Always feeding people
A group of people gathered under a cabin, eating what appears to be soup together. (Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Cathy Rice
My grandmother on my mom’s side was a homemaker too. My grandfather used to say to anyone who came over, “Go in the house and eat.” She was always feeding people.
Even to this day, there’s a man in town who always makes it known to us that he was so thankful. When he was a young boy, he didn’t have much to eat and would ask my grandfather for a little bit of work and he would tell him to go and eat first. After he fed him, then he would get him to do a little bit of work.
This was in the 1930s, during the Depression. It didn’t matter who you were, she would feed you. I even heard a story, I’m not sure if it was before the war or after the war, but there was a German pilot who she brought in and fed. I’m not too sure how true that was, but I always knew that if you were hungry, she would feed you.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Tiótkon shos ronwatinón:tens nón:kwe
A baker standing next to his artisanal bread. (Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Cathy Rice IAKOKÁ:RATON
Ionnonhsanónhnha'ahkwe' ki' wáhi ò:ni' nakhsótha' nake'nisténha nonkwá:ti. Rakhsótha' shos enhshakohró:ri' nónhka entienatà:ra', "Wà:s kanónhskon iahà:se tánon' tesatskà:hon." Tiótkon shos ronwatinón:tens nón:kwe.
Khò:ni' òn:wa wenhniserá:te', shaià:ta rèn:teron kaná:takon néne tiótkon rarihowanáhtha' tsi niió:re' tsi tehshakononhwerá:tons. Shihaksà:'a, iah é:so tehokhwá:ientahkwe' tánon' enhshakorihwanón:tonhse' ne rakhsótha' ken' niiorihwà:'a ahoio'ténhseron' tánon' enhohró:ri' eh ià:re' tánon' tahatskà:hon' niá:re'. Ohna'kèn:ke tsi wahó:nonte', sok ki' ienhò:reke' ken' niiorihwà:'a ahoió'tenste'.
1930 shiiohserò:ten's, Shikahwistanó:ron. Iah othé:nen tewatsterísthahkwe' ónhka ní:se', eniesá:nonte' se'. Iesewakkarahrón:ken ò:ni', iah kwah tewakaterièn:tare' tóka' ohén:ton shiwaterí:io tóka' ni' ohnà:ken nek tsi shaià:ta Tehonontsistokerón:te' tehá:tens néne tahonwaia'tínion'te' tánon' wahonwá:nonte'. Iah kwah tewakaterièn:tare' tó: niió:re' niiorihwí:io thí:ken nek tsi tiótkon wakaterièn:tarahkwe' tsi tóka' satonhkária'ks, kwah eniesá:nonte'.
Edited by: Aaron McComber, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde