Problem solve on steel
↓ listen to the story in KANIEN’KÉHA ↓
🔈
↓ listen to the story in KANIEN’KÉHA ↓ 🔈
(Courtesy: Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Mitch Deer
Mohawks became ironworkers. They got good at it. They just knew how to work with each other.
Because in the old days, they used to all speak Mohawk. So, they could understand each other really easily and get things done. Also, they were woodworkers, they were very crafty. It takes a very creative mind to problem solve on the steel and our men are very quick at it. We got a good reputation for that.
When we were on the job, we used to have races with buildings that were built by white guys, and the Indians would always go faster.
Sometimes, we would get it done so fast that we’d put ourselves out of work. The bosses would make more money because it got done faster, but they wouldn’t give any of that to the Indians. So, we were being used, if you look at it in the long run.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Othé:nen taierihotaríhsi ne karistà:ke
(Courtesy: Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Mitch Deer ROKÁ:RATON
Karista'kehró:non wahón:ton ne Kanien'kehá:ka. Kwah tokèn:'en wahatiweientéhta'ne. Kwah ki' nek ratiweientehtòn:ne tsi ní:tsi tahatiié:na.
Nè:'e tsi ne wahón:nise tsi náhe, akwé:kon Kanien'kéha shos enhontá:ti. Akwé:kon watiesenhón:we tsi ní:tsi tehontate'nikonhraién:ta'skwe tánon wahatikwé:ni wahatíhsa nothé:nen. Ne ó:ni, ratihson'karaké:taskwe, kwah tokèn:'en ronteweiennón:niskwe thí:ken. Ioterihwíson ki' nónhkak ie'nikonhraweiénhon akénhake ne ki' nothé:nen taierihotaríhsi ne karistà:ke tánon kwah tokèn:'en ratisnó:re thí:ken ne onkwasken'rhakehtáhtshera. Kwah nè:'e ionkwahsennowanáhton.
Shiionkwaió'te, teniakwaré:ron shos skátne ó:ia ka'nikahtó:ton néne ratihnakén:ra rotíhson tánon tió:konte sénha io'shátste enhatíhsa ne Onkwehón:we.
Sewatié:rens, kwah tho niiosnó:re eniakwáhsa nahò:ten kwah entsakwatato'ktáhkwen nonkwaio'ténhsera. Sénha é:so ohwísta tenhontèn:tsha ne shakotikowá:nens nè:'e tsi sénha iosnó:re enwatéhsa nek tsi iah thé:nen neh nahò:ten thahshakotí:ion ne Onkwehón:we. Tó:kenske ki' wa'onkhiiatié:sahte, tóka' énhska'én:ion tsi nikaiá:nes.
Edited by: Emma McLaughlin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translation by: Karonhí:io Delaronde