XML version dated October 16, 2025. © Douglas R. Parks, Indiana University.

23

The Young Man with

the Feathered Staff

Alfred Morsette

nuu naapakúhtuʾ wehnaahtakuwaʾá wituuxIsaNIštaaNIhuúʾU sáhniš.
Long , long ago when they migrated this way they were a numerous people Arikaras.

wah – NAhkiitúhkUx wiiteešUtčipiríhtš – NAhkU-
Now, – when there was a village very young men – when
hunuuwaáWI wenehkutakaruhkoóčI na naawiinakuúnuʾ
they went around when they hunted all over and on the warpath
weNAhkuraanátA niiNAhkuhnaanuúʾA weNAhkuraanátA tsu áxkUx –
when they went however many there were when they went, but one –
wiiteešútš wewitíʾ nooxíniʾ na tšaápis – niitapsiwaa- waahnú.
young man he was sixteen – his having winters.
noowitiisAhkaʾá NAhkuwaawanú.
Then he went about in the village as he walked around.
ka číkuʾ Ahnooniiwóʾ a ka číkuʾ AhnooniraaWIhkaʾišwóʾ.
He just never went anywhere, and he just never went hunting.
číkuʾ kanawituutaánuʾ NIhúxuʾ –
He was not doing anything, just –
nooNAhkuutaʾuunaweerikú – NAhkuutaaríčI NAhkutshaahwaahnú.
when he would be standing around here and there – his standing on (the lodge) his acting proudly.
ka číkuʾ naahnooniraaNAxweekáʾIt číkuʾ AhnooʾeétA naawiinakuúnuʾ.
And he just never looked for anything, his not even going (on) the warpath.

tsu witirá nátš niikohniíʾAt.
But he had it a stick wherever he went.
noowituuNAsaáRIt niinooNAhkuúʾU – hiítuʾ – nuuNAsaaríčI.
They hung from it different kinds – feathers – their hanging.
číkuʾ kanawitustee- waáhAt NAhkuʾištuuwanú
They were placed randomly when he carried it around
NAhkiisaawiraáhNA niinooNAhkuúʾU kawáhtš – kaákaʾ
when he had them hanging from the top different kinds magpie, – crow,
kásuʾ niikohnuhnaánuʾ – níkUs.
meadowlark, whatever they were – the birds.
noowitohkaraniíʾIt NAhkiisaawiruuwanú.
It was spotted when he held it upright as he went around.

na niiʾAhnaanunuhkUxaáNU noowititaaweeraʾús.
And where his bed was then he leaned it against it.
noowititaaweéRIt.
There it leaned against it.
na saxtš NAhkiiriwátAt noowitee- WIsítIt nuu číkuʾ NAhkuutaaríčI
And as soo n as he arose then he went out to s tand on (the lodge)
naanataahíniʾ niiʾaNUsuusaa- paahnuuxukú AhnuuxunuuwaáWI
on the roof as they used to do when they used to go around
wiiteešUtčipiríhtš NAhkutshaahwaahnú.
the youngest men when one acted proudly.
– wititaáRIt.
– He stood on it.
– nikuwitirá anináʾU.
– He had it that one.

a WIšituuxUhúhtI áxkUx hawá wiiteešútš tsu anináʾU
And they (du) were companions one also young man, but that one
witsuuxawiʾúʾ NAhkuwaawanú NAhkuraaʾIhwaawanú
he was active when he would go around, as he would travel around hunting,
číkuʾ NAhkoótA naawiinakuúnuʾ.
as he would go off somewhere (on) the warpath.
natsú uunaaríčI AhnoowitiihUhkariíšIt nikuwešinehkuhnéhku –
But the other one he was just passive, their calling him that, –
číkuʾ AhnooʾeétA – naawiinakuúnuʾ
his never going off – (on) the warpath,
číkuʾ šiNAhkuhnaaNAxweekoóčI šáxtiʾ na hiʾáxtiʾ
his never looking for any- thing for them (du) his mother and his father,
NIhúxuʾ nooweNAhkiisAhkaʾaáhNA šinehkutharaáhNA.
only his going around in the village where they made fun of him.

niikooNAsákuuʾU – noowitiwaákoʾ– tinaákUx wiináxtš na šinuxtíRA
Whatever day it was – then he said– this the boy and his friend:
síšWA naawiinakuúnuʾ.
"Let's go (on) the warpath!"

witiwaákoʾ – šohnaatíRA – wiináxtš – hawáh – koosíhWA.
He said – his friend – the boy: – "Alright – we will go.
waaxtóh číkuʾ kooNAxtinaahnanuhkoóčI nakuraaWI- suunaáhNA.
Now surely you must have a bow (and some arrows), to have a quiver.
nawáh hináxtIt koosíhWA.
Now, in the morning we will go."

hináxtIt nootAheéšaʾ witeehunuúkaʾ uunaákUx
Early in the morning daybreak came he came inside quickly that one
wiiteešútš neečiwíNA.
young man the other one.
wah ka weneeriwátAt.
"Now has he arisen?"

noowitiwáčiʾ sinoó tiišá.
Then they said: "Yet he is lying.
sinoó títka.
Yet he sleeps."

wah šuuxiriwátAt.
"Now get up!
tsihwanúʾ naawiinakuúnuʾ.
We are going (on) the warpath."

hawáh kooxuúʾUt.
"Okay, it will be thus.
Axtóh kaniiroočinaanuúʾU.
Surely there is not any hurry.
sihnaakawáʾAs na neesíhWA.
We will eat and then we will go."
nootiiríwatAt.
Then he arose.

WIšitiwaawaaNIšítIt šáxtiʾ wešohnihkaanunáʾU.
They (du) began to eat his mother after she cooked for them (du).

wah wešitAtwanúʾ naawiinakuúnuʾ.
"Now we're going (on) the warpath."

noowitiwaákoʾ hiʾáxtiʾ aa tiraačitéʾ naku- waawanú naawiinakuúnuʾ.
Then he said his father: "Ah, it is difficult to travel around (on) the warpath.
čukú NAxtinaahnanuhkáʾIt.
You have no bow (and arrows)!
čukú NAxtištanuhkáʾIt.
You have no arrows.
tičé NAxuutaaníštA weNAxwó naawiinakuúnuʾ.
What are you going to do when you go (on) the warpath?"

aa tsu wešitAtwanúʾ.
"Ah, but we are going."

weWIšitikaniwaáhAs.
Now they (du) ate everything.

nawáh noowitiwaákoʾ hiʾáxtiʾ wah neetinihtinaah- nós.
Now, then he said his father: "Now here are my bow and arrows).
tineerištós.
Here are arrows.
hawá neesítš tineešá.
Also a knife here it is."

aa kaakikoósšoʾ.
"Ah, I do not want it.
too tatáRIš Axtóh naku- ʾištuuwanú.
Surely it is heavy surely to carry around.
xikoowíʾAt.
It will tire me out.
tsu wešitátWA.
But we are going."

nooWIšitíWA naawiinakuúnuʾ šohnaraaNIštíRA.
Then they (du) went (on) the warpath his friend.

nuu niikohniíhiʾ – wešohnawáNA – noowitiwaákoʾ aráh uu –
There wherever it was – their (du) going, – then he said: "Say, oh –
taawirístoʾ.– šiišUhuhnuuseeriítIt – tiiháʾ– načiWAhaáhkUx.
it is hot.– Let's swim for a while – here– the lake!"

uu WIšitiwísWA.
Oh, they (du) arrived.
tinaákUx wiiteešútš noowitIha- ʾuúkUt – weeNAhuuseeriítIt –
This young man then he got into the water – when he swam, –
atsú– tinaákUx – NAhiiNAsaa- wiraáhNA noowitIhaʾuúkUt.
but– this one – the one who had the feathered staff then he got into the water.
noowitI- huučitákUx iiʾAhnačiísA tstoóxuʾ.
Then he sat on top where the water was the water.
wituhnaathaanáwiʾ iihákUx AxwahAtkúsuʾ.
It looked like it were sitting on the water a duck.
witIhuučitákUx.
He sat on top.
číkuʾ kanawitutuuʾiitíkuʾ.
He did not submerge at all.

witiwaákoʾ šohnaraaNIštíRA Axtóh tAxwaákoʾ koosih- nuuseeriítIt.
He said his friend: "Surely you said: 'We will take a swim.'"

heeʾ.
"Yes.
waaxtóh neetuuseeriítikuʾ.
Now surely I am swimming."
tsu AhnooNAhuu- sakUxaʾá.
But he was just floating on the water.

nawáh witiituuNUxiikároʾ na neesíhWA.
"Now, let me wash myself and then we will go on!"
noo- witutuuʾiítIt.
Then he submerged.

uu číkuʾ kanawitootuusaʾaáhuʾ.
Oh, he was not surfacing.
anuú natskatAh- káʾU noowitaahnaáRIt.
There the other side of the water there he stood in the water in the distance.
– nawáh síšWA.
– "Now let's go!"
– tinaaríčI wiiteešútš noowituutuhtaakáhAt.
– This young man then he ran around it.
nooWIšitíWA.
So they (du) went.

wešohnawáNA noowitiwaákoʾ– tinaaríčI –
As they (du) went then he said– this one –
NAhiiNAsaawiraáhNA číkuʾ niinooʾuútA
the one having the feathered staff: "I wonder how it would be
aahtiikunooʾohnaanuhči- tawaʾá sakuuwiraaniwiítIt.
if they were to just come over the hill to attack if they attack us?"

noowitiwaákoʾ šohnaraaNIštíRA axiwaakaáhuʾ.
Then he said his friend: "Do not be saying it!
AhnootuutAxiruútikuʾ.
Things will just happen.
číkuʾ NAxtištanuhkáʾIt číkuʾ nakuraa- wiinúhAt na aasakukoótIt.
You have no arrows to fight back and they would kill us.
číkuʾ axiwaákoʾ štoh.
Do not say anything again!"

Axtóh nikuwetsehwáʾ naawiinakuúnuʾ.
"Surely that is what we came for (on) the warpath.
nooweteerinóʾ.
Now it scares you."

nuu wešohnawáNA noowitiʾaáhkA.
There as they (du) went there was a cliff.
noowititskatookúkuʾ Ahnaahukaahaanúʾa.
Then the water was splashing against it there being a lake.
nooWIšiteewiisákUx.
There they (du) sat on the bank.

Axtóh tiiNIskukUxpaanaáNA.
"Surely we should hide."

hee tičé nuúʾUt AhneesihkUxpaahwaahnú.
"Eh, why is it for us to be hiding here and there?
na nikuwetsehwáʾ naawiinakuúnuʾ.
And that is why we came (on) the warpath.
hawá neesihkUxpaahwaahnúʾ.
Also why should we hide here and there!"

noowitiwaákoʾ aráh nootatiwískaʾ aatetkAxtíRA tiihéʾ.
Then he said: "Say, I just want that I fast here.
AhnootiroohuúʾU číkuʾ nakuútA.
It seems there is some plan to it to be something.
Ahnootits- katookúkuʾ tiiháʾ.
The water is just splashing against it here.
tatskáʾ aatohneésIš.
I want that I know.
nawáh tičé niihaweenihUxuúkuʾ.
Now, how many days does it usually take?"

noowitiwaákoʾ šinaraaNIštíRA čiitíʾIš nikutiihawee- nihUxuúkuʾ číkuʾ nakitkAxtíRA.
Then he said his friend: "Four those are the days it usually takes to fast."

heeʾ.
"Yes.
nawáh nikukooxuúʾUt.
Now, it will be thus."

nikunoowitaáNAt.
Then that is where he went.
noowiteečitstáʾ wehnaátA.
Then he cried as he went.
noowitIhoowiisaʾiíšAt.
Then he went to the edge.
noowitiwaákoʾ wah siináNI inaániʾ áxkUx wetikuuté.
Then he said: "Now, my friend, my brother, one I have spent a day."

wah – štoh – noowitíʾAt.
Now – again – then he went.
nuukuwitaanáRIt.
He stood over there yonder.
štoh noowiteečitstáʾ wehnačikAxátA.
Again then he cried, crying as he went.
witIhoowiisaʾiíšAt.
He went to the edge.
wah siináNI pítkUx wetikuuté.
"Now, my friend, two I have spent days."

hawá – štoh – noowituúta – štoh – noowitičikáxAt.
Also – again – then he did it: – again – then he cried as he went.
witIhoowiisawiíʾAt.
He went along the edge of the cliff.
– noowitiwaákoʾ – táWIt wetiihawé.
– Then he said: – "Three the days have passed."

štoh – noowitíʾAt – nitsíniʾ.
Again – then he went – backwards.
noowitaanuuneéRIt.
Then he stopped there in the distance.
noowiteečitstáʾ wehnačikAxátA.
Then he cried, his crying as he went.
witIhoowiisaʾiíšAt.
He went to the edge.
wewitiwaákoʾ wah – čiitíʾIš – nikuwetiihawé.
Now he said: "Now, – four – they are days that have passed.
nawáh – tatskáʾ – aatohneésIš – tičé nuúʾUt– tiiháʾ natskatoo- kúku.
Now, – I want – that I know – why it is– here the water's splashing against it."

noowiteehuunukaáʾ.
Then he jumped.
anuú wituutUhuunuuʾiítIt.
There he submerged.
noowitits- paNItwá wačéh wešohnaákUx wehnačíkAt hee
Then the water got smooth, poor thing, his friend as he cried. "Hey,
nuuwewitinakuuhuNAhátkA áriišIt.
now he's done away with himself himself.
tičé tAxuúʾUt.
I wonder why it is?"

nuukuwitehnoowiisawiíʾaʾ.
Over there he came along the edge of the bank.
witiraanoókuʾ wehnaaʾá.
He was singing as he came.

nawáh.
"Now."

čee aráh.
"Why, my gosh!"

číkuʾ kaakiraákUx.
"There isn't any way.
číkuʾ nookaakuúʾUt aninačísA.
There is nothing there that water.
neeneetutuuʾiítIt.
I submerged.
nooneéka.
There is a lodge there.
neeneetIhuúkAt.
I went inside.
nuuniíkUx wiítA.
He sat there a man.
niiNAhuwaátU nuuniíkUx.
Where the door is there he sat.
nee- niiranóʾ na neeneekuusaahnoóʾaʾ axtaáwišA.
He filled his pipe, and he brought me the pipe 'that you smoke.'
netwaákoʾ kaakAhnaaWIšaNUxuúkuʾ.
I said: 'I do not usually smoke.'

uukuneeneetíʾAt.
"I went over there.
nooʾaahniíkUx haáwaʾ.
There he just sat over there also.
neeniiwaákoʾ hee natAhaáʾU.
He said: 'Hey, my son!'
nuuníʾ kuúNUx.
That one was a bear.

natAhaáʾU.
"'"My son!"
– Axtóh kaakíʾ nikuNAxkuwaakAhú.
– Surely you cannot be saying that
– kukaakAx- kUháʾ.
– I am not your son."

nuu neeneetíʾAt nooNAhiínaʾ.
"There I went farther.
tinaákUx hawá nikunee- niiwaákoʾ.
This one also he said that.
tičiišawataáʾA.
He was white.
neeniiwaákoʾ tikiišuxwiítIt.
He said: 'Sit right here!'

neeneetiwaákoʾ kaakíʾ nikuNAxkuutuúʾA NAxkukU- haáʾU
"I said: 'You cannot be the one for me to be your son.'"

hawá uukuneékUx.
Also there he sat.
tipAhaáʾAt uunaákUx kuúNUx haáwaʾ.
He was red that other one bear also.
hawá neeniiwaákoʾ – natAhaáʾU – natAhaáʾU.
Also he said: – 'My son, – my son.'

too – kaakíʾ NAxkukUhaáʾU.
"'Certainly – I cannot be your son.
too – atíʾAx tiíkUx siíno.
Certainly – my father he is living yet.'

neeneetihkaáʾ.
"I came out.
neeneetihkatáʾ tiwenatihWIsá.
I came up (the hill) when I arrived here.
nawáh wah neesíšWA.
Now, now let's go!"

nuu wešinawáNA wešohnawáNA witiwaákoʾ aráh siináNI
There as they (du) went, as they (du) went he said: "Say, my friend,
číkuʾ niinooʾuútA – háʾA – aasakuraaniwiítIt
I wonder what would be, – eh? – if they were to molest us
nooʾoohnaanuhkatawaʾá aasakuwiraaniwiítIt.
if they were to come up all over it if they were to attack us?"

wewitiwaákoʾ – čiríkU –
He had just said it, – oh my, –
tiweNAhuutuNAhkatapAhná tiwehnohnaanuhkatawaʾá.
when there was a thundering sound on the ground, when they were coming up a rise into sight.
– nooWIšituhkUxwáʾAx.
– Then they (du) ran away.
– na uunaaríčI natinaahnanuhkoóčI kuwitaaniiʾót
– And the other one who had the bow and arrows he was in the distance
wehnakUxátA atsú tinaaríčI – NAhiiNAsaawiraáhNA –
when he ran, but this one – who had the feathered staff –
wewitiraawiroókuʾ kananakuukatariíNU.
he pretended that he was not fast.

uu WIšiteenikatakúxaʾ wešohnihwa- nikú tsu
Oh, they were drawing close to him as they were shooting at him but
číkuʾ kanawitíʾ šiNIhkiísAt.
they (the arrows ) could not strike him.
číkuʾ kana- witíʾ šiNIhkuutUhuNAhuunuúʾA.
They were not ab le to do anything to him.

noowitiraawirookUxítIt – nakutakaaráhAt – AhnuuxiiNAsaa- wiraáhNA.
Then he began to pretend – to drop it – the feathered staff he had.
áxkUx sanánat nuuwiteewiírut.
One Sioux then he quickly picked it up.
noowituutUhuu- napítaahAt tinaaríčI wiiteešútš.
Then he swung around this young man.
noowitunáʾAx wehniinaáhNA NAhiiNAsaaríčI.
Then he ran after him the one who had it the feathered stick.
wehnuhniraaNUhuuniikaʾaáhNA tsu šohnihwaníkuʾ.
As he chased him among them (the enemy), but they were shooting at him.
číkuʾ kanawitíʾ šiNIhkiísAt.
They could not s trike him.
noowiteewakaahtaʾaáhuʾ sanánat tsu wehnakUxwanúʾ
Then they were yelling the Sioux, but now he was running
wehnaraáhNA anináʾU NAhiiNAsaawiraáhNA nuuNAsaaríčI
the one who had it that one the one having the feathered staff their hanging
niinoonakuúʾU NAhihnaawaaRUxtiíčI.
different kinds feathers that were holy.
tsu šohnihwaníkuʾ – tsu – číkuʾ kanawitíʾ šiNIhkiísAt.
But as they were shooting at him – but – they could not h it him.
wewiteewitariíʾIs AhneehuuwiraaʾaáhNA.
He was quick as he darted around.

noowiteewakaahtahUxítIt sanánat Axtóh šuúxu.
Then they began to yell Sioux: "Surely give it to him!
číkuʾ kaakíʾ šiNIskuutAhuNAhuunuúʾA.
We cannot do anything to him.
a či nawaaRUxtíʾ.
And here he is holy!"
nikuwewitiwačiʾaáhu.
That is what they were saying.

tinaákUx wiítA noowituutáwi.
This man then he stopped.
noowitiínu na noowitíʾAt.
Then he gave it to him, and then he went.
tsu nuu wehnaahčitaáRIt šohneehUhtíRA.
But there he stood on the hill yonder his friend.
wehnaraaNIštíRA noowitíʾAt.
His friend then he went.

noowitiRAhkatáhAt tinawaaríčI paatúh sanánat.
Then they left these enemy Sioux.
nooti- raáNAt.
Then they went.
weWIšititčiríkUx.
Now they looked at him.

uu witiwísAt.
Oh, he arrived.
witiwaákoʾ aráh nootunaahé šiNIhkuu- wanikú.
He said: "Say, it was good when they were shooting at me.
číkuʾ niikohnariškUxawóʾ šiNIh- kuxwanikú.
I don't know where the arrows went when they were shooting at me.
číkuʾ kaakíʾ šinakukuutAhuNAhuunuúʾA.
They could not do anything to me.
tsu áxkUx weneeneekuuniwooxítIt natiniinaawaaRUxtiíčI čeésuʾ.
But one then he began to take mine my holy things too.
wah siškaaʾíšWA.
Now let's go home!"

nooWIšiteewáʾ.
Then they (du) came.
wešohnaawaʾá noowitiwaákoʾ teškúNIt wetiihíʾ.
As they (du) came then he said: "Close by it is.
taatiitúhkUx.
There is a village here.
uu tiituuNIhuúʾU haáwaʾ.
Oh, it is a big village also.
wah weneekoowíʾAt.
Now I am tired."
wewitiraawiroókuʾ nakooweétA.
Now he was pretending to be tired.

witiwaákoʾ wah šuúxAt híNAx nikatistatateétIt.
He said: "Now go at night when it gets dark!
xaawaarúxtiʾ tiwaáRIt.
Horses they are standing.
nootikUxUhúNA.
They are off by themselves.
nikatistatateétIt neešíʾAt.
When it gets dark, you can go.
šuunaakáwihAt.
Head them off!
– wekutAxináʾA.
– They are yours.
– šuuNAhnaáxI tsu – nuuneetíʾAt – čeésuʾ.
– When you run them but – I'll go the other way – myself.
axkuhnuníkUx.
Do not wait for me!
saxtš šuunaakawíhAt AxtaawátAt – híNAx tsu
As soo n as you head them off you should depart – at night, but
noonikatistátAt nuu – neešéhNAt.
when it is dark, there – you drive them on.
axkuhnuníkUx.
Do not wait for me!
tsu nuu neešéhNAt.
But there you will drive them on.

tuuxUhuuNItká.
"Let me sleep awhile!
na nikučirikaʾá na neetaáNAt.
And when I awake and I'll go on."

uu šohnaawaʾá witiRAhčiwákuʾ xaátš AhnaanitúhkUx.
Oh, as they (du) came it was barking a dog where the village was yonder.

šuxtikaahtáʾAt.
"Peep over the hill!
kaakiituuNIšawíhAx.
It is a huge village!"

tinaaríčI AhnarištanuhkoóčI wehnareewaátU niiʾAh- neétAt –
This one the one who had arrows as he looked where the village was, –
uu – witiituuNIhuúʾU – sanánat – xaawaarúxtiʾ AhnawaawaaríčI.
oh, – it was a big village – Sioux, – horses their standing all around.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx NAhiiNAsaawiraáhNA wah nuu –
Then he said this one having the feathered staff: "Now, there –
neetUhkatAhkáʾU – nikutiwaáRIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
on the other side of the village – that is where they are the horses.
tikUxUhúNA.
They are apart (from others).
nikutíʾIt.
They are the ones.
šuunaakawíhAt.
Head them off!
anuú neešuuNAhnáʾAx.
There you'll run them!
nuu neešiRAsáʾIt.
Then you'll whip them.
nuu neešeéNAt parúNIt.
Then you will drive them off quickly!
AxkuhnuníkUx.
Do not wait for me!
tuuxUhuuNItká.
Let me sleep awhile!
na nikučirikaʾá na neetaáNAt.
And I will wake up and then I will go."

nawáh nuu witiRAtkhaanúkUt wehnaraawiʾoo- waáxIt
Now, then it was well into the night when everything was quiet
Ahništaakawaakaroóku niiʾAhneetuunoótA wehnaraahu- náhAs wehniiNItkáWA.
their singing songs in the village when the way had ended when they were sleeping.

nawáh wah šuúxAt parúNIt.
"Now, now go quickly!"

tinaaríčI wiiteešútš – AhnarištanuhkoóčI – nootiihuuni- riwátAt.
This young man – the one having arrow – then he jumped up.
nootíʾAt niiʾAhnawaákA.
Then he went where he had said.
noowitiiwaáRIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
There they stood the horses.
taWIšaápis wituhnaánuʾ.
Eight they numbered.
nootiičitawiítIt áxkUx.
Then he mounted it one.
nootiRAsáʾIt.
Then he whipped them.
nuu nootiraáNAt.
There then they went.

nuu nootuunaakaʾiwaáhAt.
There then he guided them in a bunch.
nooteéNAt.
Then he drove them.
nuu – wehnaahnátA – wehnaátA xaawaarúxtiʾ witiihaah-
There – as he drove them – as he came, the horses it began to
tawiitikUxítIt iiʾAhnawaákA taanikiišuúta.
get daylight as he had said: "You must do this."

tsu – noowitičirikaʾá – NAhiiNAsaawiraáhNA
But – then he awoke – the one having the feathered staff
wehnohnaa- nuhkatawaʾá sanánat xaawaarúxtiʾ wetehnihtaʾút.
as they came charging over the hill Sioux, "The horses they must have stolen."
nooʾikuwitaahkoohaahkáʾAt.
There he went at a distance on the prairie.

ha nuuwenaáNAt.
"Ha, there he goes yonder!"
nooWIšitiináʾAx nuu weNAhkiihuunaahkaʾiišátA.
Then they chased him there as he ran out of sight over the hill.

wenehkukUxuunaahkaʾiišátA witikUxčitáʾAt.
When they ran down the hillside he ran on top.
nuu uukuwitaahčitaáRIt oopiínuʾ.
There he stood on another (hill) in the distance a different one.

wah noowitiinaaNAxIhíNIt.
Now, then they raced them.
wenehkukUxuunaahkaʾiišátA witikUxčitáʾAt na inoowitaahkatáʾAt
After they ran down the hill, he ran on top and there he went up it yonder
oopiínuʾ haáwaʾ.
a different one also.
noowitehnanitaawátAt.
Then he drew them away.
tsu šinaatíRA nuu wetíʾAt čéstIt.
But his friend there now he went far.

wewitIhunaanitakúxAt.
Now he drew close (to them).
tsu nuukunoowituutaakIsiRAxwaáhAt na nooWIšitiináʾAx.
But he was leading them (the Sioux) in another direction and then they chased him.
číkuʾ nuukunoowitiihuunaahkaʾiíšAt.
Then he ran from sight down an- other hill.

tsu hUhtiísuʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ noowitiraanawíʾAt.
And finally the horses then they tired.
nuu witaahčitaáRIt.
There he stood on a hill yonder.
witiranoohaákuʾ wehnuutakAxaáhu.
He was waving as he was calling to them.

noowitiwáčiʾ aaxtóh tinaátA tiwaaRUxtíʾ.
Then they said: "Why surely this one going he is holy."
tuhnaanapitaawaáhAt.
They turned back.
nootiRAhkaaʾiíšAt.
Then they went home.

tinaákUx wiiteešútš nootíʾAt.
This young man then he went.
nootiwísAt niiʾAhnaanunuunítAt.
Then he arrived where his village was.
nootIhuúkAt niiʾAhnaanunuunakaáWI hiʾáxtiʾ – šaxtiʾ – niišohnaákUx.
Then he entered where his lodge was, his father – his mother – where they (du) were.
noowitohníʾus.
Then he lay down.

