḳa akaƞn táku owasiƞna ókpaze k’a

Íƞyaƞ naġI ec̣eena (kiṭuƞ) ni uƞ yaƞke

Eya ṭéhaƞyaƞ iṡnana ni uƞ c̣a ic̣aƞteṡice

Táku sáƞp̣a wic̣oni úƞpi kta ec̣iƞ

1:10 toḳeṡ, toḳaṡ ?

Ituwaḣ’aƞ kiƞ, ituwaḣ’waƞ waye k’a uƞġe wapapsuƞ kiƞhaƞ uƞci maḳa akaƞn wic̣oni óta ic̣aġe kta

ec̣amicuƞ héuƞ uƞci maḳa akaƞ wic̣oni kta he wac̣iƞ

Íƞyaƞ ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ héuƞ we wapapsuƞ c̣a mniṡota kaduze hetaƞhaƞ wic̣oic̣aġe óta uƞci maḳa akaƞn ic̣aġapi yedo

Íƞyaƞ ṭaṭiƞkiƞyaƞ mni óta kaduze k’a c̣iƞcawic̣aye uƞġe ḳúdtakiya wakpa kaduze hec̣iyataƞhaƞ

íƞyaƞhde Íƞyaƞ ṭaƞka uƞġe yuḳaƞpi k’a yaƞkapi

uƞġe Daḳota c̣aże yuhapi

waƞżI C̣aske eyapi He P̣eżutazizik’api Wakpa icahda yaƞke yedo

Nakuƞ wakpa wíhinap̣e tákuye yuḳaƞpi yedo 3:10

Dena owas íƞyaƞ ṭaƞka Daḳota c̣aże yuhapi do

Bde ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ hdakiƞyaƞ maḳoc̣e icahda ehaƞnataƞhaƞ Daḳota ṭípi tuḳa hena ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka táku óta nípi kta héuƞ wóyuha óta wic̣ak’u

Hoġaƞ ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ obe óta mni ekta úƞpi k’a nakuƞ ṭaṭaƞka óta wic̣akaġe nakuƞ ṭáḣca

Waḣupakoza óta ni úƞpi k’a wic̣ani owihaƞke Daḳota oyate nípi kta uƞnipi, uƞniuƞpi kta wic̣ak’u

Bde ṭáƞka núƞpa he waƞżi Bde hdakiƞkiƞyaƞ eciyapi

He wakpa kiƞ itokaġa ektakiya kaduze yedo

Umaƞg Inúƞpa eṡ Bde Hdakiƞyaƞ eciyapi he wakpa kiƞ waziyata ektakiya kaduze do

Bde núƞpa wic̣aye ṭaṭaƞka oc̣aƞku káġapi nína upṡiża k’a ṡkiṡkiṭuƞwaƞ Daḳota ic̣ażeṭuƞpi yedo

Maḳoc̣e owasiƞ wíta ṭaƞka akaƞn Daḳota ṭípi de c̣odaya ṭípi yedo

C̣ótaya ṭípi yedo

Ehaƞnatahaƞ Daḳota máġa ṭaƞkiƞkiƞyaƞ wóżupi tuḳa wóyute óta ożupi k’a wamnaheza, bdo, omnica, psiƞ, wamnu nakuƞ wóyute óta ożupi k’a taƞyaƞ máġa yuhapi yedo

Nakuƞ psiƞ ikceka waḳa k’a bde ekta ic̣aġe yedo 7:00

Ehaƞnataƞhaƞ Daḳota wic̣oie waḳaƞyaƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka wic̣ak’u k’a woop̣e wóokaḣniġe nakuƞ táku wic̣oni yuhapi kte hena owihaƞke wáƞniya wic̣oni waṡte yuhapi kta owic̣akiye k’a wakuƞze

Owihaƞke taƞhaƞyaƞ nípi kta kiƞ hehaƞyaƞ wóyawaṡte iyahde ówic̣akiye tuḳa Daḳota oyate waṡtewic̣akidake nakuƞ ṭewic̣aḣiƞda yedo

Tohaƞyaƞ Maḳoc̣e kiƞ akaƞn yanipi kiƞhaƞ tuwena nic̣iƞpi kte ṡni yedo

Eya dena wódaḳota ohodaya ni uƞ po tuḳa nic̣iƞpi wac̣iƞpi kte yedo

Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka eya wówaḳaƞ oc̣aƞku c̣ic’upi oc̣owasiƞ niyaṭuƞ ni uƞ po

Ho mitakuyepi dena héc̣etu yedo

Maṭo Watakpe miye do

Transcribed by Neil McKay


CLIFFORD CANKU
Treasured elder

Ho mitakuyepi

Táku Daḳota wóuƞspe kiƞ de iwowahdake kte

Óṭokahe ekta mitakuye owas’iƞ eyapi

He táku ḳápi kiƞ he uƞci maḳa akaƞn táku wic̣oic̣aġe oc̣owas’iƞ hena wótakuye uƞyuhapi Daḳota ektakiya

Daḳota wóiyukcaƞ kiƞ he nína táƞyaƞ yuḳe

k’a nakuƞ wóiyukcaƞ kiƞ de nína wóksape ṭaƞka iḳoyake

Ahan nakuƞ táku waƞ ṭokaheya Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka káġe

He ikceka káġe ahan inúƞpa kiƞ he iṡ wówaḳaƞ ohna wóiyukcaƞ he iḳoyake

Óṭokahe ektakiya maḳa kiƞ de akaƞn táku owasiƞna Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞ káġe kiƞ he hena

Wóyawaṡte héuƞ héc̣ed Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka káġe

Táku Daḳota ikceka Daḳota hena uƞġe heyapce “Ikce wic̣aṡta hemac̣a”eyapi

He táku ḳápi kiƞ he óṭokahe ektakiya Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka wic̣aṡta k’a wíƞyaƞ wic̣akaġe kiƞ he,

unci maḳa etaƞhaƞ maḳa etaƞ icu ga haƞ mni kiƞ íc̣icahi

Upṡiża káġe k’a nakuƞ oyate hetaƞhaƞ wic̣akaġe hena woyuonihaƞ ohna héc̣ed

wóksape hena táku ec̣uƞpi kte hena owasiƞna ṭaƞiƞyaƞ

owasiƞna sdodyapi kte héuƞ héc̣ed wic̣akaġe

Héuƞ he wic̣oie waƞ Daḳota eyapi, he táku ḳab he óṭokahe ektakiya Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka wic̣akaġe

He ḳoda héc̣api

Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka he ḳodayapi

Hena Ṭuƞkaṡinayapi. Hena etaƞhaƞ wic̣oie waƞ ḳoda eyapi

tuwe Daḳota héc̣a kiƞhaƞ “da” eyapi kiƞ he yec’ic̣aġapi 4:30

Ḳoda eyapi kiƞ iṡ he ḳoda héc̣ed wótakuye hena óṭokahe hetaƞhaƞ hihuƞnipi

Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka kc̣i sabya mánipi.

Aƞpetu c̣a wóc̣ekiye eyapi nakuƞ dowaƞpi

Maḳa akaƞn tuktohna wa wac̣iƞpi

Tuktohna mánipi kte

Tuktohna p̣iic’iyapi kte hena Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka yahde kc̣i ḳodakic̣iyapi

Táku waƞżi ep̣e kte he Waḳaƞṭaƞka eyapi

Wa eyapi iṡ uƞkiyapi

Kaƞ eyapi he iṡ ḳaƞ uƞkiṭawapi

Ahaƞ ṭaƞ eyapi kiƞ he iṡ uƞkiyepi etaƞhaƞ 5:50

Ahaƞ ahake kaƞ eyapi he iṡ waniyetu óta

Ṭáƞka eyapi kiƞ he iṡ waḳaƞya ṭaƞkiya waḳaƞya

Ṭuƞ eyapi kiƞ he iṡ wic̣oic̣aġe óṭokahe etaƞhaƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka táku owasiƞna káġe he ḳápi

Kaƞ eyapi he iṡ iża waniyeu óta

Ahaƞn ṡina eyapi kiƞ iṡ wóyawaṡtedake dápi wókicaƞpte iḳoyake nakuƞ waṡtedakapi

He óṭokaheya ektakiya Waḳaƞṭaƞka héc̣ed táku owasiƞna maḳa akaƞn káġe

Tuḳa wóyawaṡte uƞ waṡteuƞdakapi kiƞ ? héc̣ed wótakuye heuƞc̣api 7:40

Hena yuha owas wótakuye ohna ċaẓe uƞk’upi

Ahan nakuƞ tuktohna ṭiwahe uƞkiṭawapi ṭiohnake k’a ṭioṡpaye oyate uƞnipi kte hena owasiƞna

wówaḳaƞ ohna wówaṡtedake ohna (hena?) yuha uƞspeuƞḳiyapi

tuḳa ikce wic̣aṡta heuƞc̣api k’a Waḳaƞṭaƞka héc̣ed táku owasiƞna ikceka káġe

k’a óṭokaheya ektakiya ikceka táku owasiƞna káġe kiƞ uƞ wówaḳaƞ ohna iża uƞṡpa wic̣ak’u

k’a nakuƞ Waḳaƞṭaƞka wówaḳaƞ sdodyapi kte hena okaḣniḣwic̣aye

tuḳa táku awac̣iƞpi kiƞ hena waḳaƞ

táku waƞżi iṭoṡ c̣aƞ waƞżi wadake kiƞhaƞ c̣aƞ kiƞ he waḳaƞ

kaiṡ nakuƞ táku Ṭuƞkaṡina káġe kiƞ hena waḳaƞ hena yahde nípi héuƞ ṭáḣca iṡ ṭaṭaƞka hena iṡ ni úƞpi

Hena ni yuhapi

ni kiƞ he wówaḳaƞ

Waḳaƞṭaƞka nakuƞ táku owasiƞna unci maḳa akaƞn káġe héuƞ mitakuye owas’iƞ eyapi

Tuḳa wótakuye hena iḳoyake owasiƞ

Táku kaġe kiƞ hena owas wótakuye uƞkic̣aġapi nakuƞ waṡteuƞdakapi

Táku maḳa akaƞn uƞnipi kiƞ owasiƞna iyuha woyawaṡte uƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka uƞkiksuyapi

K’a nakuƞ sáƞp̣a Daḳota uƞkiapi

Tuwe Daḳota wóhdake kiƞhaƞ ehaƞnataƞhaƞ he Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka hena uƞspeuƞḳiyapi

Hena Daḳota wic̣oie kiƞ tuwe “Mitakuye owas’iƞ” eya iye kiƞhaƞ 10:45

maḳoc̣e iyuha maḳa kiƞ he takuye

Maḳoc̣e kiƞ hena iye ta wótakuye héc̣a nakuƞ bde kaiṡ wamanica hena wótakuye ic̣aġe iḳoyake 11:00

Hena héc̣ed Daḳota iapi kiƞ hena owasiƞna aiḳoyake

Hena wówaḳaƞ ohna ic’ihdogapi

Hena iyotaƞhaƞ nakuƞ uƞṭonipi dena hena uƞṭoni iża uƞk’upi

Táku ic̣aġe owas Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka ṭóni wic̣ak’u

Iṭoṡ tuwe ṭáḣca waƞżi yakte kiƞhaƞ

ṭóni kiƞ he ṭaƞc̣aƞ kiƞ hetaƞhaƞ Ṭuƞkaṡina Waḳaƞṭaƞka ektakiya ḳiƞhde tuḳa he káġe

maḳa akaƞn táku wic̣oni owasiƞna wówaḳaƞ wóniya kiƞ dena wic̣ak’u

Uƞkiyepi nakuƞ ? kiƞ hena Waḳaƞṭaƞka táku uƞkawac̣iƞpi k’a nakuƞ táku waƞuƞyaƞkapi

Táku maḳa akaƞn yuḳe kiƞ hena wóksape, wóokaḣniġe k’a wówaṡte kiƞ hena waƞuƞyaƞkapi

Hena wótakuye kiƞ hena uƞkiksuyapi héuƞ he maḳa akaƞn ni uƞkuƞpi kiƞ ic̣uƞhaƞ

Táku owasiƞna waƞuƞyaƞkapi wic̣oni yuhe

Naġi kiƞ he Waḳaƞṭaƞka hetaƞhaƞ

Wic̣oni waḳaƞ he uƞnipi ic̣uƞhaƞ unci maḳa he akaƞn ni uƞkuƞpi uƞṡkiƞciyapi

Nakuƞ wóyawaṡte, wótakuye wókicaƞpte waṡte uƞyuhapi hena owasiƞna óṭokaheya ektakiya

Héc̣ed Waḳaƞṭaƞka iye ṭawac̣iƞ k’a nakuƞ ṭawoġaƞ k’a nakuƞ kúƞze kiƞ hena 13:45

Iye hetaƞhaƞ maḳa akaƞn káġe

He ikceka, ahaƞn nakuƞ wowáḳaƞ he kc̣i num hena uƞk’upi Daḳotaḣca kac̣iƞpi

Uƞci maḳa maḳoc̣e uƞkiṭawapi kiƞ dena Waḳaƞṭaƞka hena etaƞhaƞ wóidag uƞyaƞpi kta

Hena hed wóksapi uƞk’upi

Tuwena maḳa akaƞn miṭawa eya kiṡ

Tuḳa Waḳaƞṭaƞka hena maḳa kiƞ etaƞhaƞ uƞkaġapi nakuƞ hena hetaƞhaƞ akaƞn ni uƞk’uƞpi

Mni ṭaƞc̣aƞ uƞkożupina

Ahaƞn nakuƞ mni kiƞ he nakuƞ uƞyatkaƞpi kiƞhaƞ

Ahaƞn uƞdeżapi kiƞhaƞ mni kiƞ he aḳe kadus

Unci maḳa ektaki iyaye

K’a waṡte wówaḳaƞ ohna yuwaṡte

Héuƞ he táku owasiƞna iḳoyake,

táku owasiƞna uƞci maḳa akaƞn uƞkaġapi kiƞ hena owas iyuha naġi kiƞ he waƞżina káġapi

Ho mitakuyepi dena héc̣etu yedo

Maṭo Watakpe emakiyapi yedo

Transcribed by Neil McKay


EDWINA BERNARD
Treasured elder

Edwina Bernard emakiyapi

Waniyetu manapciwaƞka héhaƞ wayawa iyamni hemac̣a

Wakiƞyaƞ máza héc̣i ṭiblo miṭawa kc̣i wauƞyawapi

Iṡtawic̣ayazaƞ wi héhaƞ wauƞspewic̣aḳiye wíƞyaƞ kiƞ tóki ḣtani kta c̣a héc̣i iyaye

Wic̣iyaƞna na hokṡina iyuha wayawa isam uƞk’upi

Wauƞspewic̣aḳiye tákuni uƞyuhab ṡni c̣a Dupree héciya bdoketu héhaƞ wayawa yámni ówap̣a

Tóhni waṡicu waƞwic̣abdake ṡni c̣a ḳowic̣awakip̣e

Iṡ-eya Laḳota wic̣iyaƞna wayaƞkap ṡni c̣a ḳomakip̣api

Wayawa oko c̣aƞ ṭaƞkad (a)uƞkic̣iyutapi nauƞżiƞpi 1:15

Ate na ina waḳeya uƞkiṭawapi he Dupree héc̣i ékaġapi

Waniyetu ópta hed uƞṭipi

Ate híƞhaƞni c̣aƞ máni wayawa ṭípi héc̣i amai

Eṡ na wa kiƞ ṡme

Ṡiceca ṭokṡu wanice

Ate ṭaƞkad maḳa cístiƞna ok’e

hel c̣aƞ ile na I na lol’iḣ’aƞ

ṭimahed wauƞtapi

Iyec̣iƞkopte uƞyuhab ṡni

Waḳaƞhdi uƞyuhab ṡni c̣a p̣etiżaƞżaƞ uƞk’uƞp

Ate hed ḣtani

Wa ic̣aṭice káḣape

Maḳoc̣e oiyuṭe wic̣agnakapi ṡa

naiṡ c̣aƞp̣a wakpala héc̣i wáhiƞhe c̣aƞ wa kiƞ c̣aƞku iḣeyab paha éhnake

Waniyeu inuƞpa héhaƞ ate c̣áƞṭipi waƞ op̣eṭuƞ c̣a he ogna héhaƞ uƞyaƞkapi

Transcribed by Neil McKay


VIRGINIA MAX
Treasured elder

De Virginia Max ka Daḳota c̣aże miṭawag he Wáġac̣aƞwiƞ

Aḳe aƞpetug de Daḳotaḣ wóhdakapte

Táku uƞ wówhdake kteg de ic̣iƞ Táku dena sdodwaye eceeƞa uƞ wówahdaka owakihi

Imac̣aġeg hetaƞhaƞ kaksiza ṡíca hed uƞṭipi

Hed imac̣aġe ka hetaƞhaƞ óni hehaƞna tuwena iyec̣iƞkopte yuhab ṡni ga oni mánu uƞyakuƞpi

Héc̣a tohaƞn oṭuƞwe ta uƞyaƞpi uƞc̣iƞp kiƞhaƞ

Sisiṭuƞwaƞ ḳúƞṡi uƞkiṭab hena c̣aƞpahmi yuhapi naka

he ohna Sisiṭuƞwaƞ oṭuƞwe ta uƞyaƞba wóyute kaiṡ takuku op̣euƞṭuƞpi

héc̣a tóna oṭuƞwe ta uƞyaƞp ṡni óhiƞni

Dehaƞntu tuweg owas óhiƞni oṭuƞwe ta yapi

Óhiƞn aƞpetu owas omanipi ka héktakiya tákuna héc̣ed ec̣uƞ’uƞkuƞp ṡni 2:10

Héc̣a kaksiza ṣíca ed ḳúƞṡI uƞkaƞna uƞkiṭawab hena hed ṭípi

Héc̣a bdoketu kiƞhaƞ echaƞn óni hed uƞk’uƞpi

Tḳa nína wóżupi óta káġap ce

Héc̣a hena psiƞ ga bdo ga hena owas’iƞna ożup ce

Héc̣a hena uƞkiṡ aƞpetug owas’iƞna awaƞuƞyaƞkapi

Hehaƞ nakuƞ ważustecag hena owasiƞna oyuṡpapi

Bdoketu k’aƞ héhaƞ

Hehaƞ nakuƞ Dehaƞn uƞṭib de mni óni uƞyuhapi tḳa héktakiya hena

Mni huwe uƞyaƞp ce hena nakuƞ héc̣ed uƞṡkaƞpi tḳa óhiƞn ṭaƞkad uƞṡkaƞpi

Hehaƞ ḳúƞṡi miṭawag he nakuƞ ṭaƞkad waṡpaƞyaƞ ce

Héc̣a nakuƞ ṭaƞkad wauƞtapi

Tóhni ṭimahed uƞk’uƞp ṡni

Dehaƞtu de tuweg owasiƞna ṭimahed ṭípi ṭáwa ṭimahed óhiƞni yaƞkapi

Dehaƞtu de tuwena ṭaƞkad uƞp ṡni

Dehaƞtug de tḳa héktakiya uƞkiṡ óhiƞni ṭaƞkad uƞṡkatapi

Ahan nakuƞ tohaƞn wayawa yuḣdokap kiƞhaƞ aḳe iṡto héc̣iya uƞkayab ce

Tekakwitha orphanage eyapi

hed wayawa uƞyaƞpce ec̣e héktakiya wayawa ṭípi iḳiyena oyuhap ṡni

Dehaƞn héc̣etu tḳa dehaƞn iyec̣iƞkopte buses eyapi hena ṡicecag hena wayawa ṭípi héc̣iya áyapce

Dehaƞn uƞkiṡ Tekakwitha orphanage heceena wayawa ṭípi uƞyuhapi naka

Ṭehaƞn ṭípig hena ṡicecab ṭáwab hena owasiƞna hed éwic̣ahnakapi Tekakwitha orphanage hed

Hed wayawa uƞk’uƞba hena nakun waniyetu ihuƞniya hed uƞk’uƞpi

Hehan bdoketu kaƞ he c̣aƞ aḳe ṭiyata uƞhdapce

Héc̣a aḳe héc̣ed miṡ imac̣aġe hetaƞhaƞ mauƞspe ṡahdoġaƞ ehaƞwaḳi

Tekakwitha orphanage hed, héc̣a miṡ nakuƞ imac̣aġe héc̣ed nína óta oyate ded Sisiṭuƞwaƞ waḣpeḳute ded nína óta hed wayawapi

héc̣ed miṡ héc̣ed imac̣aġe hehaƞ hetaƞhaƞ waƞna hena wayawa bduṡtaƞg

hed ḳúƞṡi miṭawag ior uƞkaƞna miṭawag dena owasiƞna hehaƞyaƞ iża nípi

héc̣a hehan, ded uƞp ṡni hehaƞyaƞ hed héc̣a miṡ hetaƞhaƞ Flandreau Indian School eyapi iża héc̣iya nína oyapte (oyate?) ábebekiya United States ed oyatep dena ṣiceca iża héc̣iya wayawapi, héc̣a héc̣i miża wai

Waniyetu yamni hed wabdawa hehan etaƞhaƞ aḳe hehaƞyaƞnaḣ miṡ wayawa wai

Hehan hetaƞhaƞ hihnawaṭuƞ ka miża ṡiceca ṡákpe bduheg nakaḣ hetaƞhaƞ hena iṡto, dehaƞn (They say you get marries and you raise your family) hetaƞhaƞ miṡ héc̣ed ni wauƞ ṡicecag dena, ṡiceca uƞkiṭawab dena ic̣aḣuƞyaƞpi

Héc̣ed miṡ macistiƞna hetaƞhaƞ héc̣ed ni wauƞ

Dehaƞn waƞna kaƞ amaye nakaha

Waƞna de Waṡicu eyapi “retirement” eyapi héc̣ed miṡ ec̣amuƞ naka

Ṭiyata eceeena hed maƞke, óhiƞni

Héc̣ed hed miṡ Daḳota wóhdakapi de miṡ eceena yus wauƞ

dehaƞyaƞ hinaḣ Daḳod wówahdaka owakihi nakuƞDaḳota owakaḣniġe

Hena miṡ nína dehaƞn Waṡicu iapi, “I’m proud. I still have my Daḳota language” eyapi

Miṡ Daḳota wóhdakapi ep̣ ace

Héc̣ed dehaƞn oyateb dena nína óta Daḳod wóhdakab okihip ṡni nakuƞ okaḣniġap ṡni ga

Hena waƞna, hena uƞspewic̣aḳiyapi c̣íƞpi wayawa ṭípi Ṭioṡpa Zina Tribal School he(d)

nakuƞ Daḳota wóhdakapi uƞspewic̣akiyapi

Hena waṡte

Ṭokatakiye tuwe Daḳod okihi kiƞhaƞ hena waṡte kte

Wibdukcaƞ ce

Héc̣a nakuƞ oyatep ded Sisṭuƞwaƞ Waḣpeḳute oyanke ded wóḣtani yuhab

1970 hetaƞhaƞ Sisṭuƞwaƞ Waḣpeḳute oyateg de wóḣtani icupi he nakaha

Hehan hetaƞhaƞ nakuƞ tribal counsel, tribal chairman, tribal treasurer, tribal secretary hena owasiƞna

hetaƞhaƞ yuhapi ded héc̣a

hetaƞhaƞ oyateb ded tag owasiƞna táku dena ec̣uƞp okihip kiƞhaƞ ec̣uƞpi tḳa mázaska nína óta icup ṡni

naka

tḳa uƞġeġe wóḣtani yuhapi

oyate uƞġeġe iṭaƞc̣aƞ yaƞkapi hetaƞhaƞ

Héc̣a dehaƞn héc̣etu

Oyateb ded oyate owas maḳoc̣e de akaƞn héc̣uƞpi dehaƞn

héc̣ed waƞna de ómaḳa 2021 eyapi detaƞhaƞ ṡiceca uƞkiṭawab hena owasiƞna

waƞna taƞyaƞ dena owasiƞna wauƞspepte okihipi

Héc̣ed miṡ tahaƞ ni uƞyakuƞpi

Héc̣a, tḳa nína hinaḣ nína oyateb nína óta hinaḣ, ṭiwahe ed, ṭípi hinaḣ nína óta yuhab ṡni ka

Dehaƞn tag owasiƞna hinaḣ ṭeḣika áye, tag owasiƞna mázaska op̣eyaṫunpte, tag owasiƞna ṭeḣika

tḳa hinaḣ aƞpetug dehaƞyaƞ hinaḣ nu uƞyakuƞpi

Hena waṡte oyateb dena owas héc̣ed miṡ ni wauƞ dehaƞyaƞ hena owasiƞna sdowaye nakaḣ

Miża, miża táku nína óta ec̣amuƞ,

miża ḣtawani ga nakuƞ tribal council hed ake yámni, ómaḳa ake yámni hed tribal council hed maƞke

Kaksiza háƞska hetaƞhaƞ iṭaƞc̣aƞ maƞke

Héc̣a hena owas miża hehaƞyaƞ ec̣amuƞ

Héc̣a aḳe waƞna aƞpetu de owaƞżina maƞke hehaƞyaƞ

hena uƞ wówahdaka owakihi Daḳota (or) nína óta Daḳod wóhwahdaka owakihi tḳa (you know)

tḳa dehaƞtu nakuƞ tuwena Daḳod wóhdaka, tuwena ṡni

Daḳod wóhdaka kc̣i owakihi ṡni ic̣iƞ (we all) owasiƞna tóna Daḳota wóhdakap hena abebekiya ṭípi

Tuwena ṭiṭoḳaƞ hi ṡni ka tuwena yaƞkaba Daḳod wóhdakap ṡni dehaƞn

Imac̣aġeg hetaƞhaƞ tuweg owasiƞna Daḳod wóhdakapi ce tḳa dehaƞn tákuna ṡni

Héc̣a tḳa uƞġeġe dena Daḳod wóhdakap okihipi hena uƞconanab aṡ henaḣ

Daḳod wóhdakapi uƞkokihi̇pi

Hena miṡ nína wóp̣ida miṡ ep̣a ce

Héc̣a hehaƞyaƞna miṡ Daḳod wówahdake kte

Transcribed by Neil McKay


HARVEY QUINN
Treasured elder

C̣aże miṭawa Soloman Harvey Quinn emakiyapi

nakuƞ Daḳota ehaƞna ḳoda waƞżi miṭawa Daḳota c̣aże waƞżi mak’u ehaƞna inipi mahed wai

imahedtuya nína

Waƞ de nituwe tóḳed eniciyapi he? iṡ Daḳota c̣aże waƞżi duha?

Hiya tákuna Daḳota c̣aże tóhni mak’up ṡni

De waƞżi nic’u wakte

Hau! He táku kte nína omíhiteke .37

Núƞpakpi he c̣aże niṭawa kte waṡte

Hau!

