Letter to Dollie Duncan on Oklahoma State Penitentiary stationery 1951-04-01 (1951)

Document Audio:

Use the Settings button at the top of the page to change how documents are translated.

Box No.


Route #1


Stilwell


Okla.


ᎫᏬᏂ
guwoni
April
ᎢᎬᏱᎢ
igvyi'i
1st
195ᏌᏋᎢ
195saquv'
1951

Prisoner Number 50875 Name Walter Duncan To Dollie Duncan Box No. Route #1 City Stilwell State Okla April 1, 1951

ᎤᎾᏙᏓᏆᏍᎬ
unadodaquasgv
Sunday
ᏑᎾᎴᎢ
sunale'i
morning
ᎣᏏᏲ
osiyo
hello
ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᎢᎬᏩᏍᏗᎭᏋᏨ
igvwasdihaquvtsv
(are you) doing
ᏙᎯ
dohi
well
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
are
ᎤᏒ
usv
last night
ᏥᎨᏒ
tsigesv
I was
ᎠᎩᏁᏒ
aginesv
I received (flexible object)
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
letter
ᎤᏣᏘᏋ
utsatiquv
so
ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ
ulihelisdi
happy
ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏔᏅᎢ
aquadanvtanv'i
I felt
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎾᏋ
naquv
now
ᎠᎩᎪᎵᏰᎭ
agigoliyeha
I read (it)
ᏥᏱᎵᏒ
tsiyilisv
as (while)
ᏥᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬ
tsigoliyesgv
as I was reading it
ᏃᏒᎾᏋ
nosvnaquv
badly
ᏫᏄᎵᏍᏓᏂᏢᎢ
winulisdanihlv'i
it ended up
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎤᏣᏘᏋ
utsatiquv
significant
ᏫᏣᏓᏂᎶᏒᎢ
witsadanilosv'i
your illness
ᏫᏥᎷᏨ
witsilutsv
when I came to (news of)
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎤᏣᏘ
utsati
great
ᎤᏚᎩ
utugi
hope
ᎠᏋᎭ
aquvha
I have
ᎾᏏᏲᏍᏓ
nasiyosda
better
ᏣᏰᎸᏒ
tsayelvsv
you are feeling
ᎪᎯ
kohi
this (+ unit of time)
ᏑᎾᎴᎢ
sunale'i
morning
ᎠᏴᏰᏃ
ayvhyehno
and I
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᏂᏓᏤᏢᎾᏋ
nidatsehlvnaquv
not (feeling) better
ᎨᏒ
gesv
was
ᎤᏒ
usv
last night
ᎬᏩᏓᎴᏅᏓ
gvwadalenvda
ever since
ᎤᎾᏛᏁᏡᏗ
unadvnehludi
movies
ᏩᏪᏙᎸᎢ
wawedolv'i
when I returned
ᎤᏒ
usv
last night
ᎾᏋᏃ
naquvhno
at this point
ᎢᎭᎩᎷᏨ
ihakilutsv
I returned
ᏥᏍᎪᎵ
tsisgoli
my head
ᎤᏣᏘ
utsati
a lot
ᎡᎯᏍᏛᎢ
ehisdv'i
was aching
ᏥᎳᏫᏎᎥᏃ
tsilawise'vno
I blamed it on
ᎾᏍᎩᏋ
nasgiquv
that
ᏂᎬᏂᏏᏍᎬ
nigvnisisgv
was causing
ᎾᎥᏲᎸ
na'vyolv
how good it was
ᏫᏓᎩᏚᎶᎳᏛᏨᎢ
widagiduloladvtsv'i
when I was gawking around at everyone
ᎪᎯZ
kohihno
this (+ unit of time)
ᏑᎾᎴᎢ
sunale'i
morning
ᎠᎥᏲᎵᏓᏋ
a'vyolidaquv
terrible
ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏔ
aquadanvta
I feel

Sunday morning. Hello Ge-yu-ne-ga. Are you still doing fine? I felt so happy when I received a letter [from you], but as I was reading it, it ended up badly with [news of] your serious illness. But I have great hope that you will keep feeling better this morning. I also was not feeling good since last night. I went to where they go and “act up” last night. When I got back, my head was really hurting. I was blaming it on how great it was when I was gawking around at everyone. This morning, I feel terrible.

ᎥᎥ
v'v
okay
ᎠᎹ
ama
Ama
ᎣᎩᎾᎵᎪᎭ
oginaligoha
we two are together (Ama and I)
ᏙᎩᏂᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎲ
doginilvwisdanehv
we are working
ᎢᎬᏯᏗᏢ
igvyadidlv
up front
ᏴᏫ
yvwi
people
ᏧᏁᏓᏍᏗ
tsunedasdi
where (the people) are (public area)
ᎥᏝᏃ
vtlahno
and not
ᎾᏍᎬ
nasquv
also
ᏙᎩᏂᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁ
doginilvwisdane
we two are working
ᏴᎦᏴᏓ
yvgayvda
you can't say it
ᏫᏙᎩᏃᏠᏋ
widoginohloquv
we sit
ᎤᏟ
udli
away from
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
there

OK, A-ma is with me. We are working up front where the people come to visit. We can’t really say that we are working. Most of the time we just sit there.

ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
and this
ᏄᏍᏗ
nusdi
what
ᎦᏓᏅᏕᏍᎬ
gadanvtesgv
I am thinking
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎾᏍᎩ
nasgi
that
ᏄᏍᏗ
nusdi
what
ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏕᏗᎢ
aquadanvdedi'i
my mind
ᎨᎵᏍᎪᎢ
gelisgo'i
I think
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
these
ᏗᎪᏍᏗ
digosti
cigarettes
ᏅᏙᏓᏣᏗᏍᏗ
nvdodatsatisdi
you are to send
ᏣᏗᎭ
tsadiha
you say
ᏞᏍᏗᏋ
hlesdiquv
don't
ᏅᏙᏓᏣᏛᎭ
nvdodatsadvha
(do not ) send (long)
ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᎣᎵᎦᏨ?
oligatsv
do you understand?
ᎪᎱᏍᏗᏰᏃ
gohusdiyehno
something
ᏗᏓᎵᏍᎦᏍᏙᏗ
didalisgasdodi
dependencies (?)
ᎨᏒ
gesv
is
ᎢᏴ
iyv
beyond
ᏫᏗᎦᎦᏂᏍᎪᎯ
widigagansgohi
I look (habitually)
ᏂᎯ
nihi
you
ᏍᎩᎦᏴᎵᎨ
sgigayvlige
my parent
ᎾᏍᎩᏯᎢ
nasgiya'i
like
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏰᏃ
udohiyuyehno
really
ᎦᏕᎣᎪᎢ
gade'o[s]go'i
I am embarrassed
ᎠᎨᏯ
agehya
a woman
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
something
ᎠᎩᏁᏗᎢ
akinehdi'i
for her to be given
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏗᏥᎬᏩᎶᏓᏁᏗᎢ
ditsigvwalodanedi'i
for me to charge
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
something
ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᏰᎵᏋᎨᎵ
yeliquvgeli
it's possible
ᏅᏓᎦᏛᏁᎵ
nvdagadvneli
I will (be able to) do it (i.e., get by)
ᎯᎠᏰᏃ
hi'ayehno
this
ᎾᏋ
naquv
now
ᏙᎩᎩᏏᏗ
dogigisidi
we will get
ᎠᏕᎳ
adela
money
ᏙᏨᏅ
dotsvnv
we will get
ᏙᎫᏔᎸ
dogutalv
our pension
ᎣᎩᏲᏒᎢ
ogiyosv'i
our veteran's pay
ᎯᎠᏋᏰᏃ
hi'aquvhyehno
and this
ᏥᎧᎳ
chika'la
this month
ᏙᏙᎣᏥᎩᏏ
dodootsigisi
we will receive
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
and this
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
quantity (of), amount
ᏕᏥᎩᏍᎪᎢ
detsigisgo'i
I receive
ᏔᎵᏧᏍᏈ
talitsqui
two hundred
ᏑᏓᎵᏍᎪᎯ
sudalsgohi
sixty
ᏦᎢ
tso'i
three
ᎠᏕᎸᎯ
adelvhi
dollars
ᏰᎵᏋ
yeliquv
(it's) enough
ᎨᎵᎭ
geliha
I think
ᎥᏝᏰᏃ
vtlahyehno
and not
ᏗᏆᏓᏘᎾᎢ
diquadatihna'i
my family
ᏱᎩ
yigi
not
ᏗᏥᏍᏕᎸᏙᏗ
ditsisdelvdoti
for me to support
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
is
ᎾᏍᎩᏋ
nasgiquv
that
ᏂᎦᎥ
niga'v
only
ᎠᏧᏣ
achutsv
the boy
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎠᏥᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ
atsisdelisgi
he receives help
ᎢᎩ
igi
(it) is

Ge-yu-ne-ga, this is what I’m thinking—also, I think that this is how my mind is [works]. Do not send the cigarettes that you said you would send, Ge-yu-ne-ga. Do you understand? You look beyond [ahead] to a situation where favors will be needed. You are like a parent to me. It really embarrasses me for a woman to give me something or for me to charge her anything. Ge-yu-ne-ga, I think I will be able to do it [get by], because we will soon get our money. We receive our veteran’s pay for life. We will receive the pay this month. This is how much I receive: $263.00. I think it’s enough, because I don’t have a family [this word could include children] to support, only the boy, but he receives support [from another source*] (*Note: Possibly, the boy was not his biological son, and received other support, maybe welfare).

ᏗᏍᎩᏁᎸᏋ
disginelvquv
go ahead and send
ᏤᏣᏟᎶᏍᏓᏅᎯ
tsetsahlilostanvhi
your photo
ᎣᏍᏛ
osdv
well
ᏂᎬᏴᏁᎸᎢ
nigvyvnelv'i
I will fix it
ᎠᏎᏋ
asequv
for free
ᏗᏓᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗᏋ
didalihelistiquv
to make (my mind) happy
ᎨᏒ
gesv
is
ᎣᏓᏅᏛᎢ
odanhtv'i
mind
ᎥᏝᏰᏃ
vtlahyehno
and not
ᏯᏎᏢᏋ
yasehlvquv
determined, planned
ᎢᏳᎯ
iyuhi
when
ᎨᏒ
gesv
it will be
ᎤᏰᎸᏗ
uyelvdi
purpose
ᎨᏒ
gesv
that is
ᎤᏚᎸᏗ
udulhdi
needy
ᏗᏓᏟᏍᎦᏍᏙᏗᏒ
didatlisgasdodisv
for you to depend
ᎤᏲᎢᏰᏃ
uyo'iyehno
and worse off
ᎨᏒ
gesv
is
ᎢᏕᎭ
ideha
we live
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
something
ᏂᎦᏅᏛᎾ
niganhtvna
we don't know
ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏓᏅᏍᏗ
iyulistanvsdi
what might happen
ᏚᎩᏨᏁᎬᎢ
dugitsvnegv'i
day to day
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
then
ᎢᎸᎯᏳ
ilvhiyu
ever
ᏩᏇᏓᏍᏗ
waquedasdi
for me to be there
ᏂᎦᎵᏍᏔᏅ
nigalistanv
it happens
ᏎᎳᎻᎢ
selami'i
Salem
ᏚᏙᎥ
dudo'v
name
ᏓᎶᎪᏙᎢ
dalogodo'i
I have decided to
ᎣᏍᏓ
osda
good
ᎢᏯᏋᏁᏗ
iyaquvnedi
to set
ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎯ
ugvwiyuhi
instead
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
things
ᏥᏯᏛᏁ
tsiyadvne
one who does (things) for Him
ᏳᎵᏍᏙᏗᎢ
yulisdodi'i
in order (for me) to become
ᎥᏝᏗᎾ
vtladina
not just
ᎡᎶᎯᏋ
elohiquv
worldly
ᎡᎶᎯᏋ
elohiquv
worldly
ᎡᎯ
ehi
resident
ᏱᎦᏗᎭ
yigadiha
is from (said by) him
ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎯ
ugvwiyuhi
instead
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎢᏤ
itse
new
ᎦᏃᎮᏛ
kanohedv
covenant
ᏗᎦᏠᎯᏍᏓᏁᎸ
digatlohisdanelv
(see previous)
ᏥᎩ
tsigi
is
ᎠᏴ
ayv
we
ᏗᎩᏲᎯᏎᎸ
digiyohiselv
he gave it to us; left it to us
ᏗᎩᎦᎾᏩᏛᏍᏗ
digigahnawadvsdi
for us to follow

Go ahead and send me your photo and let me fix it for you free [of charge], to make [my] mind feel happy. I don’t know when you will [be able] to depend on somebody because we live in a bad time. We don’t know what will happen day to day. If I ever get to go to Salem [Church], I will set things right and become one who does things for God. I don’t mean just worldly things. This new covenant that we have is from God. He has given it for us to follow.

ᎥᎥ
v'v
yes
ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏋ
udohiyuquv
not really
ᎠᏆᏠᎪᏋ
aquatlogoquv
I cannot find
ᎢᏳᏍᏗ
iyusdi
that which
ᏗᏋᎪᏙᏗ
diquvgododi
for me to decide
ᎠᏏ
asi
even unto
ᎪᎯ
kohi
this day
ᎢᏯᏍᏗ
iyasdi
end of
ᎾᏍᎩᏋᏃ
nasgiquvhno
that
ᏄᏍᏗ
nusdi
which
ᏥᏄᏍᏛᏋ
tsinusdvquv
just as it was
ᏥᎬᏃᎯᏎᎥ
tsigvnohise'v
what I was telling you
ᏤᏙᎥᎢ
tsedo'v'i
when you were here
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎦᎬᎩᎾᏢᏍᎩ
gagvginahlvsgi
the ones who hired me
ᏧᎾᏚᎵ
tsunaduli
they want
ᎦᏥᏍᏕᎸᎥᏍᏗᎢ
gatsisdelv'vsdi'i
for me to go help them
ᏥᏅᎪᏨᎢ
tsinvgotsv'i
when I get out of here
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏰᏃ
udohiyuyehno
(and it is) really
ᎤᏱᏐᏗ
uyisodi
lonely
ᎾᎿᏂ
nahnani
there
ᎠᎴ
ale
but
ᎣᏏ
osi
good
ᏗᎦᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᏗᎢ
digalvwisdanedi'i
the job

Yes, Ge-yu-ne-ga, I have not really been able to make a decision, even unto this day. What I told you, when you were here, it’s still the same. The ones that hired me want me to go help them [again] when I get out of here. It is very lonely there, but the job is good there.

Page 2
ᎯᎠᏃᎥ
hi'ahno'v
this is it
ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᎢᎳᎪ ᎢᏳᎯ
ilago iyuhi
when
ᎠᏂᏥᎸᏍᎩ
anitsilvsgi
the flowers
ᏙᏓᏥᏢᏂ
dodatsihtlhvhni
it will be placed
ᏎᎳᎻᎢ
selami'i
at Salem
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᎦᏳᎳ
gayula
already
ᏣᏅᏕᏍᏗ
tsanvhtesdi
you know
ᏗᏍᎩᏃᎯᏎᎸᎭ
disgihnohiselvha
you let me know
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
at this time
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᏗᏍᎩᏃᎯᏎᎸᎯ
disgihnohiselvhi
tell me (this)
ᏞᏍᏗ
hlesdi
don't
ᏥᏨᎨᏫᏏ
tsitsvgewisi
forget
ᏗᏂᏃᎩᏍᎩ
dininogisgi
singer
ᎠᏁᎭᏨ
anehatsv
they live there?
ᎦᎪ
gago
who (is)
ᏗᎦᏃᎩᏓ
diganogida
the singer
ᏧᏓᏘᎾᎢ
tsudatina'i
leader
ᏧᏩᏔᏅᏒᏰᏃ
tsuwatanvsvyehno
in the past
ᎨᏥᎸᏉᏗ
getsilvquodi
they (were) well-loved
ᏥᎨᏒ
tsigesv
that were
ᏎᎳᎻ
selami
Salem
ᎠᏁᎲ
anehv
they live
ᏗᏂᏃᎩᏍᎩ
dininogisgi
singer
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
at this time
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᏴᏓᏍᎩᏃᎥᏏ
yvdasgihno'vsi
you can tell me
ᎢᏣᎦ
itsaga
Itsaga
ᎥᏝ
vtla
never
ᏱᏥᏯᏛᎩᎭ
yitsiyatvgiha
I have not heard
ᎾᏋ
naquv
now
ᎡᎭᏋᎦ
ehaquvka
is he still living
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏙᎯᏋᏨ
dohiquvtsv
doing well

These who have families would really look good if . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you asked me to take over their work. Very much . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And so, to this day, no one can fail to find work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . It will happen, when the time comes, for me to get out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I am not saying this is what I will do, for the time being, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . That is what I believe. Anytime now, Ti-go-la-nv-s-di-i [place name] . . . . . . . . . . from the time when I grew up. That is why, when people get sick, now . . . . . . . . . the time has come, do you know that?

ᎥᎥ
v'v
ok
ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᎤᏬᏚᎯ
uwoduhi
beautiful
ᏥᏰᎸᏍᎦ
tsiyelvsga
I consider
ᎠᏂ
ani
here
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏰᏃ
udohiyuyehno
and it is
ᎤᏬᏚᎯᏳ
uwoduhiyu
a beautiful place
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏱᏕᎬᏯᏟᎶᏍᏓᏏ
yidegvyatlilosdasi
I can draw you a picture of
ᎾᏍᎩᏯᏋ
nasgiyaquv
a comparison
ᏴᏫ
yvwi
people
ᎤᏬᏚᎯ-
uwoduhi
beautiful
ᏯᏰᎸᏅ
yayelvnv
one might consider
ᎾᏃ
nahno
and that
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᏲᏅᏙ
yonvdo
it is (not) known
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏴᎦᏴᏕᎶᎣᎢ
yvgayvdelo'o'i
it cannot be discovered
ᏄᏍᏛ
nusdv
what
ᎤᏓᏅᏕᏘᎢ
udanvdeti'i
their mind
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎾᏍᎩᏯᏋ
nasgiyaquv
is like
ᏴᏫ
yvwi
the person
ᎠᎦᏙᏌᏂ
agatosani
who is knowledgeable
ᏥᎨᏐ
tsigeso
that (they) are
ᎤᏬᏂᎯᏍᏘ
uwonihisti
going to speak
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᏴᎦᏔᎣ
yvgata'o
it (cannot) be said
ᏳᏙᎯᏳ
yudohiyu
the truth
ᎦᏬᏂᏍᎬᎢ
gawonisgv'i
they will be speaking
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏧᏁᎵᏗᏯ
tsunelidiya
Christian
ᏱᏅᏩᏍᏗ
yinvwasdi
for one to say
ᏴᏫ
yvwi
person
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᏴᎦᏔᎣ
yvgata'o
it (cannot) be said
ᎤᏙᎯᏳ
udohiyu
truly
ᎠᏓᏙᎵᏍᏗᏍᎩ
adadolisdisgi
they are ones who pray
ᏱᎩ
yigi
if
ᏧᏓᏅᏛ
tsudandv
their hearts
ᎢᏴᎢ
iyv'i
from
ᎾᏍᎩᏯᏋ
nasgiyaquv
the same way
ᏄᏍᏗ
nusdi
that
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏣᏓᏁᎳ
tsadanela
building
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏰᏃ
udohiyuyehno
truly
ᎤᏲᎢ
uyo'i
bad
ᎠᏂ
ahni
here
ᎾᏍᎩᏋ
nasgiquv
that
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
all there is
ᎢᎦᏪᏍᏘ
igawesti
for me to say about it

This is it, Ge-yu-ne-ga, when will I put flowers on [the graves] at Salem? If you already know, [write and] you let me know. Also, tell me this— don’t forget. Are there any singers who live there? Who is the lead singer? In the past, singers from Salem were well-loved. You can also tell me this—I have not heard from my brother I-tsa-ga. Is he still living and doing well?

