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Rabbit Sun Story

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English

Once upon a time the Rabbit dwelt in a lodge and lived with his Grandmother.

Ponca

Pa’hangadi, Manshtinge aka i’kanthinke ti’gthe e’nanxti zhu’gi’the a’biama.

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English

It was the Rabbit’s custom to go hunting very early in the morning.

Ponca

Ki, manshtinnge aka haangi’chixti, a’bae a’the nani’te.

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English

No matter how early in the morning he went, a person with very long feet had already been there leaving a trail.

Ponca

Haangi’chi’xti a’thai bi’daan, shanna niashinga wi, si snede, e’de’ganxti a’hi, bi’ama, si’gthe ke u’he ga’xa biama.

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English

The Rabbit wished to know him.

Ponca

Manshtinge aka i’ba’han ganthai te.

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English

“Now”, thought the Rabbit, “I will go ahead of this person”.

Ponca

Manshtinge i’chan e’thegan, “we pa’hanga bthe ta’mike”.

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English

The next morning, the Rabbit woke up early.

Ponca

Manshtinge aka haangi’chi I’ki’tha’bi.

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English

He went to the place to try and see this person.

Ponca

Ni’a’shinga thin a’tanbe kanbtha.

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English

Again it happened, the person had already been there leaving a trail.

Ponca

Shi’ e’ganxti, ni’a’shinga ka, e’de’ganxti, a’hi biama si’gthe ke, u’he ki’di danbai, te.

10

English

Then, the Rabbit went home and said, “Grandmother, even if I go early, the person is there before me every time.”

Ponca

Ganki, Manshtinge aka ti’te’ta akhi, ki, “i’kanthinke u’wi’thai’te haangichi pi’nanman, ni’a’shi‑n‑ga ka a’hi thi’shtan bi’te.”

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English

“Grandmother, I will make a snare, and I will catch him.”

Ponca

“Kanha, u’thi’snan pa’xe ta’mi’ke, u’bthanta’mi’ke.”

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English

“Why should you do that?” She said.

Ponca

E’a’tan egan shkaxe ta’ni’ke’a?

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English

“That person makes me angry.” He said.

Ponca

“Ni’a’shinga thin, itha’t’abthe a’biama, shi, a’thai’te.

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English

Once again, the footprints were there before he arrived.

Ponca

Shi’the’nan, si’gthe ke e’di te, danbabe inchan a’hi’ki.

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English

So, he rested and waited for night to come.

Ponca

Manshtinge aka anze’gi’tha’i, hante i’tha’pa’i’te.

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English

Then, he made a noose from a bow-string, placing it where the footprints had been seen.

Ponca

Ganki mandekan thi’za bi, bu’ta i’ka’shi ga’xa, u’heti’di i’nantha be si’gthe ke danbai te.

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English

The next morning, he arrived very early to check his trap.

Ponca

Haangi’chi’ki, a’hi te, u’ki’nanshke, than danbe a’hi te.

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English

His trap worked, he had caught the sun.

Ponca

U’ki’nan’shke than di, min than u’nan te!

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English

Surprised at his catch, he ran home as fast as he could to tell his Grandmother.

Ponca

Anwanxthidan inda’dan u’bthan i’tha’p’hanmanzhi, ti’te’ta tanthina’gthai.

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English

“Grandmother,” Rabbit said, “I have caught something, but it scares me.”

Ponca

“Kanha!” Manshtinge a’bi’ama, “’da’dan, u’bthan te anba’ze nan.”

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English

“Grandmother, I wanted to take my bow-string, but I was scared every time.

Ponca

“Kanha, mande’kan ke a’gthi’ze kanbtha, thanzhan anwanxthi nanman”.

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English

He got close to it with his knife, but was still scared.

Ponca

I’bi’ski a’hi nane’te, manhi a’gtha thin, shannan wa’xthi nante.

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English

“You have done wrong. Why have you done this?”

Ponca

“I’da’dan pi’a’zhi shka’xe, e’atan shka’xe’a?”

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English

The Sun said, “Come here and untie me.”

Ponca

Min aka e’githan, “Du’da gi’ga, anthi’shka’ga,”

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English

The Rabbit, although he went close, was afraid and kept on passing by the sun, from one side to the other.

Ponca

Manshtinge aka e’shan ahi bi, wa’xthi te a’ta’shan bi Min than i’nan’u, a’the nani’te.

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English

Finally, rushing forward with his head bent down and his arm stretched out, he cut the bow-string with his knife.

Ponca

Ki ku’e, tanthin a’tha–bi a ke thu’tan, manhin e’ta anbi, mandekan Ke ma’sa a’biama.

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English

The Sun was then free and traveled high in the sky.

Ponca

Ganki Min aka manshi’a’ha a’tha’i a’bi’ama.

28

English

While setting the Sun free, the Rabbit had the hair between his shoulders Scorched yellow because it was so hot when he bent over to cut the bow-string.

Ponca

Ki Manshtinge aka, a’ba’ku hin than, nanka, than a’na’ka de na’zi a’biama, na’ka’de te a’ta’shan, a’hia e’shan a’hi bi’de, ku’e, mande’kan ma’sa, biama.

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English

Upon arriving at home, Rabbit said, “Oh Grandmother, I am burnt and the heat has left nothing of me.”

Ponca

Ki–ti te a’ki bi, “Kanha! Na’thinge bthin”, a’biama, na’ka’de te na’thinge, bthin.

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English

“Oh my grandchild,” she said, “I think that the heat has left to me, nothing of him.”

Ponca

“Tu’shpa’than!” A’bi’ama, na’ka’de aka innathinge xti.

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English

From that time on, the Rabbit has had a singed spot on his back, between his shoulders.

Ponca

E’di tan Manshtinge aka nanka than na’zi a’thin a’biama.

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English

The end.

Ponca

She’tan.

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  • Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

    Although the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska does not have a reservation, the Ponca Restoration Act established our fifteen-county Service Delivery Area across Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. We offer a broad range of health, social, educational and cultural services through five office sites.

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    Ponca Tribe - Circa 1906