Cree Literacy Network

nêwo mêskanawa / ᓀᐅᐧ  ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐊᐧ / Four Roads

Salamô âcimow

Another original story written by Solomon Ratt in his own th-dialect Woods Cree (and translated into English).

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[1] pêyakwâw êsa nêwo nâpêwak kî-pimohtêwak mêskanâhk. sâwanohk êsa kâ-kî-ohtohtêcik. kinwêsk êsa ohci kâ-kî-pê-pimâcihocik, mêtoni ê-ati-nêstohtêcik. kêtahtawê kâ-takohtêcik ita ê-pâh-paskêmoyik mêskanaw. kî-nakîwak. pitamâ ê-wî-aywêpicik mwayî-ahtohtêtwâwi. kâh-kitâpahtamwak mêskanawa ayisk êkâ ê-kî-kihcinâhocik tânima mêskanaw kita-pimitisahahkik.

ᐯᔭᑳᐧᐤ ᐁᓴ ᓀᐅᐧ ᓈᐯᐊᐧᐠ ᑮ ᐱᒧᐦᑌᐊᐧᐠ  ᒣᐢᑲᓈᐦᐠ᙮  ᓵᐊᐧᓄᕁ  ᐁᓴ  ᑳ ᑮ ᐅᐦᑐᐦᑌᒋᐠ᙮  ᑭᓀᐧᐢᐠ  ᐁᓴ  ᐅᐦᒋ  ᑳ ᑮ ᐯ ᐱᒫᒋᐦᐅᒋᐠ, ᒣᑐᓂ ᐁ ᐊᑎ ᓀᐢᑐᐦᑌᒋᐠ᙮ ᑫᑕᐦᑕᐁᐧ ᑳ ᑕᑯᐦᑌᒋᐠ ᐃᑕ ᐁ ᐹᐦ ᐸᐢᑫᒧᔨᐠ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ᙮ ᑮ ᓇᑮᐊᐧᐠ᙮ ᐱᑕᒫ ᐁ ᐄᐧ ᐊᔦᐧᐱᒋᐠ ᒪᐧᔩ ᐊᐦᑐᐦᑌᑖᐧᐃᐧ᙮ ᑳᐦ ᑭᑖᐸᐦᑕᒪᐧᐠ  ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐊᐧ ᐊᔨᐢᐠ ᐁᑳ ᐁ ᑮ ᑭᐦᒋᓈᐦᐅᒋᐠ ᑖᓂᒪ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᑭᑕ ᐱᒥᑎᓴᐦᐊᐦᑭᐠ᙮

Once there were four men walking along the road. They came from the south. They had travelled for a long time so they were getting tired. All of a sudden they arrived at a place where the road branched off. They stopped. They were going to rest for a bit before they set off again. They look at the roads not being sure of which road they would follow.

[2] pêyak anima mêskanaw pahkisimotâhk ay-itamon. âyimaninâkwan êwako mêskanaw. misiwêskamik ay-apiwak asiniyak êkwa mîna mistikwak ê-kâh-kipiskahkik mêskanaw. kwayask âyimaninâkwan êkotê pahkisimotâhk kâ-itamok mêskanaw.

ᐯᔭᐠ ᐊᓂᒪ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᐸᐦᑭᓯᒧᑖᕁ ᐊᕀ ᐃᑕᒧᐣ᙮ ᐋᔨᒪᓂᓈᑲᐧᐣ ᐁᐊᐧᑯ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ᙮ ᒥᓯᐁᐧᐢᑲᒥᐠ ᐊᕀ ᐊᐱᐊᐧᐠ ᐊᓯᓂᔭᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒦᓇ ᒥᐢᑎᑲᐧᐠ ᐁ ᑳᐦ ᑭᐱᐢᑲᐦᑭᐠ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ᙮ ᑲᐧᔭᐢᐠ ᐋᔨᒪᓂᓈᑲᐧᐣ ᐁᑯᑌ ᐸᐦᑭᓯᒧᑖᕁ ᑳ ᐃᑕᒧᐠ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ᙮

One of the roads led to the west. That road looked difficult. All over the place there were rocks and logs blocking the road. The road to the west looked extremely difficult.

[3] kotak anima mêskanaw sâkâstênohk ay-itamon. êwako mêskanaw miyonâkwan ayisk misiwê ita ê-ây-ohpikihki wâpikwaniya. wêhcasininâkwan êkotê sâkâstênohk kâ-itamok mêskanaw.

ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᓂᒪ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᓵᑳᐢᑌᓄᕁ ᐊᕀ ᐃᑕᒧᐣ᙮ ᐁᐊᐧᑯ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᒥᔪᓈᑲᐧᐣ ᐊᔨᐢᐠ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐃᑕ ᐁ ᐋᕀ ᐅᐦᐱᑭᐦᑭ ᐋᐧᐱᑲᐧᓂᔭ᙮ ᐁᐧᐦᒐᓯᓂᓈᑲᐧᐣ ᐁᑯᑌ ᓵᑳᐢᑌᓄᕁ ᑳ ᐃᑕᒧᐠ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ᙮

 Another of the roads led to the east. That road looked beautiful because flowers grew all over. That road that led to the east looked easy.

 [4] kotak anima mêskanaw kîwêtinohk ay-itamon. êwako mêskanaw nanâtohkinâkwan ayisk waciya

ê-nâh-nôkwahki êkwa mîna asiniyak êkwa mistikwak ê-kâh-kipiskahkik êkwa mîna wâpikwaniya ê-ây-ohpikihki misiwê ita. mêtoni môcikaninâkwan kîwêtinohk kâ-itamok mêskanaw.

ᑯᑕᐠ ᐊᓂᒪ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᑮᐁᐧᑎᓄᕁ ᐊᕀ ᐃᑕᒧᐣ᙮ ᐁᐊᐧᑯ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᓇᓈᑐᐦᑭᓈᑲᐧᐣ ᐊᔨᐢᐠ ᐊᐧᒋᔭ ᐁ ᓈᐦ ᓅᑲᐧᐦᑭ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒦᓇ ᐊᓯᓂᔭᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒥᐢᑎᑲᐧᐠ ᐁ ᑳᐦ ᑭᐱᐢᑲᐦᑭᐠ ᐁᑲᐧ ᒦᓇ ᐋᐧᐱᑲᐧᓂᔭ ᐁ ᐋᕀ ᐅᐦᐱᑭᐦᑭ ᒥᓯᐁᐧ ᐃᑕ᙮ ᒣᑐᓂ ᒨᒋᑲᓂᓈᑲᐧᐣ ᑮᐁᐧᑎᓄᕁ ᑳ ᐃᑕᒧᐠ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ᙮

Another road led to the north. That road had a varied landscape because there were hills visible as well as rocks and logs blocking the road but also there were flowers growing all over. The road leading to the north looked like it would be fun.

[5] “tânima mâka mêskanaw takî-pimitisahamahk?” kâ-kî-itwêcik êsa ôki nâpêwak. sâwanohk itâpiwak mâka namôya êwako mêskanaw nohtê-pimitisahamwak ayisk êkotê ohci kâ-pê-ohtohtêcik.

“ᑖᓂᒪ ᒫᑲ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᑕᑮ ᐱᒥᑎᓴᐦᐊᒪᐦᐠ?” ᑳ ᑮ ᐃᑌᐧᒋᐠ ᐁᓴ ᐆᑭ ᓈᐯᐊᐧᐠ᙮ ᓵᐊᐧᓄᕁ ᐃᑖᐱᐊᐧᐠ ᒫᑲ ᓇᒨᔭ ᐁᐊᐧᑯ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᓄᐦᑌ ᐱᒥᑎᓴᐦᐊᒪᐧᐠ ᐊᔨᐢᐠ ᐁᑯᑌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑳ ᐯ ᐅᐦᑐᐦᑌᒋᐠ᙮

“Which road should we follow?” they men said. They look to the south but they didn’t want to follow that road because that is where they had come from.

[6] “mahti êsa niya niwî-pimitisahên anima mêskanaw pahkisimotâhk kâ-itamok. ayimaninâkwan ôta ohci mâka namôya êtikwê kapê ta-âyiman,” itwêw awa pêyak nâpêw. ati-sipwêhtêw ê-nakatât owîcêwâkana.

“ᒪᐦᑎ ᐁᓴ ᓂᔭ ᓂᐄᐧ ᐱᒥᑎᓴᐦᐁᐣ ᐊᓂᒪ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᐸᐦᑭᓯᒧᑖᕁ ᑳ ᐃᑕᒧᐠ᙮ ᐊᔨᒪᓂᓈᑲᐧᐣ ᐆᑕ ᐅᐦᒋ ᒫᑲ ᓇᒨᔭ ᐁᑎᑫᐧ ᑲᐯ ᑕ ᐋᔨᒪᐣ,” ᐃᑌᐧᐤ ᐊᐊᐧ ᐯᔭᐠ ᓈᐯᐤ᙮ ᐊᑎ ᓯᐯᐧᐦᑌᐤ ᐁ ᓇᑲᑖᐟ ᐅᐄᐧᒉᐋᐧᑲᓇ᙮

“Let’s see, I’m going to follow the road to the west. It looks difficult from here but maybe it can’t always be difficult,” says one man. Off he goes leaving his companions.

[7] “mahti êsa niya niwî-pimitisahên anima mêskanaw sâkâstênohk kâ-itamok. nawac piko ninêstosin êkwa êwako mêsakanaw wêhcasininâkwan,” kâ-itwêt kotak nâpêw. aspin kâ-sipwêhtêt, ê-nakatât owîcêwâkana.

“ᒪᐦᑎ ᐁᓴ ᓂᔭ ᓂᐄᐧ ᐱᒥᑎᓴᐦᐁᐣ ᐊᓂᒪ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᓵᑳᐢᑌᓄᕁ ᑳ ᐃᑕᒧᐠ᙮ ᓇᐊᐧᐨ ᐱᑯ ᓂᓀᐢᑐᓯᐣ ᐁᑲᐧ ᐁᐊᐧᑯ ᒣᓴᑲᓇᐤ ᐁᐧᐦᒐᓯᓂᓈᑲᐧᐣ,” ᑳ ᐃᑌᐧᐟ ᑯᑕᐠ ᓈᐯᐤ᙮ ᐊᐢᐱᐣ ᑳ ᓯᐯᐧᐦᑌᐟ, ᐁ ᓇᑲᑖᐟ ᐅᐄᐧᒉᐋᐧᑲᓇ᙮

“Let’s see, I’m going to follow the road that leads to the east. I am a bit tired and that road looks easy,” says another of the men. Off he goes leaving his companions.

 [8] “mahti êsa niya niwî-pimitisahên anima mêskanaw kîwêtinohk kâ-itamok,” kâ-itwêt kotak nâpêw. “êwako môcikaninâkwan. âstam wîcêwin,” kâ-itât owîcêwâkana.

“ᒪᐦᑎ ᐁᓴ ᓂᔭ ᓂᐄᐧ ᐱᒥᑎᓴᐦᐁᐣ ᐊᓂᒪ ᒣᐢᑲᓇᐤ ᑮᐁᐧᑎᓄᕁ ᑳ ᐃᑕᒧᐠ,” ᑳ ᐃᑌᐧᐟ ᑯᑕᐠ ᓈᐯᐤ᙮ “ᐁᐊᐧᑯ ᒨᒋᑲᓂᓈᑲᐧᐣ᙮ ᐋᐢᑕᒼ ᐄᐧᒉᐃᐧᐣ,” ᑳ ᐃᑖᐟ ᐅᐄᐧᒉᐋᐧᑲᓇ᙮

“Let’s see, I’m going to follow the road that leads to the north,” says another man. “That road looks like it could be fun. Come, come with me,” he says to his companion.

 [9] “nama, ôta niwî-pêhon,” kâ-itwêt ana nâpêw. “kika-pêhitinâwâw nânitaw isi kâwi pê-itohtêyêko.” êkwâni ati-sipwêhtêyiwa owîcêwâkana. ay-âskaw mâna ay-itâpiw itê owîcêwâkana kâ-pimitisahamiyit omêskanâmiwâwa. ay-âskaw wâh-wâpamêw mâka piyisk namôya wâpamêw. êkota mêskanâhk ati-ay-apiw, ê-pêhât owîcêwâkana ayisk ê-itêyimât kâwi kita-pê-itohtêyit ita kâ-ay-apit. kinwêsk êkota pêhow. ati-napwêkinam ospitona ê-ati-ayêskaci-pêhot. piyisk maskosiya ati-ay-ohpikina ita kâ-ay-apit, mêtoni ê-ay-ati-akwanahikot.

“ᓇᒪ, ᐆᑕ ᓂᐄᐧ ᐯᐦᐅᐣ,” ᑳ ᐃᑌᐧᐟ ᐊᓇ ᓈᐯᐤ᙮ “ᑭᑲ ᐯᐦᐃᑎᓈᐋᐧᐤ ᓈᓂᑕᐤ ᐃᓯ ᑳᐃᐧ ᐯ ᐃᑐᐦᑌᔦᑯ᙮” ᐁᑳᐧᓂ ᐊᑎ ᓯᐯᐧᐦᑌᔨᐊᐧ ᐅᐄᐧᒉᐋᐧᑲᓇ᙮ ᐊᕀ ᐋᐢᑲᐤ ᒫᓇ ᐊᕀ ᐃᑖᐱᐤ ᐃᑌ ᐅᐄᐧᒉᐋᐧᑲᓇ ᑳ ᐱᒥᑎᓴᐦᐊᒥᔨᐟ ᐅᒣᐢᑲᓈᒥᐋᐧᐊᐧ᙮ ᐊᕀ ᐋᐢᑲᐤ ᐋᐧᐦ ᐋᐧᐸᒣᐤ ᒫᑲ ᐱᔨᐢᐠ ᓇᒨᔭ ᐋᐧᐸᒣᐤ᙮ ᐁᑯᑕ ᒣᐢᑲᓈᕁ ᐊᑎ ᐊᕀ ᐊᐱᐤ, ᐁ ᐯᐦᐋᐟ ᐅᐄᐧᒉᐋᐧᑲᓇ ᐊᔨᐢᐠ ᐁ ᐃᑌᔨᒫᐟ ᑳᐃᐧ ᑭᑕ ᐯ ᐃᑐᐦᑌᔨᐟ ᐃᑕ ᑳ ᐊᕀ ᐊᐱᐟ᙮ ᑭᓀᐧᐢᐠ ᐁᑯᑕ ᐯᐦᐅᐤ᙮ ᐊᑎ ᓇᐯᐧᑭᓇᒼ ᐅᐢᐱᑐᓇ ᐁ ᐊᑎ ᐊᔦᐢᑲᒋ ᐯᐦᐅᐟ᙮ ᐱᔨᐢᐠ ᒪᐢᑯᓯᔭ ᐊᑎ ᐊᕀ ᐅᐦᐱᑭᓇ ᐃᑕ ᑳ ᐊᕀ ᐊᐱᐟ, ᒣᑐᓂ ᐁ ᐊᕀ ᐊᑎ ᐊᑲᐧᓇᐦᐃᑯᐟ᙮

“No, I’m going to wait here,” says that man. “I will wait for you all here in case you should come back this way. And so his companion leaves. At times he looks where his companions followed their roads. At times he saw them but eventually he doesn’t see them. There on the road he sits, waiting for his companions because he thinks they will come back where he sits. He waits there for a long time. He folds his arms since he is getting tired of waiting. Eventually grass begins to grow around where he sits, so much so that it begins to cover him.

Vocabulary