Hidatsa Behavioral Laws – Maaʔiiriih-giih-kee
As told by Mr. Alex Gwin
1) Aru-xubaa adee-taa-ruush maaʔeeca gacacaara, awa-hee maa-xubaaheewa ii-diiria
mahkuuc
1) Even though all (what) is holy isn’t visible (revealed) respect everything (everyone)
for it is said the earth (life) revolves (runs, lives) because of this fact (that
everything and everyone is holy).
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| aru-xubaa | that which is holy and sacred |
| adee-taa-ruush | isn’t visible/can’t be seen |
| maa-eeca | everything/everyone/all that is |
| gacacaara | respect everything/everyone |
| maa-xubaaheewa | all that is holy |
| ii-diiria-mahkuuc | the earth/life is run by/ because of this |
2) Maaʔihtia maaʔiishookaah neeta! Iishiau, hiiroo agu-naagish nuxbaagata-rukii-niihiic
2) Don’t be walking in front of elders (old people) because it may not be a human, but a
mean entity or someone very scared sitting there.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| maaʔihtia | elders (old people) |
| maaʔiishookaah | in front of |
| neeta | do not go |
| iishiau | this is what they say |
| hiiroo | this one |
| agu-naagish | that which is here |
| nuxbaagata-rukii-nii-hiic | may not be human/of this world |
3) Adaa-shiigua doog hii dooh-karuush maaruuwa nii na-shaadiirug hii iisha maaruwa
niigiigua-rug niixua xagaheetaa niih-kiiruu-wiid, nahtuu cagii nuu-wiirita.
Reesharug maaʔiiraxarii niida nuuwiidrii haac
3) Whether you are outside or where ever, if you hear something or someone says your
name turn completely around (not just your head) or else your face may get turned
(twisted).
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| adaa-shiigua doog | whether you are outside |
| dooh-karuush | or where ever |
| maaruuwa | if something/someone |
| nii na-shaadiirug | says your name |
| hii iisha | or |
| niigiigua-rug | if you hear something |
| niixua xagaheetaa | your whole body |
| niih-kiiruu-wiid | turn completely around |
| nahtuu cagii | only your head |
| nuu-wiirita | don’t turn |
| resharug | or else |
| maaʔiiraxarii | ghosts |
| niida | your face |
| nuuwiidrii haac | may twist/turn |
4) Ookciarug a-duu-dii nii-gih-taara reesharug, ii-dah-kuu-beesh naadii awahuu aru nigic
4) At night, don’t hit the walls or your home or a ghost may hit you back.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ookciarug | at night |
| a-duu-dii | walls |
| nii-gih-taara | don’t hit |
| reesharug | or else |
| ii-dah-kuu-beesh | the owl |
| naadii | your house |
| awahuu | inside |
| aru nigic | will hit |
5) Ookciarug goo-shii-taara!
5) Don’t whistle at night!
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ookciarug | at night |
| goo-shii-taara | don’t whistle |
6) Ii-riigii-dooba-gua niciig, ni-dah-bug, nidahbaxug ni-hee-taara, reesharug mirii
ooreeh-ta-haa aru nariidic
6) Don’t put your feet, shoes, or socks on the table or else you will go hungry before the
month is over.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ii-riigii-dooba-gua | on the table |
| niciig | your feet |
| ni-dah-bug | your shoes |
| nidahbaxug | your socks |
| ni-hee-taara | don’t put |
| reesharug | or else |
| mirii | month/moon |
| ooreeh-ta-haa | before it is over |
| aru nariidic | you will go hungry |
7) Ookciarug ma-iih-gii-ga iiaxuu hiraara reesharug maaʔiiraxarii ahk-cii-shii haac
7) At night close the shades/coverings on your windows or else a ghost may look in.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ookciarug | at night |
| ma-iih-gii-ga | at night |
| iiaxuu | cover |
| hiraara | put/make |
8) Ookciarug ma-iih-giiga shee adaashiihtaa ahkcii-shiih-taa-iiruuc
8) Don’t look outside the windows at night.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ookciarug | at night |
| ma-iih-gii-ga | window/mirror |
| adaashiihtaa | outside |
| ahkcii-shiih-taa-iiruuc | don’t look/peek |
9) Nida aru xabii (naah-tuu miixtaaruu) huuba niheetaara reesharug namaahshiaree
aruʔiishiac
9) Don’t put shoes under the head of your bed, or you will have bad dreams.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| nida aru xabii | your bed |
| naah-tuu mixtaaraaru | under your head |
| huuba | shoes |
| niheetaara | don’t put |
| reesharug | or else |
| namaahshiaree | your dreams |
| aruʔiishiac | will be bad |
10) Xaree iihdaahka oowiata reesharug nishigiihta aru gareec
10) Don’t point at rainbows or else your fingers will rot off.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| xaree iihdaahka | rainbow |
| oowiata | point |
| reeshaarug | or else |
| nishigiihta | your finger |
| aru gareec | will rot |
11) Maabii miirii gadeerug oowiataara reesharug ahbaaxii giiwiigiirug iida aruʔiiaxuuc
11) When the sun comes out, don’t point at it or it will go back into the clouds and hide.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| maabii miirii | sun |
| gadeerug | shows (come out) |
| oowiataara | don’t point |
| reesharug | or else |
| ahbaaxi | clouds |
| giiwiigiirug | calls back (go back) |
| iida | face |
| aruʔiiaxuuc | will hide |
12) Naadiiwia haag giirah-ha magi-dahx-paa-rug maaruwa naba nakeedeehta reesharug
nuxbaagkarii iiga ee-rah-ku aadii mia gi kia-radaac shee guu ha miaxtaag
hah-kuuc, aru niihaac
12) Don’t stick your nose in your older/younger sister’s affairs, troubles, or arguments
with her husband or else people will say that you like (love) your own sister.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| naadiiwia | your older/younger sister |
| haag | and |
| giirah-ha | her husband |
| magi-dahx-paa-rug | argue/fight |
| maaruwa | something |
| naba | your nose |
| nakeedeehta | don’t put it in |
| reesharug | or else |
| nuxbaagkarii | the people |
| iiga ee-rah-ku | look at that one |
| aadii mia | woman of his/her house |
| gi kia-radaac | likes |
| shee guu ha | that’s why |
| miaxtaag hah-kuuc | is being jealous |
| aru nii-haac | they will say |
13) Ookciarug maa-ciwara aruʔiixaacagiig hii maa aru ruudii aru ahxbii iaxuu hiira
reesharug maaʔiiraaxii nua ariiduug mireeii haac
13) At night cover dirty dishes and leftover food or else a ghost that is hungry may come
in.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ookciarug | at night |
| maa-ciwara | dishes |
| aruʔiixaacagiig | those that are dirty |
| hii | and |
| maa aru ruudii aru ahxbii | leftover food |
| iaxuu | cover |
| hiira | make |
| reesharug | or else |
| maaʔiiraaxii | ghost |
| nua | some |
| ariiduug | hungry |
| mireerii haac | may come in |
14) Ookciarug ahdii awa-huushee ditiataara nee sharug maaʔiiraaxii niibux-xua haac
14) Don’t run around the house at night, or else a ghost/spirt might push/knock you
down.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ookciarug | at night |
| ahdii awa-huushee | inside the house |
| ditiataara | don’t run |
| nee sharug | or else |
| maaʔiiraaxii | ghost |
| nua | some |
| ariiduug | hungry |
| mireerii haac | may come in |
15) Ookciarug mauudabii adiiʔawahuuga iiwareetaara neesharug giihmaaʔahtuukaag
niiguuree-haac
15) Don’t play with the ball in the house at night or it will change into a head and may
chase you.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| ookciarug | at night |
| mauudabii | ball |
| ahdii awa-huuga | inside the house |
| iiwareetaara | don’t play |
| nee sharug | or else |
| giihmaaʔahtuukaag | will change into a head |
| niiguuree-haac | may chase you |
16) Maaʔaru hiirii maduu-hiirug nii gii wee-nia cakeetaara cii-xa giirhug ii hiiraara
16) If something has to be done, don’t wait to be told, just jump up and do it.
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| maaʔaru hiirii maduu-hiirug | If something has to be done |
| nii gii wee-nia cakeetaara | don’t wait to be told |
| cii-xa giirhug | jump up |
| ii hiiraara | do it |
17) Maʔaru maaʔihtia miri nua nahkua naakeerug nii ciihka hii-taara neesharug
nuxbahkarii igaʔguu nadaxiibug macashawareec
17) When you give/offer water to the elders/old people don’t drink from it first, or else
the people will say “look at that one, he is lazy and selfish/greedy/stingy.”
| Vocabulary | |
|---|---|
| maʔaru maaʔihtia | elders/old people |
| mirii | water |
| nua nahkua naakeerug | when you give/offer |
| nii ciihka | you first |
| hii-taara | don’t drink |
| neesharug | or else |
| nuxbahkarii | the people |
| igaʔguu | look at that one |
| nadaxiibug | is lazy |
| macashawareec | selfish/greedy/stingy (they say) |