Ma'ii dóó Na'nilkaadi

Easy access to minority cultures and languages can be provided with simple songs and stories. The "Navajo Mocassin Squaw Dance Song" begins with a chorus in simple vocables. Since there is much repetition of simple syllables, it can be easy for anyone to learn. In the verse, the singer tells of the pretty (nizhonigo) mocassins (shikee') she is making for her husband (sha'astiin). The story, "Ma'ii dóó Na'ni¬kaadi" (The Coyote and the Shepherd), gives a setting in which the shepherd boy's grandfather (shicheii) tells the story. We hear key words in the Navajo language, which help express the setting. Story tellers can use unfamiliar language if there is repetition and context. My experience in telling these stories hundreds of times, is that the use of the Navajo language in this way works fine with Navajo, Anglo, Hispanic, and even Mexican audiences. I do tell the story in Spanish instead of English sometimes, or even with a mixture of the three languages, if I think the audience will understand it best that way. The story of Ma'ii lends itself well to discussions of stranger danger, and the importance of making friends carefully.

NAVAJO MOCASSIN SQUAW DANCE SONG

Ya hei ya hei yo ii ya
Ya hei ya hei yo ii ya
Ya hei ya hei yo ii ya
Ya hei ya hei yo ii y™™ngha
hei yei y™™ngha.

Dii la sha'astiin at'é
nei ya h™™gha,
Nizhónigo shikee' sha'ii¬ inigo
Bee na shahiya
Ya hei ya hei yo ii ya
Ya hei ya hei yo ii y™™ngha
Hei yei, y™™ngha.

Ma'ii dóó Na'ni¬kaadi

Na'ni¬kaadi Yázhí was so happy with his new pet lamb, Shibéhe. He would come home everyday from the mesa just so content. Everybody knew why he was happy, especially his grandpa, who he called, Shicheii. One day Shicheii saw in Na'ni¬kaadi's walk that something was wrong. He had it figured out by the time the boy arrived at the hooghaan. Yes, in the night, Ma'ii had come, and now Shibéhe was an orphan! Shicheii watched as Shimá fixed dibé bito' and fry bread for supper and the boy settled down for the evening. Sitting around the fire, Shicheii played his drum and sang this song to get the boy's attention.

Ya hei o, a wi ya hei yoo
Ya hei o, a wi ya hei yoo
O ahei o, o ha weya
Hei yei yei yei ya, hei ya.

Shibéhe ga hazliigo, Shibéhe gahazliigo
Shibéhe bidishniigo, Shibéhe naalgheedo
aweiya hei yei yei yei ya.

When the boy was ready, Shicheii told this story: Ma'ii was coming along. It was the middle of the day and he had not eaten all day. "Oh, I am so hungry", said Ma'ii, rubbing his tummy. Just then he spied the prairie dogs sunning themselves on the next hill at theg¬oo' baghaan. "Aha", thought Ma'ii, "now I am going to have a nice, juicy dinner!"
He thought for a minute, then he picked up an empty sack and threw it over his shoulder and started walking towards the d¬oo' baghaan, whistling as loud as he could. Just then the prairie dogs recognized the lean figure of Ma'ii; but what was he was carrying in that sack? The curious prairie dogs looked and looked.
"Hey Ma'ii, what you got in that sack?" "Oh, I'm just a hataa¬ii carrying a sack of new dance songs." "Dance songs?!" Now the prairie dogs were really curious. "Sing us a song, sing us a song, sing us a song!" "I'm to busy", said Ma'ii. But what was he really thinking? Na'ni¬kaadi replied, "he wanted to eat them!" Shicheii continued the story.
"Sing us a song, sing us a song!" "Well all right", said Ma'ii as he set down the empty sack. "Since I am hataa¬ii, I will sing you one new dance song, but for this song, you have to form a big circle and dance with your eyes closed!" Shicheii looked right at Na'ni¬kaadi . "Would you dance with your eyes closed for Ma'ii?" "No", replied the wide eyed boy. "Well this is just pretend, so close your eyes and imagine you are dancing in a circle at the g¬oo' baghaan". Shicheii began to sing a slow mournful song in the Kiowa language as he beat slowly on his calf skin drum.

Ts'aado, ts'aado tonba tont'e
Ts'aado, ts'aado tonba tont'e
Owa tont'e, owe a polats'e, owe a polats'e.
While he was singing, Ma'ii reached into his sack, pulled out a big stick, and started hitting the prairie dogs on the head. He was going to kill them all and eat them for supper! Way over on the far side of the circle, one little girl prairie dog peaked open her eyes... "Ma'ii is killing us all", she yelled; and ran away as fast as she could... Every since that day, all the prairie dogs are descended from that one little girl prairie dog! Na'ni¬kaadi knew that Shicheii was telling him that Ma'ii was at fault, he should not mourn long for his loss, but he should keep his eyes open every day.

Ma'ii dóó Na'ni¬kaadi Coyote and the Shepherd
Na'ni¬kaadi Yázhí Little shepherd
Shibéhe. My pet lamb
Shicheii Maternal grandfather
hooghaan Round house with fireplace in the middle
Shimá My mother
dibé bito' Mutton stew
d¬oo' baghaan Prairie dog village

Story Telling Ideas | Ideas Para Cuentos