We get two Squatches for the price of one in this performance of Sol’s newly translated version of the 12 Days of Christmas. As always, it’s a challenge to fit Cree words into English song structure, but it’s sure a winner if you’re looking for a challenge with a big side of laughter. (Scroll way down for Sol’s other English-only adaptation!)
| nîsosâpwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk | ᓃᓱᓵᑇᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ | Twelve Days Of Christmas |
|---|---|---|
| piyakwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᐱᔭᒁᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (one deer) |
| nîswâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓃᔃᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (two beavers, one deer) |
| nistwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓂᐢᑤᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| nîwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓃᐚᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| niyânanwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓂᔮᓇᓎᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| nikotwâsikwâw kâmakosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᒁᐤ ᑳᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| nikotwâsik tâpakwâna, niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᑖᐸᒁᓇ, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (six snares, five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| tîpakohpwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑇᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| tîpakohp athapiya, nikotwâsik tâpakwâna, niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐊᖬᐱᔭ, ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᑖᐸᒁᓇ, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (seven nets, six snares, five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| ayinânîwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐚᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| ayinânîw namîstîkwa, tîpakohp athapiya, nikotwâsik tâpakwâna, niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓇᒦᐢᑏᑿ, ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐊᖬᐱᔭ, ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᑖᐸᒁᓇ, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (eight fish fillets, seven nets, six snares, five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| kîkâ-mitâtahtwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᑮᑳ ᒥᑖᑕᐦᑤᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| kîkâ-mitâtaht pahkîkinwa, ayinânîw namîstîkwa, tîpakohp athapiya, nikotwâsik tâpakwâna, niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᑮᑳ ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᐸᐦᑮᑭᓌ, ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓇᒦᐢᑏᑿ, ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐊᖬᐱᔭ, ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᑖᐸᒁᓇ, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (nine leather hides, eight fish fillets, seven nets, six snares, five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| mitâtahtwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᒥᑖᑕᐦᑤᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| mitâtaht ocâpânâskosa, kîkâ-mitâtaht pahkîkinwa, ayinânîw namîstîkwa, tîpakohp athapiya, nikotwâsik tâpakwâna, niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᐅᒑᐹᓈᐢᑯᓴ, ᑮᑳ ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᐸᐦᑮᑭᓌ, ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓇᒦᐢᑏᑿ, ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐊᖬᐱᔭ, ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᑖᐸᒁᓇ, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (ten sleds, nine leather hides, eight fish fillets, seven nets, six snares, five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| piyakosâpwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᐱᔭᑯᓵᑇᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| piyakosâp atimwa, mitâtaht ocâpânâskosa, kîkâ-mitâtaht pahkîkinwa, ayinânîw namîstîkwa, tîpakohp athapiya, nikotwâsik tâpakwâna, niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᐱᔭᑯᓵᑊ ᐊᑎᒷ, ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᐅᒑᐹᓈᐢᑯᓴ, ᑮᑳ ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᐸᐦᑮᑭᓌ, ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓇᒦᐢᑏᑿ, ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐊᖬᐱᔭ, ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᑖᐸᒁᓇ, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (eleven dogs, ten sleds, nine leather hides, eight fish fillets, seven nets, six snares, five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
| nîsosâpwâw kâ-makosîkîsikâk nîcimos nimîthik | ᓃᓱᓵᑇᐤ ᑳ ᒪᑯᓰᑮᓯᑳᐠ ᓃᒋᒧᐢ ᓂᒦᖨᐠ | |
| nîsosâp asâma, piyakosâp atimwa, mitâtaht ocâpânâskosa, kîkâ-mitâtaht pahkîkinwa, ayinânîw namîstîkwa, tîpakohp athapiya, nikotwâsik tâpakwâna, niyânan wanihikana, niyo wâposwa, nisto niska, nîso amiskwa, piyak apisimôsoswa. | ᓃᓱᓵᑊ ᐊᓵᒪ, ᐱᔭᑯᓵᑊ ᐊᑎᒷ, ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᐅᒑᐹᓈᐢᑯᓴ, ᑮᑳ ᒥᑖᑕᐦᐟ ᐸᐦᑮᑭᓌ, ᐊᔨᓈᓃᐤ ᓇᒦᐢᑏᑿ, ᑏᐸᑯᐦᑊ ᐊᖬᐱᔭ, ᓂᑯᑤᓯᐠ ᑖᐸᒁᓇ, ᓂᔮᓇᐣ ᐘᓂᐦᐃᑲᓇ, ᓂᔪ ᐚᐳᔁ, ᓂᐢᑐ ᓂᐢᑲ, ᓃᓱ ᐊᒥᐢᑿ, ᐱᔭᐠ ᐊᐱᓯᒨᓱᔁ᙮ | (twelve pairs of snowshoes, eleven dogs, ten sleds, nine leather hides, eight fish fillets, seven nets, six snares, five traps, four rabbits, three geese, two beavers, one deer.) |
I’m a bit disappointed that Sol didn’t translate his English language adaptation of the 12 Days of Christmas for contemporary Cree culture (the one with hickeys!) It obviously comes with a different side of laughter. It’s presented here for the record, and for consideration by the Translators of Christmas Future, though singing along and laughing are good medicine in any language!
Sol’s English-only version:
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
a huge hickey on my neck.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me
two cans of spam and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Five baaaaannocks,
Four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Six bingo dabbers, five baaaannocks, four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Seven double-doubles, six bingo dabbers, five baaaannocks, four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eight braids of sweetgrass, seven double-doubles, six bingo dabbers, five baaaannocks, four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Nine beaded lighters, eight braids of sweetgrass, seven double-doubles, six bingo dabbers, five baaaannocks, four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Ten fringed ribbon shirts, nine beaded lighters, eight braids of sweetgrass, seven double-doubles, six bingo dabbers, five baaaannocks, four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eleven KFC wings, ten fringed ribbon shirts, nine beaded lighters, eight braids of sweetgrass, seven double-doubles, six bingo dabbers, five baaaannocks, four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Twelve beading needles, eleven KFC wings, ten fringed ribbon shirts, nine beaded lighters, eight braids of sweetgrass, seven double-doubles, six bingo dabbers, five baaaannocks, four Facebook memes, three neck bones, two cans of spam, and a huge hickey on my neck.