Waƞna de ṭiyata demuc̣a tohaƞtu c̣aże bduhe ate imawaƞġa ṭiyata

He nakuƞ kíka wace Núƞpakpi he miye. (Room for Two) eyapi he héc̣ed ḳápi

Ohaƞ de miye ehaƞna miża itoṡ táku wayawa ṭípi hokṡina macist héhaƞ

ḳúƞṡi kc̣i waṭi hehan suƞkaku waƞżi kc̣i uƞṭiba “Big Coulee” héc̣a ḳápi iyoḣpata déc̣ataƞ

ḳúƞṡi kc̣iyata waṭi, wówapi ṭípi cístiƞnata he waṡicu eyapce “Country School” he ówap̣a

He waƞna owawa, wáƞca haƞ núƞpa ed wahi eṡ makeṡ áta yámni ed wahi c̣iƞ áta,

Wayawa ṭiba waƞżi “First grade” eyap ce he he núƞpa ec̣a ate ec̣amuƞ c̣iƞ.

He waƞżi bduṡna. Waṡicu eyap ce “first grade flunk” ho.

Aḳe áta, first grade aḳe áta ec̣amuƞ hekṡa bduṡtaƞ wakaġe

Second grade éceda wówapi ṭib núƞpa ed wahiyotaka

he nakuƞ áta iwacu áta bduṡtaƞ.

Hau waƞna nawaṭakapte

Waƞna oṭuƞwe héċiya wayawa ṭib ṭáƞka ta de kta. Hau!

Ehaƞna ate aḳe áta Country School hinaḣ ed waṡkaƞ tohaƞtuca waniyetu osni áta u

Suƞkaku waƞżi “Chucky” c̣aże ṭáwa nína háƞska inażaca

Tohaƞcata ci macistina áta nína ṡokṡoka nakuƞ áta tohaƞtuca “thick” áta hed omawani emakicetu

Tóḳed eyapce iyutkiya áta akaƞntu áta imakicu ca hehan

Imakeke ca toṡta niṭokṡu waye kte. Hau!

Héc̣i wayawa ṭípi héc̣iya uƞyaƞp cehaƞ héc̣ed áta wakaġa c̣a

Hehan aḳe áta aƞpetu he wayawa ṭíb áta uƞyuṡtaƞpi aḳe

Suƞkaku miṭawa háƞska heyata hícata

Waƞna ṭiyata uƞhdapte waƞna. Hau!

Ho nakuƞ suƞkaku miṭawa nakuƞ ḥeyata u ce 3.50

Hekṡe napeyata dayuze ce

Haƞṭiyata hékṡe ṭehaƞtaƞ ṡni héc̣i uƞkaġap ce

ḳúƞṡi ata waƞna táku waṡpaƞye ga ṭado, táku ṭáḣca ṭado ṡpaƞyaƞ ḳáta

Ómna c̣a ta nína ómna waṡteḣṡte áta

Nína wótewahda naka owasiƞna ṭebwaye, nakuƞ aġuyapi ṡpaƞ he nakuƞ áta káġa ce

na takuku bdo ṡpaƞye he nakuƞ héc̣ena he wéksuye

Hékṡe waƞna Sisiṭuƞwaƞ héc̣iya waƞna wayawa ṭípi hed áta ówap̣a he nakuƞ áta wéksuya nakuƞ

Hékṡe waƞna, tóḳed Waṡicu eyapta, “Elementary” waƞna he owasiƞna bduṡtaƞ.

Waniyetu ṡákpe kepce bduṡtaƞ “Fifth grade” áta bduṡtaƞ

Ahaƞna waƞna áta ṭib waƞna, wayawa ṭípi waƞ nína ṭáƞka áta,

he Sisiṭuƞwaƞ Courthouse isaḳib he áta ówap̣a he tóḳed eyap ce “Junior High” ówap̣a

Hed ówap̣a áta, hékṡe tohantu ṭeḣika ce

nakuƞ áta tohantu wayawa hed áta miye waṡkaƞ ceṡ, tohantu uƞġeġe áta makic̣izapi c̣íƞpi s’e

Hau ho p̣éta ap̣e tuwe áta Waṡicu waƞżi áta amap̣e áta, he tóḳed héc̣anuƞ he?

Ic̣iƞ áta, niwaḣtedawa ṡni. He tóḳed.

He kic̣iza c̣iƞ. Wakc̣iza wac̣iƞ ṡni. Aḳe amap̣e

Waƞna c̣aƞmaza. Uƞġeġe áta kc̣i kc̣iza waye áta ohiwaye, iyokp̣iwaye áta

Waƞna áta, waƞna na naġemaye ṡni ce

He áta makuƞ wéksuya

Waƞna aḳe áta, aḳe “Big Coulee” héc̣iya aḳe, héc̣iya ḳúƞṡi waƞna, amakeke

héc̣iya aḳe, oṭib héc̣iya wauƞyawapta aḳe.

He tóḳed? Ic̣iƞ áta de tuktetu, ṭib áta ode owakihi ṡni

“So” wíƞyaƞ waƞżi, Clears Fredericks waƞżi hed, wíƞyaƞ he sdodye.

“Lloyd’s Country Store” he waƞżi ṭib tóḳed eyap ce “trailer house” waƞżi yuhe

Ḳúƞṡi he op̣eṭuƞ.

Hau, waƞna aḳe áta Big Coulee ed waṭi, aḳe

“Big Coulee Day School” waƞna iyopte.

Hékṡe henuḣ hed, nakuƞ ṭib henuḣ héc̣iya henaḣ uƞ.

Hékṡe waƞna, wayawa ṭib he héc̣ed iyopte ṡni.

He nakuƞ áta, hásapa ṭio hed wic̣aṡta he owawa uƞspe uƞkuƞpi ce.

He nakuƞ ówap̣a ce.

Hokṡina ṭawa he kc̣i waṡkata cée

Tohaƞn áta “Harvey.” “Hau,” tuweni ṡni kc̣i waṡkate.

Howaye ṡni c̣iƞ. Miṡnana c̣a détkiya yau oyakihi k’haƞ, “Army Man” áta uƞṡkatapte.

“Hau, wau kte.”

Ṭiyata aḳe p̣a ka na ṭib héc̣iya, ṭib héc̣iya ḳud áta ṭibyata héc̣iya wai c̣a

“Army Pants” de áta “you tell” áta cístiƞna mahed áta, tóḳed eyap ce makip̣i ṡni eyaṡ henaḣ mac̣epa naka áta he áta héc̣ed nínaḣ mac̣epa áta

Hékṡe áta, Hásapa hokṡina kc̣i waṡkata kepce

Hehan aḳe áta, ṭib héc̣i aḳe mawani.

Aḳe ḳúƞṡi imawaƞġa, “Waƞna tukted yaṡkate”

“Stuart, he kc̣i waṡkate”

“Waṡte do”

Waƞna de ókpaza áta, waƞna hétkiya ókpaza owekekakwanahdu

Hau, héc̣ed he, héċed wéksuye.

