Denver American Horse
Veteran Warrior Wakte' Glipi
To come home in Triumph / Victory
By Denver American Horse
Lakota Country Times Columnist
lakotacountrytimes.com Hau Kh'ola (Hello friend), toh niktuka hwo (how are you)?Le Anpetu kin (Today is) Anpetu Nunpa (Tuesday). Waniyetu Wi (Moon of Winter - November) Wanji (1), Kh'oktopawing'e Nunpa sam Ahke Shakpe (2,016). Maza-shkanshkan (The clock / time) kin wana (is now) yamni :Wikchemna Tohpa hinhani lah'chi (3:40 a.m.). H'talehan (Yesterday), Mazopiye tah wai yelo (i went to the store). Chin (Because) wakh'anyeja kin Chichila kag'api nahan (the children made like monsters and) tilehan Chanmaska ole omanipi cha (went house to house looking for candy); Itog'in Kith'unpi keyapi (they say it was Halloween). Ogna iyuha lila iyokpipila seche (Perhaps they were all very happy). Inagnagkiya (In some places), wakh'anyeja na unchi na th'unkashila el hehan unpi shni (children and grandmother and grandfather are no longer there). Oyakihib hantanash (If you can), chanmanska etan th'ankal ewichakchignanka po (put some candy outside for them). Lakh'ota kin wayuonihan kel ni unpi (Lakh'otas live respectfully). In the next coming week, I will change my article's title to a more hopeful and upbeat Ooyake (The act of telling a story; Narrative / Relation / Title) as I do not want a Lakh'ota word to be used wrongly. Nakun (Also), I will do so because of the many horrific ways our families have been visited by destruction and violence here on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I often said that life is precious; relationships are precious; time is precious. I heard a man cry, telling me his mother could not be saved from cancer (Wichokuje Th'anka). This was at the same time i was Washigla (Mourning) the loss of my granddaughter (Th'akoja). I had lost my own mother to cancer when I was eight (Shaglog'an) years old. I know time does not heal all wounds. I will still pass along veteran's news and issues. "Wakte' glipi" is a word used for past-tense in the English sense, indicating that the warriors have killed many in battle and have now come home in triumph and victory. However, today's social setting on the Pine Ridge Reservation -- where getting ahead at the expense of the Ikche Oyate (common people) and where disrespect, bullying, and corruption in tribal government is present at every administration -- is perhaps not worthy of time honored Lakh'ota words. Lest they forget, there are some of us who still speak Lakh'ota and live in a humble way -- that does not mean we are timid. Some of us want to see progress; we want to see better community policing; we want jobs for all who are willing to work; we want Human Rights; we need protection for our tribal members at home, work, and leisure from those who brag that they are untouchable; don't think you are better than everyone by looking down on them. Houn (Oh no), that was a bit of my Warrior side woglaka-ing (talking). LOL (Ho Th'ankah Ih'at_ah). In closing, i would like to leave you with a Lakhota word (Oie): Wochankshu = Meat hanging on a long stick to dry. Oko ichinunpa ki (Next week) ahke wounglakin ktelo (we will talk again). Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter and download the new Lakota Country Times app today.
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