Ishki Taloa

Mother Tongue,
The voice of my Mother Earth

But in what ways would She speak to me?

In English, in Spanish,
Anumpa from every corner of the world?

No.
I think she would say:
Halito, ummi ulla.
Hello, my child.
You are made of pula.
Light.
From every inch of the universe.
Hlampko Chahta.
A strong Choctaw woman.
This is how you are known
By the sky above and soil below.

The Mother Tongue of my Mother Earth is many.
But she speaks to me in achuffa.
One.

                              Choctaw Translations

Achuffa – one

Anumpa ­– language

Chahta – Choctaw

Halito – hello

Hlampko – strong

Ishki – mother

Pula – light

Taloa – song

Ulla – child

Ummi – mine