Thanks to Minnie McKenzie for sending me this recording, and to Laura Burnouf for letting me share it here. “This Land is Your Land” was written and originally recorded by Woody Guthrie using lots of American place names. In the 1960s, it was recorded by a Canadian folk group called The Travellers who rewrote it using Canadian places and imagery (making it popular from Bona Vista to Vancouver Island in the process). This Cree version includes fewer specifics than either English version. By focusing on more basic vocabulary Laura has made it into a great singalong teaching tool.
kiya kitaskiy – This Land Is Your Land
Chorus:
kiya kitaskiy, niya nitaskiy
kīwētinohk ohci, sāwanohk isko(hk)
kiya kitaskiy, niya nitaskiy
kiyānaw ōma kitaskīnaw
ē-pimohtēyān niwāpahtēn
misiwē ispimihk, mīskanāhk ohci
nīhci ē-itāpiyān, wāsēkamāw
kiyānaw ōma kitaskīnaw
kiya kitaskiy niya nitaskiy
kīwētinohk ohci, sāwanohk isko(hk)
kiya kitaskiy niya nitaskiy
kiyānaw ōma kitaskīnaw
pīsim ē-cahkāsot, ē-pimohtēyān
kīsik ēkwa askiy wēpāstanwa
pīsim ispimihk, ninikamon
kiyānaw ōma kitaskīnaw
