Memories in the Garden
William Cross and his aunt Annie Delisle Wilson working together in the garden, circa 1937. (Courtesy: Sonny Joe Cross)
Story told by Elaine Delaronde
Being outside in the garden all the time, strange things happen that wouldn't ordinarily happen if you’re just sitting in your kitchen. I had a beautiful garden. My boyfriend had tilled between the rows and here, I had green beans and yellow beans. I went out there weeding and, all of a sudden, a frog came out. A green frog.
I said, “Hey!”
I crouched down. I started singing the friendship song and he came out. He was three feet away from me just looking up while I was crouched down singing to him. Then another frog came out, a little further, about five feet away. He hopped over. They were both looking at me. I sang the friendship song, a couple of verses. When I finished, they turned around and went back into my green beans.
There was another time when my stepson, he was only little, him and his friend, they were saying, “What’s Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen?”
They were sitting with me. I was sitting on a stump. I started telling them and when I got up to the bugs, a dragonfly landed on my hand. I continued saying the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen. When I finished, the dragonfly flew away, and the kids were saying, “How come that happened?” I said, “Because we were up to the bugs.” You know what I mean?
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION 〰️
Tsi Ní:kon Kè:iahre' Ne Akhéhtakon
Some of the medicine planted in Elaine's home garden. (Credit: Melissa Stacey)
Elaine Delaronde IAKOKÁ:RATON
Tóka' tiokontáhkwen kahéhtakon íhse's, nia'té:kon tenwatierónnion'ne' néne iah eh thaiá:wen' tóka' tsi tehsekhonnià:tha tehsítskote'. Kahehtí:io wakhehtaién:tahkwe'. Tsi teiohahokhánion wahen'tarakahrhátho' ne áksksare' tánon' kèn:tho, o'rhótsheri tánon' otsì:nekwar nikasahe'tò:ten watienthòn:ne'. Ia'tiá:ken'ne' wa'khontakóha' tánon', thontaiawénhstsi', otskwà:rhe' takaiakénstahkwe'. Óhonte' nikaia'tò:ten otskwà:rhe'.
Wa'kì:ron', "Hé:!"
Wa'tkanón:saien'. Atenrò:sera' wa'katerennó:ten' tánon' tahaiakénstahkwe'. Áhsen niwahsì:take akhén:ton níthre's wahathon'kwáweron' tsi nikarì:wes wa'tkanón:saien' wahiiaterennóthahse'. Sok ó:ia' otskwà:rhe tontakaiakénstahkwe', sénha é:ren niió:re', ákta wísk niwahsì:take niió:re'. Tontahen'tsonhkóntie'. Tetsá:ron teionkkà:nere'. Atenrò:sera' wa'katerennó:ten', tohkára ní:kon teiostón:tere'. Sha'kerennén:ta'ne', tonsatiatkahrhaté:ni' tánon' tsi niwake'rhotsheraiénthon ionsákene'.
Ó:ia' shionsakáhewe' rinò:'a ken' shihrà:'a, raónha tánon' ronatén:ro, iá:ton, "Nahò:ten' ne Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen?"
Tia'tákta nítskote'. Otsina'ahrà:ke kítskote'. Wa'khehró:ri' tánon' shiahà:kewe' tsi nón:we ne otsi'nonwa'shòn:'a, tsikenonhwarístak kahtsa'nà:ke wa'kará:ta'ne'. Ionsakatahsónteren' tsi Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen wakathró:ri. Shà:khsa', é:ren ionsakátie' thí:ken tsikenonhwarístak, tánon' shiá:ton thí:ken tehniksà:'a, "Oh nontié:ren eh na'á:wen'?" Wa'kì:ron', "Nè:'e tsi otsi'nonwa'shòn:'a iahétewawe'." Iéhshes ken nahò:ten' kí:ton?
Edited by: Teyohá:te Brant, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde