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WoLakota Project & Teachings of Our Elders

Bad Medicine on the Tongue with Demus McDonald

Explore Bad Medicine on the Tongue with Demus McDonald with available transcripts, learning questions and source alignments in the South Dakota and North Dakota Elder arc

Interview · North Dakota · Demus McDonald · NDNAEU 2

Themes: Economy & livelihoods, Listening & observation

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Learn About questions

What is meant by “bad medicine?” What causes bad medicine to come out? How did watching his grandma help Demus to learn a lesson about arguing? How does bad medicine make someone sick?

Learn From questions

Have I ever been around someone who has the “bad medicine” that Demus spoke of in this video? Have I ever engaged with someone with bad medicine? Did it make me “sick?” When is a time I have been “sick” from arguing with someone? Do I tend to keep my mouth open or closed when I am with people engaging with me in negative ways?  How does that affect me?

Transcripts

Demus McDonald- Lesson of Bad Medicine on the Tongue, NDNAEU 2

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Woke up a career a woman hollering at my grandma I went I went I came out of the bedroom and left my grandma was sitting on her bed that lady was standing in their shoes excuse me my grandma act and ended she said if it wasn’t for my brother you wouldn’t have no money he would have nothing to because my grandma got old lease or something from where he blew up popular Mountain and uh that lady one money she came to get money from her grandma so she was calling her down so I came in there and I in the Indian I said you’re going crazy over money so go on go on over they left and I turned around I asked Grandma’s how come you didn’t say nothing and she said so now I’m gonna tell you something she said you know people that use Bad Medicine she said they you they can make you sick she said they put it in their mouth on their tongue and they come and they argue that if you sit there with your mouth closed then it won’t go in but if you open your mouth and argue back then that bad medicine comes in and makes you sick but if you sit there with your mouth closed it’s got no place to go so that person gets back in them that’s why I didn’t say nothing so there again that was another lesson like I said every day was a lesson

Resource text

NDNAEU Alignment:

Affiliation sources

NDNAEU document credits: Demus McDonald — Spirit Lake (Dakota).

Source materials

Supplied transcript documents. Text and transcription uncertainties are preserved as supplied.