Hékṡe tag owas nakuƞ suƞkaku miṭawa nakuƞ iża óp̣e ce tohaƞtu

Transcribed by Neil McKay


DELBERT PUMPKINSEED
Treasured elder

Hau de Wagmusu emaciyape do

De uƞṡpa Oglala hemac̣a, lala

Sisiṭuƞwaƞ ded maṭuƞpi, oc̣aƞku ogna maṭuƞpi kéyapi. Old 81 déc̣iya ḳúya hed maṭuƞpi.

ḲúƞṡI, húƞku miṭawa kiƞ wóżuha omagnake héc̣iya, wóḳuże kiƞ ekta amaye na héc̣a.

He awaƞmayaƞkab he hetaƞ ibdabde.

Waƞna ic̣aḣ amaya. Wowokiya wauƞ

Héc̣iya ósmaka ṭaƞka déc̣a “Big Coulee.”

Héc̣iya uƞṭipi okaḣmi ekta.

Waniyetu c̣aƞ iyoke wayaƞkapi

C̣aƞ nape kc̣i uƞkaksapi na ṭouƞṡupi

Na bdoketu c̣a aḳe “Pine Ridge” ta uƞkihuƞnib héc̣a.

Ate miṭawa kiƞ “Timber Land” eyapi he yuha.

Héc̣iya aƞpetu áta ṡni hena yuha waṣkaƞpi, c̣aƞ obaksapi aƞpetu áta.

He maźaska kamna.

Ṭiwahe ṭáwa kiƞ wówic̣ak’u.

Hena uƞ takuƞ waṡteṡte icu.

Hena aḳe waƞna waniyetu owayawa waƞna gdawe kta ca ḍeciyatkeya uƞgdiyacupi okihipi

Wilmont hed wabdawa. “Public school” Waṡicu ob.

Eṡ hena taƞyaƞ ob uƞṡkaƞpi.

Táku owasiƞni ṭabṡkatapi na siha uƞ ṭabṡkatapi na héc̣ed takuku hena uƞṡkaƞpi ókc̣iya uƞkuƞpi.

Wóyukseḣ ta tóhni kic̣izap ṡni, uƞkic̣izap ṡni héc̣ed taƞyaƞ op̣iic’iya uƞkuƞpi.

Ehaƞna waƞna waniyetu num (or) “20 years” iwahuƞni na, (or) 18 akiċita ówap̣a wac̣iƞ.

Waƞna ate ina owakiyake, “De akic̣ita bde wac̣iƞ.” Iyokp̣ip ṡni.

Wátama iyukcaƞpi nac̣ece.

Hau héc̣anuƞ yac̣iƞ kiƞ. Tokṡa wówapi hena uƞkaġa na waƞna he émayapi.

Héc̣iya “physical” mak’upi. Takuku hena, akic̣ita ṡkaƞpta hena.

Yuƞḳaƞ watohanl Waṡicu akan ṭimahu náżiƞ.

“We cannot take it today Mr. Pumpkinseed, sir.”

“Why?”

“Diabetes.”

“Diabetes?!”

“Ya, you’ve got a touch of diabetes. We can’t take you.”

Cạƞteṡiba héc̣a aḳe amakip̣e na ṭuḣa miṭawa.

“Yagdihuƞni. Tak eyapi?”

“De we skúya hemac̣a kéyapi hda. “Sugar”

Tóṡke iyacu héci?

Yúƞḳaƞ watohaƞl húƞku miṭawa omakiyaka he, “It runs in the family.”

“Tuwa hena wóḳużeyapi c̣a íƞyaƞka.”

Déc̣a ḳúƞṡi miṭawa eye. “Ṭeḣiya eha.”

“Nína, aƞpetu iyohina “shots” icu héc̣ed ni uƞ kte, taƞyaƞ uƞ kte”

“Táku owasiƞni yútap okihip ṡni kéyapi c̣a ṭeḣiya uƞ héc̣ed.”

Hena wéksuya k’a ate miṭawa watohaƞl, uƞkaƞna miṭawa déc̣iya Earl Williams eciyap déc̣iya.

He sdodwaye ṡni ṭéhaƞn, watohaƞl héc̣iya “Big Coulee” héc̣a inażiƞ na takuku ahi.

Wóyute óta iyec̣iƞka ṭéca uƞkaḣab.

He kc̣i wóuƞgdakap hena húƞku miṭawa kc̣i, “Ṭakoża, de awagda wac̣iƞ.”

Eṡ he wéksuya “I don’t know if he said Ṭakoża or there’s a different way. But he was going to take me back to town Sisseton.”

Heƞhaƞn dena ṭéhaƞtaƞ séce.

Nena híyena Dekṡi waḳi na A&W ed isaḳib ṭípi zi waƞ he.

Nahaḣ he náżiƞ. He ṭi tḳa. He ṭáwa tḳa ca hed uƞk’uƞpi.

Ate “spoil grandson” eyapi he waƞżi ówap̣a.

A&W héc̣iya wai na Rootbeer Float iwacu s’a.

Uƞkaƞna Leroy Quinn ṭib ekta, hed maḳoc̣e hena yuha tḳa

he uƞkaƞna miṭawa húƞku ṭawa k’a atkuku ṭáwa hed yaƞkapi

Héc̣iya uƞkipi k’a makipazo.

Úƞḳaƞ waniyetu ópta ye waƞna ópta hena owasiƞni t’ápi iƞṡ-eya, uƞkaƞna miṭawa kiƞ iƞṡ eye t’e.

Tóhni wabdake ṡni tóṡke ṭípi he ehaṡ ṡkaƞpi héci sdodwaye ṡni.

Héc̣iya Nebraska héc̣iya ḣtani wai héc̣iya wauƞ na ḣtawani.

Waniyetu óta héc̣iya wauƞ. Waṡicu ob waṭi c̣a hed nakuƞ wic̣oie wagnuni.

Wagnuniṡ naṡ? (neṡ?) tóhni kc̣i wówaglake ṡni ce. Waṡicu ob waṭi.

Hau ṭeḣike do

Watohaƞ ṡni wakṡicana waḳi wac̣iƞ ic̣iƞ héc̣iya Pine Ridge ekta

Ṭeḣike eṡ héc̣iya iyomakp̣i

Ṭípi gmigmiya, c̣áƞgmigmiya uƞkoṭipi.

na c̣aƞ, oc̣eṭi he c̣aƞ uƞ ṭiyopa ḳadya waƞyaƞkapi nah ed wayaƞkapi na

He nakuƞ waḳaƞhdi uƞnicapi “kerosene lamps” eyapi héc̣a

He net użers olena haƞhepi c̣a uƞyaƞkapi na

Héhaƞ nakuƞ itepazop TV waƞ níca c̣a

Waƞna wi ḳod iyaya c̣a ṡna owasiƞna uƞkiyuḳaƞpi na iṡtiƞmapi.

