Volume 2

Contributions to Fox ethnology / Truman Michelson.

  • Truman Michelson
Date:
1927-30
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Contributions to Fox ethnology / Truman Michelson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    O ki ma a ki ne ta mwa la ni ki na a; Wi a mwa ki ni ne ta mwa la ni ki na a; Wi a mwa ki ni ne ta mwa la ni ki na a; Wi a mwa ki ni ne ta mwa la ni ki na a a; 0 ki ma a ki ne ta mwa la ni ki na; O ki ma a ki ne ta mwa la ni ki na a; Wi a mwa ki ni ne ta mwa la ni ki na a a.] And that is how one song goes. It is as if some one were to fast, paint his face, and should use (the song); it is the same as if he might say, “I might even eat the manitous.” Ajid if he went to war he would only kill a chief. When “spirit ” is mentioned it is as if one man were a warrior and the other a common person, both of whom were blessed and loved by the manitou. The one named would be he that is slain. It is as if the one who blessed those slain would be slain with them. It is as if the manitou would be slain with them. That is why the song says, “I might eat the manitous.” And the second half. The reason why it says “I might feast on the chiefs” is: Well, the chief’s town might be eaten up, and the chief slain with it. That is what the song means. Surely that is what they did formerly. These songs come from yon distant time, a little after this earth was created. That is why the old men love them. It is why they say to each other, “Do not go about making fun of them.” That is how these songs are. That is why they say to each other, “They are dangerous.” That is what these songs mean. They are still valid for those who take good care of them. And if anyone’s relation were killed he would use (the song) if he fasted, and he would say,“I might feast on even the manitous. ” He might say, “Whenever I feast on the chiefs I eat them up. ” That is why the songs have this meaning. That is what I say about this song. And now I shall relate another song: I feed you the same thing over again; (Repeat.) I feed you the same thing over again; I feed you the same thing over again; (Repeat.) I feed you the same thing over again; I feed you the one who is honored; I feed you the one who is beloved; I feed you the same thing over again; (Repeat.) I feed you the same thing over again; I feed you the same thing over again; I feed you the one who is honored; I feed you the one who is beloved; I feed you the same thing over again; (Repeat twice.) I feed you the same thing over again;
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