ᎣᏩᏋ
owaquv
it is true
ᎾᏋᏗᎥ
naquvdi'v
now
ᏚᏯ
duya
beans
ᎠᏂᏒᎦ
anisvga
there is the smell (of beans)
ᎾᏋ
naquv
now
ᎠᏎ
ase
I guess
ᏙᏙᎣᎩᏆᏃᏴᎵᏏ
dodo'ogiquanoyvlisi
our jaws will flap
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
again
ᎠᎴᏋᏋ
alequvquv
and afterwards
ᎨᏒ
gesv
be
ᏙᏓᏲᏍᏗᎳᏫᏤᏏ
dodayosdilawitsesi
we may go to the church service
ᏂᎯᏃᎨ
nihihnoge
and are you
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᏕᏥᎳᏫᎭ
detsilawiha
having a church service
ᏎᎳᎻᎢ
selami'i
at Salem
ᎾᎿᏕ-
nahna
there
ᏱᎨᏙᎭ
yigedoha
I wish I was
ᏃᏋ
noquv
right now
ᏥᎩ
tsigi
in
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
anything
ᏱᎬᏆᏁᏈᏗ
yigvquahnequidi
not counted
ᎪᎯᏋ
kohiquv
these days
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
be
ᏥᎩᎶᏰᏃ
tsigiloyvhno
(to be) someone (else)
ᏯᏆᏤᎸ
yaquatselv
I pretend
ᏰᎵᏋ
yvliquv
be able
ᏐᎢᏃ
so'ihno
and else
ᎨᏒ
gesv
is
ᎾᏍᎩᏋ
nasgiquv
there=DT
ᏥᏩᏓᎪᎾᏗᎭ
tsiwadagonadiha
above all else; extremely
ᏌᏋ
saquv
one
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
word
ᎠᏆᏕᎣᏌᏘ
aquade'osati
I am bashful
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎤᏚᎩ
udugi
hope
ᎠᏋᏐ
aquvso
I myself
ᎠᏆᏔᎾ
aquatana
when I grow up
ᏂᎦᎵᏍᏓᏅ
nigalisdanv
I will become
ᏰᎵᏋ
yvliquv
it's possible
ᎣᏏ
osi
well
ᏱᎩ
yigi
if
ᏴᎦᎶᏐᏅ
yvgalosonv
it will dissipate from me
ᎤᏓᎾᏰᎢᏍᏗ
udanaye'isdi
the fear

Ok, Ge-yu-ne-ga, I consider this [building] a beautiful place and it is a beautiful place. But I can draw you a comparison. You might consider a person beautiful, but it is not known or cannot be discovered what their mind is like. And the person who speaks as if they are knowledgeable, but it cannot be known if they speak the truth. Or if they seem to be a Christian person, it cannot be known if they truly pray from their heart. That is the way it is about this building. For it is really bad here. That’s all there is to say [about it].

ᎠᏊᎥᎢ
aquu'v'i
here
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏃ
udohiyuhno
very
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᎤᎶᎩᎸ
ulogilv
cloudy
ᎪᎯ
kohi
all
ᎤᏙᏓᏈᏗᏒᎢ
udodaquidisv'i
during the day
ᎤᎳᎪᎥᏍᏗᏋ
ulago'vsdiquv
autumn
ᏓᏤᎳᎦ
datselaga
it is acting like
ᎠᏎᏃᎦ
asenoga
but
ᎪᎩ
gogi
summer
ᎢᏗᏝ
ididla
toward
ᏕᏓᎳᏍᎨᎭ
dedalasgeha
we are stepping
ᎦᏳᎳᏰᏃ
gayulayvhno
and already
ᎠᏎ
ase
probably
ᏕᏣᏑᏂᏙᎭ
detsasunidoha
you all are fishing
ᎣᏐᏋ
osoquv
so good
ᎾᏍᎩ
nasgi
when
ᎢᎬᏩᏍᏗᏓᏂ
igvwasdidani
things remain the same
ᏯᏆᏓᏅᏕᏢᎾ
yaquadanvdehlvna
I think of things
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏰᏃ
udohiyuyehno
really
ᎠᎩᎸᏈᏗ
agilvquidi
I love
ᎠᏆᏑᏂᏔᏍᏗᎢ
aquasunitasdi'i
(for me) to go fishing
ᎤᏟᏋ
utliquv
even more so
ᎠᏎ
ase
probably
ᏃᏋ
noquv
at this point
ᎪᎯ
kohi
now
ᏥᎩ
tsigi
much
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
quantity (of)
ᎪᎢᎩ
ko'igi
a long time
ᎬᏆᏑᏅ
gvquasunv
I've been fishing
ᏥᎩ
tsigi
much
ᏱᏥᎸᎩᏋ
yitsilvgiquv
I would fall in
ᎠᏎ
ase
probably
ᎢᎸᏢ
ilvhdlv
somewhere
ᏯᏆᏑᎾ
yaquasuna
if I went fishing

Ok then, now there is the smell of the beans [in the air]. I guess now, our jaws will be flapping again. Afterwards, we may go to the church service. Are you all also having church at Salem? I wish I was there right now. But these days, I would not have any Christian [commitments], unless I pretend to be a stranger. And there is something else, I am extremely, in one word, bashful. But I have hope that when I grow up [spiritually], if I am well, the fear in me will dissipate.

ᎣᏩᏋ
owaquv
ok
ᎨᏳᏁᎦ
geyunega
Geyunega
ᏅᏩᏙᎯᏯᏛᏋ
nvwadohiyadvquv
doing fine
ᏃᎦᏛᎾ
nogadvna
we are doing
ᏂᎦᏓ
nigada
all
ᎣᏥᏣᎳᎩ
otsitsalagi
us Cherokees
ᏂᎯᏃ
nihihno
and you
ᎤᏣᏘ
utsati
much
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᎤᏚᎩ
udugi
hope
ᎠᏋᎭ
aquvha
I myself
ᏙᎯᏋ
dohiquv
very
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
be
ᎾᏋᏃ
naquvhno
and now
ᏓᏥᏲᎢᏍᏔᏂ
datsiyo'istani
I stop
ᎪᏪᎵᏍᎬᎢ
gohwelisgv'i
I will be writing
ᏫᏨᏲᎵᎦᏋᏃ
witsvyoligaquvhno
I greet you all and
ᎢᎾ
ina
far
ᎬᎴᎯ
gvlehi
from
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᎪᏪᎵᏋ
gohweliquv
paper [letter]
ᎬᏗ
gvdi
with
ᎣᏏᏲ
osiyo
hello
ᎤᏣᏘ
utsati
great
ᎠᏓᎨᏳᏘ
adageyuti
love
ᎬᏗ
gvhdi
with
ᎤᏚᎩᏋᏃ
udugiquvhno
hope
ᎠᏋᏎᏍᏗ
aquvsesdi
I will have
ᎾᏞᎬᏋ
natlegvquv
soon
ᎨᏒ
gesv
be
ᎬᏯᏛᎪᏗᎢ
gvyatvgodi'i
(I) to hear from you
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᎢᎦᏁᎳᏅ
iganelanv
our God
ᎣᏏ
osi
fairly well
ᎤᏰᎸᏁᏍᏗ
uyelvnesdi
he intends
ᎠᏏ
asi
another
ᏙᎤᎩᏨᏅᏍᏗᎢ
do'ugitsvnvsdi'i
daybreak
ᎠᏏᏋ
asiquv
still
ᏧᏓᎷᎳ
tsudalula
yet to happen
ᏧᎩᏍᏗᎢ
tsukisdi'i
swallow them
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
again
ᏗᏍᎩᏃᎯᏎᎸ
disginohiselv
you will let me know
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᏰᎵᏋ
yvliquv
able
ᎣᏏ
osi
well
ᏣᎪᎵᏰᎡᏍᏗ
tsagoliye'esdi
you will have read
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
paper [letter]
ᎦᎦᏕᎣᏍᎩ
gagade'osgi
I am embarrassed
ᏯᏆᏦᏍᏓᏁᎳᏋ
yaquatsosdanelaquv
I have made mistakes
ᎨᎵᏍᎬᎢ
gelisgv'i
I worry

It has been very cloudy all day. It looks like autumn, but we are stepping towards summer. You all are probably fishing already. It is so good when I think of things that remain the same, because I really love to go fishing, probably even more so now. It’s been so long since I’ve been fishing, I would probably fall in [the water] if I went fishing.

ᎠᏴ
ayv
me
ᏥᏣᎳᎩ
tsitsalagi
a Cherokee
ᏥᏴᎩ
tsihyvgi
prisoner
ᎪᏪᎸᎦ
gohwelvga
I wrote

Ok, Ge-yu-ne-ga, us Cherokees are doing fine. I have great hope that you are well also. I will stop writing now. I greet you all from afar and also with just a paper [letter]. Hello, with great love. I will have hope to hear from you soon, if God approves and allows another daybreak, since the sun has not been swallowed up yet [sunset]. Be sure to let me know if you were able to read this letter. I wrote while feeling embarrassed. I think that I may have made mistakes.