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Lyrics to nêhiyaw language albums 

Back of W.T. and the Treaty Six Band.png

Recorded at Homestead Recorders

Treaty Six Territory

Edmonton, Alberta

November 2023

Release Date: May 1, 2024

Track 1: Homage to the Ancestors

Track 2: Sâkihitowask (Love Medicine)

Track 3: Nimosôm êkwa Nohkom (Grandfather & Grandmother)

Track 4: Kâkikê Mîna Kâkikê (Forever & Ever)

Track 5: The One I Love - Ana Kâ-Sâkihak

Track 6: Tahtwâw Mâna (Every Time)

Track 7: Kîsikaw II (For A While II)

Track 8: Nôcikiwikamikosihk (Where the Elders Dwelt)
Track 9: The Niya Song (The Me Song)

Track 10: Miywâsin (It Is Good) Featuring Louis Lapatack

Recording Engineer, Mixer, Editor, and Mastering: Kurt West

Producers: Kurt West and Rob Kaup

Lyrics were vetted by Elder Leona Makokis

Album Artwork:

Front - Hayley Rayne

Back - Gwen Cardinal

Special thank you to Pamela McCoy-Jones and the Supporting Indigenous Language Revitalization crew for financially supporting the creation of these two language albums.

This album is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Lavina Mina Jackson, who raised us in "Nôcikiwikamikosihk" and imparted to us the gift of language. Thank you mom for your 86 years you were on this earth and for passing on the gift of nêhiyawêwin.

****Proceeds of these language albums will go towards nêhiyawêwin language immersion effort through the Nehiyawe Cultural Institute***

Track 1: Homage to the Ancestors

 

Written by Wayne Jackson
Fiddle: Darla Daniels

Vocals, Rattle and Drum: W.T. Goodspirit & Monty Baptiste
Electric Guitar: Kurt West
 

Homage to the Ancestors is a mix of traditional Métis fiddle and traditional song, an homage to our ancestors who left us this type of music & a nod to Redbone for leading the Indigenous music scene all those years ago.

Track 2: ᓵᑭᐦᐃᑐᐊᐧᐢᐠ sâkihitowask (Love Medicine)

 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Lead Guitar: Rob Kaup

Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

 

In our nêhiyaw culture using sâkihitowask on someone is a terrible thing that one can do to another person. It leads to heartache and pain, which consequently leads to the person placing the charm and the person on the receiving end of the spell to ultimately dislike one another. The song was intended to play on how someone can become infatuated with another. It can feel like “love medicine” has been placed on the person and makes that person feel ‘crazy in love,’ but not the negative connotation that comes in the nêhiyaw way, but rather the bells and whistles that one feels with someone they fall deeply in love with.

 

êkospî ê-wâpamak ê-mohcwahit,

(That time I saw her she made me go crazy)

êkospî ê-wâpamak ê-kîskwêhit,

(That time I saw her she made me go insane)

namoy’ wihkâc êkosîsi ê-ispayiyân

(I’ve never experienced anything like that before)

tânêhki ôma êkosi kâ-isi-ayâyân?

(Why am I feeling this way?)

Chorus

wihtamawin, tânêhki ôma?

(Tell me why is this?)

êkâ kwayask ê-isi-pîkiskwêyân?

(That I can’t even speak properly?)

tânisi ôma ê-itohtawiyan

(What did you do to me?)

skwâc sipwêhtê êkâ kitâpamin

(Just leave, don’t even look at me)

Repeat

Track 3: ᓂᒧᓲᒼ ᐁᑲᐧ ᓄᐦᑯᒼ nimosôm êkwa nohkom (Grandfather and Grandmother)  

 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

Lead Guitar: Rob Kaup
Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

B3 Organ: Graham Guest

Background Vocals: Dallas Waskahat & Fawn Wood


Nimosôm and Nohkom was written about my maternal grandfather Noah Jackson and my paternal grandmother Helen Jackson (nee Cardinal). Both were kind, nurturing, and loving towards me and this song is dedicated to their memory. Noah was a humorous old gent and always looked out for us, despite his hard life, he found a way to be still kind, comical, and caring. Nohkom Helen had a soft spot for me in her heart, probably because she had lost her son at a young age via a tragic car accident, and that I was left fatherless since I was a year old. 

The song has a unique reggae feel to it that plays on the traditional chants found in our drum songs and the one Bob Marley tune that uses ‘scat’ in his song, Buffalo Soldier. The irony is that the Buffalo Soldiers were the ones the Plains iyiniwak (Native Americans) fought, yet went through similar plights by mainstream society.

 

Chant chorus

Ayyy-yaay-yo  Ayyy-yaay-ya-hey

Ayyy-yaay-yaa-yaa-yaa Ayyy-yaay-ya-hey-yo

 

Verse 1

nimosôm êkwa nohkom mistahi nikî-pê-kiskinohamâkwak
(My grandfather and grandmother showed me a great many things)
nimosôm êkwa nohkom mistahi kisêwâtisiwak,

(My grandfather and grandmother were very kind)

 

Chant chorus

 

V2

nimosôm êkwa nohkom mistahi nipê-wihtamâkwak

(My grandfather and grandmother came to tell me a great many things)

nimosôm êkwa nohkom mistahi pê-kiskêyihtamwak

(My grandfather and grandmother knew a great many things)

 

Chorus

 

V3

nimosôm êkwa nohkom mistahi nisâkihikwak

(My grandfather and grandmother love me very much)

nimosôm êkwa nohkom mistahi nisâkihâwak

(I love my grandfather and grandmother very much)

Chorus

 

Outro

Track 4: ᑳᑭᑫ ᒦᓇ ᑳᑭᑫ kâkikê mîna kâkikê  (Forever and Ever)

 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Lead Guitar, Piano & Harmonies: Rob Kaup

Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

Pedal Steel: Nathan Burns

This song was written for the love of my life, Janice Tracy Jackson, who has also brought me the greatest joy in our lives, our surprise baby, Waskay Vinarose Jackson. The lyrics speak for how I feel about nisâkihâkan.

pê-pihtikwê nisâkihâkan, hmm mmm

(Come inside my love)

êkâ nânitaw itêyimin pimisiniyâni ôta

(Don’t think anything if I lay here)

kîkwêy cî kinitawêyihtên ka-itôtamâtân?…ka-itôtamâtân

(Is there anything you want me to do for you?)

Chorus  

kâkikê mîna kâkikê ka-sâkihitin,

(Forever and ever, I’ll love you)

kâkikê mîna kâkikê ka-sâkihitin,

(Forever and ever, I’ll love you)

saaa…ka-sâkihitin

(I’ll love you)

 

V2

pê-ocêmin nisâkihâkan, hmm mmm

(Come and kiss me my love)

kay’ nân’taw itêyimin astâyâni ôta nicihcihk

(Don’t think anything of me if I put my hand here)

kikiskêyihtên êkwa, namoy’ konita ê-itwêyân…ê-itwêyân

(Now you know I meant what I said)

 

Repeat Chorus

Track 5: ᐊᓇ ᑳ ᓵᑭᐦᐊᐠ ana kâ-sâkihak (The One I Love)

Written by Bill Berry, Micheal Stipe, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills translated by Wayne Jackson

Vocals and Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Lead Guitar: Rob Kaup

Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

Background Vocals: Rob Kaup, Monty Baptiste, Dallas Waskahat & Fawn Wood

Ana Kâ-Sâkihak is the lone cover song in nêhiyawêwin on the album. A track I chose from the several I had contemplated covering. The idea was to indigenize the song and Fawn Wood, Dallas Waskahat & Monty Baptiste helped bring the song to life in that way by incorporating sâkiwê, traditional hand drumming, and trilling. The lyrics are almost similar to the English R.E.M. version and are along the same concept as written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, therefore translations are close to the original.

Track 6: ᑕᐦᑖᐧᐤ ᒫᓇ  tahtwâw mâna (Every Time)

 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

Lead Guitar, Acoustic Lead, Piano & Harmonies: Rob Kaup
Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

B3 Organ: Graham Guest

A fictional account about the angst that a young person feels about seeing someone in a social situation whom they are attracted to but are desperately shy. Sometimes urging from friends to go ahead and meet him/her will help that person to overcome their fears and approach the person they are enamored by. The two get acquainted and traditionally are taken to meet the parents to solidify whether they pass the ‘parent’ test. Ultimately, many years later they have many children and are still in love.

This song has a unique ‘disco’ vibe going on, which was unintended when I was writing it on my acoustic guitar but came to life as such when it came to studio time, thank you Rob Kaup for all your artistic creativity and arrangements in these songs.

 

Verse 1

êkospî kâ-wâpamak sêmâk nikî-sâkihâw mâka êkospî ninêpêwisiskin

(That time I saw her I feel in love but I was so shy)

wahyawês nitôtisâpamâw, niwîhtamâkwak nitawi-pîkiskwâs êkwa êkota ê-wîcihtoyâhk

(From afar I saw her, and they told me to go and talk to her, from then on we started going together)

Chorus

tahtwâw mâna kâ-kitâpamak

(Each time I look at her)

tahtwâw mâna kâ-kitâpamit

(Each time she looks at me)

tâpitaw mâna ê-sâkihitoyâhk

(Continually we are in love)

Verse 2  

nikî-kîwêtahik ta-nitaw’-nakiskawakik onîkihikikwa, sêmâk nimiywêyimikwak
(She took me home to meet her parents and right away they liked me),
anohc kâ-kîsikâk ê-mihcêtôsêyâhk êkwa kiyâpic nisâkihitonân

(To this very day, we have many children and are still very much in love)

Track 7: ᑮᓯᑲᐤ  kîsikaw II (For a While II)
 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

Lead Guitar, Background Vocals & Harmonies: Rob Kaup
Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

B3 Organ: Graham Guest

A revisit to a song written about language loss and how a person is determined to regain it. This song almost didn't make the cut, but thanks to the ancestors and being in ceremony at Blue Quills, it was their inspiration that helped me to rewrite this song.

 

Verse 1

nikî-wanihtân nipîkiskwêwin
(I had lost my talk)

okiskinohamâkêw nikî-kihkâmik

(The teacher scolded me when I spoke)

nohkom nititik “ahkamêyimo

(My grandmother said, “persevere)

êkâ wanihtâ kipîkiskwêwin”
(Don’t lose your language.”)

 

Chorus
 

kîsikaw ê-maskamikawiyahk kinêhiyawiwinaw

(For a while our culture was stolen from us)

kîsikaw ê-maskamikawiyahk kipîkiskwêwininaw

(For a while our language was stolen from us)

 

V2

nikiskinohamâkosin ê-otinamân,
(I am going to school and I am taking)

nêhiyawêwin ta-nisitohtamân

(nêhiyawêwin so I can understand it)

nitahkamêyimon namoya nipakicên

(I am trying and I’ll never give up)

ê-mâmitonêyimakik nicâpânak

(I think about my ancestors)

Chorus

Instrumental

Chorus

namoy kihtwâm nika-ati-wanihtân

(I will never lose my language again)

ê-kiskinohamawakik nôsisimak

(I am now teaching my grandchildren)

Track 8: ᓅᒋᑭᐃᐧᑲᒥᑯᓯᕁ  nôcikiwikamikosihk (Where the  Elders Dwelt)

 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Fiddle: Darla Daniels

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

Lead Guitar: Russell Shott

Guitar & Harmonies: Rob Kaup
Upright Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

Pedal Steel: Nathan Burns

 

The title track of the album and the place where I grew up from birth to around 1982. It is located in the heart of my nation, Goodfish Lake, where from around the 1960s to the late 1980s, there was a community of Elders, parents, and families who continued to speak the language and kept the community’s culture vibrant by visiting and gathering one another, and where the language surrounded the children. It is where I was able to retain my early thoughts in nêhiyawêwin and where I stored many memories growing up in nôcikiwikamikosihk with family and friends. I miss the place but more importantly, the people --and many who have traveled ahead of us now.

Special thanks to Russell Shott, who years prior, had shown me the intro lick and told me to write a song around it.

 

Verse 1

ôta nitaskînân  ê-nipahi-kâ-kâmwâtahk,
(Here on our land, it’s been very calm)
nôcikinosêwiyiniw ê-ati-kwâskwêpicikêt,
(A fisherman has been rod and reel fishing)
otâkwani-mîcisonâniwiw, mitoni ê-kîspoyâhk,
(There was much eating at supper time and we got very full)
nisikos takohtêw, ê-pê-âcimot.
(Auntie has arrived, she’s come to tell us stories)

Verse 2

kayâs mâna ê-kiyokâtohk, sôskwâc kî-miywâsin, 

(Long ago, people used to visit one another, it was just so nice)

pahpiwak asiyiniwak kâ-kiyokâtitocik,

(Laughter was heard when the people visited one another)
kî-wâpan-mêtawâniwiw, sôskwâc ê-kî-môcikahk

(Sometimes there were cards played all night long, it was so fun)
anohc kâ-kîsikâk pîtos ispayin.

