All gone
An oil painting depicting a medicine man aside another Onkwehón:we. (Courtesy: Wikki Commons)
Story told by Allen Simon
I've always been someone who minded my own business, never one to run around late at night or get into trouble. I never smoked those bad cigarettes either. It wasn't until I turned 21 that I started smoking, but in 1985, I made a life-changing decision. I quit smoking, quit alcohol, and I never looked back. My rationale was simple: why take pills for my health while continuing to smoke? So, I decided to quit both, believing that it would make my medication more effective.
In 2001, I faced another major challenge when I had to undergo a double bypass surgery. Surprisingly, it was the same year, just two months later, that they had to address an aneurysm in my artery, which had grown to the size of a baby's head.
What has struck me the most is the way life has changed around me. I turned to look for my family and loved ones, but they were no longer there. It seemed like everyone had vanished. My siblings, my parents – they were all gone.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Akwé:kon shonahténtion
Some of the natural medicines prepared by Elaine Delaronde at her home. (Credit: Simona Rosenfield)
Allen Simon ROKÁ:RATON
Tiótkon tho shitia'tò:ten néne iah ken' thietiéhrha' akò:ren akorihwa'shòn:'a. Iah ki' nonwén:ton iotahsontatíhen thiewatiakèn:'en tóka' ni' tewakateron'ónhton thé:nen'k. Iah ni' nonwén:ton tewakatshókwen thí:ken kaien'kwáksen. Tsik 21 sha'tkohserí:ia'ke' takatáhsawen' wa'katshó:ko', nek tsi 1985 shiiohserò:ten, iorihowá:nen ia'tewakerihwaién:ta'se'. Sakatien'kwátka'we', sakathnekátka'we' tánon' iah nonwén:ton ohnà:ken thiesewakatkáhthon. Watié:sen tsi niwake'nikonhrò:ten: oh nontié:ren enkenakwahnéhkwane' aonkwata'karí:teke' tsi nikarì:wes iesewakatahsón:tere' akatshó:ko'? Né: káti' wa'tewakerihwaién:ta'se' tetsá:ron akátka'we', tewakehtáhkwen tsi sénha enkaiánerenhste' akenónhkwa'.
2001 shiiohserò:ten, ó:ia' nahò:ten' iorihowá:nen wa'tekhnió:ten' ó:nen'k tsi wa’tkatóhetste' ne tékeni tekonionniharahtén:ni kahrè:nen. Tha'katié:ren'k, né: sha'óhsera, kwah nek tewenhnì:take ohnà:ken, ó:nen'k tsi ken' niahatí:iere' ne iotsinonhiahtakwá:ronte' ktsinonhiahtakwe'niiò:ke, néne ontehià:ron' sha'té:wa' owirà:'a ienontsì:ne.
Onkenehrá:ko' ki' nì:'i tsi ní:ioht tsi teiotténion tsi kónhnhe'. Wa'kheia'taióha' akhwá:tsire' tánon' ne khenorónhkhwa', nek tsi iah teshón:ne'skwe'. Á:ienhre'k akwé:kon ka'k thónhte niahón:ne'. Iakwatate'ken'okòn:'a, iontièn:'a - akwé:kon shonahténtion.
A sacred medicine bundle wrapped in the skin of a black bear. (Courtesy: Wikki Commons)
Edited by: Jonathan Turenne - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Sahawisó:ko' Arquette