The Eighteenth-Century Wyandot: A Clan-Based Study

Appendix B: Wyandot Correspondence

appendix b: wyandot correspondence Appendix B1: Father Richardie’s Introduction to Father Potier A series of letters written in Wyandot were exchanged during the years 1744 to 1747. They will be presented here in chronological order. A number of short forms are being used here with respect to pronominal prefixes. They are: inc first-person inclusive—a plural form that includes the listener exc first-person exclusive—a plural form that excludes the listener ind third-person indefinite—a plural form that can be translated as “they, people, one” m third-person masculine f third-person feminine d dual pl plural s singular (“compliment que le p. de la richardie me donna pour l’aller faire dans toutes les cabanes des hurons, le 7, sept. 1744”) [Introduction that Father de la Richardie gave me (Potier) to go to present to all the houses of the Wyandot] (Potier 1920, 684) x’ | i,e | [,]8aena | a,enrhon | here | I go, am | I have you (pl) as children, my children | I wished, thought | t’axennonronk8annionk | d’ | I would grease their scalps many times, greet them (ind) with great respect | those, that | aniena | d’ | axeatorenha | a8eti | xehetsaronde | my child | those | I would find them (ind) | all | I intend to encourage them (ind) | 235 236 appendice s d’ | a,onk8ichoton | d’ | aonxiatrihotat | those | their (ind) force would stand | those | they (ind) would listen to us | de sten taoten | de | [e]xerih8aniensten | all kinds of things | which | I will teach them (ind) | d’ | orih8ato,eti | haoten | that which | it is a straight, certain, holy matter | of such a nature | Here I am, my children. I wished that I would greet respectfully as my own child those whom I would find. I intend to encourage them all so that their forces (of conviction) would stand, so that they would listen to and believe all the special “holy” matters which I will teach them. Exennonh8eha | atiaondi | d’ | ehona8endra | I will love them (ind) | completely, perfectly| those who | they (ind) will be with his word| d’ ha8endio1 who he is great in voice I will love them completely, all those who will be with the word of the Great Voice. Long Translation Here I am, my children. I wished that I would greet respectfully as my own child those whom I would find. I intend to encourage them all so that their forces (of conviction) would stand, so that they would listen to and believe all the special “holy” matters which I will teach them. I will love them completely, all those who will be with the word of the Great Voice. Appendicies Appendix B2: Governor Longueuil This correspondence comprises a letter from Paul-Joseph Le Moyne de Longueuil , then governor at Detroit, written by Father Richardie, followed by a short note from Richardie himself. It should be kept in mind that Longueuil probably had little idea what was being said in the letter as he did not speak Wyandot. Richardie had a lot of opportunity to communicate what he wanted to here, with little fear that secular authorities would know what he was saying. “Lettre de Mr de Longueuil aux hurons en hivernment ecrite par le p. de la Richardie le 20 mars 1746. Je la recu a ondietsi, et la lu aux hurons” [Letter from Mr. De Longueuil (governor at Detroit) among the Huron in their wintering place, written by Father de la Richardie on March 20, 1746. I (Potier) received it at Ondietsi (“it is a long point of land”) and read it there to the Huron] (Potier 1920, 684–85) Tatak8isere1| sa,ohiatondihatie | d’ | hati8annens | Longueuil | he is going about writing to them (ind) | who | they (m) are elders | Longueuil is going about writing to those who are (male) elders. i8a,ennen | ,8aena | ,annendae | 8enchtra | I said (in the past) | I have you (pl) as my children | it is autumn | perhaps | d’ | (e)ionchrontie | d’ | ek8arih[8]aronj | daat when | they (ind) will abandon the axe | when | we (inc) will listen | the very ,andoron it is valuable, difficult I said, “My children, perhaps when they abandon the axe (i.e., quit war)2 we will listen. It is very difficult, valuable.” 237 238 appendice s d’ | aiontatie | θo | axennhaha3| when/if | they (ind) would abandon it | there, that, then | I would request of them (ind) | d’ a,etsirih8enhasenniha4 you should, would go to bear the matter to them (ind) If they would abandon...