snxÊ·meneÊ” nqÊ·lqÊ·eltn
6190 Agency Loop Road
PO Box 100
Wellpinit, WA 99040
509-258-4222
Spokane Tribe Language and Culture
ƛ̓uxʷ šey̓ lʔe n šiyulexʷ We have always walked this land
Albert Sam
x̣ʷl̓ šey̓ hu qʔepł łam̓ay̓eʔ
(Why We Have Frogs)
1.) hi yÌ“e n nkÌ“Ê·ulÌ“eÊ”xÊ·, hi kÊ·tnu…lÌ“eÊ”xÊ· slÌ“Ê•Ê·otm. eslelixÊ· hu lÊ”e hec qÌ“iqÌ“e…Ê”y; Å‚i yÌ“e Ê”uÅ‚ sč̓ewileÊ” hu Å‚i Ê”e uÅ‚ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”. cÌ“xÌ£iÅ‚ hec nqÌ“eÊ”eÊ”wÌ“smÌ“ Å‚i yÌ“e n hec mqÌ“Ê·moqÌ“Ê·. hi pelÌ“ Å‚uÊ” qs tiÊ”xÊ· sÊ”iÅ‚n. kÊ·enÌ“t Å‚i yÌ“e sqlÌ“qlÌ“tmixÊ· cÌŒmisÌŒ č̓e hec eliʔłn, hec etÌ“etÌ“iÊ”itÌŒsÌŒ, hec mÌ“eyÌ“sÌŒtweÊ”xÊ·, hu hec xÌ£cxÌ£ciÊ”m.
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1.) In this one place, it was a huge place in the valley. Two tribes had their camp here, the water snakes and the frogs.This place was in the middle of the mountains, it was easy to get food. These Men would only eat, sleep, and visit each other and gamble.
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2.) hu Å‚uÊ” Ê”uÅ‚ peÅ‚pÅ‚kÌ“Ê·iÊ”, Å‚uÊ” č̓e ta slÌ“lÌ“kÊ·ut hu hec qÌ“Ê·leÊ”wm t stÌ“sÌŒaÅ‚q, t Å‚x̣ʷłox̣ʷ, t sÅ‚aq, t stmÌ“temÌ“. cÌŒmlkÌ“Ê·ma Å‚uÊ” suxÊ·siÊ”xÊ·lc cÌŒmisÌŒ hec mÌ“emÌ“scuÊ”ti. hecyaÊ•Ì“ uÅ‚ xÌ£spiyÌ“e…Ê”wÌ“t! x̣ʷlÌ“ xÊ·eÊ”spentcÌŒ, lÊ”e hu he cÌ“xÌ£iÊ”lli.
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2.) The young women wouldn't have to go very far to pick hucklebrries, cherries, sarvis berries, and other things. All the day, the children would only play. Everyone was in good health for many years, and that's how it was.
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3.) ho…y kÊ·enÌ“t kÊ·tntwiÊ”lsÌŒ xÊ·eÊ”xÊ·Ê”elÌ“tm, nÅ‚iÊ” ho…y pÌ“nmnwe…Ê”xÊ·m! č̓e hi pÌ“inÌ“! pÌ“inÌ“! pÌ“inÌ“! nexÊ· Å‚uÊ” sÊ”iʔłis hec č̓łcÌ“spmiÊ”nÌ“ms, n Å‚iÊ” miÅ‚ č̓e cÌŒxÊ·eÊ”xÊ·eÊ”yÌ“iÊ”t!
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3.) Man! then they began to grow, they became many. Boy, it got crowded! It's crowded, crowded, crowded. Also their food...(something). Because there was just to many of them.
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4.) yÌ“e nkÌ“Ê·a qÌ“mqÌ“miÊ”lÌ“sÌŒ, mi yÌ“e Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ” hu sč̓ecÌŒwileÊ”. cÌŒnaqs cuti, “hoy, ƛ̓e miÅ‚ qeÊ” uÅ‚ pnÌ“inÌ“, ceÊ”kÊ· tnÌ“ qÊ”enpleÊ” m cÌŒnaqs tlÌ“ Ê”e imÌ“sÌŒ.”
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4.) One day, they had a meeting the frogs and the snakes. One said "boy, we are already crowded, one of us will have to move from here.
