It happened at Christmas
(Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Harvey Gabriel
This is a true story my mother used to tell every so often on Christmas morning. It’s about Kanonwa’tì:ron Gabriel; he didn’t respect Christmas Day.
So, one Christmas morning, as he was accustomed in doing every Christmas morning, he hitched his team of his horses to a winter sled to go up the mountain to cut wood. This was just to offend the people that were going to church on Christmas morning.
So, one Christmas night when he was in his bed, a man in white clothing appeared at the end of his bed and said to him, “If you go to cut wood one more time on Christmas day, I will come and get you.”
Well, with that strong ultimatum, Kanonwa’tì:ron never went back to the mountain to cut wood on Christmas day.
Kanonwa’tì:ron could not keep the secret of what happened to him, he had to tell the Kanehsata'kehró:non.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Ratonnià:ne' tho niiawèn:'en
(Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Harvey Gabriel ROKÁ:RATON
Ake'nistenhkénha shes ieká:ratons kwató:ken tsi na'tekà:ron ne Ratonnià:ne' kí:ken. Kanonwa'tì:ron Gabriel iah nonwén:ton iá:ken tehokweniénhston ne Ratonnià:ne' niwenhniserá:te'.
Énska ki' kénhne' ne Ratonnià:ne' nohrhon'kè:ne wahshakoia'taniión:ten' ne tsoiá:na kohsá:tens raotshenen'ó:kon ne kohsera'kéhkha' né: nahaientakóha' Tiononte’kó:wa. Kwah nek ne ahshakohsénhten' ne ón:kwe ne ionterennaiénhne's ne Ratonnià:ne' ohrhon'kè:ne.
Tsi na'á:wen'ne' no'karahsnéha ó:nen shihaiatión:ni raonaktà:ke, thontaiawénhstsi' rón:kwe wahokè:tohte', kara'kenhseróskon rotsheronnià:ton, tánon' wahohró:ri', wahèn:ron', "Shé:kon énska ensehsenontà:ra'ne' nahsientakóha' ne Ratonnià:ne' enwenhniserá:teke', téntke' tánon' ienskonia'ténhawe'."
Edited by: George Rahrhaienté:ri Fountotos, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Harvey Gabriel