Eveline: Today is January 29, 2008
Hattie, you will talk but, first tell your name and the name of your father and mother. When you tell that, then we’ll begin.
Rebecca: My name is Rebecca. Rebecca Hattie Nahwooksy and my mother’s name is Rena Mae Noah, and my father is Ellisman Noah. My grandfather is Robert Jacob Sr., and my grandmother was Lacin Crosby Jacob.
Eveline: Where were you raised?
Rebecca: (What’s that?) Holly Creek Community is where I was born and raised.
Eveline: When you were still a child at home, things were done differently then than they are now. What do you think are some differences?
Rebecca: What is different (What’s that?) is when I went to school compared to today. And living at home we loved one another. That is how it was and now it’s different. As a child, my grandmother would (say) “Always be mindful (respectful) of all people.” It’s still the same today.
Eveline: What do you believe is different about school?
Rebecca: When I went to school (What’s that)… when I first started going to school, I only spoke Choctaw, I didn’t know any English. So, now what is different when kids go to school the teacher does teach the children and that is what is different.
Eveline: Again, as a child, what did you play with?
Rebecca: What is it, I would take a stick and dress it up with clothes and pretend to carry a baby and play like that.
Eveline: I used to make mine (my dolls) the same way. When my mother died, an elderly woman about the same age of my mother was with me and told of playing with corn husks and making clothes for it. She told me about how she and my mother would cut the lining from clothing (to make doll clothes). When others were not aware they would cut those up and make clothes. That’s what they did a long time ago.
Rebecca: That’s true, fabric/material was treasured. And so, my mother would (herself) sew clothes for us girls. And so, with the leftover fabric we would gather them up and we would dress up the stick and that is how we used to play.
Eveline: What were you going to tell? What were you going to tell us?
Rebecca: When I was a child.. (What’s that?) there used to be alot of us at home. All of us, my mother had a lot of kids. And so, there were 9 of us. Also, my grandmother, my grandfather, my uncle, there were many of us. When we ate, there were 14 of us. We would all gather at the table and eat. And then, if it was time to eat, we all ate, if not, we didn’t eat. And so, that is how it is different now. Now, the child and adult do not eat with us. That’s how it is different. And so, because there were a lot of us kids they would divide up the food. (What’s that?) I had five brothers and 4 sisters so there were many of us. They divided the food so there would be enough to feed us. However, we did not get full. But, because we loved each other we did not get mad at each other. And, if we did get mad at each other and fight we would get a spanking and we remembered that.
And so, we used to behave, and kill a hog, my grandfather would corn feed the hog. The hog (what is it?) (I need to see it).
Henry: penned, penned, keep it penned in.
Rebecca: And then he corn fed it and it would grow and then it would be killed. And that one would feed all of us because there were many of us. Grandpa would prepare the nipi shila – salt meat. Then, he would slice pieces of side meat and cook it up for us to eat. Then, again, my aunt was the one who made bread herself and it used to be very good/tasty. And then because we would be going to school we would (what is that?) like a water container, called a bucket. They would fill it and we would carry it to school. As a result, we would not be hungry. And because of all that (What is that?), Grandpa was very skilled at whatever he did. Even into old age, even grandma too.
Grandma didn’t have any eyesight. Even so, she still was skillful. And so, as I was growing up, even as a child, I looked at my grandmother and I would always say when I grew up I want to be like her. I said it to myself in my mind. And I kept saying that, then my grandmother would say “Sit here.”, because my hair was long. When she said. “Sit here.” and I would sit there, and she would braid my hair. My hair was so long it was down to here. (Illustrating length). And say, “Sit here.” she would comb my hair and then finish braiding it and then would touch/stroke my head. And so, when I reflect and see that, and know the truth, my grandmother always prayed for me. Because of that, not once did I ever get mad at an elder. Today, my mother is old, I do not say things or get mad at her. I don’t want to say anything because I love her. And all of that.
Furthermore, the food i was talking about, she would raise chickens. And so, we had a lot of chickens. And so, when we were going to eat the chickens, I used to chase the chickens. And sometimes there were many of us. Because there were a lot of us, we caught the chickens. And also, Mommy would say “twist their neck”, I never learned to do that, I did not kill that chicken. And (What is it?) again, put it in the hot water and pluck all the feathers. Also, on that, I used to dread that. In doing so, however, when that chicken got finished cooking, I did not dread that. Because it tasted so good. Also, my younger brother and my uncle would catch fish, kill a squirrel, rabbits and all of that. And so, we always had meat, and it tasted good. And then, although i was small I learned to (What is that?) skin /peel the squirrel. When it came time to clean fish, I learned how to clean fish. And then so, today, when I married my husband, I taught him how (to clean fish).
(What is it?), and so then once a month, my grandpa would buy and feed us soda pop. And it was good. Another time, a long time ago, there was a kind of candy (What is it?) called chicken something, that (candy) chicken used to taste very good. That would only be bought once a month when we ate it. Even though it was very good, and we wanted more, we couldn’t (have it). And so, I think my grandfather and grandmother and all of them were very smart.
Even so, Mommy whenever she was going to cook, she didn’t buy from town, but she used to cook things. And so, in the summer we would pick blackberries and then apples and we used to have plums to pick. (What is it?) How do you say ‘blackberry’? Then, when you finished cleaning them…
Eveline: walakshi
Rebecca: That too, you made dumplings and then with the big pot you canned them. We used to have alot of them (canned items). And so sometimes when no one saw me, i would get into them. Because there were forks at the barn I would go in when I wasn’t seen. And so it was, I came to realize that Grandpa worked in the fields. And so, there were vegetables, beans, potatoes, corn and what you called peanuts you know, that came from the ground. And we used to help Grandpa.
And so, when it seemed the potatoes were ripe, we would rub something on it, I don’t know, however, while they were lying with the white on them, we would put the potatoes up in the barn.
Although I didn’t know anything (What was it?). However, I knew about the work and i would always help.
For sure, long ago, both grandma, grandpa would always say to us, “All you kids, do not be lazy”. They used to say, “If you’re lazy, you will not have food to eat.” They would tell all of us, “When you grow up, and you are lazy, you will not eat.” And so that is probably the truth. And so today, that’s what I tell my child. You know, I still remember a lot of things.
And so, it’s true, now things are different. The children are different. We didn’t talk back to our elders. We didn’t talk back because we would get a spanking and that was good; they loved us. They loved us so we obeyed the adults. So, I grew up with good behavior.
And so…
Eveline: I want to ask a couple of things; others might want to ‘ask’ as well. Didn’t you say, “side meat”?
Rebecca: mmhuh (Acknowledgment
Eveline: That one, what was that?
Rebecca: (What was that?) it was the hog…
Paula: (Not the liver?)
Rebecca: When you say ‘side’ today in English, I guess you could say “side meat”.
Eveline: Oh, is it really? Yes
Rebecca: Today, we completely cut up the hog meat, cook it and we really like it.
Eveline: And again, you said you hunted for wild game, one was squirrel and a rabbit. How did you kill the rabbit?
Rebecca: When we hunted rabbits us kids would be barefoot, we were going to run. And then we would see a rabbit. When the rabbit started running, we would chase it. We picked up a stick with that stick, we would look for the hole. And because he is going to go into the hole, we chased him. When the rabbit went into the hole, we (what is it?) stick (Henry: fabassa) yeah, what do you call the stick…
(Henry: forked stick) like that yes, similiar to that, we would stick it into the hole. With the rabbit in there we would start twisting the stick and when we caught him, we would take him out. Then we, you know, we (What is it?) we killed it. And that’s how the rabbit (What is it?) We used to chase many of them.
Eveline: That is how I used to see it like that. My mother would twist and take them out.
Rebecca: Yeah
Eveline: Questions
Bob: What kind of gun did they use to have?
Rebecca: Gun?
Bob: Gun. Wooden gun or …or was it Caucasian?
Rebecca: Yes. It’s called a .22, we used to have one. That was all he had, just one. That’s all he had. Even that, the .22, he loved it and would take very good care of it, because that was the only one, he had.
Bob: Because there weren’t many bullets.
Rebecca: mmhuh. Even money.
Bob: Yeah, like that.
Rebecca: Even though there were very few shell/bullets.
Bob: What about deer did they hunt deer?
Rebecca: As for deer, not very much. I believe they might have gone once. And so, I did not grow up eating deer/venison.
Eveline: So, would anyone else want to ask a question? If you have a question, first tell your name so we’ll know who you are.
Rebecca: What is your name?
Bob: Bob Ludlow
Abe: I’m going to ask a question. My name is Abe Frazier. My question is, how did they wash clothes.
Rebecca: As for water, for the water we would (What is it?) water… (What is it?) (Eveline and Paula: wash pot, Henry: flowing) It was not flowing water. We would completely fill up the washpot and place kindling under it then build a fire. Then, when, it would finally get hot (What is it?) (Paula: tub) (we) would fill up the big tub with water. Long ago, there was no what you call ‘washing powder’. Soap.
Lillie: Homemade soap.
Rebecca: They used to call it homemade soap. Lye soap. (Group: lye soup.) Mom got that one. And so, they would make it themselves. And so, when they were going to wash clothes, they would fill the tub up with water and (what was) called a washboard, they would stand it in there. They would put in all the clothes (Henrry: scrub board) called a scrub board shok, shok, shok… (imitating the sound of the scrubbing).
Eveline: mmhuh, mmhuh
Eveline: …was like that, I used to do that too. I washed a lot of clothes, helping Mama. I helped Mama. Us young girls back then would do whatever our mother did and helped. And after the clothes were washed, we would get clean water and put it into another tub. Then, we rinsed. Mmhuh (rinse) what do you say? We would finish by wringing it and hanging them up.
Abe: Even if it was in cold winter. My mother would be outside washing clothes. I guess it was like that?
Rebecca: Yes, that’s how it was, cold, a lot or kids. We had a lot of kids and so…
Abe: There were a lot of clothes?