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5.) Å‚amÌ“ayeÊ” Å‚u cuti, “Å‚uÊ” tnÌ“ cqÌ“sipiÊ” hu Å‚uÊ” qeÊ” uÅ‚ lÊ”ehi, kÊ·enÌ“t Å‚uÊ” nplehmp Å‚uÊ” xÌ£est pÊ”imÌ“sÌŒ.”
5.) Frog said "long ago our people were already here, so it will be good for you guys to move.
6.) cuntm t sč̓ewileÊ”… “x̣ʷa heÅ‚ cnÅ‚eptmntxÊ· Å‚uÊ” hin nerÌ“uye Å‚uÊ” šʔit cxÌ£litnc, hu p ctÌ“ukÌ“Ê·kÌ“Ê·elp. sÌŒeyÌ“ Å‚uÊ” stox̣ʷ… x̣ʷlÌ“ sÌŒeyÌ“ Å‚uÊ” nplehmp Å‚uÊ” p qs Ê”imsÌŒ!”
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6.) Snake told him "maybe you forgot, my great, great grandparents was the first here (...) (you guys landed here....) that is correct ..... that why you guys are going to move.
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7.) ho…y kÊ·enÌ“t x̣ʷcÌ“x̣ʷcÌ“neweÊ”xÊ· hu sic nteʔʔ qs xÌ£ltsqeÊ”lÌ“ixÊ·i…
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7.) So they argued with each other.
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8.) n kÊ·ekÊ·st hu Å‚uÊ” suxÊ·weÊ”em… “put cÌŒx̣ʷax̣ʷct nÌ“e n tox̣ʷx̣ʷqin m qs yaÊ•Ì“Ê•Ì“mi Å‚uÊ” uÅ‚ sqelixÊ·, p qs qÌ“mqÌ“milÌ“sÌŒi.”
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8.) In the morning, the camp crier yelled " just when it is noon we're going to gather and have a meeting."
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9.) hoy sÌŒeyÌ“s qÌ“mqÌ“miÊ”lsÌŒm… exÊ· tesÌŒlsÌŒ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”… trturÌ“miÊ”st. ih! neÊ”kÌ“Ê· taÊ”cÌŒanÌ“alaÊ”qÊ·! sÌŒeyÌ“s nlx̣ʷlx̣ʷmÌ“elÌ“smÌ“… nƛ̓xÌ£cin! kÌ“Ê·kÌ“Ê·iyÌ“eÊ”t šƛ̓usm… cÌŒxÌ£cÌ“xÌ£cÌ“pnuntm, tmÌ“a Å‚uÊ” ckÊ·tkÊ·tnus hi cÌŒwÌ“lÌ“wÌ“alÌ“s kÊ·enÌ“t hec nkÊ·enÌ“meyeÊ”m…
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9.) Boy it was there they had a meeting. Ol Frog stood up and stretched out and made himself very tall....loudly he spoke.
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10.) “pi snsinsceÊ”! pi snkÊ·suxÊ·sixÊ·xÊ·! pi slÌ“xÌ£laxÌ£t! x̣ʷlÌ“ x̣ʷeÊ”spentcÌŒ hu qes lÊ”ehi, qes xÌ£spiyÌ“ewti. kÊ·enÌ“t hec miymiystep Å‚uÊ” t qÊ·uyÊ”e, Å‚uÊ” t hin nsÌŒisÌŒiÊ”tcin, hu cxÌ£liÊ”tis yÌ“e huÅ‚ sč̓ewileÊ”, hu ctÌ“ukÌ“Ê·kÌ“Ê·eÊ”lÌ“p.
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10.) "My brothers, my relatives, my friends, for many years we have been here. We are doing well here....me, and my ancestors, they invited you snakes to come land here."
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11.) cun yÌ“e sč̓ewileÊ” cpiÊ”scÌ“eÊ”, x̣ʷlÌ“ sÌŒeyÌ“ hu cniÅ‚c hu n snkÌ“Ê·eÊ”liÊ”xÊ·s Å‚uÊ” xÌ£est iÊ”mÌ“sÌŒ. tmÌ“a qeÊ” hec pÌ“nÌ“mnwexÊ·i. kÊ·enÌ“t qÊ”enpleÊ”, qaÊ”qs lÊ”ehi, pentcÌŒ. p susewnÌ“eÊ”mntp, stemÌ“ Å‚uÊ” ha scntelsÊ”” hoy Å‚aqlsÌŒ.
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11.) "Water Snake said yesterday, that is why him, and his family it will be good for them to move. Because we are crowding each other out. So we will stay here for good. Are you guys hearing me? What are your thoughts? " the he sat down.
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12.) iÊ”h! pnÌ“ hi kÊ·enÌ“t hu Å‚tÌ“tÌ“pnumÌ“t sč̓ewileÊ”! hi kÊ·rÌ“i Å‚uÊ” sicÌ“ms, t pÌ“mpÌ“um hu hec Å‚pÌ“Å‚ipÌ“, hec nÅ‚pÌ“Å‚pÌ“icÌŒn, cÌŒcÌ“ancÌ“Ê”em! hi winxÊ· hec cÌŒxÊ·ttelsi… cÌ“xÌ£iÅ‚ t sÊ”uwÌ“ecÌŒnÌ“t Å‚uÊ” cÌŒk̓ʷƛ̓k̓ʷƛ̓ustis…!!
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12.) Oh my! So then he jumped up all of a sudden,Water Snake. His blanket was yellow with brown stripes, marks on the back it was plain to see that he was furious. It was like lightning came out of his eyes.
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13.) “ƛ̓e sewnÌ“eÊ”mntp Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ” we tam hin xÌ£mencÌŒ sxÊ·cÌ“nwexÊ·, hu pnÌ“ hi qs tx̣ʷmim Å‚uÊ”s cmÌ“emÌ“iÊ”s… tmÌ“a qÊ·uyÊ”e hin nsÌŒisÌŒiÊ”tcin Å‚uÊ” cšʔit ctÌ“ukÌ“Ê·kÌ“Ê·eÊ”lÌ“p n lÊ”e! kÊ·enÌ“t sÌŒeyÌ“ qeÊ” uÅ‚ sč̓ewileÊ” Å‚uÊ” qaÊ”qs lÊ”ehi, kÌ“Ê·enÌ“t Å‚uÊ” uÅ‚ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ” Å‚uÊ” qs iÊ”mÌ“sÌŒiÊ” č̓ tÌ“uxÊ·lÊ”ulÌ“eÊ”xÊ·.” hoy, heÅ‚ Å‚aqsÌŒlsÌŒ.
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13.) "You guys heard frog, I don't like to argue, but I'm going to tell you the truth of our history. Because me, and my ancestors were the first to land here! So that is why us Water Snakes, we are going to stay, and then you frogs, you guys will move to a different land." Boy, He sat down again.
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14.) cÌŒnaqs tesÌŒlsÌŒ uwewlsÌŒ, kÊ·enÌ“t heÅ‚ Å‚aqÌŒlsÌŒ, kÊ·enÌ“t nexÊ· t cÌŒnaqs tesÌŒlsÌŒ… Å‚uÊ” uÅ‚ sč̓ewileÊ” Å‚uÊ” nteÊ”ls cniʔłc Å‚uÊ” ceÊ”kÊ· xÌ£est qs lÊ”ehi… hu Å‚uÊ” uÅ‚ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ” cuÊ”ti sÊ”elkÌ“Ê·mnuÊ”lÌ“eÊ”xÊ·s, kÊ·enÌ“t ta qs iÊ”msÌŒ!
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14.) One of them stood up and spoke, then the other sat down again. Then another person stood up from the Water Snake tribe. The frogs said, we are not moving!
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15.) hoy, cÌŒnaqs tesÌŒlsÌŒ Å‚uÊ” tnÌ“ uÅ‚ sč̓ewileÊ”… “piÊ” slÌ“xÌ£lÌ“axÌ£t! tnÌ“ mÌ“us hu qeÊ” ec x̣ʷcÌ“nwexÊ·i… ceÊ”kÊ· qeÊ” kÊ·ulÌ“stm tnÌ“ uÅ‚ sč̓ewileÊ” cÌŒnaqs, hu Å‚u tnÌ“ uÅ‚ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ” cÌŒnaqs, qs ƛ̓uʔƛ̓ʔuÊ”siÊ” t xÌ£xÌ£sulÌ“eÊ”xÊ·, kÊ·enÌ“t sÌŒeÊ”, nÌ“e swet nte qs imÌ“sÌŒi, kÊ·enÌ“t imÌ“sÌŒ č̓ sÌŒeÊ”, nÌ“e ta xÌ£mencÌŒs, kÊ·enÌ“t ta qs imÌ“sÌŒ!” “hayo! kÊ· pxÌ£paxÌ£t!!” cuntm.
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15.) One stood up from the Water Snake tribe... "you guys, my friends! For nothing we are arguing with each other. What if we send one person from the Water Snake tribe and another from the Frog tribe. One will go and will go and look for a good place so if someone wants to move, they can move there. If they don't like they don't have to move!""Oh my! You are wise!" He said.
16.) hoy cm̓ łuʔ tn̓ uł sč̓ewileʔ kʷul̓stm qs xʷuy č̓ snk̓ʷeƛ̓ptin hu łu n uł łam̓ay̓eʔ leč̓is n snč̓el̓xʷtin m qs xʷuy, n̓e x̣est ƛ̓uʔƛ̓ʔuʔsm, m heł ck̓ʷʔis m̓em̓eʔy̓eʔm.
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16.) So they sent one from Water Snake tribe to go to the East, and one from the Frog tribe will go to the West. When they find a good place to live they can come back and tell us.
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17.) ih! Å‚uÊ” tnÌ“ sč̓ewileÊ”, hi pelÌ“sc, tye…sÌŒ hu cÌŒqlticÌŒnÌ“, tesÌŒlsÌŒ, šƛ̓usm… ta stemÌ“! cÌŒmisÌŒ hec mqÌ“Ê·moqÌ“Ê·, hu Å‚iÊ”e ntukÊ· Å‚uÊ” hec cÌ“lcilÌ“! lcÌŒenÌ“ m axÌ£luÊ”tm! picxÊ·! hoy, heÅ‚ cpÌ“lÌ“č̓usmÌ“.
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17.) Wow! It was easy for the one from the Water Snake Tribe. He crawled up to the other side of the mountain, he stood up and looked around. Nothing, only mountains and a thick forest.
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18.) hu Å‚uÊ” tnÌ“ uÅ‚ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”… hi Å‚..tÌ“up! Å‚..tÌ“up! Å‚..tÌ“up! hu cÌŒqlticÌŒnÌ“. tuÌ“rÌ“msc Å‚uÊ” sč̓mč̓mÊ”aqscÌŒsÌŒis… “heÊ” weÊ”cÌ“sÌŒcÌŒeÊ”! hi t Ê”ecÌ“xÌ£iÅ‚ Å‚uÊ” t qeÊ” snlsÌŒeÊ”tnÌ“ Å‚iÊ”e, qÊ·amqÊ·mt, hu pnÌ“ hi pÌ“inÌ“! pÌ“inÌ“! pÌ“inÌ“! Å‚uÊ” sqelixÊ·.” cuti… “wicÌŒn kÊ·enÌ“t sÌŒeyÌ“ hi qs nÊ”unnxÊ·enÌ“eÊ”mÌ“!” sÊ”a…cÌ“xÌ£, hu heÅ‚ cweÅ‚kÊ·p.
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18.) From the Frog Tribe he hopped, hopped, hopped up the mountain side. He stretched his legs. "What is this? It's just like our home here, It's beautiful and crowded, crowded, crowded with indians. He said "I have seen it that is why I'm going to believe in this place" and he went back down.
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19.) hoy, mÌ“eyÌ“nteÊ”s Å‚uÊ” scwiÊ”cÌŒs. hecyaÊ•Ì“ hi č̓uč̓uw…cn… pnÌ“ yÌ“e sč̓ewileÊ” ilmixÊ·m cÌŒxÌ£icÌ“smis yÌ“e scÌŒk̓ʷƛ̓k̓ʷƛ̓ustis Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”… hmm… “Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”!!”
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19.) They met again with the people and told everything they had seen. Everyone was quiet! But Water Snake was staring intently at Frog’s eyes… hmm… “Frog!!” he almost shouted.
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20.) exÊ· heÅ‚ nÅ‚x̣ʷłx̣ʷmÌ“elÌ“smÌ“, nÌ“e hecyaÊ•Ì“ qs aÊ”cÌ“xÌ£ms… “humiÊ”, kÊ· Ê”is sewm, Å‚uÊ” kÊ· cÌŒqlticÌŒn, ha kÊ· tesÌŒlsÌŒ, ha taÊ”…”
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20.) Then he loudly cleared his throat, giving everyone the chance to focus their eyes on him, “Please, let me ask yo. When you got to the top of the mountain, did you stand up or not?”
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21.) “une. cÌŒn tesÌŒlsÌŒ, nÌ“e xÌ£est čʔiqs šƛ̓usi… hu nte, ‘x̣ʷa x̣ʷlÌ“ stemÌ“ hu qÊ·Ê”ec susewns? Ì“Ì“ “aÊ•, Ê”i kÊ·enÌ“t Å‚uÊ” kÊ· tesÌŒlsÌŒ, ha kÊ· ax̣ʔaxÌ£lmncut? ha lÊ”e hu kÊ· axÌ£ilm?” kÊ·enÌ“t axÌ£lmncut sč̓ewileÊ”. “ta, ta kÌ“Ê·kÌ“Ê·yumÌ“eÊ” cÌŒis axÌ£lmncut!” “sÌŒeyÌ“ Å‚uÊ” ƛ̓e hi scntels…! sÌŒeyÌ“ Å‚uÊ” qeÊ” lÊ•Ê·otm yÌ“e lÊ”e, Å‚uÊ” ha scwicÌŒ!” “heÊ”, ƛ̓uxÊ· leÊ”cÌŒen hu nÊ”axÌ£lÊ”elsmntxÊ·?”
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21.) “Yes I stood up, so I could look around below me better.” Frog thought to himself, I wonder why he’s asking me all of these questions?! “Ah, yes, but when you stood up did you actually do this?” Water Snake turned himself halfway around. “No, I didn’t move even a little bit!” “Just as I thought! What you did see was our very own valley, this very one!" "Hey,”how did you come up with that reasoning?”
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22.) sč̓ewileÊ” cuti… “Å‚uÊ” x̣ʷlÌ“ č̓ hec Ê”ecÌ“ecÌ“ewt Å‚uÊ” ha scÌŒk̓ʷƛ̓k̓ʷƛ̓ustn… kÊ·enÌ“t Å‚uÊ” ta kÊ· s axÌ£lmncut, kÊ·enÌ“t Å‚uÊ” qeÊ”nple Å‚uÊ” ha s scwicÌŒ!!”
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22.) Water Snake said, “Because your eyes sit on the back of your head, then when you did not turn around, as you have admitted, you were looking right back to where you had come from. Right back at us!”
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23.) hoy, sč̓ewileÊ” heÅ‚ ntax̣ʷlÊ”usm č̓ sqlqelixÊ· hu cuti… “hayo! pi snkÌ“Ê·elixÊ·! kÊ·tunt scÌŒmeÊ” Å‚uÊ” s ckÌ“Ê·ulÌ“s Å‚uÊ” Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”… ta nexÊ·… ta s č̓łpaÊ”xÌ£em… kÊ·enÌ“t x̣ʷlÌ“ sÌŒeyÌ“… m Ê”uÅ‚ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ” Å‚uÊ” nÌ“e qs iÊ”mÌ“sÌŒi t lÊ”e!”
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23.) After this little exchange, Water Snake faced the people and said, “Oh my people! A great wrong he has done to all.”Taking advantage of Frog’s over sight, Water Snake continued, “Furthermore, he did not use good sense or judgement. For this very reason, the Frog people will have to move from here!”
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24.) hoy, šƛ̓iÊ”p Å‚uÊ” uÅ‚ Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”… tas Ê”ecÌ“iÊ”nÌ“nÌ“t… tas eÊ”ycnm. Å‚uÊ” xÌ£lip hu px̣ʷmncu…Ê”t. x̣ʷlÌ“ sÌŒeyÌ“ hu qÊ”epÅ‚ xÊ·eÊ” Å‚mÌ“Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”… nÌ“e č̓ cÌŒenÌ“ kÊ· xÊ·uy…. kÊ·enÌ“t ƛ̓e hepÅ‚ xÊ·eʔł Å‚mÌ“Å‚amÌ“ayÌ“eÊ”!
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24.) The Frog people were beaten! They did not say a word, they did not retaliate in any way. The next morning the frogs all left. The fact is, they had lost faith in their leader. So they left in every direction. No matter where you go, there are frogs, all over the world.
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25.) šey̓ hu hoy.
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25.) The End