Letter to Dollie Duncan on Oklahoma State Penitentiary stationery 1951-04-10 (1951)

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Prisoner's Number


50875


Name


Walter


Duncan


To


Dollie Duncan


Box No.


Route #1


Stilwell


Okla.


Prisoner No. 50875 Name Walter Duncan To Dollie Duncan Box No. Route #1 City: Stilwell State: Okla

ᎫᏬᏂ
kuwohni
April
ᏍᎪᎯᏁ
sgohine
10th
195ᏌᏋᎢ
195saquv'
1951

April 10, 1951

ᏔᎵᏁᎢᎦ
taline'iga
Tuesday
ᏦᎢ
tso'i
three
ᎠᏰᎵ
ayeli
half
ᎣᏍᏗᎷᎩ
osdilugi
we two came (from)
ᏫᏦᎩᏂᏢᏂᏙᎸᎢ
witsoginihlinidolv'i
sleeping
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
letter
ᎥᎦᏅ
vganv
it was lying
ᏅᏓᏣᏅᏅᎯ
nvdatsanvnvhi
that you sent
ᎾᏍᎩᏋ
nasgiquv
that
Ꮵ?ᎶᏒᏍᏗ
tsi'ilosvsdi
exceedingly
ᏏᏲᏍᏓ
siyosda
good
ᏙᏍᏓᏓᏅᏔᏓ
dosdadanvtada
we two felt
ᎣᏍᏗᎪᎵᏯ
osdigoliya
we two read
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
then
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏣᏓᏂᎶᏒ
tsadanilosv
your illness
ᎣᎩᎾᏛᎦᏅ
oginatvganv
we two heard
ᏲᏍᏓᏗᎭ
yosdadiha
we two are not saying
ᎯᎠᏍᎩᏂ
hi'asgini
but this
ᎣᏍᏓ
osda
well
ᎨᏣᏓᏅᏗ
getsadahndi
since (then) you are doing
ᏦᏪᎳᏅ
tsowelanv
you wrote (that)
ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎭ
ugvwiyuha
instead
ᎠᏴᏃ
ayvhno
and us
ᎣᏍᏓᎩᎾ
osdigina
us two 'calves'
ᎨᏒ
gesv
as for
ᏙᎯᏋ
tohiquv
just fine
ᎠᏎ
ase
I suppose
ᏴᏓ
yvda
one might say
ᎣᏏᏋᏰᏃ
osiquvyehno
well
ᏙᏍᏗᏢᎾ
dosdihlina
since we two slept
ᎪᎯ
kohi
this (+ unit of time)
ᏒᎯᏰᎭᏗᏢ
svhiyehadihli
toward this evening