Rebecca: Lots of clothes, however not that many, (What is it?) …I only had 3 dresses/items of clothing. Mama made them herself. And so, for the boys (What is it?) for them to wear, she made them herself. Because of that we didn’t have a lot of clothes. We only had one pair of shoes. They were a treasure to us.
Eveline: Anyone else?
Henry: My name is Henry Willis. As for you, you probably didn’t live in town? Out?
Rebecca: No.
Henry: I heard you lived outside of town. Yes, I don’t know what to ask, since others have already asked. Did you say you used to walk to school? How far did you walk? How many miles?
Rebecca: One.
Henry: One?
Rebecca: Mmhuh.
Henry: You must have lived close to town? Or not?
Rebecca: No
Henry: Oh, okay, you went to the ones that were outside?
Rebecca: mmhuh. The schoolhouse (What is it?) There was one like a house used to be there. (Others talking) One room.
(Henry: ulhti) – (government room) I learned in a one room. Yeah, each one was called a vhlti (government) would begin with one. (grade?) Mmhuh. I used to go to one like that too.
Rebecca: And so, every day I walked. We all walked, however, (What is it?) I wanted to learn and then…
Henry: About how old were you when you went there?
Rebecca: It’s been a long time.
Henry: The reason I ask is, you know, as for me, long ago, it was different when I went too. Also, when i ask the day, month or the year I might know or can remember about that time time. And so…
Rebecca:19…what was it? I believe it was around 1955.
Henry: Okay. Around then, I too finished school probably close to 50. However, I believe I’m older than you. I was just 21 when I got out of school; that was after several times of quitting. So, yeah, you should know I was about 4 years following (or behind).
Rebecca: As for me, as for me, (What is it?) I don’t know, today, I don’t know numbers. And even as you kept saying that I didn’t know. I didn’t how to read that. But, as for now, I’ve learned, one, two, three, four, that’s all I know even though I didn’t know. We weren’t taught that, and so, i don’t know that. I am now beginning to learn.
Henry: All or a lot of it we do not speak so we have forgotten. I know you have heard a lot of it. Because of going to school, we have forgotten. And so, sometimes it’s hard to answer back. And so, I went through (school) around then, what you saw (experienced) I saw that too. Sometimes it was difficult. Sometime around then it seemed like there were some buses/cars. However, it doesn’t seem like it was not that long ago, seems like it was recently. And so, I was going to ask you something and have forgotten. How did you usually take your food, meal, food?
Rebecca: When I went to school?
Henry: Yes
Rebecca: Mommy would get up early in the morning, (what it is?) cook the meat and would make biscuits herself, including whatever meat and that’s how we used to take it. What is that? Because there were a lot of us, what you call a gallon size, because there were a lot of us kids and so she would fill it up and we would carry it and so that is how we would eat.
Henry: What about your books, writing papers and all of that, did they provide that for you or did you buy it yourself back then?
Rebecca: It was not provided to us, we ourselves with much difficulty, my mother would get them and give it to us. Then sometimes, the school apparently would have purchased them and would only give us one.
Henry: Yes,Yes, and then…
Rebecca: They would give us one tablet (of paper).
Henry: And so, what kind of clothing?
Rebecca: What?
Henry: Thick clothing, clothes, material when hot…what?
Rebecca: We didn’t have fabric that was thick/heavy. Just (What is it?) It was called ‘cotton material’ and that was it. When Mommy made it, it was hand sewn.
Henry: And so, like now, cotton material is valuable.
Rebecca: Yes, it is.
Henry: Because there are a lot of dresses produced nowadays. I was going to ask you something else, that’s all others may want to ask.
Eveline: Henry, you were saying ‘government’. (asking Hattie) did you know what he meant?
Rebecca: Uh, no
Eveline: Government… tell it.
Henry: A lot of ice, when they say ‘icy’. (misunderstanding)
Eveline: Government
Rebecca: Did you say ‘ice’?
Eveline: ‘Government’ is what I thought you said, like districts.
Henry: Oh, government, government, government, that is said in English. Sometimes you can say district sometimes management.
Eveline: That one, I thought she might not have understood you.
Henry: Yes. Some can say government and so, there are alot of different ways to put and use the words together and you can know and understand the meanings sometimes. However, there are some who know it means government.
Eveline: I said that because I thought she might not know. Does anyone else have something they want to ask? If not, that is all. Thank you, Hattie.
Henry: Oh, another thing, I just want to tell her. One thing you said about the stick iti fabvssa.
Rebecca: Yeah, Take the stick of wood and twist it. I think we all know. If we didn’t want to be hungry, we chased rabbits. That was long ago, and I have forgotten.
Eveline: Okay. Thank you.
Himak nittak υt January 29, 2008. Hattie chishnakosh nana ish anola chih. Akinli kia tikba kano chi hohchifo ish anoli cha anonti chiki, chishki yomi ka. Ish anolik ma, ma hiket isht il ia ahinla.
Rebecca, sυ hohchifo toh Rebecca Hattie Nahwooksy. Akmυt a ishki toh hohchifo yυt Rena Mae Noah. Akma anoti aki toh Ellisman Noah be’t toh. Amafo hohchiffo υt Robert Jacob Sr. ‘Ma pokni toh Lacin Crosby Jacob υttoh.