(Today times have changed, it’s not that way anymore,

 

Chorus

nôcikiwikamikosihk ê-kî-ohpikiyâhk,

(Where the Elders dwelt is where we were raised)

ê-awâsisi-mêtawêyâhk kapê-kîsik,
(As children, we played there all day long)

nôcikiwikamikosihk ê-kî-ohpikiyâhk,

(Where the Elders dwelt is where we were raised)

ê-awâsisi-mêtawêyâhk kapê-kîsik.
(As children, we played there all day long)

 

Instrumental

 

V3

nikî-kitimâkisinân moy mistahi ê-ohci-tipêyihtamâhk

(We were poor and never owned very much)
nistêsinân kî-nahêw, kî-sôniskwâtahikêw

(Our older brother was skilled & he played hockey)

nikâwînân kî-kakayawatisiw nimosômipanân wîsta

(Our mom was a hard worker, and so was our late grandfather)

nikotwâsokîsikâw ê-kî-nipahi-môcikahk

(Saturdays were the most fun time of the week)

 

Chorus repeat

Track 9: The ᓂᔭ niya Song

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Drums: Kham Yanghwe

Lead Guitar & Harmonies: Rob Kaup
Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

Pedal Steel: Nathan Burns

NIya is a play on the verb conjugation patterns in our language which are the simple animate intransitive verbs we use and designed for language learners to hear the patterns. It is about “me” doing some simple activities, and the way Rob Kaup arranged the music is like a Jimi Hendrix rock song. I love it!

 

nitatoskân, nitatoskân, ê-atoskêyân, ê-atoskêyân,

(I am working, I am working, as I work, as I work)

nitatoskân kapê-kîsik, nitatoskân, ê-atoskêyân, 

(I am working all day long, I am working, as I work)

 

nitayapin, nitayapin, ê-apiyân, ê-apiyân,

(I am home, I am home, as I am home, as I am home)

nitayapin nêkinahk, nitayapin, ê-apiyân

(I am home at my place, I am home, as I am home)

 

Instrumental

 

ninikamon, ninikamon, ê-nikamoyân, ê-nikamoyân,
(I am singing, I am singing, as I sing, as I sing)

ninikamon kapê-tipisk, ninikamon, ê-nikamoyân,

(I am singing all night long, I am singing, as I sing)

 

niwî-kîwân, niwî-kîwân, ê-kîwêyân, ê-kîwêyân, 

(I am going home, I am going home, as I go home, as I go home)

niwî-kîwân ta-nipâyân, niwî-kîwân, ê-kîwêyân  

(I am going home to sleep, I am going home, as I go home)

sâkiwê

Track 10: miywâsin (It Is Good) featuring Louis Lapatack

Written by Wayne Jackson

Narration: Louis Lapatack

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit

Percussions: Kham Yanghwe

Guitar: Rob Kaup
Upright Bass: Lindsay Bueckert

Miywâsin was a melody that had been rolling in my head and started as a song entitled, Life is Good, but that was the extent of that song until last Spring 2023, when my cousin Clifford Cardinal whom I met up with at a conference told me, “I dreamt of you singing this one song, but you were talking too,” he then showed me the song, "Far Away Eyes" by the Rolling Stones. When I started coming up with song ideas in the summer, I thought of this melody and the idea hit me to incorporate a spoken story in the song instead. The song includes Elder, Vietnam war veteran, and knowledge keeper, Louis Lapatack from our sister nation, Saddle Lake, and he is relating a story in our language.

 

The original story was told to Louis by the late Emil Pruden, a common friend and acquaintance to the both of us who suffered from diabetes, who also ----as I just found out---was a close relation to me. Emil relates how he tried to get healing from the healing waters of Lac St. Anne. mânitowi-sâkahikanihk and the story takes a comical turn at the expense of the Elders mentioned in his story.

 

Lac St. Anne was a gathering place for hundreds if not thousands of years and the positive tones of the song seemed to accentuate the humour found within the story as retold by Louis. 

 

Verse 1 narration

mâka kiyânaw ôma kâ-nêhiyawêyahk, nanahtohk kîkwêy ê-nâkatêyihtamahk,

But to those of us who are nêhiyawak, we are careful in many a thing,
nanahtohk, mîna ê-âcimohk, âskaw ê-wawiyasinamihk kîkwêy,

All sorts of things, and we relate stories, sometimes there are things that are humorous,      

wiya otâcimowin ôma, aya itiw, “nîsta mânitowi-sâkahikanihk nikî-itohtân,” itiw.
This is his (Emil Pruden’s) story, he said, “I too went to Lac St. Anne,”
“êkospî ê-âpacihtâyân ôhi canes” “ayamihêwikamikohk nikî-pihtikwân,” itiw 

I was using these canes at the time, "and I entered the church,” he said.

“êkwa ê-wâpahtamân êkota pihcayihk ayamihêwikamikohk ê-kikwamoki saskahona.”

“And I as I entered the church, I could see the canes that hung on the church walls,”

Chorus

miywâsin awiyak ka-sâkihat,    miywâsin awiyak ka-sâkihat

It is good to love somebody, it is good to love somebody,

wihtamâski ê-sâkihisk,  êkwa kâkikê ka-wîc-ayâmisk

When they tell you they love you back, and they’ll be with you forever,

miywâsin, oh miywâsin

It is good, it is good.

Verse 2 narration

“mâka ê-kî-âtotimihk anima miracles ê-kî-ayispayiki,” itiw, 

“Miracles êkota ohci ê-kî-nâtawihmocik ôki,”

“But there were miracles that were to have happened here (Lac St. Anne),” he said, “Many went for the miracle cures there”

“pâhkopêwin ôma ôta manitowi-sâkahikanihk, ê-mahtâwahk, “ ê-kî-itwêt.

“People wade the waters of Lac St. Anne, it was water that is miraculous,” he said.

“êkwa nititohtân sâkahikanihk, itiw, nîsta ê-saskahoyân canes, êkwa cêhcapiwinis ê-kî-pêtâyân, itiw, folding chairs, mâna ôhi

“And so I went to the lake,” he said, “I too was using canes & I brought a chair with me,” he said, “those kinds of folding chairs.”

ita mitoni kêhciwâk anita sâkahikanihk nitayapin, itiw, nîsta ê-wâpahkêyân, ê-kâkîsimoyân ôma, nîsta kakwê-miywayâyân niskâta ôhi.

“And I sat close to the shores of Lac St. Anne,” he said, “I observed, I prayed, I was praying for healing of my diabetic feet/legs.”

 

Chorus 2 

miywâsin ka-oyôsisimihk, miywâsin ka-oyôsisimihk, 

It is good to have grandchildren, it is good to have grandchildren,

takohtêwâwi kîkiwahk êkwa kahkiyaw kisâkihikwak  

When they arrive at your home and they all love you,

miywâsin, oh miywâsin

It is good, it is good,

V3 narration

kêhtahtawê êkota kâ-pahkopêcik kêhtê-ayak nîso, itiw, 

nôcikwêsiw, kisêyiniw, mitoni wihcikwaniwahk isko ê-nâ-nîpawicik

“When there were these 2 elders who did the wading of the waters,” he said, “an old woman, an old man they waded up to their knees in the lake”

kêhtahtawê awa sikoc kâ-têpwêt ‘kinêpik!’ 

Then all of a sudden this one person yelled, “SNAKE!”

kinêpikos êsa êkotê ê-pa-pimicimêt, sêkihtâsow awa, itiw,

wîsta kisêyiniw êkwa nôtikiw ana êsa ê-pakiciwêpinâhkik saskahôna,

“This one little snake was swimming in the lake, and he scared the people,” he said, “This old man & old lady then dropped their canes,”

skwâc êkota ê-pê-kapâ-pahtâcik,” ê-itwêt,

“êkwânima êtikwê miracle.” (laughter)

“They proceeded to run to shore,” he said, “that must’ve been the miracle.”