Húƞku na atkúku miṭawa tuwe ṭokṭokca hinażiƞpi na wóglakap.

Hena wógdakap uƞkiṡtiƞmap ce

Héc̣ed ṡkáƞpi ehaƞna.

Transcribed by Neil McKay


JERRY DEARLY
Treasured elder

Hau mitakuyepi.

Aƞpetu waṡte! Ṭaƞkal líla oiyokip̣i.

Heya le Suṭapi emaciyape lo

Ehaƞni he “Little Big Horn” hetaƞhaƞ c̣aṡmaṭuƞp.

Kákawaye ki, lálawaye ki ṭuƞkaṡila he mak’u welo

Eya Waṡicu ogna “Sharp Shooter” eyape lo

Ṭaiƞṡ le wic̣ooyake waƞ yuha iwacimaƞg c̣a oblakiƞ kte lo

Iƞṡ e ehaƞni, wiċaṡta waƞ, wic̣oic̣aġe ehaƞni tukteltel ? wic̣aṡta ohitika kéyap.

Hokṡila num wic̣ahna ṭaic’ina eya ṭipestola, ṭiikceya, uƞṭiwa égle na

Yup̣ikel ṭí na aƞpetu c̣aƞṡna iƞ eya iṡ tuktel takuƞn ṡna wówaṡi ec̣uƞna

Aḳe ḣtayetu chaƞ gli. Héc̣el ni uƞ ke

Wic̣aṡa ? ki tóḳeṡke táku c̣iƞto hokṡilo yuha ḳo iƞṡ eya

C̣iƞto hokṡila ṭáwa kókihi kc̣i aokic̣iyaṡícap séce

C̣a ạta tóḳe niye ṡni c̣a áta eya ṭaƞkad iya yo

Ku ṡni yo eya c̣a ṭaƞkal náżiƞ haƞ c̣a wahehaƞl le wic̣aṡa waƞ ep̣a kiƞ he

“Wáƞ keca waƞ! Ṭoṡka, tóḳiya la héc̣iya, ya le

Ṭaƞkal na ṭaƞkal iyeska ṭiyopa naṭakab c̣a tóḳe nibles na “Hiyu léc̣iya” c̣a eya ke

C̣a ṭi ekta, “Lel le yauƞ ki” “Ohaƞ” eya ke

Taiƞ he le iƞska eya, eya le p̣ikiya waƞna hel ḳowopaḳe

Taiƞ, wotahaƞl iƞska, el waƞna le waḳul bliƞ kte lo eya ke

“Yau kta?” heya,“Hiya.” heya ke c̣a “Ho, c̣eya ṡno iya ke” eya

Ehaƞni ic̣iƞṡ ṡúƞkawaḳaƞ ce le yuhap c̣a eya na yuha iya ċa nagrike

yuƞḳaƞ iƞska hokṡila ṭawa le henic̣ala hokṡila iƞ, hena yus yaƞka haƞke

nahaƞ iƞ húƞku nahaƞ iƞ he iƞ ṭoṡkaku he tóḳiyapi c̣a

He waƞ le tóḳiyap heya uƞḳaƞ

“Hiya, ate yaḳe.” “Han.”

“Le iƞska nap̣iƞ tak ehaƞna iƞ ógle kic’uƞ na inuƞp̣ap uƞyaḳeca.”

“Tóḳiyap séce”

Kta poyaƞka ḣtayetu na aƞpetu iyopte na haƞhepi ki áta aƞpetu híƞhaƞni ḣciƞ tuweni gli ṡni ke

C̣a hokṡila hena owic̣akiyakap ke eya “Niṡ eya u kte”

Tuweni awaƞniyaƞkap ṡni c̣a

Eya waƞna ? uƞspec̣ic̣ya kte waḳul yagle c̣a

Le héc̣el le owic̣akiyaka áta tóḳiyayap ki áta waƞna oko tónaḣ yuḳe ohna na wi sáƞp̣a waƞna

tóḳiya waƞna líla oko icizaptaƞ waƞ hel ogna halaka táku waƞ waƞżi hihuƞni ke c̣a

Ṭahaƞṡi! Ṭahaƞṡi! eya ke c̣a Haƞ! Léc̣iya iƞska wic̣aṡa iṭaƞc̣aƞ ki hokṡila ḳo na ṭaƞk iyela leca

iƞska, iƞ taƞ lel uƞyaṡi héc̣a gli yelo eya ke

Waṡte c̣a Áta tuwe keya ho léc̣i kaksiza ka c̣a iktaya waƞna he kte kte yukcaƞ

Ho yuƞḳaƞ, nahaƞ eya ke tákuniṡ tóḳa ṡni ke

Watohaƞl hokṡila ṭáwa ki húƞkupi ki gli ke ṭawicu ki

Iƞṡ eya tóḳi aƞpetu núƞpa séce gli ke

eyaṡ tákuni eye ṡni keya piya ahomni

Aḳe waḳul iya na táktoḳuƞ he héc̣uƞna

Eya tákuniṡ áta iƞṡ eya ṭawicu ki kikte kta kiyukcaƞb ke

Eyaṡ héc̣etu ṡni ke

Tákuniṡ icuṡ le kaksiza ka wic̣aṡa iṭaƞc̣aƞ ṭeƞaƞnla ihuƞni na áta ksíze ka ke c̣a

Yuƞḳaƞ tónala áta hiƞhaƞni ḣciƞ wi hinap̣e ṡni haƞni

Ognalaka tuwa lowaƞ ke

        “Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo heye”

        “Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo heye”

        “Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo heyeho”

        “Laḳota Hokṡila wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo heye”

        “Wíyaka waƞ nic’upe”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo heyeho”

Eya áta inażiƞp c̣a tóḳi wic̣ayaḣiƞca c̣a woṭo ognakala áta

He héc̣i iƞ hokṡila niṭawa he iƞska wécilowaƞ lo

Wíyaka le wap̣aha ki wakhi yelo eya ke

Ṭuƞma ṭaƞkal hiyu ṡi po eya ke c̣a

Ṭaƞkal hinażiƞ na eya wap̣aha ohe uƞḳiya ke

Ho hehaƞl aḳe wíƞyaƞ waƞ, wíƞyaƞ níce lo eya ke

C̣a wap̣aha níce lo eya ke

Na wíƞyaƞ ki ḳo lenic̣eca

Ho he, wíƞyaƞ ki le wak’u welo

“Wíƞyaƞ waƞ le c̣ic’u we”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heye)”

        “Wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u we”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heye)”

        “Wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heyeho)”

        “Laḳota Hokṡila wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u we”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heye)”

        “Wíƞyaƞ ki le c̣ic’u we”

        “Ḳola inażiƞ yo (heyeho)”