Katommak o ish υttυt chi hofanti?
(Nanta ka?) Holly Creek community achi ho mako υttυt sυ hofantit toh.
Chi υlla moma kυt, chi chukka ish antta kυt, nana kanihmi yomi bekυt tok υt himak a ittim inla ‘hυna. Ato natush ittim inla chim ahwa?
Nana hυt ittiminla kυt (Nanta ka?) school atok ma. Holisso apisa ma nohowa li ka ittim inla, himak nittak atokma. Akmυt anoti chukka il aiasha kυt itti hullosh il aiaisha be’t toh. Mak atok mυt, himak ano, ittiminla. Hatokosh υlla sia moma mυt a pokni atokmυt “hattak atokma moyuma ka ish ikhaiyana beka hosh chi hofanta chiki,” ahaya beka tok o. Himak atokma mak ashini.
Holisso apisa katimish ittiminla chim ahwa?
Holisso apisa ma nowa lih mυt (Nanta ka?) nowa li isht ia υmmoma mυt, Chahta anumpa bano ho anumpuli lih mυt nahullo no anumpuli ak ikhanot toh. Hatokosh himakno ittiminla kυt υlla atukmυt holisso apisa tanohowa kυt himakno nan ikhυnachi atukmυt himakno ikhanachi ho bano, himakno bano. Hatokosh makosh ittiminla.
Akmυt anoti chi υllυt ish anta kυt nanta ho ish washoha bekυt toh?
Na’ hatok ma iti toba yo. Mako ilefka atokma iti ma fokkachit taiyahli cha υlosi lahυbbi ho sho’ cha ish washoha li beka toh.
mmhuh, ish nakit ish ikbi?
Yeah, anakin’t ikbi li be’t toh.
mmhuh. Yohmi ka sυshki ah makosh ont kaniah ma, ohoyo sipokni affυmi ma ai ittilawish si awant aya tokosh yυmmυt tanchi, tanchi hakshup mako nana ikbit isht washohah. Mυt anoti nafokka mano il anoli miah’sh makahayυt toh. Sυshki ittatuklo kυt, lining, pa chomit asha hoka, alata achi (showing lining). Yυmma kυnυt ik akostinichuk ma mako kalushlit nafokka ikbit okla tok miah’sh makaha’t toh. (group laughter) Atoko hopaki no yohmi beka tok ana.
Alhi kano natυnna atok mυt afehna be’t tok. Hatoko Mama atok mυt pi lefka atokma pishnato υlla tek υlhiha e maya hatok o Mama akυni hosh lefka atok ma pim ikbih. Hatokosh na’ hυt atampak ma, natannυt atampak ma, pishnato e tahobbit e taiyah cha mako iti ma fokkachit e taiyah cha mako ile isht washoha be’t toh.
Mmhuh. Akmυt nana ish pim anola chi tok ana. Mυt nanta aiima ish pim anoli, isht ish anola chi.
Sυ υlla moma, peh (Nanta ka?) chukka il aiasha kυt e lawa hosh e maya be’t toh. E moyuma kυt, Mommy atokmυt, υlla atokmυt, lawah. Hatoko, chakkali hosh e maya be’t toh. Akma anoti pokni, amafo, amoshi moyuma kυt lawa. Hatokosh, il aiasha kυt, awah ushta hosh il aiasha mυt e moma kυt il impa be’t toh. Aiimpa
moma ka e tahobυt e taiyah’ cha peh il impa chi atokmυt υlhtahak ma, e moma kυt il impah. Akmυt shikanυllit onυt tahakma peh e moma kυt il impa; okmυt, kiyok mυt il impa chik kiyo. Atukosh, mak atokma ittiminla himakno. (mmhuh) älla atokmυt, asυno atokma, il impa chi hokma pi ‘ba impa kiyo, himakno. Hatokosh mah makosh ittiminla. Atoko, akmυt ilimpa atokma kashkoli hosh pi’peta be’t toh υllυt lawa hatoko. (Nanta ka?) A nakfit talhapik ma anonti a tek atokmυt aiasha. ‘Mυt ushta hosh maya hatok o lawah. Mak o ilimpυt ona chi ka pi tosholi hosh pi’peta. Hatoko, okako pi kaiya be’t toh kio. Hetok okmυt, il itti hullo hatokosh peh itti. Amba itti nukowυt e maya mυt pi fυma chi hatoko. Hatoko il ikhaiyana. Hatokosh υlhpesa ho il aiasha be’t tok kio. Anoti shukha υbi, amafo atokmυt, shukha atokma, yυmmυt tanchi ipeta yo. Shukha i (Nanta ka, pisa lik ma’na? eh) shukha atokma (υlhpita, υlhpita) υlhpita helichi. Atokmυt tanchi ipeta hatokosh yυmmυt ont hofantit taiyaha ma υbi be’t toh. Atokoma moyuma kυt makosh pi’peta chi hatokosh e lawa mahli hatoko. Nipi shila, nipi