What do you get if you take a Christmas song that’s already loved for packing in a lot of nonsense, and translate it into Cree where the nonsense demands a whole lot more syllables? (Thanks, Sol: Love the hat!)
- A challenge
- A good laugh
- Both!
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| piyakwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᐱᔭᒁᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the first day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât | ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | One moose in the bush |
| nîswâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓃᔃᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the second day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐄᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| nistwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓂᐢᑤᐤ ᓂᐢᑤᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the third day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| nîwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓃᐚᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the fourth day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| niyânanwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓂᔮᓇᓎᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the fifth day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| nikotwâsikwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᒁᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the sixth day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| nikotwâsik mahkîsîsa | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᒪᐦᑮᓰᓴ | Six foxes |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| tîpakohpwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑇᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the seventh day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| tîpakohp wâpisiwa | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐚᐱᓯᐘ | Seven swans |
| nikotwâsik mahkîsîsa | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᒪᐦᑮᓰᓴ | Six foxes |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| ayinânîwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐚᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the eighth day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| ayinânîw nikikwa | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓂᑭᑿ | Eight otters |
| tîpakohp wâpisiwa | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐚᐱᓯᐘ | Seven swans |
| nikotwâsik mahkîsîsa | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᒪᐦᑮᓰᓴ | Six foxes |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| kîkâ-mitâtahtwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᑮᑳᒥᑖᑕᐦᑤᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the ninth day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| kîkâ-mitâtaht sâkwîsiwa | ᑮᑳᓂᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᓵᑹᓯᐘ | Nine minks |
| ayinânîw nikikwa | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓂᑭᑿ | Eight otters |
| tîpakohp wâpisiwa | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐚᐱᓯᐘ | Seven swans |
| nikotwâsik mahkîsîsa | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᒪᐦᑮᓰᓴ | Six foxes |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| mitâtahtwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᒥᑖᑕᐦᑤᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the tenth day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| mitâtaht sihkosa | ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᓯᐦᑯᓴ | Ten ermines |
| kîkâ-mitâtaht sâkwîsiwa | ᑮᑳᓂᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᓵᑹᓯᐘ | Nine minks |
| ayinânîw nikikwa | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓂᑭᑿ | Eight otters |
| tîpakohp wâpisiwa | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐚᐱᓯᐘ | Seven swans |
| nikotwâsik mahkîsîsa | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᒪᐦᑮᓰᓴ | Six foxes |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| piyakosâpwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᐱᔭᑯᐢᐋᑇᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the eleventh day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| piyakosâp amiskwa | ᐱᔭᑯᓵᑊ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ | Eleven beavers |
| mitâtaht sihkosa | ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᓯᐦᑯᓴ | Ten ermines |
| kîkâ-mitâtaht sâkwîsiwa | ᑮᑳᓂᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᓵᑹᓯᐘ | Nine minks |
| ayinânîw nikikwa | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓂᑭᑿ | Eight otters |
| tîpakohp wâpisiwa | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐚᐱᓯᐘ | Seven swans |
| nikotwâsik mahkîsîsa | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᒪᐦᑮᓰᓴ | Six foxes |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
| nîsosâpwâw î-makosî-kîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓃᓱᓵᑇᐤ ᐄᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | On the twelfth day of Christmas, my sweetheart gave me |
| nîsosâp mahihkana | ᓃᓱᓵᑊ ᒪᐦᐃᐦᑲᓇ | Twelve wolves |
| piyakosâp amiskwa | ᐱᔭᑯᓵᑊ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ | Eleven beavers |
| mitâtaht sihkosa | ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᓯᐦᑯᓴ | Ten ermines |
| kîkâ-mitâtaht sâkwîsiwa | ᑮᑳᓂᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᓵᑹᓯᐘ | Nine minks |
| ayinânîw nikikwa | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓂᑭᑿ | Eight otters |
| tîpakohp wâpisiwa | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐚᐱᓯᐘ | Seven swans |
| nikotwâsik mahkîsîsa | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᒪᐦᑮᓰᓴ | Six foxes |
| niyânan wâposwa | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐚᐳᔁ | Five rabbits |
| niyo sîsîpa | ᓂᔪ ᓰᓰᐸ | Four ducks |
| nisto pithîwa | ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᖩᐘ | Three grouse |
| nîso mîmîwa | ᓃᓱ ᒦᒦᐘ | Two doves |
| ikwa piyak môswa sakâhk î-ayât. | ᐃᑿ ᐱᔭᐠ ᒨᔁ ᓴᑳᕽ ᐃᐊᔮᐟ | And one moose in the bush |
… And when you’re ready to sing along without following the bouncing Sol, here’s a link to a bare karaoke track:
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