Tsa Ch'ayah
How The Turtle Got Its Squares

Tsa Ch'ayah/How The Turtle Got Its Squares is a traditional Caddo story, told in Caddo by the late Sadie Bedoka Weller (1901-1970), a Caddo tribal storyteller, and translated by linguist Wallace Chafe. This engaging children's story is beautifully illustrated by Caddo artist Robin Michelle Montoya. For more information about the book and to view an excerpt please click: here.

An audio CD featuring Sadie herself telling the story in Caddo is available from KHF (see below).

The front half of the book tells the story in Caddo, and the second half repeats the same illustrations with the English translation, so the book can be used by parents and children in a variety of ways.  Looking at the Caddo language pages, one can follow along to the voice of Sadie Bedoka; the English language pages can be read to a child as any English-language book would be read; and, best yet, adults can study the sound of the Caddo from the CD, and learn to read or tell the story to their children in the original language.  Thus this book can be useful in learning to read and write English, and learning to read and write Caddo.

ISBN: 1-4134-8836-6, 40 pages, juvenile fiction
Published by Xlibris. Price: $16.99
Order from Xlibris online

• Those interested in obtaining a one-page guide to the Caddo alphabet may do so here or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Kiwat Hasinay Foundation, PO Box 305, Binger, OK, 73009. The above link is a pdf file that can be opened in Adobe Reader. If you do not have this program, you may download it for free: here.

• The audio CD featuring Sadie herself telling the story in Caddo is available from KHF by sending a check or money order for $8 (includes shipping and handling) made out to: Kiwat Hasinay Foundation, P.O. Box 305, Binger, OK, 73009.  Please indicate an address where we can mail the CD.  For fastest service, please email us your request before sending your check or money order.

Nusht'uhti?ti? Hasinay: Caddo Language Program

CDs with over two hours of useful words and phrases by Randlett Edmonds, elder and Caddo speaker, in a "listen and repeat" format. Accompanied by a book written by Dr. Alice Anderton and Brian Levy with assistance from Charlene Wright and Vermona Collins and an introduction by Caddo historian Cecile Elkins Carter. Subjects such as greetings, daily interactions, familial relations, travel, numbers, songs, dances, and weather are included in this practical language program.

Published by Various Indian Peoples Publishing Co. in conjunction with the Kiwat Hasinay Foundation.
Price directly from the KHF: $25 plus $5 S&H.

This language program is available directly from Kiwat Hasinay Foundation by sending a check or money order to: Kiwat Hasinay Foundation, P.O. Box 305, Binger, OK, 73009.  Please indicate an address where we can mail the language program to you.  For fastest service, please email us your request before sending your check or money order.