shila Mafo atok mυt aiaska. Akmυt nipi pusa achi ho mak atokma bushlit taiyali tok ma nonanchit taiyahakma mako epah. Mυt anonti ahokni atukmυt makosh hoponi hatokosh pυska atukma ilυp akini hosh ikbi hatuko cha…mpuli bekυt toh. Akma mak atukmυt holisso apisa il ia chi hatokosh yυmma (Nanta ka?) oka υlhto ohmi ma, bucket achi. Yυmma υnit taiyali cha halυt il ilhkoli bekυt toh school il ilhkoli mυt. (laughs) Hatokosh pi hohchυffo kiyo, yomik ma. (mmhuh) Hatokosh Mafo atukmυt (Nanta ka?) na kanimi chik mυt peh iponnash υtta be’t toh peh. Hattak sipokni onυt taha kia, pokni moma kυt. Pokni toh nishkin υt iksho toh. Ihkia na’ha tuk ma iponna be’t toh. Im anukfila achukmυt tok sυmmi pihisa lik mυt. (mmhuh) Tukosh sυ hofanti chi mυt, sυ’skitini osh, sυ hofanti chi mυt apokni atokma pisa lik mυt, sυ chitot tahak mυt mako holbυt sυ bυnna ahaya li bekυt. υm anukfila akinli ho mak alik mυt. (mmhuh) Ahmυt makahaya lik ma, sυ’skitinik ma pokni atokmυt “Pant binili cha,” achi, sυp pashit falaya hatoko. “Pant binili cha” achik ma ont binilik mυt sυp pashi atokma pυnni. Sυp pashi atokmυt falaya kυt pa pilla be’t toh. (illustrating the length) mmhuh Ahma, “pa binicha” akma. Sυp pashi shillit taiyalik, pυnnit taiyalik mυt peh sυ nushkobo atokma pashohlish binnili be’t toh. It tok a pisa lik mυt, ahli ka, apokni υt anumpa ilbυsha sυ’st anumpuholit tok a cha ahni li. mmhuh Hetoko himonna ma, himonna kia asυno atokma i nukowυt anta li kiyo. Himak nittak atukma amommit sipoknit taiyυt ka na mihachit peh i nukowυt antta li kiyo. (mmhuh) Peh na miha mas sυ bυnna kiyo (mmhuh) ihullo li hatukosh. Atuko ma moyuma ka. Anonti ilimpa ahali kash, yυmma nipi atukmυt akanka waiyachi. Hatokosh ma akanka atukmυt pi lawa chohmish asha. Hatokosh akanka atukma il impa chik ma hliolit ant aya li be’t toh. (laughter) Akmυt kanimikma e lawa. ällυt e lawa hatokosh akanka ma e hokli be’t toh. (mmhuh, mmhuh) Akmυt anonti, Mommy atukmυt “ikonla ma ish shυnnik ma” Makυlla kano ak ikhanot toh. Akanka ma υbi la kiyot toh. (laughter) Akma (Nanta ka?) anonti oka lυshpa atukma, ma pit’sh fokki cha hishi atukma (tihli) tihlit taiyali chi ka. Mohmako i [– i] peh (Nanta ka?) (ish ikomota) yeah, ma ikomota li be’t toh peh. Hitukosh, ihkia, akanka mυt nonυt taiyahak mano ikomota li kiyo. (laughter) Champali hatuko. Akmυt anonti anakfi micha anonti amoshi yomi kυt nυni hoklit ia, fυni υbi, chokfi υbi moyuma. Hatuko nipi toh pim asha be’t toh. (mmhuh) Akmυt you know cha…mpuli. Akma, okakosh sυ’skitini moma kυt fυni atukma (Nanta ka?) loffi kυt (hloffi) hloffi kυt ikhυna lit tok kio. Yυmmυt nυni moma ka peh (Nanta ka? kashoffi chik ma) kashoffit ikhana lit toh. Akmυt, hetokosh himak nittak atukma, ittihalυlli mυt, ittihalυlli tok kio, ahma ahattak atok mak imabυchi lit toh. (laughter) But anyway, (Nanta ka?) agmυt himona ho mafo atukmυt hυshi achυffa ka soda pop pi chumpa cha peh pipeta be’t toh. Akma champuli. Akma anonti himonak ma anonti hopaki no candy mυt asha mυt (Nanta ka?) hohchifot kanka. Kanka na champuli a’h be’t tok sυmmi candy achi. Yυmma chumpa na mako hυshi achυffa illa ho epa be’t toh ma. Champuli hatoko pi bυnna moma mako il iesha hekiyo be’t toh. Atuko Mafo, Pokni moyuma kυt iponna tok acha ahni li. (mmhuh) Hetuko Mommy ohmak osh na’hatuk ma hoponi chi mυt na’hatuk mυt peh tυmaha achumpa kiyo ho na’hatuk ma hoponi be’t toh. Atuko anonti akmυt toffa hatoko bissa atukma amot e tanowah; Anonti takkon atukmυt mak atukma takkonushi