witAheešáʾ hiʾáxtiʾ witIhuúkAt.
Morning came his father he came in.
inoowitiiʾookátA AhnaraáhNA NAhiiNAsaaríčI inoowitiiʾookátA.
There it was on the wall: what he had the pole with the hanging feathers there it was on the wall.
noowitiwaákoʾ wah súxtIt šuuxiriwátAt.
Then he said: "Now, old lady, get up!
wiináxtš wetehnaawísaʾ.
The boy he must have arrived.
iweneéša naʾištuuwanuuxukú NAhiiNAsaawiraáhNA.
There it lies the one he always carries in his hand the feathered staff that he has.
tehnaawísaʾ.
He must have arrived."

noowititkAxčitAxá.
There he lay on the bed sleeping.
haa wah šuxčirikaʾá.
"Hey, now wake up!"

noowitiwaákoʾ hawáh koxtiiríwatAt.
Then he said: "Alright, I will get up."
tiiríwatAt.
He got up.
wiwituuNIskhiikawaakároʾ.
He washed his face all over.
witiwaawaʾá.
He ate.

wah tičé wenuutAxíruutIt tiwešiNAxuxwáNA.
"Now what all happened when you (du) went?"

na noowitiwaákoʾ wiiteešútš nuu šitatuxWIs- waáWA anuú
And then he said the young man: "There we reached those points there
– NAhunaanoótA niinatskáʾA – aataátA.
– that land where I wanted – that I go.
noo tsu taahnáʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ šinestaʾút.
Then but he brings them horses that we stole.
pítkUx atíʾAx šikooxíra.
Two, my father, you will have them (du).
wetaahnáʾ.
He is now bringing them.
kooxeewísaʾ tiíNI hiíš.
He will arrive tonigh t.
tsu áwit neetiínaʾ.
But first I came."

wewitikatistátAt.
Now it was dark.
noowiteehuúkaʾ šohnaatíRA.
Then he entered his friend.
wewitit- čiríkUx haa Axtóh tatetkAxuunáwaʾ.
Now he looked at him: "Hey, surely I left you sleeping!"

heeʾ.
"Yes.
neetootUhuunuhtáʾAt.
I passed ahead of you.
neešiínaʾ.
Then I came.
neetihwísaʾ áwit.
I arrived first."

wah xaawaarúxtiʾ tineewaáRIt.
"Now the horses here they are."

noowitiwaákoʾ wah pítkUx atíʾAx šikoo- xíʾu.
Then he said: "Now two my father you will give them (du) to him.
tsu uunawaaríčI wekutAxináʾA.
But the others you have them."

wah nikunoowituúta.
Now so that is what he did.
wah wituxwaaRUxtíʾ tinaákUx wiiteešútš tiwehnaRAxáhAt.
Now he was holy this young man as he grew up.
uu wituxwaaRUxtiiNIhuúʾU.
Oh, he used to be greatly holy!
kanawituxwaawanuuxuúkuʾ naawiinakuúnuʾ.
He never used to go around (on) the warpath.
natsú číkuʾ nii- wituúta noowitunaahé číkuʾ niiNAhkuutaáNA.
But whatever he did then it was good whatever he did.

wah tinaákUx wiiteešútš nikuwituuxAxaáʾA NAhiiNAsaa-
Now, this young man that one was named Having
wiraáhNA -- thiiNAsaawíra.
Feathers On The Pole -- He Has Feathers On The Pole.
niikoh- niisuxkaapaačíštI níkUs niinoonakúʾU níkUs nakU-
Whatever they were that blessed him birds different kinds birds ones
xuuwaáWI neétAhkas nikutawikúsuʾ niinooNAhkuúʾU uu
flying around, the eagle, the hawk, whatever kinds, oh,
noowitiraáʾIt hiítuʾ NAhkUhiiNAsaawiraáhNA NAhkuwaawanú.
they were all kinds feathers his having feathers on the pole when he went around.
nikuwitanuuNUxtaawaaRUxtíʾ čeésuʾ.
That is what was holy for him too.