What a treat to find this video of the K-2 awâsisak from Winnipeg’s Isaac Brock Cree Bilingual Program, proudly belting out Raffi’s “Baby Beluga” translated into Cree by classroom câpân Ellen Cook, and led by classroom teacher Colleen Omand. Even Raffi says they’re great (in the CTV link), and it’s one of his best-known songs.
Big thanks to Ellen Cook for sharing her text with us (scroll down so you can sing along!)
Click here for the story from Winnipeg School Division
And click here for the CTV news story (including Raffi himself: somebody clearly understands the importance of fun and music in teaching).
Most important of all: watch the class’s award-winning video, and admire all those Cree-speakers in training! (I’m so glad we’ve got the words to share here: this song is an instant ear worm. If only I looked and sounded as cute as those kids!)
Raffi: Baby Beluga
Translated into Cree (n-dialect) by Ellen Cook
wapamêkosis kâ-pimâtakât
mitoni wânaw ê-itâtakât
kîsikohk êkwa nipîhk
wâpamêkosis aspin
Chorus:
wâpamêkosis, oh wâpamêkosis
kîsowâkamin
kikâwî-apiw
ê-minwênihtaman
wânaw itê ka-kapâsimocik
ki-ka-kôkîn mîna kimêtawân
mamahkâhan kihcikamihk
nipîy ê-sâsopâcikêyân
wâpamêkosis, oh wâpamêkosis
nikamostawinân
ê-nihtâ-nikamoyan
kiminohtâkosin
tipiskâw kikawisimon
ê-kîsokwâmi-hi-yan
tipiskâwipîsim, acâhkosak
wâsowak ê-nipâyan
wâpamêkosis, oh wâpamêkosis
pê-wâpan âsay,
kotak kîsikâw
wîpac ka-waniskân
wâpamêkosis kâ-pimâtakât mitoni wânaw ê-itâtakât
kîsikohk êkwa nipîhk
wâpamêkosis aspin
wâpamêkosis aspin
Baby Beluga (Raffi)
Baby beluga in the deep blue sea
Swim so wild and you swim so free
Heaven above and the sea below
And a little white whale on the go
Baby beluga, baby beluga
Is the water warm
Is your mama home with you, so happy
Way down yonder where the dolphins play
Where you dive and splash all day
Waves roll in and the waves roll out
See the water squirtin’ out of your spout
Baby beluga, oh, baby beluga
Sing your little song
Sing for all your friends, we like to hear you
When it’s dark, you’re home and fed
Curl up, snug in your water bed
Moon is shining and the stars are out
Good night, little whale, good night
Baby…
