Keep me busy
↓ listen to the story in KANIEN’KÉHA ↓
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↓ listen to the story in KANIEN’KÉHA ↓ 🔈
What kept the mother of Annie Montour busy was her leatherwork and sewing, as could be seen with her moccasins. (Courtesy: Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Kateri Deer
I started painting and, well, when you first start something, it doesn’t look too good.
But once I kept on going, it went. Next thing you know I know how to paint.
My mother did a lot of crafts like beadwork and painting.
My sister used to make moccasins. That’s one of the souvenirs I got.
Now my mother has passed away, 44 years ago in 1982.
What I do now is make flowers for the graveyard.
I like doing it for my mother and father’s grave. I buy new flowers and put them there on the cross, throw out the old flowers, and put a new ribbon on.
Sometimes I get asked to fix this and that or if I can make baskets.
I’ve made some for my sister-in-law and her family. I really enjoy doing it and it keeps me busy.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Tewakeweienhnharáhtha
(Courtesy: Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Kateri Deer IAKOKÁ:RATON
Takatáhsawen wa'kkontsheráhrho tánon, akì:ron, nó:nen entewatié:renthe tsi nenhsátiere nothé:nen, iah kwah teiorà:se.
Nek tsi tsi ó:nen takkón:tahkwe, wa'oiáneren'ne ki'. Ok thontaiawénhstsi onktó:ken'se tsi wa'keweientéhta'ne tsi ní:tsi akkontsheráhrho.
Nia'té:kon wa'akón:ni ne ake'nisténha tsi ní:ioht ne nia'té:kon wa'tietsi'nehtará:ron tánon nia'té:kon wa'ekontsheráhrho.
Ahtahkwahón:we shos ionhtahkón:ni ne iatiatate'kèn:'a. Thí:ken ne tsorì:wa ne tsi ní:kon iakehiahrástha watientà:'on.
Ake'nisténha wa'ontóhetste, 44 niiohserá:ke tsi náhe ne 1982 shiiohserahsé:tas.
Ó:nen nòn:wa sektsi'tsón:nis ne tsi ieia'tatárion aorihwà:ke.
Wakon'wéskwani tho nátiere ne ki' ne ake'nisténha tánon rake'níha tsi thniià:ta aorihwà:ke. Otsì:tsase khní:nons tánon tho kaiahsà:ke enkeniión:ten, ísi' ienwaká:ti ne iotsi'tsakaiòn:'on, tánon ó:ia enske'nheksó:ten.
Sewatié:rens enionkerihwanón:ton'se akkwatá:ko kí:ken tánon thí:ken tóka'ni enkkwé:ni kenh akata'therón:ni.
Tohkára ní:kon kheionnién:ni ne ontiaríha tánon akohwá:tsire. É:so tsi wakon'wéskwani eh nakátiere tánon tiótkon tewakeweienhnharáhtha.
Edited by: Aaron McComber, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde