kehoto

Wauja

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɛˈhɨ.tɨ/

Noun

kehoto

1. earth, soil (in which plants grow)

   Awojopai kehoto ojonain han.

   This is good soil right here.

2. dirt, soil, grime

   Kulepepei niputo onain. Okahopai kehoto kyankan.

   My trousers are soiled. They're covered with dirt.

3. ground, earth (the surface of the land one walks upon)

   Papa, kehoto aintyapai natu. Ehen, tsala, kehoto akisata pitsu wiu han.

   Papa, the ground chewed me up. Yes, son, the ground sure scraped you up.

   [Often said by young athletes after a wrestling match, when their knees have been skinned raw by the packed earth surface of the village plaza.]

4. land (as distinct from the sky or the waters)

   Aitsa iyapai kehototaku yulumakuma. Taunapai unogama, wakapo.

   The monster piranha spirit never goes on land. It dwells deep underwater.

5. land, lands (territory historically used and occupied by a people)

   Iyapai kehoto outsa ... emetsuapai Wauja okehotoja.

   They were taking the land from them ... they were stealing the Wauja's land.

   Autopajeneu, kaliwhun, Tupatari, autopajeneu, "nowa," umapai paowa ipitsi yiu, Mworatumpa ipitsi, Atame onejotumpa ipitsi. "Nowa, amunaunpei pitsu wiu, kehoto wekehopei pitsu wiu." umapai.

   When [Chief] Tupatari grew old, eh, when he grew old, he said, "My nephew," to his [sister's son], to Mworatumpa, to Atamai's late father. "My nephew, be you now chief, be you now the Keeper of the Land," he said.

6. planet Earth, the world

   Awojotopapai kehototari. Awojotopapai opotalapitsi.

   The round earth is beautiful. The image of it is beautiful.

Related terms

• kehoto wekeho (Keeper of the Land, principal chief, hereditary political leader)

References

• "Iyapai kehoto" uttered by Aruta, storyteller and elder, recounting Wauja history in the presence of his son and nephew. Recorded in Piyulaga village by E. Ireland, 4/25/96, transcript page 11.
• "Autopajeneu, kaliwhun" uttered by Aruta, storyteller and elder, recounting Wauja history in the presence of his son and nephew. Recorded in Piyulaga village by E. Ireland, 4/25/96, transcript page 1.