achi ho asha hatukosh yυmma il aiowa. Akma anonti (Nanta ka? Nanta ish achi ka bissa ma) ish kashoffit ish taiyali mυt? (walakshih) ma moma, walakshih ikbi, anonti (pot chito, wash. okυtchi) okυtchi bekυt toh. Mato pi lawa bekυt toh. Hetoh mako iba chukkowa li bekυt toh, ik sυ piso ma (laughter). Chυffak ano kanchuk mako asha hatuko, achυffa kano iba chukkowa li bekυt toh kio, ik sυ pisok ma. Hetuk atuko yomi ka ikhυna lik mυt, anonti mafo atukmυt hattak osapa atoksυli. Atukosh na’hatuk mυt waiya, peh tobi, ahe, tanchi. Akma anonti waya achi ho yakni mako, you know, aminti. Atukoma il apela be’t toh, Mafo atukma. Atukosh mυt ont taiyaha, nonυt ont taiyaha ahobakma ahe atukma; anonti mak atukma nana ho onyυmmi ka ak ikhano. Hokako ahe yomi kυt tohbish kahmayakma kanchuk atuk ma il ashachi be’t toh. Nana ak ikhano okakosh (Nanta ka?) makosh, you know ak ikhano, ma yohmi kano. Okakosh peh toksυli hokano apehela li be’t toh. (mmhuh) Atukosh ahli kano hopaki no pokni, mafo tatuklo kυt “υlla ish aiaisha kυt chi takobi kiyo mah,” ahaya be’t toh. Chi takobi mυt, chi takobi hokυto ish impa chik kiyo achi be’t toh kio. Chi hofantit tahak mυt chi takobi tuk mυto ish impa chik kiyo υ’t pim anohonli bekυt toh e moma ka. Atuko mυt ahli tok achini. (laughter) Hetukosh υm υlla atukma, himak nittak atuk, mohmako im anoli lih. You know, tukosh ahli ka nana lawa ho ikhahana lit tok υt moyuma. Atukosh ahli ka nana hυt tim ‘aiyuka himakno. älla atuk makosh ittim‘aiyuka. (mmhuh) Asυno atukma na e mihachi ho kiyo be’t toh. (mmhuh) E mihachay’ kiyo be’t toh pi fυma chi hatuko okakosh achukma tuk. Anonti, pi hullo hatukosh. Pi hullo hatuko asυno atukma e imetia. Tukosh υlhpesa hosh sυ hofantit taha toh. Hetuk atukosh…
Na tuklo panaklo sυ bυnna ma, anonti inlυt na panaklo bυnnak mυt hina kasha. Nipi pusa ish achi tuk a?
mmhuh. (Acknowledgement)
Mato, mato nanta?
(Nanta ka?) Shukha atukma uh, uh (sυlakha, keyo?) pusa achikmυt, himak nittak atukma English achik mano side meat ah’hina chichuk.
Oh iho, ahuh.
Mako shukha atukma, himak nittak atukma bυshlit taiyahlik ma nonachit mok mako pi champulish ohmi. (laughter)
Akmυt anonti, nan υlhpoa nukshopa yomi hoyuk mυt, chυffa kυt fυni yomi ish akash (mmhuh) anonti chukfi ish achi toh. Chukfi mano katihmish υbi bekυt toh, ish υbi bekυt toh?
Chukfi ma e hoyot il ilhkoli akmυt υlla pia hatukosh pi iyyi beka makosh e balili chi. Atukosh, hatukosh chukfi atukma e pisa. Akmυt chukfi atukmυt balilit isht ia ma e lhiohlik mυt, e, peh iti kia mako iti mυt chiluk hikia mako e hoyu. (mmhuh) Akmυt mako on chukowa chi hatuko ako e hliolik mυt mako il ia. Chukfi atukmυt iti chiluk ont chukowa tuk ma pishnato (Nanta ka?) iti… (fabassa) yeah, peh iti nanta achina ka (falakto, iti falakto) stick ash chokash ma, ahuh, Chukfit mυt et fohka hatuko e shυnnit isht ia (mmhuh). Akmυt mako e hoklik mυt e kuchi be’t tok kio. Akmυt e, you know, elap e, il… (Nanta achi ka?) il υbi. (mmhuh) Akma makosh chukfi e (Nanta ka?) e hlioli kυt lawa be’t toh. (mmhuh)
Mako yohmi ka pisa li mυhli beka toh. Sυshki atukmυt shυnnit kuchi beka toh.
Yeah.
Panaklo.
Tυnampo nanta ho isht ieshi bekυt toh?
Tanυmpo?
Tυnampo, iti tυnampo cho…cho nahullo toh.
Ahuh twenty-two (22) achi ho, ihikia be’t toh. Mak illash ihikia be’t toh, achυffa ho. Makυllash ihikia. Akmυt 22 yohmi kυt mohmako ihullo hatukosh achukma ho, achukmachit ieshi be’t toh. Makυllash ihikia atuko.
Nakit iksho chohmi atuko.
mmhuh. Iskυli ohmak osh.
Yeah, yohmi.
Lawa kυt, you know, iksho chiyomi hatuko. Mohmako naki atuk mυt, you know.
Issi no okla hoyo bekυt toko issi?
Issi no fehna kiyo be’t tok. Issi no himona ho ilhkoli be’t tok sυmmi. Okakosh issi apυt ahantυt sυ hofanti kiyo.
Akma inla kato, na panaklo chi bυnna tok a? Akmυt anonti ish panakla chik mυt chi hohchiffo tikba kano ish anoli tok ma il ikhana hinla.
Chi hohchiffo nanta?
Bob Ludlow.
Anυt na panaklo la chih. Sυhchiffo υt Abe Frazier. Na panaklo la chi kυt, lefokka okla achefa kυt katimihchi hosh lefokka yomi ka oklah achefa toh?
Oka atukma, oka atukma pishnakosh, pishnato (Nanta ka?) oka … (Nanta ka?) (iyasha, oka yanυlli) oka yanυlli no kiyot toh. Yasha mako oka ma il υnit e tayahak mυt, anonti iti atuk ma nuta ma il ashachit e taiyahlik mυt luak ikbi. Mak atukmυt lυshpυt taiyahak ma mako (Nanta ka, nanta ka? tub) tub chito ma oka υnit taiyahlik mυt Hopaki no washing powder achi iksho bekυt toh. Soap.
Home made soap.
Home made soap achi. Lye soap (lye soap achi bekυt toh). Mako Mommυt aiowa. Hatukosh ilap akinit kanimik ma ikbi. Hatuko mako ilefka atukma achefa chi hatuk osh tub ma oka ma υnit taiyahli mυt washboard achi ho hikia bekυt toh. Ilefka ma fohkit taiyahli cha (isht mashohli) isht mashohli achi ho shok, shok, shok.. (laughter)
mmhuh, mmhuh
…tuk kio ana ohma ko yohomi li bekυt toh. Ilefohka lawa achefa lit toh. Mama apelυt. Mama apela li. älla tek himithowa il aiasha kυt mano nana ho ma pi ishki atukmυt kanimichik ma il apela. Akmυt achefυt taiyahli tuk mυt anonti oka kashofa anonti tub chυffυt talaya tuk o oka kashofa atuk υnit e taiyahlik ma. Mako rinse it υt e la cha… (okbushli) Mmhuh (okbushli) nanta ish achi? (okbushli) shinnit e taiyahli cha e takohchi.
Ilυmmυt hoshtola kapυssa hohmako. Kucha ma ahanta bieka toh, sυshkit, na lefka achefa. Atukosh mako yohmi tuk a?
Ahuh, ma mak υt toh kapυssa, lυshpa, υllυt lawah. Pishnato υllυt lawa chiyohmi toh. Atukosh ..
Lefkυt lawa tuk a?
Lefkυt lawa. Hokakosh lawa kiyo toh cause (Nanta ka?) lefkυt tuchina illa hosh υm asha toh. Mama akini hosh ikbi. Hatukosh agmυt anonti υlla nakni atukma (Nanta ka?) fohka chi ka, ilap akini aiaska. Hatukosh ilefkυt pi lawa kiyo. Sholush atukmυt chυffa’sh pi talaya bekυt toh.
mmhuh
Makosh pi fenna bekυt toh ma.
Inla katoh?
Henry Willis sυ hochiffot. Nana chishnato tυmaha ish atta kiyo tok a? Kucha?
Keyu.
Haklo li kash, tυmaha kucha hash asha tok.
Keyot toh.
A okma peh nana panaklo la’na ak ikhano, okla panaklo tahli chomi hatoko. Ihkia holisso apisa ish ia kυt ish nowa bekυt toh ish achi?
Mmhuh
Hopaki katohmi ish nowυt toh? Koi katohmi ho?
Chυffa.
Chuffa?
Mmhuh.
Tυmaha bilinka ish υttυt tok a? Keyukmυt
Keyo.
Oh, okay, nana kucha hiohli mako ish ia?
mmhuh. Holisso aiikhυna ma (Nanta ka?) chukka omi hosh chυffa hosh hikia be’t toh.
(ulhti) aboha achυffa mako ai ikhυna li toh.
Yeah, achυffa aiyokali kυt ulhti achi yυmmυk o chυffυt hiolit ia.
Mmhuh.
Ma ma chohmi ia lik bekυt toh, anak kia.
Akmυt everyday atukmυt ma nowa li toh. Akka yash e tanowa kia, (Nanta ka?) ikhυna sυnna toh, agmυt.
Afυmmi nanta fokali ho ma ish ia bekυt toh?
Hopakit taha (laughs)
Kanimi ho ma panaklo li kυt, you know, anak kia hopaki’sh chash ia li kυt mah mako inla chohmi toh. Atukosh [nit-]hυshi kiyo mυt afυmmi nana ho panaklo lik mυt, ikhana lik mυt peh ikhana li chohma hinla mak fokali ka, kanika. Hatukosh…
19.. nanta tok a? (silently counts) 1955 foka tok sυmmi.
Okay. Mak fokalik ako, yeah mano, anak kia. Nan υlhpisa ahlopulli akini atukosh peh fifty ona tok a? Ihkia, afυmmi chi shahli li tok sυmmi. Peh pokoli tuklo akucha chυffa hosh holisso apisa kucha li toh; mihmυt yυmmυt kanohmi issa li tok. A kυt, yeah, ish ikhana na, afυmmi ushta fokali. Iyakayυt ali toh.
Anato, anato (Nanta ka?) ak ikhano himak nittak atukma numbers. Atukma ish maka hayaka ak ikhano toh. Mano hochefo kυt ak ikhano. Amba himo ikhυna lih mυt chυffa, tuklo, tuchina, ushta makυlla ho ikhana li, ak ikhano tok atok o. Pim abachi kiyo toh mano. Hatuko ak ikhano. Himo ikhυnυt isht ia li.
Moma kυt, lawa kυt il anumpuli kiyo hatukosh pim ihaksit taha akinli. Lawa ka ish haklo ka ikhana li.
Hokakosh okla holisso apisa il iak mυt pim ihaksi. Hatuk o kanimik ma kυllo chomi peh falamυt anumpula chi ka. Hatuko, hihkia mak fokali ka υlhopuli atukosh lawa ka, ish pisa ka, pisa li tok. Atukosh palυmmi ma hli toh kanimi ka. Hihkia yohmi, mak foka ona ka, nana hattak shali υt asha akinli ahobυt toh kanimi ka. He kakosh [peh], peh hopaki mak foka ik ahobo peh. Atuko nana inla kυt chi panaklo la chi tok akosh υm ihaksi chohmi kania. Nanta ho katimihchi hosh ilimpa, ilhpak a, ilimpa ya, isht ish ia bekυt toh?
School ia lik ako?
Ahuh.
Onnahinli Mommυt tanik mυt (Nanta ka?) nipi shila atukma nonachit taiyahli anonti pυska atukma ilυp akinli hosh ikbit taiyahli. Tokma mako anonti na’ha, nipi nana hatuk ma aienichi hokma mako il isht ia be’t toh. Nanta ka, gallon size achi ho e lawa mahli, υllυt e lawa. Hatuko alotυt taiyahli na hallυt il ilhkoli be’t toh kio. (laughs) Hokakosh makosh il impa be’t toh.
Anonti holisso no, nana holisso, aholissochi yomi kano; yomi kano chim atahli akinli tok o? Chomba ish chumpa tok o, mak fokali ka?
Pim atahli kiyo hatuko anak inli hosh, pishnak inli hosh, pallυmik ma (Nanta ka?) a ishki atukmυt ieshi cha pima be’t toh. Anonti kan..nimik ma holisso apissa atuk mak inli hosh chumpa tuk achini mυt chυffa ho pima be’t toh.
mmhuh, mmhuh akmυt.
Tablet achi ho chυffo ho pima be’t toh.
Akmυt anonti nafohka toh, peh nantak ohmi ho?
Nanta?
Nafohka sukko choba nafohka peh lυshpak ma natυnna … nanta ho, peh.
Natυnna, natυnna sukkot ik pim iksho be’t toh. Peh (Nanta ka?) natυnna atukmυt peh cotton mak achi ho, makυlla be’t toh. Mommy atukmυt ikbik mυt ibbak o ilυp akinli hosh na chunli hatukosh.
Himak a ponolo tυnna yυt na fehna hokah.
A, ik kio.
…nana hobachit ikbi ash lawa hatuko. Nana hana chi panaklo la chi toh. Makilla himonasi, inlυt panaklo bυnna chichuk.
Henry, ulhti ish ahaya kash.Yυmma na miha ka ish imikhana ho? {asking Hattie}
Hah ah, keyo.
Ulhti, anoli.
Okti lawa, achik ma, icy. (misunderstanding)
Ulhti
Okti ish achih?
Ulhti ish a’ υm ahwa toh, like districts.
Oh, ulhti, ulhti, ulhti yυmmυt government achi, nahullo toh. Anonti districts acha hinla, sometimes, kanimikma apehlichika.
Mako, ik chim ikhano kasha ahni li toh.
Ahah. Apehlichika acha na, kanimi kυt. Atuko lawa kυt anumpa yohmi kυt isht ish anumpula chik mυt momit anumpa kahlit, ittiba kahlit maka okma nana miha ka ish im ikhana na kanimikma. Ik kia, ulhti, kanimi kυt okla ikhana akinli anumpa ma.
mmhuh ik ikhano kah ahni li tosh maka li. Inla kato na panaklo chi bυnna tok ka? Keyo ma, makυlla. Hattie, yakoke!
Oh, another thing, nana, I just want to tell her. Nana achυffa kυt, nanta stick ish akash, (mmhuh) iti fabυssa.
Yeah
Iti fabυssa ishi cha shυnni. E moma chohmi kυt il ikhana sυmmi. Pi hohchυffo ik pi bυnnok mυt chukfi hliot.
Hopakit taha atuko υm ihaksit taha yomi ka.
Ome. Yakoke.