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎾᏋ
naquv
now
ᏦᎩᎾᏳᎦᎶᎢᏰᏗᏋ
tsoginahyugalo'iyediquv
our jaws moving
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
quantity
ᏙᎩᎾᏆᎷᏓ
doginaqualuda
our tongue is hanging out (because we're so hungry)
ᎣᏍᏗᎦᏗᏴᎢ
osdiktiyv'i
while we were waiting for
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
then
ᏂᎦdᏋ
nigadaquv
all
ᎨᏒ
gesv
are
ᎠᏎ
ase
I suppose
ᎣᏦᏏᏋ
otsosiquv
we are fine
na
(focus clitic)
ᎣᏥᏏᏆᏯᎢ
otsisiquaya'i
we sikwaya
ᏂᏦᎵᏨ
nitsolhtsv
you have not understood
ᎾᏋᎴ
naquvle
what
ᏱᎩ
yigi
maybe
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏦᎩᎾᏳᎦᎶᏗᏰᏗᎢ
tsoginayugalo'iyedi'i
our jaws moving
ᏦᏍᏓᏗᎭ
tsosdadiha
what we two are saying
ᎣᎩᎾᎵᏍᏓᏗ
oginalisdadi
our eating
ᎠᎾᏗᏍᎪᎢ
anadisgo'i
they say
ᎨᎵᎭ
geliha
I think
ᏴᏫ
yvwi
people
ᎤᏂᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ
uniwonihisdi
speaking
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
being
ᎯᎠᏰᏃ
hi'ayehno
and this
ᎣᏥᏴᎩᏋ
otsigvkiquv
we prisoners
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
this
ᎤᏴᎭᏗ
uyvhadi
[kind of food]
ᏨᏗᏁᎢᏍᏗᎭ
tsvdine'isdiha
that you mention
ᎠᏴᎠᎵᏍᏓᏩᏗ
ayv
I myself
ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏩᏗ
alsdawadi
food
ᎤᏙᎯᏳ
udohiyu
really
ᏍᎩᏲᏏᏐᏓ
sgiyosisoda
you made me hungry
ᏍᏆᏅᏓᏗᏍᏔ
squanhdadista
you made me remember
ᎠᎨᏯᏍᎪᏂᎭ
ageyasgoniha
what I used to eat
ᏥᎨᏒ
tsigesv
it was
ᎢᏧᎳᎭ
itsulaha
both
ᎣᎩᏂᎩᏙᎸᎢ
oginigidolv'i
we used to eat
ᎶᏏ
losi
Losi
ᏗᎪᎵᏰᏍᎩ
digoliyesgi
Digoliyesi
ᎤᏩᏂᏍᏓᏅᎯ
uwanistanvhi
she cooked (specific food)

Tuesday, at 3:30 P.M. when we got up from taking a nap, there was a letter here from you. We felt exceedingly good as we read it. We are not referring to the news that you were ill, but that you were in good health when you wrote the letter. As for us “calves,” I guess you could say that we are fine, because we had a good sleep towards this evening. Now our jaws are moving [as if chewing] with our tongues hanging out, as we were waiting [for your letter]. I guess we are all doing fine, we si-qua-yah. Maybe you do not understand what we mean by our jaws moving. I think it refers to how we eat. That would be how [regular] people talk. This is just how us prisoners talk. When you mentioned about U-yv-ha-di you made me remember what I used to eat and you made me hungry. A woman named Lo-si Di-go-li-ye-s-gi used to cook it and we ate it together.

ka
so
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
this
ᎠᎹ
ama
Ama
ᏙᏓᎪᏏᏌᏂ
dodagosisani
he will speak
ᎾᏋ
naquv
now
ᎥᎥ
v'v
yes
ᎡᏥ
etsi
Mother
ᎾᎩᏤᎲ
nagitsehv
all my best
ᏓᎦᏁᏡᏔᏂ
daganelhtani
I will try
ᎠᏓᏴᏍᏕᎩ
adayvsdegi
alcohol
ᏙᎢ
to'i
well
ᎢᏯᏋᏁᏗᎢ
iyaquvnedi'i
how to use
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏥᏅᎪᏨᎢ
tsinvgotsv'i
when I leave here
ᏙᎯᏳᏰᏃ
dohiyuyehno
truly
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᏴᎦᎦᏅᏓᏔ
yvgaganvdata
I won't remember
ᎠᏂ
ahni
here
ᎠᎩᏰᏢ
agiyvhli
my time inside
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᏯᎩᏴᏍᏓᎭ
yagihyvsdaha
if I get drunk
ᎾᏍᎩ
nasgi
that (is)
ᏄᏍᏙ
nusdo
that which
ᎦᏓᏅᏕᏍᎬᎢ
gadanvdesgv'i
I have been thinking about
ᎥᎥ
v'v
yes
ᏙᎢᏳ
do'iyu
truly
ᏞᎩᏋ
hlegiquv
soon
ᏩᎩᎷᏤᏍᏗ
wagilutsesdi
I will be returning
ᎾᏋᏃ
naquvhno
and now
ᎤᏟ
utli
even
ᎢᏲᏍᏓ
iyosda
better
ᏓᎬᏃᎯᏎᎵ
dagvnohiseli
I will tell you
ᎩᏅᏌ
ginvsa
(between) you and me
ᎢᏂᏬᏂᏍᎬ
iniwonisgv
we two speaking
ᎬᏗ
gvdi
with
ᎾᏲᎪ
nayogo
that
ᏰᎵᏋ
yeliquv
it's possible
ᎣᏍᏓ
osda
good
ᏗᎬᏓᏙᎵᏤᏗ
digvdadolitsedi
(for me) to forgive myself
ᎨᏐᎢ
gesv'i
be able
ᎡᏥ
etsi
Mother
ᎬᏯᏙᎵᎦ
gvyadoliga
I feel sorry for you
ᏄᏍᏛ
nusdv
for how
ᏥᏣᏓᏅᏕ
tsitsadahnvde
you were feeling
ᎤᏕᎵᏒᎢ
udelisv'i
in secret
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
being
ᏙᎢᏳᏰᏃ
do'iyuyehno
really
ᎠᏋᏌ
aquvsa
myself
ᎨᏒ
gesv
as for
ᎠᏆᏅᏔ
aquanhta
I know
ᎣᏏ
osi
good
ᏂᎨᏒᎾ
nigesvna
cannot
ᎨᏒ
gesv
be
ᏴᏫ
yvwi
a person
ᎤᏴᏍᏕᏓ
uhyvsdeda
drunk
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎡᏥ
etsi
Mother
ᏫᏥᎷᏨ
witsilutsv
when I return
ᏓᎧᎪᏙ
dakakdo
I have decided
ᎦᎵᏂᎬᏁ
galinigvne
I will strive for it
ᏳᎵᏍᏙᏗ
yulisdodi
to become
ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗ
dinelvdodi
a Christian
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
be
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᎠᏆᏁᎳᎩᏯ
aquanelagiya
I can be left alone
ᏱᎩ
yigi
can

Ok, now A-ma will speak. Yes, mother, I will do my best to put aside the [alcohol] that makes one drunk when I get out. It is true, if I get drunk, I won’t be able to remember my time in here. That is what I think about. Truly, I will be back home in a short time. Now, I will tell you something even better, just between you and me. It is good to forgive. Mother, I feel sorry for you of how sad you must have felt, in secret, because I know for myself that it is not good for a person to be drunk. But mother, when I get back there, I have decided to be a committed Christian, if I can be left alone.

ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
this (letter)
ᏪᎩ
wegi
personal name
ᎤᏬᏪᎳᎲ
uwohwelanv
having been written (by)
ᎠᎩᏁᏒᎢ
aginesv'i
I received (flexible)
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᏰᎵ
yeli
very
ᎤᏓᎴᎢᏴ
udale'iyv
a bad omen
ᎠᏆᏓᏰᎸᎾᏁᎸ
awgadayelvhnanelv
I realized
ᏄᏍᏛ
nusdv
that which
ᏅᏗᎦᏪᏍᎬᎢ
nvdigawesgv'i
she was saying
ᎤᎦᏛᎥᏍᎬ
uktv'vsgv
she was asking me
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᎣᏏᏋ
osiquv
all right
ᎬᏆᏔᏅᏗ
gvquatanvdi
mood
ᏱᏫᏛᏥᎷᏥ
yiwidvtsilutsi
if I come back
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᏂᏗᎦᏥᏁᎣᏋ
nidigatsine'oquv
I forgive her
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᏙᎯᏳ
dohiyu
really
ᎤᏓᎴᎯ
udalehi
harm
ᏳᏰᎸᎭ
yuyelvha
if she intends
ᎠᏴᏰᏃ
ayvyehno
me
ᎨᏒ
gesv
as for
ᏙᎢᏳ
do'iyu
really
ᎢᏥᎨᏳᎯᏳ
itsigeyuhiyu
I love you all
ᏓᏆᏓᏗᎿᎥᎢ
daquadadihna'v'i
my family
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎢᏳᏒᏋ
iyusvquv
in a few days
ᎠᏋᏌ
aquvsa
I myself
ᎨᏒ
gesv
as for
ᏓᎦᏕᎶᎣᏏ
dagadelo'osi
I will find out
ᎢᏳᏃ
iyuhno
if
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
anything
ᏳᏓᎴᎭ
yudaleha
is harmful
ᎥᏝᏃ
vtlahno
not
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
that
ᏓᎦᎵᏍᎦᏃᏏ
dagalisganosi
I will complain
ᏱᎦᏗᎭ
yigadiha
I am not saying
ᎠᏴᏃ
ayvhno
me
ᎨᏒ
gesv
as for
ᎾᏍᎩᏋ
nasgiquv
that
ᏥᎾᏆᏍᏙᏋ
tsinaquasdoquv
As I am, just like I am
ᏱᏤᏙᎳ
yitsedola
whenever you are here
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏥᏂᏥᏪᏍᎪᏋ
tsinitsiwesgoquv
as I say
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏥᏂᎬᏃᏋ
tsinigvhnoquv
I am well
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
(in my) letters
ᏫᏩᎩᏅᎾ
wiwaginvna
whenever I send (flexible)
ᏙᎯᏳ
dohiyu
really
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ
ulihelisdi
happiness
ᎬᏆᏓᏅᏗ
gvquadanhti
I am one who feels
ᏫᏥᏅᏍᎪᎯ
witsinvsgohi
I send (flexible)
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
letter
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
as
ᎪᏪᎵᏋ
gohweliquv
letter
ᏓᎬᏗᏍᎬ
dagvdisgv
using
ᎥᎵᏃᎮᏍᎬ
vlinohesgv
(one's) speaking
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᎤᏟ
utli
much
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
better
ᏗᎦᏴᏙᎵᎩ
digayvtoligi
with the eyes
ᎣᏩᏌᏰᏃ
owasayehno
one's own
ᎥᎣᎵ
v'ohli
one's own mouth
ᎬᏓᏅ
gvdanv
I use
ᎠᎵᏃᎮᏢ
alinohehlv
speaking
ᎤᏟ
utli
much
ᎣᏏᎢ
osi'i
better
ᎤᏪᎵᏗᏋ
uwelidiquv
the joking
ᏓᎩᏲᏍᎪᎯ
dagiyosgohi
I let go of

I received a letter from We-gi. But I realized that what she had to say was harmful. She asked if I was going to come home in a good [sober] mood. But I forgive her if she really meant to be hurtful. As for me, I really love my family. Soon, I will find out for myself if anything is harmful, but I am not saying I will be angry. As for me, I am just the way I am whenever you come and visit me. I always say in my letters that I am well and feeling glad as I send these letters. It is much better to speak, not only using letters, but with the eyes and to use your own mouth to talk. I let go of the joking. We are both not educated, but as for the rest, we will discuss it among ourselves in three weeks. As for this letter, I don’t want anyone to misunderstand. I was feeling fine and very happy as it was written for me, just as I was telling [him] to write it. Mother, I am always going to church. I always pray whenever I go there, that we will all see one another in good health.

Page 2
ᎥᏝᏰᏃ
vtlayehno
not
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
letter
ᏱᏙᏍᏗᎦᏔᎭ
yidosdiktaha
we two do not know
ᎢᏧᎳᏋ
itsulaquv
both
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᏭᏩᎫᏛ
wuwakdv
the rest
ᎨᎮ
gesv
as for
ᎣᎩᏅᏌ
oginvsa
the two of us
ᎨᏒ
gesv

ᏙᏍᏙᏏᏌᏅᎯ
dosdosisanvhi
we two will be discussing it
ᏦᎢᏋ
tso'iquv
three
ᏳᎾᏙᏓᏆᏍᏗ
yunadodaquasdi
weeks
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
this
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
letter
ᎨᏒ
gesv
as for
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᎩᎶ
kilo
anyone
ᎤᎦᏁᎶᎣᎯᏍᏗ
uganelo'ohisdi
to misunderstand
ᏯᎩᏰᎸᎭ
yagiyelvha
I was feeling
ᏙᎯᏋ
tohiquv
just fine
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv

ᎤᏟᏗ
utsati
very
ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ
ulihelisdi
happy
ᎬᏆᏓᏅᎢ
gvquadanv'i
as I was saying (to him)
ᎥᏉᏬᎳᏏ
vquowelasi
it was written for me
ᏄᏍᏛᏋ
nusdvquv
?
ᎦᏓᏅᏍᎬ
gadanvsgv
?
ᎢᎬᏁᏗᎢ
igvnedi'i
?
ᎡᏥ
etsi
Mother
ᏂᎪᎯᎸ
nigohilv
always
ᏕᏥᎳᏫᏥᏓ
detsilawitsida
pious
ᏂᎪᎯᎸ
nigohilv
always
ᎠᏊᏙᎸᎢᏍᎪᎯ
aqu[a]dolv'i

ᎦᏓᏙᎵᏍᏓ
gadadolisda
I pray
ᏂᎪᎯᎸ
nigohilv
always
ᏙᎯᏋ
tohiquv
just fine
ᏙᎦᏓᎯᏩᏛᏗᎢ
dogadagowadvdi'i
for us to see one another
ᏍᎪᎯ
sgohi
ten
ᎠᏕᎸ
adelv
dollars
ᏙᏗᏍᎩᏁᎸᎢ
dodisgihnelv'i
give me
ᎢᏓᏠᏍᏗ
didadlosdi
belts
ᏙᏛᎩᏩᏏ
dodvkiwasi
I will buy
ᏗᎩᎾᏫᏗ
diginawidi
for me to bring (home)
ᎾᏍᎩᏃ
nasgiquvhno
that
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
quantity of
ᎪᏪᎵᎦ
goweliga
I just wrote
ᎣᏏᏲ
osiyo
hello
ᏂᎦᏓ
nigada
all
ayv
me
ᎠᎹ
ama
Ama
ᎠᏛᎦ
advga
Advga
ᎩᎶ
kilo
someone
ᎢᏳᏍᏗ
iyusdi
like
ᎥᎩᏙ
vgido
my sisters
ᏙᏗᎩᏁᎸᎯ
dodigihnelvhi
have (one of my sisters) give me
ᎠᏕᎳ
adela
money
ᎯᎠᏃ
hi'ahno
this
ᎦᏁᏍᏗ
ganesdi
I am interpreting
ᎠᎩᏍᏆᏂᎪᎢ
agisquanigodi
I'm saving
ᎥᏝ
vtla
not
ᏴᎬᏋᎨᏩ
yvgvquvkehwa
I will not forget
ᏂᎯᏃ
nihihno
you
ᏤᏣᏟᎶᏍᏓᏅ
tsetsohlilosdanv
pictures of you (pl.)
ᏙᎩᏂᎦᏓᏯᏪᎦᏋ
doginiktayawogaquv
we two have been waiting for
ᏃᏋ
noquv
now
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
that
ᏱᎦᎷᎦ
yigaluga
it has not arrived
ᎦᏙ
gado
what
ᏓᏲᏍᏓᏛᎵ
dayosdadvneli
(what) will we two do?
ᎦᏤᏋᎨ
gadoquvke
what happened?

Send me ten dollars. I am going to buy belts to take home. That is all I am writing. Hello to everyone. Me, A-ma A-dv-ga. Have one of my sisters send me the money. I am saving this. I won’t forget it. What about your picture that we were waiting for? Our eyes are drooping now from looking forward to it. Now our tears are dry and it still hasn’t arrived. What are we going to do? What has happened?