INTRODUCTION

This is just a sample of Bushotter's texts. The complete collection of his stories is still in preparation.

George Bushotter was a Lakhota born in 1864. When he was fifteen years old he traveled east and studied in White man's schools. During 1887-1888 he worked under the guidance of James Owen Dorsey of The Smithsonian's Bureau of Ethnology and wrote 3,000 manuscript pages of text in The Teton (or Lakhota) dialect. There are 259 texts which deal with all aspects of traditional Lakhota life, including myths, games, ceremonies and social customs, etc.

The lines with the speaker image () are provided with audio, which you can hear by clicking the image. If the project for which this is a sample is funded, we are planning to provide recordings like these by native speakers for all (or most of) the texts.

The mouse controlled dictionary scrolling and gloss viewing is supported only by Internet Explorer. We hope to update to a version compatible with FireFox/Mozila, Netscape and other main browsers.

38. MAN RESCUED BY THE EAGLES

1. Eháŋni héčheš oyáte waŋ igláka áyiŋ na waná éthipi yuŋkĥáŋ wičháša waŋ tĥawíču kiŋ hečíya: "Winúĥča, itĥó wayé mní kte ló," eyá.	Long ago, the tribe was moving camp and were erecting their tipis at the new place when a man said to his wife: "Wife, I think I must go out and hunt."
2. Ečháš toháŋ waglí šni héhaŋ éna thí po," eyá.	So don't move on with the tribe if they should go on, but stay camped here until I return."
3. Ho, héčheš waná kákhena manílkiya wáŋžu kič’íŋ na yá-hiŋ na waná tĥáĥča waŋ ó na há kiŋ ečé yúziŋ na heháŋl wazí čhúŋšoke kiŋ mahél wákhil inážiŋ ománi-haŋ.	He placed his quiver over his shoulder and walked away into the wilderness; and in time he shot a deer and took only its skin; and then he walked about in the thick wood among the pines.
4. Yuŋkĥáŋ waŋkál tuwá čhéya s’eléčheča čha atúŋwaŋ-haŋ yuŋkĥáŋ maĥpíya kiŋ ektá tĥaŋíŋ šni kiŋyáŋ úŋ.	And over head he thought he heard someone crying, so he stood looking for it, and whatever it was circling about high in the clouds,
5. Yuŋkĥáŋ: "Lé táku huŋwó?" ečhíŋ nážiŋ-hiŋ na waná mayá waŋ táŋwaŋkatúya éna khútakiya kaóĥya háŋ čha él khútkiya étuŋwaŋ nážiŋ-haŋ.	so he thought, "What can it be?" And now he came to a very high cliff which stood sloping slightly downward.So he stood looking down into it,
6. Yuŋkĥáŋ táku kiŋ hotĥúŋ-he č’uŋ waná khútkiya okáwiŋĥya kas’á ú.	and behold, that thing which had been crying out overhead was now sweeping downward, sailing with steady wings, coming down in a spiral.
7. Yuŋkĥáŋ waŋblí čha ú kéyapi.	And it was an eagle.
8. Yuŋkĥáŋ wičháša kiŋ hečhíŋ: "Eháŋkeč’uŋ mayá kiŋ lél hoĥpí waŋží hé séče ló," ečhíŋ.	The man concluded that the eagle must have a nest somewhere on the side of the cliff,
9. na atúŋwaŋ-haŋ yuŋkĥáŋ hukhútkiya mayátĥahepiya wahóĥpi waŋ tĥáŋka háŋ	and so he watched and saw that a nest there was, a great nest
10. čhaŋkhé "Itĥó ektá mní na waŋblí čhiŋčá kiŋ hená iwíčhawaču na iyóhila šúŋkawakĥáŋ waŋží ečé íwakičhiŋ kte," ečhíŋ	so he thought, "I shall go there and take the young eagles, and demand a horse for each of them"
11. na waná él iwáŋkam inážiŋ na: "Tókheškhe waĥ’áŋ kta huŋwó?" ečhíŋ	So now he stood directly above the nest thinking how to go about it.
12. na waná héčhetu kakhéš lečhíŋ: "Itĥó, tĥáĥča há kiŋ wíkĥaŋ haŋké wakáğiŋ na wazí kiŋ él iyáwakaškiŋ na khútakiya blá yaŋké," ečhíŋ	At last he thought, "I will cut this deerskin into strips and make a rope, one end of which I will make fast to a pine tree, and will let myself down by it."
13. na waná héčhel ečhúŋ na mázawakĥáŋ kiŋ éna ékignakiŋ na tĥáĥča há kiŋ haŋké wasó na wazí húte waŋ él iyákaškiŋ na él oyúspiŋ na khútakiya oslóheič’iya iwáštela ú. Yuŋkĥáŋ waná ikhíyela hihúŋni kiŋ leháŋl ikĥáŋ kiŋ óhi šni iyéhaŋyaŋ okápsakiŋ na wahóĥpi él ohíŋĥpaya	He did just that, but left his gun behind, and slid down the new-made rope, but when he was almost to the nest, the rope proved to be too short, and then it broke, and dropped him into the nest.
14. čhaŋkhé tókĥani ĥ’áŋ šni éna waŋblí čhiŋčá kiŋ ób yaŋkíŋ na čhéya-hiŋ na	There was then nothing to do but sit with the young eagles and cry.
15. waŋblí čhiŋčá kiŋ waná tĥaŋkíŋkiŋyaŋpi čhaŋkhé ób yaŋká-hiŋ na	In time the young eagles were large; and he sat with them,
16. akhé toháŋl húŋku kiŋ tĥáĥča waŋží átaya aglí čhaŋ waŋblí čhiŋčá ópĥeya yaŋkíŋ na šna wóta-haŋpi	and when their mother brought an entire deer then he regularly ate with the birds.
17. Yuŋkĥáŋ waná aŋpétu óta hél yaŋkíŋ na waná waŋblí čhiŋčá kiŋ kiŋyáŋ okíhipi yuŋkĥáŋ hewíčhakiya:	Many days he sat there, and when the birds were big enough to fly he said to them,
18. "Úŋšimalapi yé, ečhíŋ wasé yéč’uŋpi kte," eyá	"Take pity on me. And in due time you shall be decked with red paint,"
19. Yuŋkĥáŋ waŋblí kiŋ čhiŋčá kiŋ núŋpapi čhaŋkhé nuphíŋ kiŋyáŋ iglútĥapi na heyápi	and the eagles, there were two young ones, tested out their flying ability, and then they spoke to the man:
20. "Hé, itĥó uŋkóniyuspapi kta čhe níš-eyá ĥupáhu él tuktél sutáya uŋkóyuspa po kiŋháŋ yuhá khútakiya kiŋyáŋ uŋníyaŋpi kte," eyé.	"Very well, now, we shall take hold of you, so you hold us, somewhere about the wing, too, and we will fly down with you,"
21. Yuŋkĥáŋ waná ečhél ečhúŋ.	So he did so.
22. Ho heháŋl íŋš-eyá oyúspapi na yuhá khútakiya kas’á úŋpi na obláya ektá iwáštela khúl ahígnakapi.	He held them, and they in turn held him, and with him hanging on, they sailed down to the lower country below the cliff and gently they set him down on the level land.
23. Čhaŋkhé héčheš wasé átaya iwíčhayuŋ na wanáp’iŋ wičhákičitĥuŋ na awíčhayuštaŋ čhaŋkhé kiŋyáŋ iyáyapi	So he stopped to decorate them ceremonially with red clay paint, and put necklaces about their necks, and let them go, so they flew away.
24. čha íŋš thiyáta khí yuŋkĥáŋ thiwáhe tĥáwa kiŋ éna thípi na awákiksapi na čhéya-haŋpi ĥčeháŋl glí.	Then he went to his home, and found that his thípi was standing there, and all in his household had cut off their hair in mourning for him, and they were weeping incessantly for him.
25. Čhaŋkhé akhé oyás’iŋ šaíč’iyapi na heháŋl tókheškhe ĥ’áŋ kiŋ oyás’iŋ taŋyáŋ ogláka čhaŋkhé heúŋ nakéš wíyuškiŋpi.	So now they once again painted their faces with red paint, and clothed themselves in good things, and then he related just what fate had befallen him, and then at last they were glad again.

41. SPIDER AND THE DUCKS -- HOW THEY GOT RED EYES.

NOTES

90. RULES FOR SMOKING, FEASTING, AND VISITING

1. Toháŋl tuwá thiléhaŋyaŋg í čháŋna hé tuwé kiŋ óhiŋni wók’upi	Whenever anybody goes to another's house, he is invariably offered food;
2. na heháŋl tuwá lečhála wayé glí čháŋna hená tĥakĥólaku kiŋ hená oyás’iŋ wičhákičho na hená ób wótiŋ na	and if a man returns from the hunt, he invites his friends, and feasts with them all; and
3. heháŋl íŋš wíŋyaŋ kiŋ hé tóna takúwičhaye čiŋ hená wičhákičho na ób íŋš-eyá oíyokiphiya úŋpi	as for the wife, she invites all her relatives, and they pass the time agreeably together;
4. na heháŋl wíŋyaŋ waŋží wóahi čháŋna táku tĥaló etáŋ agná kičhúpi	and when a woman brings courtesy food to that thipi, then when her container with thanks is returned, there is always a piece of fresh meat on the returned plate or bowl.
5. na heháŋl él húŋĥ wóyute čhóla wóahipi, háŋpa naíŋš wóyuha etáŋ	And too, some bring "courtesy food" without food; moccasins, or some such article, but brought in the same spirit, and therefore called wóahipi-- they bring food.
6. na heháŋl toháŋl čhíŋpika él lowáŋ ahípi čháŋna hená wawíčhak’upi hená táku wóyuha héčha čha wičhák’upi šni tkĥá hená wóyute ečé wičhák’upi	And if they wish, they will come there to sing, and if they are given gifts in return for the songs, the gifts are not things, but meat.
7. tĥaló naíŋš tĥáĥča há etáŋhaŋ	Fresh meat; or the (fresh) hide of the deer just killed.
8. na óhiŋhiŋhaní-ĥči íčhikhiyela thípi eháŋtaŋš wókičhičaípi s’a.	And if people live very closely together, then early in the morning, they often take food to each other;
9. na tuwá tĥawáčhiŋ wašté čha ikhíyela thípi čháŋna óhiŋniyaŋ taŋyáŋ thípi s’a	and if one is lucky enough to have her thipi next to a generous person, she lives very well.
10. na toháŋl tuwá tĥawáčhiŋ šíča čháŋna ikhíyela thípi čhíŋpi šni.	But if one has a stingy neighbor, she does not care to remain by him.
11. Heháŋl wičhá kiŋ íŋš óhiŋniyaŋ čhaŋnúŋpa yuhá úŋ na tuwá hí čháŋna wáŋčag opáği na ób čhaŋnúŋpa-hiŋ na heháŋl íŋš tĥakĥólaku kiŋ wičhákičho s’a	And as for the man of the home; if he is always ready to play the host, equipped with pipe and plenty of blended kinnikinnick, so that as soon as men come in, he can fill his pipe and continually smoke with them while they visit,
12. heúŋ íŋš wičháša kiŋ thí él aú s’a na él óhiŋniyaŋ wičháša ahí s’a hená tĥawáčhiŋ wašté ewíčhakiyapi kiŋ eépi.	and if he regularly invites his relatives, and friends, then he is sure of company always; and men like to come, and they call him generous.
13. P.S. Tuwá opáği kiŋ hé tókhel wasúye čiŋ hé slolyápi šni eháŋtaŋš iyúŋğapi čháŋna ečhél owíčhakiyake.	P.S. If the guests do not know the host's personal rule of smoking, they query him and he tells them.
14. Čhaŋnúŋpa kiŋ hé čhatkáyataŋhaŋ kuyápi kta héčiŋ naíŋš išláyataŋhaŋ tukté uŋmá ečhúŋpi kte čiŋ ečhél owíčhakiyaka čháŋna ečhél ečhúŋpi	His rule may be that the pipe be returned to him always from the left, or the right; just as he likes to have it, and they carefully observe it.
15. naíŋš itĥókab iyáye šni wasúyapi eháŋtaŋš naíŋš čhaŋnúŋpe čiŋ ičháŋl tuwéni čhuwí él iyáwičhapĥiŋ kte šni eháŋtaŋš nakúŋ ečhél ečhúŋpi	Or he might have a rule that the pipe shall not be allowed to pass in front of him; or that the one who is smoking, shall not allow the pipe to strike against the body of others while he is smoking; if any of these is the rule, it is observed.
16. na heháŋl wičháša waŋží čhaŋnúŋpe č’éyaš iyé íyatayela iyátaŋ šni eháŋtaŋš úŋpe šni wasúya	Or some man might have a rule that although he does smoke, if he does not light a particular pipe himself, he will not smoke it.
17. heháŋl nakúŋ thí kiŋ hél tuwéni míla uŋ pĥetúste kahúŋ šni wasúya haŋtáŋš ečhúŋpi šni	Or one may say that nobody in his thipi shall cut into a stick which is on the fire and burning at one end; he shall not cut such with a knife; then his company carefully avoid doing so.
18. tkĥá tuwá iníhaŋ-šni pĥetúste kahúŋ eháŋtaŋš waíč’ihuŋ kéyapi.	It is said that if somebody ignores such a regulation, and strikes a gash into such a stick, he cuts himself (as by accident, like the knife slipping etc.)
19. Nakúŋ míla tuwéni čhéğa waŋkáb iyéye šni wasúya eháŋtaŋš na míla túŋweni čhéğa mahél iyéye šni úŋpi	Or if a man has a rule that nobody shall pass a knife over the cooking kettle in his thipi, they never let a knife go into the kettle.
20. lená wičháša waŋžíkži pĥežúta yuhápi na hená wakĥáŋkilápi čháŋna wóosukhiye kiŋ hená taŋyáŋ ahópĥapi na ečhél ečhúŋpi.	Certain men have medicine, and consider their medicine holy; and it is they who have these regulations, and they observe them very reverently.
21. Heháŋl waŋží zuzéča kat’é šni wasúyapi na nakúŋ ičápšiŋpšiŋčala waŋžíni kté šni wasúyapi hé iníhaŋ-šni ičápšiŋpšiŋčala waŋží ópi čháŋna líla wakíŋyaŋ ukíyiŋ na wasú hiŋhíŋ kta kéyapi	Some men have a rule of never killing a snake, or a swallow; And they say, if anybody kills a swallow, a terrific thunder storm will come, with much hail.
22. Na zuzéča kiŋ íŋš hé waŋží ktépi čháŋna wičháša kiŋ íhaŋhepi čháŋna iwíčhahaŋmni na hená zuzéča očháže oyás’iŋ él ahí na ktépi kte-ĥčiŋ čháŋna haŋhépi átaya taŋyáŋ ištíŋme šni kakíšyapi škhé	And if a snake is killed, against regulations of a holy man, then the one who killed it, will dream of all manner of snakes, the following night; and the snakes will be trying to kill him, and will make him suffer in his dream.
23. na heháŋl tĥašúŋke waŋží tuktéktel zuzéča yaĥtákapi s’a na haŋhépi tóna zuzéča kakíšyapi s’a	In some cases, such a violator may find that his horse has been bitten by snakes.
24. heúŋ hená wóosukhiye óta tkĥá hená oyás’iŋ táku wakĥáŋyaŋ ečé uŋ wasúyapi.	In these ways, there are many regulations, but they are all based on supernatural matters.

Editing and web design by (C) Jan F. Ullrich; mail to jfuNOSPAM@centrum.cz (remove NOSPAM)