Harry Raine, a Maskwacis Cree elder of the Louis Bull Tribe, brought the Cree language to Juno beach in Normandy to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-day 6 June 2019, and the Battle of Normandy. In honour of the fallen, he read “Binyon’s Verse” – translated into Plains Cree. Transcript and video follow, for those who’d like to read along. (Video used with thanks to his daughter, Alaine Raine, for her permission.)
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ê-kîs-ôhpikihihcik kiyânaw ê-kêhtê-ayiwiyahk
ê-ispîhcisîhihcik namôya ka-kêyihtamahcihowak
tânitahto askiy pahkisimohk otâkosiki êkwa kîkisêpâyâki
kâkikê kika-kiskisitotawânawak
ᐁ ᑮᓯ ᐆᐦᐱᑭᐦᒋᐠ ᑭᔮᓇᐤ ᐁ ᑫᐦᑌ ᐊᔨᐏᔭᕽ
ᐁ ᐃᐢᐲᐦᒋᓰᐦᒋᐠ ᓇᒨᔭ ᑲ ᑮ ᑭᐢᑫᔨᐦᑕᒪᐦᒋᐦᐅᐘᐠ
ᑖᓂᑕᐦᑐ ᐊᐢᑭᕀ ᐸᐦᑭᓯᒧᕽ ᐅᑖᑯᓯᑭ ᐁᑿ ᑮᑭᓭᐹᔮᑭ
ᑳᑭᑫ ᑭᑲ ᑭᐢᑭᓯᑐᑕᐚᓇᐘᐠ
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
