Alahòtuwàk

They All Hunted . . . Told by Nora Thompson Dean in 1968

English:

A long time ago when the Delawares lived

Lenape:

Lòmwehkamik ènta yuki Lènapeyòk wikhatihtit

English:

toward the east in the far away land of Pennsylvania.

Lenape:

wëntahkwi wèhènchiòpànk kithakàna Pennsylvania.

English:

There must have been many of them at that time, and there must have been

Lenape:

Xaheluk èt mah nìki lëkhìkwi òk èt mah

English:

many different tribes as well at that time.

Lenape:

pili lakeichik xaheluk nìki lëkhìkwi.

English:

A person had to always be on the alert,

Lenape:

Kënch awèn nkëme kwèxsite,

English:

and it must have been difficult for a person to live.

Lenape:

òk èt mah ahot ènta awèn lehëlexe.

English:

He had to go looking for food because there were not stores

Lenape:

Ènta ntunànk mehëmichink èli màta hate mèmhalëmuntikaona

English:

like there are now in our lifetime.

Lenape:

alàshi yukwe ènta mèchi pètawsienk.

English:

The people used the animals, they lived from them.

Lenape:

Nìnhakatamaneyo nèki aèsësàk nal në wënchi wèntawsineyo.

English:

A person had to hunt all the time to kill deer,

Lenape:

Kënch awèn nkëme alaite hnilate ahtuhuk

English:

and fish, and the fur-bearing fur-bearing animals.

Lenape:

òk namènsàk òk wixëwësichik aèsësàk.

English:

They used those fur-bearing animals for their pelts

Lenape:

Hnàkatamëneyo nèki wixëwësichik aèsìsàk tòxèsëmëwo

English:

when they made clothing, and

Lenape:

ènta manituhtit ehahkwink òk

English:

bags in which to store grease, and when they made moccasins and other things.

Lenape:

putalasàk òk lènhàksëna, mësi kèku ènta manituhtit.

English:

The Delaware men camped at many different places,

Lenape:

Mësi òk yuli maikeyòk nèki Lënapei lënuwàk

English:

at big rivers, and in big forest

Lenape:

xinkwi sipunk òk xinkwi shinkèk

English:

they all hunted when they wanted to find food.

Lenape:

alahòtuwàk kahta màxkamuk mehëmichink.

Shè Yu Wëski Kèku

Mikwëna Tëlekhikàn Pwètanehëmaok Lënapeyunkahke

Moni Ta Nëni

Wàni Lënape Elixsit

Na Lënu Òk Nèl Mwekaneyëma

Na Elais Kahta Alai