Ho, wíƞyaƞ waƞbli wáp̣aha ki wap̣aha ki le c̣ic’u nahaƞ

wíƞyaƞ le c̣ic̣u we wíƞyaƞg ninica c̣a he c̣ic’u welo

Na wic̣aṡa nahaƞ tákuni luha ṡni c̣a he wap̣aha he oc̣iciye lo eya ke

Na ṡuƞkawaḳaƞ áta wikcemna num wic̣abluha c̣a hena áta luha kta lo eya ke

Ho ena le iƞska …

Nakuƞ tohaƞn tuktel na ta uƞkib c̣aƞ ṡna táku uƞ wic̣uƞḳizab hena átaya c̣ic’u welo eya ke

Ho lena áta hena maḳoc̣e káḳiya bluha hena ḳo c̣ic’u welo eya ke

Ho hena maḳoc̣e luha kte lo

Miye káḳiya ṭip̣estola he ki he wéc̣aġe lo eya ke

Hokṡila miṭawa na miye héc̣iya uƞṭi uƞ kta c̣a waƞna migluṡtaƞ eya ke

He héchena eya c̣aƞtożuha kic̣’u ya léc̣el óc̣iciye lo

Héc̣el wac̣iƞc̣iye lo

Héc̣el oyate ki ówic̣akiya yo

Éna kawiƞġa hokṡila ṭáwa hena ob héc̣el yagni na

ho áta ṭokatakiya héċiya ṭi ke

Transcribed by Neil McKay


JOE WILLIAMS
Treasured elder

Maġaksica de itokaḣ héc̣i ta kúpi.

Waƞna pte hétig waƞna wóyute waƞ ya hed tḳa

Maġaksica he itokaġkiya úpi

Ded íyotakab, bdeg etka hiyutakab, owasiƞn hiyutakab úƞḳaƞ

Uƞktomi he de, hu ṭáƞka hda máni

Uƞktomi hena maġaksica wawic̣ayake

De tóḳiya dápi he?

P̣aġuƞta waƞżi yuhomni kiƞ ?

Itokaḣ héc̣iya uƞyaƞpte wóyute wanice.

Itokaḣ héc̣iya maṡte maḳoc̣e héc̣iya wáte, héc̣iya ?

Uƞktomi amaya po

Paġuƞte eya, “Maġaksica henic̣eca,” óbdaye owakihiṡ. Ḳóp̣edaƞ kepce

Uƞktomi heya, “? heni duha ce. Maġaksica mayakaġa.”

“Héc̣amuƞ owakihi tḳa ṭokaheya,” eya, “Umag hena iwic̣amuƞġe kte. Maġaksica.”

Héc̣ed p̣aġuƞta ed niwaƞ iyaya ob wóhdake kéyapi.

Tónaked déc̣ed akidney kukuwi

Déc̣ed omakiyakapi niwahedigadub p̣aġuƞta.

Maġaksica c̣iƞca wíyaka mak’upi tḳa táku uƞspec̣ic̣iyeg hena owas wicayada kiƞ héc̣amuƞ kte.

Hec̣uƞ kta miwic̣oia

Héc̣ed p̣aġuƞta Uƞtomi tag owas uƞspeḳiyap, tag owasiƞ maġaksica ka.

Waƞna itokaḣ waƞna de pte tóna héc̣iya maḳoc̣e maṡte.

Waƞna de kíni wabdaṡ.

Tḳa ehaƞke táku ec̣uƞkuƞpte cée.

Táku.

Owas maġaksica kupig etaƞhaƞ dena óniṡtaƞp ce.

Héc̣ed maġaksica níc̣aġapta.

Tḳa itokaḣ uƞkiyab kiƞhaƞ misaḳib kiƞyaƞ wo

Wicayadake uƞ.

Táku uƞspec̣ic̣iye. Hau héc̣amuƞ kte do

Héc̣ed itokaḣ kiƞyaƞ iyayapi, wic̣oṭi ohomni uƞkiyab ce

Aḳe núƞpa héc̣iya boƞko, héc̣iya aḳe

Uƞktomi na maġaksica káġapi tak owas iḳoyagapi, maġaksica.

Iyamni ohomni he boḣtakapi céyapi

Boḣbaḣpepi.

Ahaƞni wóyakapi

Transcribed by Neil McKay


CAROL CHARGING THUNDER
Treasured elder

Carol Charging Thunder […]

C̣aże miṭawa mak’upi he Maḣpiya Wíƞyaƞ

Oohe Núƞpa na oyuḣpe Oglala oyate hemataƞhaƞ

Ḣesapa hel lala na uƞci miṭawa ki ic̣aḣmayapi

Waniyetu záptaƞ haƞ Maṭo Wakpa Wic̣oṭi ta uƞkib

Wamaḳaƞyeża haƞ lala miṭawa ki ohuƞkake uƞkokiyakap s’a

Lala ibluġiƞ nahaƞ tuktetaƞhaƞ uƞhib ic̣iƞ

Lala miṭawa ki unci maḳa na ṭaṭe iġuġa oḣlota uƞṭuƞpi

Lala miṭawa ki waġac̣aƞ waḣpe icu nahaƞ wazi ṭahiƞṡpa pasi nahaƞ ṭípi waƞ káġe

Uƞci maḳa waġac̣aƞ uƞk’upi oṭipi ḣeyata hiƞ kte ke ognaya ḳípi ktapi

Nakuƞ c̣aƞ ṭokṭokca oyate wic̣ak’upi

C̣áġa ḳo c̣aṡmu nahaƞ maḳa

Waġac̣aƞ uƞk’upi he tonakca úƞpi

Ṭípi ṭoṡu he wiwaƞg waċipi c̣okataƞhaƞ he

Ha ki he wic̣aḣpe ópta ye iyec̣eca

Aletka he luksa háƞtaƞṡ wic̣aḣpi iyec̣eca

C̣a lena huƞkaka cík’ala eṡ lala miṭawa ki hena uƞspemaḳiya hena oc̣iciyakapi

Lala miṭawa ki lehaƞ nahaḣci ṭewaḣiƞla

Eya héc̣egla oc̣iciyakapi

Mitakuyapi

Transcribed by Neil McKay


ANGELA TWO STARS

Artist Angela Two Stars reads Dakota phrases and words featured in her sculpture, expressing Native values and offering encouragement.

VALUES


















PHRASES & QUOTES



Angela Two Stars, Okciyapi, 2021. Commissioned by the Walker Art Center, with funds from the T. B. Walker Acquisition Fund, the Friends of the Falls, and Russell Cowles, 2021. Photo: Cameron Wittig for Walker Art Center.










Angela Two Stars

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, b. 1982

Okciyapi, 2021

cast concrete engraved with Dakota language, enamel on steel, fountain, bound aggregate with embedded luminescent pebbles, native plantings, audio recordings

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

Commissioned by the Walker Art Center, with funds from the T. B. Walker Acquisition Fund, the Friends of the Falls, and Russell Cowles, 2021

Recordings of treasured elders transcribed by Neil McKay