Yuki Mwekaneyok òk Tëmeyok Xwëntuwàk

The Dogs and Wolves Fear Each Other . . . This story was told by Nora Thompson Dean in 1982. It tells about a time when dogs and wolves were friends. It also tells how dogs came to live with the Lenape people.

English:

Long ago when the earth was new

Lenape:

Lòmwe hùnt ènta lawsienkw wëskink

English:

The animals held a council.

Lenape:

Yuki aèsësàk maehëleyok.

English:

These dogs and wolves were friends long ago..

Lenape:

Yuki mwekaneyok òk tëmeyok witisëwak lòmwe.

English:

Once long ago the wolf leader said

Lenape:

Kwëtën lòmwe nikanixink tëme luwe

English:

"Oh, I am already cold and I am hungry.

Lenape:

"Ei, mèchi ta ni ntahkochi òk nkatupwi.

English:

Who will go and get a firebrand so we can have some fire?"

Lenape:

Awèn hàch a natink pëlitay wënchi a kàski tënteweenk?"

English:

The little mongrel dog said, "Oh, my friend, I can! I can go get it!"

Lenape:

Na lënxàmtët luwe, "O, nchu, ni ta! Ni ta nati!"

English:

Then he stood on a hill for a while

Lenape:

Na èt chëweyunk nipu lahapa.

English:

He smelled smoke from where the Lenape were camped.

Lenape:

Mwëlamën kwèshhatèk ènta nèki Lënapeyok maekèhtit.

English:

When he came near the young woman said,

Lenape:

Enta kixki pat na skixkwe luwe,

English:

"Oh, the little dog looked so cute.

Lenape:

"E, ninkëminakwsitit na mwekane.

English:

Then the young woman went to meet him. She began to pet the little dog.

Lenape:

Na may nòkiskao na skixkwe. Tòlëmi òchema na chëminkwtët.

English:

"Oh, come here, come here! You are shivering from the cold!"

Lenape:

"O, wëntaxa, wëtaxa! Nànkahchi!"

English:

Oh, the little one was cold. He must be hungry.

Lenape:

Ei, takòhchitu wa awèn. Kahtupu èt.

English:

Meat and bread I will give you." Oh, the little dog was glad.

Lenape:

"Wiyus òk ahpòn këmilël." O, wëlelìntàm na mwekanetët.

English:

She fed him bread and meat which she brought from where they lived.

Lenape:

Tòxamaon ahpòn òk wiyus ènta pèshëwat wikhatihtit.

English:

Then the dog forgot to bring the fire.

Lenape:

Na na mwekane wànin tìlia pètun tëntay.

English:

The wolves were already waiting over the hill.

Lenape:

Mèchi yuk tëmeyok pehëweyok òsaonke.

English:

They though that soon the little dog would bring the firestick.

Lenape:

Liteheyok xuniti na mwekanetët pè pèshu pëlitay.

English:

Then finally those wolves gave up.

Lenape:

Na xantki lukaheyok nèk tëmeyok.

English:

(The wolf said) "The dog said, 'He guessed he forgot.' I will hit him in the head when I see him."

Lenape:

"Luwe na mwekane, 'Mèchi èt wànin.' Mpapelpiteho ènta neyok,"

English:

Perhaps this must be true. This is the reason the dogs and wolves fear each other.

Lenape:

Kìchi èt mah në le. Nal në wënchi yuki mwekaneyok òk tëmeyok xwëntuwàk.

English:

This story was told to me long ago when I was a young woman.

Lenape:

Yushe achimëwakàn ntëlkenèp lòmwe ènta skixkweiane.

Na Òkwës Òk Na Chëmamës Achimëwakàn

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