II. An Arapaho Story: Once They Were the Roaming Buffalo/

Ceesey Tihneesi’ Nih’iisee3i’ Hii3einoon (14 sentences)

[This story was written in English by a student at Wyoming Indian High School. It was translated into Arapaho by the teacher, Richard Moss, a native speaker. It was published in the “Bear Singer” Yearbook of WIHS. Pitch accents added by Dr. Andrew Cowell, but NOT checked through re-elicitation with a native speaker.]

1. céésey nihnóoó3iitoxú3i’ híí3einóón nih’iinxootóú’u nih’eenéitwoo3éé’

Once there was a vast number of buffalo that roamed the valleys and plains which was filled

2. wóxu’ howóó koh’ówuu, niiciihóho noh ni’écii.

with green grass and crystal clear streams, rivers, and lakes.

3. nih’iico’óóyeiséé3i’; 3owo3neníteeno’ hé’ih’iitoo3ihéí’i.

The buffalo would travel in large groups followed by the Plains Indians.

4. néhe’ híí3einóón nihí’iine’étiit 3owo3nenítee.

The buffalo were the life support of the Plains Indians.

5. hibíí3ib, hixóno hé’ihbehtonóunéíhiinóóno,

They were used for food, [the hides for cover and shelter], the bones [for spears]

6. howóó téí’yoonóho’ hitiiníkotíítoonínoo.

and toys for the children.

7. néhe’ híí3einóón hoownii3oyéísihéíh.

The buffalo were not wasted.

8. hé’ihbéístonóunéíh néhe’ híí3einóón.

Every part was made useful.

9. hei’no’úseet néhe’ nih’óó3oo kookoyón né’bi’noonóh’oot.

when the whiteman came into this territory, they killed and slaughtered our buffalo.

10. hi’ííhi’ wonotóyeic hoowuu3óóhoot hoséíno’.

Their greed took the hides and left the meat to waste.

11. 3owo3nenítee nih’éé3neeneenówoot híí3einóón.

The buffalo were valuable to the American Indians.

12. hoowoohwoo3ééno’ híí3einóón.

There are no longer vast numbers of buffalo.

13. noh hiiwóonhéhe’ heetoxú3i’ híí3einóón hoowooh’úúno’óóno’.

The existing buffalo no longer roam free.

14. nenii3oxóení3i’ hiiwóonhéhe’ toh’óónoyoohobéihí3i’.

The are pastured and accounted for, for their safety.