Sutdu shnugheł qeynuqelnek.
They would tell stories in my presence.
Kił Ch'qinaghiłnik'en Sutdu'a
The Story of the Stupid Boy
Told by Albert Wassillie. Written by Albert Wassillie in 1975. Published in Dena’ina T’qit’ach’, The Way the Tanainas Are, pp. 24-27. Alaska Native Language Center, Fairbanks. Recorded in Tyonek, February 1975.
Htsast'a kił ghu qełah ch'q'u qevuzha'ina q'u hqełdih.
Long ago, as the boys were growing up, they would train their nephews.
Long ago, as the boys were growing up, they would train their nephews.
Tik'teh veł nuqudeł qevuzha'ina q'u hqełdih,
They would go out in the woods with him that they would train him,
They would go out in the woods with him that they would train him,
t'anch'q'u shtunqedał niqeła. Iy sutdu'a shi. Qeyghu shnuqulnegi. Iy shi gu vek'eyeshchexi.
everything concerning hunting. This is such a story. They told me about this. This is what I wrote about it.
everything concerning hunting. This is such a story. They told me about this. This is what I wrote about it.
Veł qitghelnex.
I will read it.
I will read it.
Kił Ch'qinaghiłnik'en Sutdu'a
The Story of the Stupid Boy
The Story of the Stupid Boy
Ts'iłt'an qut'ana ts'iłt'an qut'an tutazyu.
One man, one man went out (in the woods).
One man, one man went out (in the woods).
Ve'u eła vuzha ku'u qilan.
He had with him his wife and his nephew too.
He had with him his wife and his nephew too.
Yen kił gunenhdi ch'qinaghiłnik'.
That boy was inept.
That boy was inept.
Vez'a gun yeqech' yeqełdih hq'u nch'u qeldik. Nch'u qeldik.
His uncle would teach him but he would not learn. He could not learn.
His uncle would teach him but he would not learn. He could not learn.
[Vez'a gun] ał nini'un.
[His uncle] he set a deadfall trap.
[His uncle] he set a deadfall trap.
Nuytelquxch'q'u nuqeynil'ix hq'u nch'u chik'hdełnil.
Every day they would check it, but they did not kill anything.
Every day they would check it, but they did not kill anything.
Kiq'u q'ut'un kił gun, «Zhala, ał ghini nunghel'an ni.»
Another morning, that young boy says, «Uncle, let me check that trap.»
Another morning, that young boy says, «Uncle, let me check that trap.»
«Aa',» yełni.
«Yes,» he says to him.
«Yes,» he says to him.
«Nch'u va k'iłkeł da nda'ich'q'u tgheshlił?»
«If nothing is trapped in it, what should I do?»
«If nothing is trapped in it, what should I do?»
Vez'a gun, «Nt'i ał chen ghini va tghicheł,» yełni.
His uncle says to him, «Well, you grab that trap bait.»
His uncle says to him, «Well, you grab that trap bait.»
Kił gun yeh tazyu ch'u ał ghini yegh nu'idyu.
The boy went there and he went back by that deadfall trap.
The boy went there and he went back by that deadfall trap.
Ał chen ghini yighetneq ch'u yanichet.
He grabbed that trap bait and he pulled it.
He grabbed that trap bait and he pulled it.
Udiq'u chiqudalyuq.
He killed himself.
He killed himself.
Nughiłghatl'i eła
It got dark and
It got dark and
nch'u nu'idyul.
he had not returned.
he had not returned.
Nch'u nu'idyul. Vach'ala gunen, «Nda eł dinin din?»
He had not returned. His auntie [said], «What has happened to him?»
He had not returned. His auntie [said], «What has happened to him?»
Tałqun idi'eła yeh nutasdyu.
The next day he went back there.
The next day he went back there.
Ał ghini yegh nu'idyu eła yet'e ch'andal'ats.
He went back by that trap and some legs were sticking out from under it.
He went back by that trap and some legs were sticking out from under it.
Ał ghini yegh degheydghilu ha kił kił yighetneq ch'u chench’ yeh ch'eyiłt'eq'.
He took apart the deadfall trap and the boy, he grabbed the boy and tossed him down toward the stream.
He took apart the deadfall trap and the boy, he grabbed the boy and tossed him down toward the stream.
«Nch'qinaghiłnik'a shughu chindałyuggi,» yełni.
«Your stupidity is what has killed you,» he said to him.
«Your stupidity is what has killed you,» he said to him.