It’s too heavy

MedicineTradition
Written By Melissa Stacey

By Earl’s Court stand (left to right) American Horse, Sose Akwiranoron Beauvais, and Scarface, circa 1905. (Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)

Story told by Geraldine Standup

You name it, I’ve probably looked at it. I’ve been doing this kind of healing for over 40 years so I see all kinds of human misery.

I don’t take it personally. It’s not about me, it has nothing to do with me. When I do this kind of work, I’m just not here. It’s second nature to do that.

When I first began my work, I thought, “No I can’t do this, it’s too heavy.” I worry about people and I thought, “I’m not big enough to do this.”

But as soon as I realized that I can’t do it, I don’t know, something in my psyche just flipped because after that it never bothered me again. When you come in with whatever you’re coming in with, you are leaving with it, you are not leaving it with me.

Just, something inside me clicked about that and so it never bothered me.

 

KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION

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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓

 

Sótsi Iókste

(Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)

Geraldine Standup IAKOKÁ:RATON

Thikawenní:io nahò:ten senà:ton', ki' ónhte tó:kenske wakatkáhthon'. Ísi' nón:we ne 40 niiohserá:ke ken' ní:tsi shikatétsen'ts ne ki' katkáhthos akwé:kon tsi ní:tsi teiontonhnhakárias nón:kwe'.

Kwah iah tetewakatierá:nis nothé:nen'. Kwah iah othé:nen nì:'i tewakí:ton, kwah iah othé:nen' nì:'i tewakerihwà:ke. Nó:nen enwatió'ten' ne ken' nikaio'tenhserò:ten, kwah iah ken' té:kes. Kwah tsi ní:ioht ne shontié:ra neh nátiere'.

Shontakatáhsawen' tsi watió'te, wà:kehre', "Iah thakkwé:ni' kí:ken, sótsi iókste." Teka'nikonhrháhrha nón:kwe akorihwà:ke tánon wà:kehre', "Iah thiekaié:ri tsi ní:ka ne ken' nátiere'."

Kawenní:iok ki' shiahonke'nikonhraién:ta'ne' tsi iah thakkwé:ni', tó:ka, ontkahrhátho' nahò:tenk nake'nikòn:rakon áse' kenh ohnà:ken thí:ken iah nonwén:ton tha'tesewake'nikonhrharà:'on. Nó:nen entehsatáweia'te' tánon saientátie tsi nahò:ten saientátie, nè:'e sehshá:wi nó:nen tsisahtentionhátie, iah i'íhne thahsátkahwe' thí:ken.

Wa'kahahseró:ten' nahò:tenk tià:takon neh nón:we aorihwà:ke tánon iah nonwén:ton tha'tesewake'nikonhrharà:'on.

 

Edited by: Melissa Stacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Translation by: Karonhí:io Delaronde

 

KANIEN’KÉHA WORDS IN STORY

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Melissa Stacey

Melissa Stacey is Kanien’kehá:ka from Kahnawake and is a graduate of Dawson College’s Health Science program. She has always had a strong passion for the sciences but will be pursuing Kanien’kéha language studies at Kanien’kéha Ratiwennahní:rats with the goal of becoming a second language speaker in her native language. Her position at Ionkwaká:raton has provided her with the opportunity to learn more about her community’s rich culture and history while also connecting with elders from across Kahnawake.

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