My own fear
Sose Akwiranoron Beauvais (who lived from April 20, 1872, to March 4, 1913) played the uncle of Hiawatha in a Philadelphia play. (Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Geraldine Standup
It was my own fear that was really the big wall that I had to get through to even begin healing other people. I think my basic fears had nothing to do with me in particular, but it was really being afraid of what my children are going to think and the gossip from the community. I just really didn’t want to hear any of that.
Luckily for me, my children love me, so it doesn’t matter what I do. I suppose it does matter but they’ll never judge me or be upset with me. I’ve never had backlash from anybody.
The other thing was there was no teacher to tell me how to do things. I had to be in touch with my inner self and my inner intuition. I spent three years by myself sick in bed, so I was really good at getting deep inside myself and listening to what was going on.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Ì:'i Akhterónhtshera
(Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Geraldine Standup IAKOKÁ:RATON
Ì:'i akhterónhtshera kwah tokèn:'en wahsonhtowá:nen kèn:ne néne entà:'on thia'tkatóhetste' ne ki' ne aón:ton' aontakatáhsawen' tsi khetsèn:tha ó:ia nonkwe'shòn:'a. Í:kehre akwá:wen kahteronhtsherakwe'ní:ios iah othé:nen kwah tokèn:'en tha'tewatia'tatokénhton nek tsi ne ki' nen' nè:'e wa'ketshà:nike' tsi nahò:ten kheien'okòn:'a ónhte enhonnonhtónnionhwe' tánon tsi nikarihò:ten enkarihwanákeren'ne tsi nikaná:tes. Kwah iah tekéhrhahkwe aonkwathón:te'ne' nothé:nen eh nahò:ten.
Onkwatera'swí:ioste' nì:'i, ionkenorónhkhwa ne kheien'okòn:'a ne ki' iah othé:nen tekástha ne tsi nenkátiere'. Ki' nà:'a othé:nenk kástha nek tsi iah nonwén:ton thaionkerihwákwa'se tóka'ni thaionkerihwáksa'se'. Iah nonwén:ton ónhka tetsonkwattehtanì:'on
Ne ó:ni nen' nè:'e tsi iah tekaién:tahkwe iakorihonnién:ni néne aionke'nikonhraientásten' tsi nentieránion' nothé:nen. Ó:nenk tsi wa'tién:tere'ne' akonhahtsherá:kon tánon akwerièn:takon. Áhsen niiohserá:ke onkenaktanén:take' akonhahstsíhon tánon kwah tokèn:'en keweientehtòn:ne akonhahtsherakonhkó:wa iá:ke' tánon akatahónhsatate' tsi niiawen'enhátie.
Edited by: Melissa Stacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translation by: Karonhí:io Delaronde