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

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Box No.


Route #1


Stilwell


Okla.


ᎫᏬᏂ
kuwoni
April
ᏅᎩᏁᎢ
nvgine'i
fourth
1951

1951

Box No. Route #1 Stilwell Okla. April 4, 1951

ᏦᎢᏁᎢᎦ
tso'ine'iga
Wednesday
ᏒᎯᏰᎢ
svhiye'i
evening
ᎦᎷᎩ
galuhgi
it just arrived
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
the letter
ᏅᏓᏣᏅᏅᎯ
nvdatsanvnvhi
that you sent
ᏓᎵᏍᏆᎳᏋ
dalisqualaquv
very
ᎤᏬᏟᏗ
uwolhdi
funny
ᎣᏍᏗᏰᎸᎾ
osdiyelvna
we thought
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎤᏣᏘ
utsati
very
ᎣᏣᎵᎮᎵᎩ
otsaliheligi
we were happy
ᎠᏏᏋ
asequv
maybe just
ᏙᎯᏋ
tohiquv
just fine
ᎨᏒ
gesv
that it is
ᏨᏔᏗᎭ
tsvtadiha
that you are saying
ᎠᏴᏃ
ayvhno
and us
na
the
ᎣᎩᏁᎫᏥᏓ
oginegutsida
we are mean
ᎨᏒ
gesv
as for
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᏙᎯᏋ
tohiquv
just fine
ᏙᎩᏆᏃᏴᎵ
dogiquayvli
we were noisy
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎤᏒ
usv
night
ᎡᎯ
ehi
night time
ᎣᎨᎳᏍᏓ
ogelasda
we were just fed

The letter you sent came in Wednesday evening and we thought it was very funny. We were glad that you said you were still doing well. As for us mean ones, we were noisy during dinner this evening.

ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏋᎦ
udohiyuquvga
such
ᎤᏲᎢᏋ
uyo'iquv
just terrible
ᏂᏣᎵᏍᏓᏏ
nitsalisdasi
(that) happened to you all
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏋ
iyusdiquv
whatever
ᎨᏒ
gesv
that is
ᎦᎷᎦ
galuhga
it is arriving
ᏨᏔᏗᎭ
tsvtadiha
as you are saying
ᎦᎵᏦᏕᏃᎨ
galhtsodenoge
in the house
ᏂᏥᏯᎥᎾ
nitsiya'vna
you all not being inside
ᏱᎨᏎ
yigese
if it wasn't
ᏱᏣᏠᏯᏍᏓᏁᎢ
yitsadloyasdane'i
you all would have been included/affected by
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏣᏢᏍᎨᎢ
tsatlvsge'i
fire
ᎤᏲᎢᏳ
uyo'iyu
it is bad
ᏙᎢᏳᎯ
do'iyuhi
really
ᎤᏟᎢᏋᏗᎦ
udli'iquvdiga
more so
ᎠᏎ
ase
possibly
ᏄᏲᏞᏍᏗ
nuyotlesdi
worse

It is such a terrible thing that happened to you all. When you are saying that whatever is [bad] is coming toward you. If you all had not been in the house, you would have been affected by this fire. It is really bad. It can be worse, can’t it, if it happens to you.

ᎾᏋ
naquv
when
ᎡᎶᎯ
elohi
the world
ᎠᏥᎵᏨᎢ
atsilitsv'i
when it catches fire
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏃᎨ
udohiyunoge
truly
ᎢᏳᏓᎴᎩ
iyudalegi
all kinds of things
ᎨᏒ
gesv
that is
ᏛᎪᏂ
dvgohni
it will burn up
ᏥᏣᏗᏍᎪ
tsitsadisgo
as you all say
na
the
ᎢᏥᎦᏴᎵ
itsigayvli
you elders
ᏂᎯᏰᏃ
nihihyehno
because you
ᏕᏨᏯᏁᏡᏙ
detsvyanedludo
we look to you all
ᎡᏘ
eti
long ago
ᏗᏣᏛᏒᎢ
ditsatvsv'i
you all grew up
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
things
ᎢᏣᏅᏔᏂ
itsanvtani
you know all these things
ᎠᏴᏃ
ayvhno
and us
ᎾᎢ
na'i
those
ᎣᏥᎩᎾ
otsigina
we are young calves
ᎨᏒ
gesv
who are
ᎾᏍᎩᏋ
nasgiquv
just that
ᏂᎦᎭ
nigaha
it is all
ᏥᏙᏥᎦᎾᏋ
tsidotsiganaquv
that we have eyes
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏥᏙᏣᎳᏍᎨᎭ
tsidotsalasgeha
that we have steps
ᎥᎥ
v'v
yes
ᎪᎯᎢ
kohi'i
a while ago
ᎠᏴ
ayv
me
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎠᎹ
ama
A-ma
ᎣᏍᏗᏃᎮᏍᎬ
osdinohesgv
we were talking about it
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this

When the world catches on fire, all kinds of things will truly burn up, as you elders say. We look to you all for guidance, you who grew up long ago and know these things. As for us who are calves [young ones], all we have are just our eyes and our steps. Yes, me and A-ma were talking about all this a while ago.

ᏥᏂᎦᎥ
tsiniga'v
all of
ᏥᎸᏉᏗᏍᎬ
tsilvquodisgv
I like
ᎤᏬᏚᎯ
uwoduhi
beauty
ᎨᏒ
gesv
that is
ᎠᏂ
ahni
here

“I love the beauty of it here,” we were saying.

ᎪᎯ
kohi
time
ᏔᎵᏁ
ta'line
second
ᏍᏗᎦᏓ
sdigada
a little bit
ᎪᎢᎴᏍᏗ
go'ilesdi
it will be longer
ᎢᏁᏙᎸᎯ
inedolvhi
we two will be here
ᎣᏍᏓᏗᏍᎬᎢ
osdadisgv'i
we two were saying
ᎠᏏᏋᏃ
asequvhno
still, yet
ᏴᏓᎭ
yvdaha
sometime
ᏱᎢᎦᏕᏃᎵᎢᎭ
yi'iktenoli'iha
we might look around again
ᎭᎭ
haha
haha
ᎾᏍᎩ
nasgi
that
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
much
ᏱᎸᏉᏗᎭ
hyilvquodiha
if you like it
ᎠᏂ
ahni
here
ᎭᎭ
haha
haha
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
then

“We should stay longer the second time, or maybe we will come back and look around sometime, ha, ha.” A-ma said, “If you like this place so much, ha, ha.”

ᎢᏧᎳᏋ
itsulaquv
both
ᎠᎹ
ama
Ama
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎠᏴ
ayv
me
ᎣᎩᏃᏪᎳᏅᎯ
oginohwelanvhi
we wrote it
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
So
ᏥᏫᎬᏅᏁᎸ
tsiwigvnvnelv
the one I sent you
ᏣᏁᏌᏧ
tsanesatsu
did you get it?
ᏝᎨ
tlake
or not?
ᎥᎥ
vv
yes
ᎤᏣᏘᏋ
utsatiquv
really
ᎣᏍᏓ
osda
well
ᎣᎩᎾᎵᎪᎭ
oginaligoha
(we two are) together
ᏙᎩᏂᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎥ
doginilvwisdane'v
our work
ᎠᎹ
ama
Ama
ᏃᎩᎾᏕᎶᎣᏒᎾᏋ
noginadelo'osvnaquv
without noticing
ᎤᏙᏓᏆᎭ
udodaquaha
the day going by
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
so much
ᎣᏍᏓᏟᏃᎮᏍᎬᎢ
osdatlinohesgv'i
our conversing, talking
ᎢᏳᏍᏗ
iyusdi
because of

Both A-ma and I wrote this [letter]. So, did you get the letter that I sent to you, or not? Yes, A-ma and I work really well together. We don’t even notice the day going by because we talk to each other so much.

ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏋᏗᎾ
udohiyuquvdina
really then
ᎤᎦᎾᏂᏕᎾ
ugananidena
it is about to rain
ᎤᎵᏏᏂᏗ
ulisinidi
it is almost dark
ᎤᏚᎩᏋ
utugiquv
hope
ᎦᎬᏗ
gagvdi
to be able to have (hope)
ᎤᎦᏅᏗᎢ
uganhdi'i
for it to rain
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
so
ᏑᎾᎴ
sunale
tomorrow
ᎦᏄᎸ
ganulv
grass
ᏓᏥᎦᎸᏏ
datsigalsi
I will mow it
ᎤᏙᎯᏳ
udohiyu
very
ᎤᏬᏚᎯ
uwoduhi
beautiful
ᏅᏓᎦᏥᏴᏁᎵ
nvdagatsiyvneli
I will make it for them
ᎨᎵᎭ
geliha
I think
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
but (not)
ᎦᎵᎮᎵᎬᏋ
galiheligvquv
I am just glad
ᎠᏂ
ahni
here
ᏥᏯᎥ
tsiya'v
that I am in here
ᏱᏅᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᎭ
yinvdigalsdohdiha
it is not because
ᎭᏍᎩᏂ
hasgini
but not
ᎦᎵᎮᎵᎬ
galiheligv
I was glad
ᎾᎦᏲᏢ
nagayohlv
how little
ᎠᎩᎷᎸ
agilulv
I have left
ᎠᏂ
ahni
here
ᎾᏋ
naquv
then
ᎠᎩᏅᎪᎢᏍᏗᎢ
aginvgo'isdi'i
I am to get out
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏛ
udohiyudv
it is true
ᎦᏲᎵ
gayoli
a little time
ᎣᎩᏂᎷᎳ
oginilula
we have left to do
ᎾᏋ
naquv
now
ᎦᏙᏛᎦ
gadodvga
I wonder
ᏓᏲᏍᏓᏛᏁᎵ
dayosdadvneli
what we will do
ᎣᏍᏗᏅᎪᏨᎢ
osdinvgotsv'i
when we get out
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏰᏃ
udohiyuhyehno
very
ᎪᎢᏗᏋ
go'idiquv
a long time
ᏙᎢ
to'i
inactive
ᏃᏍᏓᏛᎦ
nosdadvga
we have been
ᎣᏍᏗᎩᎾ
osdigina
us calves
ᎨᎵᏍᎬᏃ
gelisgvhno
I was thinking
ᏰᎵᏋ
yeliquv
maybe
ᏱᏙᏍᏓᏝᏫᏓ
yidosdatlawida
we could fly
ᏄᏍᏙ
nusdo
this is the way
ᏙᎩᎾᏓᏅᏛᎢ
doginadanhtv'i
we feel
ᎯᎠᏗᎾ
hi'adina
this then
ᎦᏳᎳ
gayula
already
ᎦᏕᎶᎣᎢ
gadelo'o'i
I found out
ᎢᏴᎢ
iyv'i
when
ᎠᎩᏅᎪᎯᏍᏗᎢ
aginvgohisdi'i
I am to get out
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
a paper
ᏥᎪᏩᏛ
tsigowatv
I saw it
ᎪᏪᎸᎢ
gohwelv'i
written on it
ᏓᏆᏙᎥᎢ
daquado'v'i
my name
ᎤᏣᏘᏋ
utsatiquv
very
ᏓᎩᏴᎬᎦ
dagiyvgvga
excited
ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ
ulihelisdi
happy
ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏛᎢ
aquadanvtv'i
I felt
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
so

It’s really about to rain. It’s almost dark. I was hoping it would rain. And so, tomorrow I will mow the grass. I think I am going to make it beautiful for them, but it’s not because I am glad to be in here. But I am glad that I have such a short time left, then I will be getting out. It is true that we only have a little time now. I wonder what we are going to do when we get out. We have been still [inactive] for a very long time, us calves [young ones]. I was thinking that we feel like we might fly. This is it. I already found out when I will get out. I saw a paper with my name written on it. I felt very excited and happy.

ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏣᏏᏂ
Jasini
Jasini
ᏥᏃᎯᏏ
tsinohisi
I said to him
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏥᏅᏘᏪᏎᎥᎢ
tsinvtiwese'v'i
what you were saying to me
ᎥᏝᏃ
vtlahno
not
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
anything
ᏯᏛ
yadv
he didn't say it
ᎥᏝᏋ
vtlaquv
not even
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᏳᏏᏩᎯᏋ
yusihwahiquv
he didn't cough
ᎠᏴᏃ
ayvhno
and me
ᎩᎶ
kilo
someone
ᏴᏗᎩᏁᎢᏍᏗ
yvdigine'isdi
if they they were to mention me
ᏏᏅᏓ
sinvda
a month
ᎢᏴ
iyv
later, from there
ᎠᏏᏋ
asiquv
still
ᏱᎦᏓᏅᏕᎭ
yigadanvteha
I would be thinking about it
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎾᏆᏓᏅᏕᎥ
naquadanhte'v
if someone were thinking of me
ᏩᏙ
wado
thank you
ᏱᎦᏗᎭ
yigadiha
I would be saying
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏋ
udohiyuquv
really
ᎠᏎ
ase
I guess
ᏥᏂᎳᏂ
tsinilani
I am desperate
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎦᏓᏂᎳᏗᏍᎩ
gadaniladisgi
I am needy
ᏥᏏᏆᏯᎢ
tsisiquaya'i
I am a pig
ᎨᎭ
geha
I am living
ᎡᎶᎯ
elohi
on the earth
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
anything
ᎾᏆᏁᏡᏛᎾ
naquanedludvna
not challenging me
ᎢᎬᏯᏗᏢ
igvyadidlv
in the way
ᏕᎦᏍᏓᏰᏨᏥᏙᎣᎢ
degasdayetsvtsido'o'i
I stomp around
ᏴᏫ
yvwi
people
ᎨᏒ
gesv
that is
ᎤᏁᏓᏍᏗᎢ
unedasdi'i
where they walk around
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᏞᎦᏋ
tlegaquv
a short time
ᎨᎭ
geha
I am living
ᎨᎵᏍᎪ
gelisgo
I think
ᎪᎯ
kohi
at this present time
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
which is
ᏚᏯ
tuya
the beans
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏩᏚᎵᏏ
wadulisi
syrup
ᎬᎩᎷᎦ
gvgiluga
they (did not) kill me

You were telling about and saying something [mentioned] Tsa-si-ni. [When I told him], he didn’t even say anything. He didn’t even cough. If someone mentioned me, I would still be thinking about it a month later, and if someone was thinking about me, I would be saying, “Thank you.” I guess I am really desperate and needy like a pig, living on earth, to count for nothing. I stomp around in the way, where people walk, but I think I will live a short time. At this present time, the beans and syrup have not killed me.

ᎣᏩᏋ
owaquv
ok
ᎤᏟᏍᏓᏋ
uhlisdaquv
quickly
ᎣᏍᏙᏪᎸᎦ
osdohwelvga
we wrote (this)
ᏔᎵᎭ
taliha
two more
ᏳᏒᎭ
yusvha
nights
ᏯᏆᏝᏅᏔᏕᎭ
yaquatlanvtadeha
I may have time
ᏴᎪᏪᎸᎦ
yvgowelvga
I may write
ᎤᏟᏍᏓ
utlisda
in a hurry
ᏂᎨᏒᎾ
nigesvna
not
ᏗᏋᎩᎶᏍᏗ
diquvhgilosdi
for me to do laundry
ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ
aquaduliha
I want to
ᎩᎳᏋ
kilaquv
in a little while
ᎨᏒᎢ
gesv'i
which is
ᏙᎢᏳᏋ
do'iyuquv
very
ᏓᎦᏓᎢᏯ
dagada'iya
dirty
ᏓᏆᏄᏩ
daquahnuwa
I am wearing clothes
ᏴᎦᎵᏍᎩᏑᎦᏋᏃ
yvgalisgisugaquvhno
I might go dancing
ᎨᎵᎭ
geliha
I think
ᎠᏗᎾ
adina
so
ᏞᏍᏗ
hlesdi
don't
ᏥᏍᎩᏅᎨᏫᏏ
tsisginvkewisi
(don't) forget about us
ᏗᏍᎩᏃᏪᎳᏁᎸᎭ
disginohwelanelvha
write back to us
ᎾᏍᎩᏯ
nasgiya
just as
ᎢᏳᏬᎵᏗ
iyuwohldi
as funny
ᏙᎢᏳ
do'iyu
really
ᎣᏍᏓ
osda
good
ᏕᏍᎩᎾᏓᏅᏓᏗᏍᏓ
desginadanvdadisda
you made us feel
ᏨᏘᏪᏟᎭ
tsvtiwehliha
that you were joking
ᎾᏍᎩᏛ
nasgidv
that
ᎣᎩᏂᏲᎢᎭ
oginiyo'iha
that one got to us
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
a bit
ᏌᏋ
saquv
one
ᎪᏪᎵ
gohweli
letter
ᎤᏬᎵᏗ
uwolidi
funny
ᏙᎩᏂᏲᎯ
doginihyohi
we look for it

Ok, we wrote this quickly. In two more nights, I may have time to write when I’m not in a hurry. I want to do laundry in a little while. I am wearing very dirty clothes. I think I might go dancing. So, don’t forget about us. Write back to us, a letter just as funny. It made us feel really good, that you were joking. That got to us. That one letter really left us feeling in good spirits.

ka
now
ᏫᏨᏲᎵᎦ
witsvyoliga
I greet you all
ᏂᎦᏓ
nigada
everyone
ᎢᎾ
ina
(from) afar
ᎬᎴᎢ
gvle'i
in a certain location
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᎪᏪᎵᏋ
gohweliquv
letter
ᎬᏗ
gvhdi
with
ᎤᏣᏘᏳ
utsatiyu
much
ᎠᏓᎨᏳᏗ
adageyhdi
with love
ᎬᏗ
gvhdi
with
ᎣᏏᏲ
osiyo
hello
ᎠᏴ
ayv
us
ᎣᏍᏗᎩᎾ
osdigina
us calves
ᎣᏍᏙᏪᎸᎦ
osdohwelvga
we wrote (this)

Now I greet you all from afar and by a letter with much love, “Hello.” This was written by us calves.

Page 2
ᎯᎠᏕᎥᎾ
hi'ade'vna
Oh this
ᏒᎯ
svhi
yesterday
ᏥᎨᏒ
tsigesv
that it was
ᏗᏓᎾᏅ
didananv
to the store
ᏬᎩᏂᎩᏒ
woginigisv
we went to get it
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
something
ᎣᎩᏂᎩᏍᏗ
oginigisdi
for us to eat
ᏙᎢᏳᏋ
do'iyuquv
very
ᎤᏬᎵᏗ
uwolidi
funny
ᏙᎩᏂᏲᏒᎯ
doginiyosvhi
it left us
ᎥᏝᏃ
vtlahno
not
ᎾᏍᏋ
nasquv
also
ᎤᏟ
utli
much
ᎢᎦᎢ
iga'i
amount
ᏱᎨᏎ
yigese
it wasn't
ᎠᎩᏍᏗ
agisdi
to eat
ᎯᎠᏋ
hi'aquv
just this
ᎦᏚ
gadu
bread
ᎤᏂᏍᏓᎦᏴᎢᏓ
unisdagayv'ida
dried up, crusty
ᏧᏍᏗ
tsusdi
small
ᏕᎦᏡᏛ
degatludv
containers
ᎠᎴ
ale
and
ᏔᎵ
ta'li
two
ᏧᏍᏗ
tsusdi
small
ᏧᎵᎩᏏ
tsuligisi
guts
ᏕᎦᎸᏛ
degalvdv
containers
ᏙᎩᏂᏁᎸᎢ
dogininelv'i
they gave us
ᎩᏄᏘ
ginuti
quarter
ᏧᎬᏩᎶᏗ
tsugvwalhdi
cost
ᎣᏍᏕᎵᏍᎬᎢ
osdelisgv'i
we were thinking
ᎠᏎᏃ
asehno
but
ᎤᏎᎦᏨᏛ
usegatsvdv
barely
ᎠᎴᏋ
alequv
almost
ᏄᏂᎩᏐᏅ
nunigisohnv
they almost took all of it
ᎤᏃᏍᏛ
uhnosdv
a dollar
ᎠᏕᎸ
adelv
money
ᏬᎩᎾᏓᏁᎸ
woginadanelv
we gave it
ᎠᎹᏃ
amahno
and Ama
ᎤᏁᏨ
uhnetsv
when he spoke
ᎯᎠ
hi'a
this
ᏄᏪᏒᎩ
nuwesvgi
he said
ᎦᏚ
gadu
bread
ᎤᏂᏍᏓᎦᏴᎢᏓ
unisdagayv'ida
dried up, crusty
ᏕᎩᏂᏩᎯ
deginihwahi
we just bought them
ᎤᏙᎯᏳᏋ
udohiyuquv
really
ᎦᏓᎦᎸᏯ
gadagalvya
I wrung it out
ᎤᏃᏍᏛ
uhnosdv
that dollar
ᎤᏛᏅᎯ
udvhnvhi
he said
ᎤᏬᎵᏗᏛ
uwolididv
funny
ᏙᎩᏂᏲᏒᎯ
doginiyosvhi
it left us (feeling)
ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗᏋᎦ
usquanigodiquvga
it is amazing
ᏥᏤᎭ
tsitseha
that you all live
ᏙᏱ
doyi
(on the) outside
ᏅᏓᏤᎢ
nvdatse'i
where you all live
ᏥᏂᎦᎭᏃ
tsinigahahno
so much
ᏥᏚᏂᎬᏩᎶᏗ
tsidunigvwalhdi
that they charge for
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ
gohusdi
something
ᎦᏙᏍᎩᏂ
gadosgini
I wonder
ᎤᏍᏗ
usdi
what
ᏓᏲᏍᏗᎩ
dayosdigi
we are going to eat
ᎾᏋ
naquv
when
ᎣᏍᏗᏅᎪᏨᎢ
osdinvgotsv'i
when we get out
ᎭᎭ
haha
haha

Oh this—yesterday, we went to the store to get something to eat and left with something funny. We didn’t get much to eat. Just this—a piece of dried-up [crusty] bread in a small container with two small guts [chitlins]. We thought it would cost a quarter, but the dollar we handed over was barely enough—almost all of it [the dollar] was gone. When A-ma spoke, he said, “We bought dried-up bread. I really wrung out that dollar, didn’t I.” It left us feeling amused, in good humor. It is amazing that you all are in good health living on the outside, they charge so much for everything. I wonder what we’re going to eat whenever we get out? Ha, ha….