Another century
(Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Geraldine Standup
My grandparents had all the influence on me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be a Mohawk speaker. Most people in this community were Mohawk speakers, and we didn’t speak English at home at all, none of us spoke English. We’re talking about another time here.
I had my face slapped right in the first grade by a teacher named Miss Vioco, and I was only about seven at the time. The nuns had their clappers, and we lined up two by two to go to the bathroom downstairs. So, we go down there, and you’re not allowed to talk. I don’t know anybody, and on top of that, I don’t speak English, so I don’t know what the heck’s going on.
I get down there, and I saw the bathroom doors. I looked, and there’s my cousin Mavis. I recognized her shoes. I was so happy to see someone I knew, so I spoke to her.
I don’t even remember what I was saying, but as soon as I turned around – WHOOM!
I was so shocked I didn’t even cry. Today, I don’t know if it was because I was talking or if it was because I was speaking Mohawk. Needless to say, I learned to speak English by Christmas.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Ó:ia' niiohtòn:ne' ne wahón:nise'
(Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Geraldine Standup IAKOKÁ:RATON
Ó:ia' niiohtòn:ne' ne wahón:nise'
Ionkhsothokòn:'a kwah tó:kenske' wa'onke'nikonhrón:ni', toka' iah eh thahotiié:ren, iah Kanien'kéha thaonkwahronkhà:'on. Thóha akwé:kon ne kèn:tho tsi iakwanákere' rontá:tiskwe' ne Kanien'kéha, tánon' kwah iah tsowén:na Tiohrhèn:sha teionkwatá:ti nonkwanonhskónhson, ó:ia' tsi nikahá:wi' ionkwahtharáhkwen ne kèn:tho wáhi.
Tseià:ta iakorihonnién:ni ne Miss Vioco iontátiats kwah wa'onkkonhsáia'ke' énska kahiá:ton shikhá:wi', tánon' ákta tsá:ta na'tewakohseriia'kòn:ne' ne thò:ne. Iotiia'tatokénhti kontihá:wahkwe' aoná:wen tewahsáro'ks, tánon' teionkwe'takehátie' tsi wa'akwanenhrahserón:ni' tsi átste' ienhtáhkhwa' wa'ákwe' ehtà:ke nonkwá:ti. Thò:ne ki', ehtà:ke ia'akwátsnenhte', tánon' iah thaón:ton' ahsatá:ti', iah ónhka tekheienté:ri tánon' ne ísi' nón:we na'karì:wati, kwah iah tekatá:tis ne Tiohrhèn:sha, tánon' iah othé:nen tewakaterièn:tare' ne tsi niiá:wens.
Ehtà:ke shiahà:ke' tánon' wa'katkáhtho' ne átste' ienhtáhkhwa' kahnhokahrón:ton. Eh ia'katkáhtho' tánon' eh ítien's ontiara'sè:'a Mavis. Akóhta wa'kheién:tereste'. Tsi na'katshennón:ni' tsi wa'khé:ken' ónhka kheienté:ri, kwah tho na'á:wen' wa'khewén:nara'ne'. Iah othé:nen tekè:iahre' tsi nahò:ten' ká:tonhkwe' nek tsi kawenní:io'k sha'tkatkahrhaté:ni' TIÁKS!
Tho nonkenehrá:ko' kwah iah tha'tewakahsénthon. Ok nòn:wa wenhniserá:te', iah tewakaterièn:tare' tsi eh wa'karihón:ni' tsi wa'katá:ti' tóka' ni' tsi Kanien'kéha wa'katá:ti'. Thieiorì:wakon nakì:ron', wa'kà:ronke' Tiohrhèn:sha ohén:ton ne tsi rotón:ni shiahontenhniseríhewe'.
Written by: Melissa Stacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translation by: Karonhí:io Delaronde