Wanting to learn
The first front page of an all Kanien’kehá newpaper. (Courtesy: Wikki Commons)
Story told by Gordie Oke
One thing I really regret in life is not being able to speak Mohawk.
A lot of our younger people are picking up the language now. I notice many younger people from mixed marriages are really stepping forward and wanting to learn the Mohawk traditions, customs, and language. This is very encouraging.
These are going to be our leaders for the future. It would be nice to walk into a council meeting and hear more Mohawk being spoken in discussion. Our spoken language is essential and should be shared with our leaders.
To discuss in our language what we can do for the community would be wonderful. That's where I see our younger people who have learned the language stepping forward and taking over leadership.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Ronská:neks ahontéweienste'
Gordie Oke ROKÁ:RATON
Nè:'e ne tsorì:wa ne naonhà:'a tewake'nikonhraksà:tha' tsi kónhnhe' tsi iah teiotòn:'on aonkwahronkhà:'on Kanien'kéha.
É:so rá:ti ne ken' nithotiièn:sa teshonnéhkhwa' nowén:na' nòn:wa. Kattó:kas é:so rá:ti ken nithotiièn:sa ne thihatinakerahseraténion rotiniákhon kwah tokèn:'en ohén:ton teshatí:ta's tánon' ronská:neks ahontéweienste' ne Kanien'kehá:ka tsi nihotirihò:ten, tsi nihatiweiennò:ten, tánon' tsi nihatiwennò:ten. É:so tsi iothretsá:ronhk kí:ken.
Kwah tokèn:'en onkwarón:ta' enhón:ton' ne tsi wa'kenhátie'. É:so tsi enioianeréhake' tóka' ienkatáweia'te' tsi katsénhaien' tánon' enwakathón:te'ne' tsi Kanien'kéha ronatewennontáhkwen tsi tehotíhthare'. Iorihowá:nen' se' ne onkwawén:na' tánon' aó:wen ki' wáhi sha'taiétewatste' nonkwaronta'shòn:'a.
É:so tsi enion'wesénhake' tóka' onkwawén:na' eniakwatewennón:tahkwe' tsi entewahthá:rahkwe' tsi ní:ioht tsi entewaié:nawa'se tsi tewanákere'. Kwah tho nón:we katkáhthos ontionkwe'ta'shòn:'a ken' nithotiièn:sa néne tsi niká:ien' ronahronkhà:'on nowén:na' ohén:ton tenshatí:ta'ne' tánon' enshatiié:na' norón:ta'.
Written by: Jonathan Turenne, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde