Nez Perce Indian Characters in Novel Series

Including Nez Perce Indian characters in the Trails of Reba Cahill series came natural for me.

I lived on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in north-central Idaho. Several members of the Thomas Hawk family of the Nez Perce tribe live near Road’s End, Idaho, the fictional town in The Trails of Reba Cahill novels.

In Book 1, at Maidie Fortress’s funeral, Grandma Pearl Cahill invites Thomas Hawk to lead in a Nez Perce Indian version of “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” We learn that Thomas is one of less than a hundred people who still speak the Nez Perce Indian language.

Nez Perce Indian Hymn

I found this song in an old Methodist print-out of Nez Perce Indian hymns and so copied this version for Book 1. Thomas began with, “Godki pewakunyu hanaka.” By the end of the last verse all his family and many in the crowd harmonized the final chorus:

Pewaukunyu, Pewaukunyu,

Jesusnim akthwapa noon.

Pewaukunyu, pewaukunyu,

Godki pewaukunyu hanaka.

Several years later, I learned of a more official, updated written Nez Perce Indian language version. I’ve included that correction below in a special added note. As Reader Kelly Willis tried to speak that rarely spoken Nez Perce Indian tongue in the audio recording, she tried her best to duplicate the correct pronunciations.

Nez Perce Indian War

When Maidie’s uncle, Seth Stroud, who raised her, headed out on a journey to take her ashes to Goldfield, Nevada, where she was born, he inspired Thomas Hawk and his grandson, Elliot Laws, on their own pilgrimage.

“Elliot and I are headed to the Nez Perce Indian battleground site near White Bird,” Thomas told Reba Cahill. “We aim to ride horseback on the route of Chief Joseph up near the Canadian border. And the Old Grade Seth will pass on his trip goes right by the trail head to the Nez Perce war.”

Much of the Nez Perce tribe’s saddest history happened at the great battle at White Bird.

What started it?

“Gold discovered around the reservation. One shot rang out. That’s the short version,” Elliot said.

Thomas explained the longer version, from his point of view. “The government reduced the promised reservation’s size. The young bucks wished to fight, but Chief Joseph forbade them. Soon altercations gave them more reasons for vengeance. It became impossible to hold them back. So, Chief Joseph led many of the Nez Perce Indian men, women, and children from the Oregon reservation to supposed freedom. They managed to elude five thousand Army troops as they fled through Idaho.

“There was much confusion, controversy, and quarrels among our tribe members and with the government. Wrong was done on all sides. My family abided by the government’s treaty, such as it was. Yet I believe Chief Joseph and his non-treaty band were disposed to live peaceably, as we all were. We didn’t travel his path, but we have his blood.”

Battlefield White Bird Trailhead

When the caravan from Road’s End reached the Trailhead of the Nez Perce Indian Battlefield, Reba scanned the valley and mountain ridges. She imagined soldiers and Native Americans lurking there, avenging ancient grudges.

 “Elliot and I, we are going to travel in their moccasins, to see what they saw,” Thomas said. “We will start at White Bird Canyon, and finish forty miles short of the Canadian border at the forced surrender near Bear Paw Mountain in Montana.”

Thomas’s grandson, Elliot Laws, as a returning soldier from the Gulf War in this 1991 story, remarked, “I need to clear my mind of the fog of war. Strange that I try to do that by reliving another war.”

Copyright © 2019

Janet Chester Bly

Beneath a Camperdown Elm, Book 3, Trails of Reba Cahill Series releases June 1st, 2019. Order here: https://www.blybooks.com/books/reba-cahill-series-book-3/

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A special note of thanks

Appreciation to Dr. Harold D. Crook, Ph.D., Professor of Nez Perce Language, Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, Idaho. He provided the correct, updated Nez Perce language transcription and pronunciation for the audio and hard copy editions of the “God Be With You” song used throughout the series.

Here it is:

Godki Píiwewkunyu’ Héenek’e

“God be with you till we meet again”

(1)

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e

‘ipnimpé pi’amxtáano’

Síipnim suux̣eylekinwéespe

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

(Chorus)

Píiwewkunyu’, píiwewkunyu’

Jesusnim  ‘ex̣wéepe nuun

Píiwewkunyu’, píiwewkunyu’

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

 (2)

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

Kayxkáyki weptéeski  hihíkte’qu’

Péeleheype hi’néek’niku’

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

(1)

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e

God-with    we-will-meet        again

‘ipnimpé pi’amxtáano’

him-with     we-will-gather

Síipnim suux̣eylekinwéespe

Sheep’s         corral-at

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

God-with    we-will-meet        again

(Chorus)

Píiwewkunyu’, píiwewkunyu’

we-will-meet        we-will-meet

Jesusnim  ‘ex̣wéepe nuun

Jesus’                  feet-at              we

Píiwewkunyu’, píiwewkunyu’

we-will-meet        we-will-meet

Godki  píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

God-with    we-will-meet                again

(2)

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

God-with    we-will-meet        again

Kayxkáyki weptéeski  hihíkte’qu’

Clean-with        wings-with       he-will-cover

Péeleheype hi’néek’niku’

Every-day           he-will-take-care

Godki píiwewkunyu’ héenek’e.

God-with    we-will-meet              again.

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The Trails of Reba Cahill Series Books 1-3

Wind in the Wires, Book 1, HERE WIND IN THE WIRES 

Down Squash Blossom Road, Book 2, HERE DOWN SQUASH BLOSSOM ROAD 

Beneath a Camperdown Elm, Book 3, Trails of Reba Cahill Series, received AWSA Golden Scroll Award, 2020 Best Western Novel, First Place Winner. FIND HERE BENEATH A CAMPERDOWN ELM