The story of how we met

Joe and Amelia Mcgregor opening gifts on Christmas day. (Courtesy: Joe and Amelia Mcgregor)

Story told by Amelia & Joe McGregor

Amelia: My mother didn’t drive so my father had to bring us everywhere. She used to go and play bingo at the Knights of Columbus with her mother on Wednesdays and Sundays. That was their weekly thing.

Those were the two days that I could go out. I didn’t have my own car, so I had to get a ride from them, and I’d meet them back at the Knights of Columbus at 10:30 pm.

Joe was always driving around because he had a car.

Joe: That’s why she married me because I was the only one with a car.

Amelia: I liked him and so one time I was brave enough and asked Joe, “Could you give me a ride home?”

I didn’t want to go home early, especially not on a Sunday night. So, he gave me a ride home and then we kind of made it a habit. Whenever I’d see him, I’d say, “Can you give me a ride home?”

Joe: She kept bothering me. I gave up! I said, “Well, okay. If it must be, let’s go.”

Amelia: Sooner or later, he’d get the hint, eh? He finally got the hint and said, “Instead of you getting a ride with your mom and dad, just wait for me. I’ll come and pick you up at home.

 

KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION

KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓

 

Wa'tiatiatátken' aká:ra'

Joe and Amelia Mcgregor on their wedding day. (Courtesy: Joe and Amelia Mcgregor)

Amelia & Joe McGregor rotiká:raton

Amelia: Iah teiako'serehtaién:tahkwe' istèn:'a, ó:nen'k káti' tsi rake'níha tsik nón:we iahshonkwaia'ténhawe'. Soséhne tánon' Awentatokenhtì:ke keninenhstahrà:ne's shes ne o'nisténha Tehatiiahsóntha' Ronnón:kwe Raotitióhkwa' nonkwá:ti. Tho ki' nikeniiéhrhahkwe' tsi niioren'nhà:'on tsi niiahià:khseres.

Né: ki' thí:ken tewenhniserá:ke enwá:ton' ientiá:ken'ne'. Iah ki' nì:'i tewake'serehtaién:tahkwe', ó:nen'k káti' tsi onónha eniontia'títa' tánon' Tehatiiahsóntha' Ronnón:kwe Raotitióhkwa' ensekheiaterahtà:na' 10:30 neniohwista'éhake'.

Só:se tiótkon shes rohonwì:sere's né: tsi ro'serehtaién:tahkwe'.

Só:se: Né: arihón:ni wa'onkéniake' ase'kén ia'tetià:ti wake'serehtaién:tahkwe'.

Amelia: Wahinòn:we'ne' né: káti' énska onke'nikonhratshahníhta'ne' wahiri'wanón:tonhse' Só:se, "Káton ken enhstia'títa' ensehski'terónhna'?"

Iah tewakè:ron iosnó:re' aonsakahtén:ti', kwah sénha tsi Awentatokenhtì:ke. Né: káti', sahaki'terónhna' sok ostón:ha ia'akenirèn:nha' thí:ken. Nó:nen enhí:ken', enkì:ron', "Káton ken enhstia'títa' ensehski'terónhna'?"

Só:se: Wa'onkwatsté:riste' tsi niió:re wa'kathón:tate'. Wa'kì:ron', "Á:, tóka' ki' teiotonhontsóhon wáhi, háo' ki' ítene."

Amelia: Katke'shòn:'a ki' tóka' enhotó:kenhse' wáhi? Kháre ki' ó:nen wahotó:kenhse' tánon' wahèn:ron', "Né:ne iá:we' sa'nisténha' tánon' ia'níha aiesaia'títa', kwah ki' nek ne takwatehrhá:rat. Tsi tisanónhsote' enkonhnónkhsa'."

 

Edited by: Melissa Stacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Translation by: Sahawisó:ko' Arquette

 

KANIEN’KÉHA WORDS IN STORY

Melissa Stacey

Melissa Stacey is Kanien’kehá:ka from Kahnawake and is a graduate of Dawson College’s Health Science program. She has always had a strong passion for the sciences but will be pursuing Kanien’kéha language studies at Kanien’kéha Ratiwennahní:rats with the goal of becoming a second language speaker in her native language. Her position at Ionkwaká:raton has provided her with the opportunity to learn more about her community’s rich culture and history while also connecting with elders from across Kahnawake.

Next
Next

Resilience and recovery