This post is a little gift for Buffy Sainte-Marie from all of us at the Cree Literacy Network. It’s a little late for her birthday, but it’s still 100% sincere because we think the world of her!
The translation is the work of Solomon Ratt (a th-dialect speaker from northern Saskatchewan). The recording features Alberta Cree singer Tammy Lamouche with guitar and sound engineering by Vanessa Beaudry (Vanessa and Tammy both speak Alberta northern y-dialect). The translation is in the Plains y-dialect that is spoken by Buffy’s Cree relations at Piapot. The photo of Tammy (above) is the work of Daena Crosby. Gathering up all the pieces and making the connections is my contribution. Together, we are tremendously proud to use the Cree language to honour Buffy, and to create another example of Cree language activism in her honour.
Buffy first recorded this exquisite song of love and loss in 1968. When she gave Sol her blessing to translate, he went hunting for a karaoke track. He claims he couldn’t find one, though some of us think he was just a little shy about singing for Buffy. 😉
Together, we hope Buffy will enjoy this recording, and we hope that maybe others will be inspired to learn it as well, as part of their personal Cree language reclamation.
| sâh-sakiniskênin | Take my Hand for a While |
| sâh-sakiniskênin kîhtwâm wâh-wîhtamawin wiya ohci ninpîkotêhêh | Take my hand for a while Explain it to me once again Just for the sake of my broken heart |
| itâpi niskîsikohk, nika-nisitohtên sâkihiwêwin namôya astêw êtikwê takî-sâkihiyan kimiskawin ê-wâh-wanîhoyân nitêh î-sâkaskinîk ta-kî-nîsonitoyahk | Look into my eyes and maybe I will understand How love I counted on was never there You see, I thought that you might love me So you caught me it seems off balance with a heart So full of love and pretty dreams that two should share |
| êkosi ê-mwayî-sipwêhtêyan sâh-sakiniskênin kîhtwâm wâh-wîhtamawin wiya ohci ninpîkotêhêh | And so I know but please before you go Take my hand for a while Explain it to me once again Just for the sake of my broken heart |
| translation by Solomon Ratt (y-dialect) | Buffy Saint Marie |
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4 Responses
Good to see that Americans still speak their own languages.
Aww someone needs a hug. Your condescending tone and message is no where near the beauty of ininiwin and although some have tried to kill it, it not only survives, it speaks through every natural and spiritual part of these lands settlers and colonialists call “America”. Anyway Steve. I hope that part of you that feels empty doesn’t translate into “I don’t have meaning in my life”. Be well brother.
I told my son “don’t ever let anyone tell you not to sing. These songs are life for our ppl and Americans have been trying to tell us not to sing them for a very long time and when our people stopped, they became lost”
Beautiful song! Beautiful gifts! Kinanaskomitin iskwew.
Beautiful voice and sings the song perfectly.
Niminwenten nesta nisikinesin mana epetwakik oshkatisak enikamochik eininimochik. Minotakwan ekweskisinaaman onikamowin Buffy St. Marie, Samuel. Mikwech.