Skynyrd’s Simple Man in Nîhiyawîwin (Northern Cree Y dialect)
Thank you, Art, for permitting us to share your new translation (and thank you, Sol, for editorial help!) Nice performance!
nimâmâ î-kî-wîhtamawit
kâkî-apisîsisiyân
ôta wîtapamin kiya nikosis
kwayask nitohta kâ-wîhtamâtân
ôtî nîkân ka-miyo-âpatan
tâpwî
kiyâm piyahtik kâya osâm sohki
âyiman kîkway ka-miyâskatîn
iskwîw miskamâso mitoni ka-sâkihik
kâya wanikiskisi ôtî awiyak ispimihk.
Chorus
kakwî-iyinito-nâpîwi
sâkihitowin ka-nisitohtîn
kakwî-iyinito-nâpîwi
ômisi tôta nikosis ka-kaskihtân
Here’s a YouTube version of a 2015 Skynyrd performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqfwbf3X8SA