A Family Story

Philomene Dana

Peter Dana Point, ME

December 12, 1977

1.   Nmúhsums wikŭwóssol píhce=yaq wíkusŏpónik Utŏqehkìk.

      [Long ago, they say, my grandfather’s mother lived (with her family) at Grand Lake Stream.]

2.   On=yaq wòt kosqéhsuhs totŏli=posŏnutéhke qihìw=ŏte possiyantéskik.

      [And the old woman was making baskets by the window.]

3.   An=yaq séss=te wèn yahàt, “Ipá, lapŏtomùn ktahtŭwihpùt.”

      [Then, they say, it was just as if someone said to her, “Hey, take a look at your table.”]

4.   Akí, on=yaq kosqéhsuhs ’tolapŏtómon ’tahtŭwihpùt eli=ksiyáhtŭwet kísuhs.

      [Well, then the old woman looked at her table, where the sun was shining in.]

5.   Yùt=tahk psí=te psonékte motewékon tuwihpútik.

      [Here was a flag, completely covering the table.]

6.   On=yaq ’tolitahásin kosqéhsuhs, “Níta, keqsèy nkoti-lelŏmòq.”

      [So then, they say, the old woman thought to herself, “Well, now, something is going to happen to me.”]

7.   Akí, on=yaq nìt nokŏsayìw leksónŭwin.

      [Well, soon after this, an election was held.]

8.   On ’qóssol ’tamkálin sakŏmawèy.

      [And her son entered the race for tribal governor.]

9.   An nìt elŏmíyat ’qóssol ’tomhúwan.

      [Then her son who was running won.]

10.   Elítahásit kosqéhsuhs, “Akí, nìt weci-nŏmihtŭwàns motewékon ntahtŭwihpútik, eli- nqóss   -koti-sakŏmáwit.”

        [Then the old woman thought, “So! That’s why I saw a flag on my table, because my son was going to be tribal governor.”]

11.   Nít=te kestókahk.

        [That’s as much as there is.]

12.   Nìt=te mettókot.

        [There it ends.]