Matapiiwa aoponiaakiihk; iiniiwa maatsikakaista pinakoyimmihka ki maataohkoinowayihkaiksawa.

Transkriptio

1

2 There was a famine in the land; the buffalo were scarce and hard to find. Matapiiwa aoponiaakiihk; iiniiwa maatsikakaista pinakoyimmihka ki maataohkoinowayihkaiksawa. 1

3 Among the people was a virtuous woman who had a dream. She was told her people were to send a warrior up on Chief Mountain who would fast and seek vision, and the location of the buffalo would be revealed to him. Ma aakiihk iitsina paitapiihk miiksi matapiiksi, matsowa paakiihk. Niiyai ko koyihk iitsipapao kayihk. Moi opapao kaani iitanistayihk miiksi matapiiksi mahkitapsskakihsawa ninayi aisowoyii Ninastakoyi. Akitsitsiiisiihk akitai stamattsayihk iinii otsitaipoihpi. 2

4 A warrior was sent who fasted and slept in the area designated. In his sleep, he was ordered to go back to his people and tell them to erect the Medicine Lodge and carry forth the proper ceremony, and they would find the buffalo. Ki ki ma ninaawa aitapsskowayihk maahkitsiissi miim anistahpi maahkitapoohsi. Mi opapao kaani iitanistayihk maahkanistahsi miiksi matapiiksi maahkookaniawa. Anniayi aakanistohkoonoyiihkiawa iinii. 3

5 Buffalo tongues were essential in the ceremony of the Medicine Lodge, and since the buffalo were scarce, deer tongues were substituted. Oki mi o kaani iihtayissitapiiyo p iiniotsini. Ki moi otsawaohkoikskimaaniawa iinii stamitohtsissitapiiyawa awakasotsini. 4

6 That night, the spirit approached the woman, voicing dissatisfaction and asked that the warrior return for further instruction. Anni ko koyi ma ksista psiwa mattsitohtowaatsiihk mi aakii, iitanistsiihkai otsawaahsi tsissi mi o kaani. A nistsiihkayi mi ninayi maahkattsskitapoohsai aakattsitsi ta kaistamattsiiwai. 5

7 He was told to set up another lodge and this time use the right kind of tongues. The warrior returned with the message. Again the lodge was erected, and again the tongues were substituted. Ma ninaawa aatanistayihk mahkattsi ta kakokiisawa ki maahkohtsissitapiisawa iiniotsini. Aisskoyihk ki atanistsiihkaiksi mi aanistahpi. Ki aatakokiihkiawa ki noohkiitotsini aatohtsissitapiihkiawa. 6

8 The spirit returned, and this time, she said she would reveal to the warrior where to procure the tongues necessary for the ceremony. Ma ksissta psiwa mattsitssko toyihk iitaniihk ota kaistamattsaahsi mi ninayi otayakitohko takihpiawa iiniotsini maahkitokamo kaaniawa. 7

9 The warrior again reached the designated place. The spirit spoke, Look east, towards Cypress Hiils, move your people there, for the buffalo will be plenty. Ma ninaawa atsskitapoyihk mi mistakii. Ma ksissta psiwa aaniihk, Stapssapit pinaapoohtsi Ayihkimikoyi stapipiis matapiwa. Annimai kita kitohkoonowawayi iiniiksi, iikakayimmiawa. 8

10 So, upon his return, he related the message, and his people set out for Cypress Hills. Otaatssko toohsi iitanistsiihk matapii mi aanistahpi ki moi otapiisina aomatsisttotsiihk Ayihkimikoyi. 9

11 When they arrived, the buffalo was plenty indeed, and men took a large kill. The people who had neared starvation were saved. Ai totooyiihikiawa mi, iiniiwa iksskai nammihkiawa ki miiksi ninaiksi iiksskaohkoikskimayihkiawa. Ai kamotayihki miiksi matapiiksi iikaistapomataoponaakiiksi. 10

12 The site where the people set up the Medicine Lodge came to be known as Two Medicine River or Two Medicine Lodge. Miim otsitookaahpiawa a nistainihkato p Natto kio kaani. 11

13 Lesson Plans Two Medicine River Grade 4-6 Language Arts and Social Studies Themes: Bridge in: Have students speculate why the river was called Two Medicine River Ask if the students know where Chief Mountain is; can they see it Point out this story involves Cypress Hills Pre-Test: Have students speculate about how Medicine Hat got its name Objectives: At the conclusion of this lesson, the students will be able to Locate Chief Mountain and Cypress Hills on an Alberta map Use three of the vocabulary words in sentences Retell one of the many legends about Chief Mountain Develop an understanding of First Nations language/culture Resources Teacher Notes

14 Activities: Post these vocabulary words: scarce, virtuous, designated, substituted, tongues Have students talk about the meaning of the words Ask students to write down the list of words and then write an antonym for each word, except tongues Talk about the unusual spelling of tongues how can the students remember how to spell this difficult word? Bulletin Board Vocabulary words on cards Have the students to the Blackfoot version of the legend How Medicine Hat Got Its Name Have students follow along in the booklet Talk about the sounds of the language and discuss how it is different from English Ideally, bring an elder in to tell the story. Booklet Two Medicine River Website: The name of Chief Mountain is Ninastako, in Blackfoot Have the students create a collage of all the different pictures

15 of Ninastako they can find on the Internet Have students share stories of vision quests on Ninastako and share them with the class Have students write a 2-page story of a vision quest they would undertake and share Talk about the importance of the buffalo for First Nations people as they survived on the prairies Have students research how all parts of the buffalo were used by First Nations people. They will represent what they find by drawing an outline of a buffalo and label all the parts and what they are used for Have students research how many buffalo exist in Alberta today, where are they, and what are they being used for Talk about buffalo jumps have students research their purpose, how they worked, and where they still exist, share

16 Post Test: Have students list four facts about Ninastako or Chief Mountain Have students four uses of buffalo body parts Follow up: Take a field trip to the National Heritage Site: Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, near Fort Macleod Read the next legend: The Blackfoot Chief and the Bull Frog