The Ladies Eight
The Pentecostal Church in Kanehsatà:ke. (Courtesy: Google Maps)
Story told by Allen Simon
There was a group of women called The Ladies Eight. When things were happening, like weddings or funerals, they would help by preparing food. Around the Christmas bazaar, they would raise money for the church. They were a group of sisters and cousins who went to church together.
My aunt was in the Ladies 8, so when she passed away, my cousin continued it with her other friends. Some people would help out as volunteers and kept it going. My friend and I would make sandwiches, and we would deliver them to them. If they needed it, I was always there to help. They always had a good group. People get together to help each other out. If somebody loses a family member, there’s somebody who can help out to make lunch. When the service is finished, they would all go to the church hall and food would be ready for them to eat.
Unfortunately, now there’s no more Ladies 8.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Sha'té:kon Nikón:ti Konnón:kwe
Two Kanien’kehá:ka woman in the field during harvest time. (Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Allen Simon ROKÁ:RATON
Kentiohkwaién:tahkwe' ne konnón:kwe aotitióhkwa', Sha'té:kon Nikón:ti Konnón:kwe (The Ladies Eight) konwatina'tónhkhwahkwe'. Nó:nen shes thé:nen ioterihwahténtion, tsi ní:ioht ne waten'nió:ton tóka' ni' ónhka'k iontatia'tata'à:nhe', enkontahsnié:nen' tánon' enkontikhón:ni'. Ákta ne tsi Rotón:ni iontkehrontáhkhwa', enhonwatihwistarò:rokhse' ne tsi ionterennaientáhkhwa'. Iotiohkwaién:tahkwe' ne ionara'se'okòn:'a tánon' kontate'ken'okòn:'a néne skátne konterennaiénhne's.
Aktén:t ieià:tarahkwe' ne Sha'té:kon Nikón:ti Konnón:kwe, sha'ontóhetste' káti', ontiara'sè:'a tánon' onatshi'ó:kon ionsakontahsónteren'. Ótia'ke onkwehshòn:'a eniontahsnié:nen' enionthonkária'ke' tánon' ionsaiontahsónteren'. Ontiatén:ro tánon' ì:'i tekana'tara'serónnion eniakenón:ni' sok eniakhiiennì:ra'. Tóka' tenionatonhóntsohse', tiótkon tho í:ke'skwe' akheié:nawa'se'. Tiótkon iotitiohkwiióhne'. Iontia'tarò:roks nón:kwe taiontatié:nawa'se'. Tóka' ónhka'k eniontatia'tón:ti' ne ónhka'k akohwatsí:rakon, ionkwè:taien' nónhka'k néne enwá:ton' eniontenna'tsherón:ni'. Ohnà:ken eniontatia'táta', akwé:kon tsi ionterennaientáhkhwa' iontia'tarohrókstha' ienhón:ne' tánon' enkaweiennentà:'on kákhwa' tahontskà:hon'.
Iohnhá:ten, iah ki' nòn:wa teskentióhkwaien' ne Sha'té:kon Nikón:ti Konnón:kwe.
Edited by: Jonathan Turenne - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Sahawisó:ko' Arquette