nicawâsimis / My Child: Andrea Custer H Clarke (th-dialect)

Thanks to Andrea Custer H Clarke for permission to share this meditation – composed in Cree first, then translated into English. It’s a loving offering to each of her children, for us to share with each of our own. The accompanying photo is a gem from Christmas Seems-Like-Only-Yesterday, featuring Andrea’s youngest two. We send our best to Andrea and to her whole family, wishing them time to celebrate moments of peace in the midst of all the many moving parts of their collective life!
nicawâsimismy child
Andrea Custer H ClarkeChristmas 2024
nicawâsimismy child
kīspin kītahtawī ki-wānīthīhtīn wānīthīhtīnif someday, you feel lost
kiskisi kiwāhkomākanakremember your relations
kapī kika-sākihikwak they will always love you
kiskisi mīna also remember
ka-kākīsimoyan to pray
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kistīthimikhonour
kahkithaw ithiniwak ikwa pisiskiwak all people and animals
kistīthihta askiy ikwa nipiy honour the land and water
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kitakāwātamātin I wish for you
ka-kiskisiyan to remember
kōhkomak your grandmothers
kimosōmak your grandfathers
kitāniskocāpānak your ancestors
ikwa īta kā-ohcīyan and where you come from
kītha ōma asinîskâwi-nīhithaw you are Rock Cree
māhtawi-sīpīhk ohci from the wondrous river
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nicawāsimis my child
kitakāwātamātin I wish for you
ka-nīhithawīyan to speak Cree
ka-nīhithawaw-māmitonīthihtaman to think Cree
ka-nīhithawātisiyan to be Cree
ikwa and
ka-mitho-pimātisiyan to be a good person
ikota ohci kā-wī-ohtinaman this is where you will get ..
mitho-awāyāwin wellness
maskawātisiwin strength
sōhkitīhīwin courage
askaw āthiman ōma pimātisiwin life is difficult sometimes
māka īkā piko wīhkāc ka-pakicīyan but you must never give up
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kika-sākihitin kākikī mīna kākikī you will be loved by me forever and ever

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