Hey, Hi, Halito!

Well, well, well…It’s been quite a while! My last blog was at the end of 2025/beginning of 2026. Since then, there’s been a lot going on (shocker, I know). Between all of these things and some technical difficulties, I had a few blogs set to come out late, and that process turned into a few more. When you only post one or two blogs a month that can quickly turn into a few months with no blogs. Luckily, I was actively writing in notebooks and just had to make time to sit down and transcribe everything, get everything edited, and find some photos for you.

There are a few positive blogs that talk about my education experiences and hobbies, but there are also a few that deal with loss and grief. It’s kind of fitting that my blog name is Roots and Reckonings. I choose to share these things because I want anybody reading who might be going through the same thing or something similar to know that they aren’t alone in what they’re going through or what they’re feeling.

With that said, I wanted to take a moment to provide a Native dictionary for all of the words and phrases that I have used in previous blogs, as well as those that are set to come out later. Chahta sia micha Potawatomi adoptee. I am Choctaw, and my adoptive/step family is Potawatomi. There will also be a blog where I honor language, but deviate from Choctaw to Osage to honor the Osage that have come to be a chosen family for me.

Yakoke fehna to those who have been patient with me while I drown in bad luck and perfectionism issues. Yakoke fehna to Chunya Johnson, Kevin Tushka, Svmmer Wesley, Joshua Daney, and all of the others who have helped me at some point with Choctaw language; Olivia and Jim Gray for helping me with Osage language; and my sister Delanie for learning Potawatomi alongside me. None of these languages are my first language, so it is as much a way to honor as it is a tool to learn when I use Choctaw (or any other language) in my blogs—aka, don’t refer to my usage as a be-all-end-all for your learning. Usage includes multiple dialects and colloquialisms, especially with the Osage language inclusions.

 

Bodéwadmi/Potawatomi

Bodéwadmi……Potawatomi

Bozho……Hello

 

Chahta/Choctaw (Oklahoma and Mississippi dialects)

Aiyah……My goodness

A̲ki……My father

A̱ki i̱ pvlata li……I miss my father

A̲tek……My sister

Cha……And (shortened “micha”)

Chahta……Choctaw

Chi hullo li……I love you

Chi pisa la chike……See you later, in place of “Goodbye” which we don’t have a word for

Inchunwa……Tattoo/s

Isht okla aiasha, vm achukmahoke……intending to say “With community, I am good/happy”

Kanimma kia ish a̱ya kvt achukmalit ish a̱ya chike……Wherever you go, go in a good way

Na hullo yvmmvt……Those Caucasian/White people (also “nahullo/nahullos”)

Nanaiyvt ish foha skhe……The closest way you would say “Rest in peace”

Pokni……Grandmother

Sv na yukpa……I am happy

Svpokni……My grandmother

Svshki……My mother

Tibbi kil ia……Let’s battle

Yakoke fehna……Thank you very much

Yukpa Aiattatok Nittak……Happy Birthday (also “Nittak Afvmmi Na Yukpa”)

 

Wa-Zha-Zhe/Osage

Eko……Grandmother

Ina……Mother

In-da-tse……Father

Ki-he-kah……Chief

Seko……Grandfather (also “siko/wi-tsi-ko”)

Wa-zha-zhe……Osage

We-wi-non……Thank you, as “I am very grateful to you”

Wi-oxda……I love you

 

And, as a “cute tax” to show that not everything has been hard or sad lately, the photo with this blog is from the Ada, Oklahoma, NDN Girls Book Club. I was able to get my copies of Kinsale Drake’s books signed, a signed copy of Little Bird by Mary Ruth Barnes, and a copy of Spílexm by Nicola I. Campbell, all while seeing friends, meeting new people, and getting cute photos!