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Carry Babies

  • Cherokee Language Program Instructor Tom Belt transcribed and translated this passage.
  • ihlv'iyu tsanehv vsgi nandvneha danilisehv diniyohli. dunilvsdanehv, alsdayhdi anosvsgv, nole galtsode tsunilvhwisdanehv, nole tsogesi tsunilvhwisdanehv. nikv anedohv vsgi nandvnehv danilisehv diniyohli. diniyohlihno na'a utsi uyelv gesv na'a daninulvsgv ale na'a nundvnv'i. antvgisgvhno tsunitsi anawohldesgv nole sgwu adantogi adsidohv'i.
  • The older generation always carried babies like that. They worked, they prepared food, they did housework, they worked in the fields. Everywhere they would go, they would carry the babies like that. The children were held closer to the mother's body. And they heard their mother's breathing and how their heart was beating.