Thanks to Andrea Custer H. Clarke for allowing us to share this prayer that she composed for the Sunday class she teaches for nêhiyawêwin Language Experience.
She offers two versions. One as a prayer to be said by a group (shown in the image above). The second, as it would be said by an individual, appears part way through the video. She gives thanks, and asks for help with kindness and compassion, and for help speaking and being Cree.
It’s a lovely prayer, Andrea, and your gentle recording conveys a sense of blessing in itself. ay-hay!
nohtâwînân, kisê-manitow:
kinanâskomitinân anohc kâ-kîsikâk
sawêyiminân niyanân kitawâsimisak
wîcihinân ka-kisêwâtisiyahk
êkwa ka-sâkihitoyahk
wícihinân mîna ka-nêhiyawêyahk
êkwa ka-nêhiyawâtisiyahk tahto-kîsikâw
kinanâskomitinân
ay-hay.
ᓄᐦᑖᐑᓈᐣ, ᑭᓭ ᒪᓂᑐᐤ:
ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᓈᐣ ᐊᓄᐦᐨ ᑳ ᑮᓯᑳᐠ
ᓴᐍᔨᒥᓈᐣ ᓂᔭᓈᐣ ᑭᑕᐚᓯᒥᓴᐠ
wíᒋᐦᐃᓈᐣ ᑲ ᑭᓭᐚᑎᓯᔭᕽ
ᐁᑿ ᑲ ᓵᑭᐦᐃᑐᔭᕽ
wíᒋᐦᐃᓈᐣ ᒦᓇ ᑲ ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᔭᕽ
ᐁᑿ ᑲ ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐚᑎᓯᔭᕽ ᑕᐦᑐ ᑮᓯᑳᐤ
ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᓈᐣ
ᐊᐩ ᐦᐊᐩ᙮
[Since Andrea chose not to include a translation, maybe one of those language learners on whose behalf she prays will favour us with their interpretation in a comment.]
4 Responses
Im a learner through cree Simon says
I believe the above prayer may say
Our father
The creator
We thank you today for it to be daylight
Bless us your children
Help us now for you and us to be gentle and for you and us to love one another
Aid us again we speak cree and live a traditional cree life
Each day we give thank to you.
Well done, Pauline! miywâsin!
Hi
I believe the interpretation might be:
Our father, Our loving Creator
We thank you for another day
Bless us your children
Help us to be gentle and to be kind
And to love one another
Help us also in how we live our lives (As Cree people for ‘nêhiyawêyahk’)
And also how we live our lives daily together as your people (reference to Cree lifestyle)
We thank you.
Nicely done, Donna! miywâsin!