 

Chorus 3

miywâsin ka-miyo-wîcihitohk,       miywâsin ka-miyo-wîcihitohk, 

It is good to get along with one another, It is good to get along with one another, 

wêtinahk ka-pimâtisihk êkwa ka-miyo-âcimohk,

To live a peaceable life and to tell some good stories,

miywâsin, oh miywâsin

It is good, it is good

tâpwê miywâsin, sôskwâc miywâsin, êkosi anima miywâsin, tâpwê-miywâsin, yeah, yeah, yeah…

It’s so good, its really good, that is so good, its truly good

 

(laughter) êkosi ana ê-kî-pêhtawak kisâspinê

That’s the way I might have heard it

The Album WT and Awâsisak (WT and kids)

NCI presents W.T. and Awâsisak2.png

Recorded at B & B Studios

Treaty Six Territory

Fort Saskatcehwan, Alberta

January 2024

Release Date: May 1, 2024

Track 1: The Tân (How, Where, Which, When, Where  is) Song

Track 2: The Birthday Song (Miyo-tipiska)

Track 3: You Are My Sunshine (Nisâkihâkan)

Track 4: The Tânisi Song

Track 5: The One Hundred Song (Mitâtahtomitanaw)

Track 6: Let's Set the Table Now (Wiyacikêtân Sêmâk Êkwa) Sung to Video Killed the Radio Star

Recording Engineer, Mixer, and Editor: Brian Burshtinski
Mastering: Kurt West

Producers: Brian Burshtinski and Kurt West

Album Artwork: Gabrielle Tourangeau

Special thank you to Pamela McCoy-Jones and the Supporting Indigenous Language Revitalization crew for financially supporting the creation of these two language albums.

This album is dedicated to the children who have attended the Nehiyawe Cultural Institute's Immerson classes since they began in 2022. 
Benjamin Chartrand
Malaya Chartrand
Samantha Heard
Sophie Heard
Mia Thomas
Timayah Thomas
Waskway Jackson

****Proceeds of these language albums will go towards nêhiyawêwin language immersion effort through the Nehiyawe Cultural Institute***

Track 1: The Tân (How, Where, Where, Which, When, Where is?) Song

 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit
Guitar: Brian Burshtinski
Drums: 
Electric Piano: Rockin' Rod Shapka 
 

tânisi kiya? tânisi kiya? tânisi kiya?
How are you?
tânitê ohci kiya? tânitê ohci kiya? tânitê ohci kiya?

Where are you from?

tânima kiya? tânima kiya? tânima kiya?

Which is yours?

tânispî ôma? tânispî ôma? tânispî ôma?

When is this?

tâniwâ ana? tâniwâ ana? tâniwâ ana?

Where is that one?

REPEAT

Track 2: The Birthday Song (Miyo-tipiska)

 

Written by Patty and Mildred Hill

Vocals: Benjamin Chartrand, Malaya Chartrand, Samantha Heard, Sophie Heard, Mia Thomas, Timayah Thomas and Tracy Jackson
Rhythm Guitar: W.T. Goodspirit
Guitar: Brian Burshtinski
Drums: 
Electric Piano: Rockin' Rod Shapka

miyo-tipiska kiya, miyo-tipiska kiya, miyo-tipiska kiya, 

miyo-tipiska kiya, 

Instrumental
 

miyo-tipiska kiya, miyo-tipiska kiya, miyo-tipiska kiya, 

miyo-tipiska kiya,
 

Track 1: You Are My Sunshine (Nisâkihikan)

 

Written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals: W.T. Goodspirit
Guitar: Brian Burshtinski
Drums: 
Electric Piano: Rockin' Rod Shapka 
 

nisâkihâkan, nisâkihâkan, (My love, my love)

kimôcikîhin kâ-pê-yîkwaskwahk (You make me happy when it's overcast)
moy kâc ka-kiskêyihtên iyikohk ê-sâkihîtân, (You'll never know how much I love you)

êkâ kwâsihistamawin (Don't take her from me)

 

awasi-tipiskohk kâ-mêkwâ-nipâyân, (The other night as I was asleep)

ê-pawâtamân ê-âkwaskitinitân (I dreamt I held you in my arms)

kâ-koskopayiyân moy êcik anima, (When I awoke, it wasn't so)

nitapahtiskwêyin ê-mâci-mâtoyân (I hung my head and started crying)
 

nisâkihâkan, nisâkihâkan, (My love, my love)

kimôcikîhin kâ-pê-yîkwaskwahk (You make me happy when it's overcast)
moy kâc ka-kiskêyihtên iyikohk ê-sâkihîtân, (You'll never know how much I love you)

êkâ kwâsihistamawin (Don't take her from me)

Instrumental 
Repeat Chorus
 

Track 4: The Tânisi Song

 

Written by Brian MacDonald
Vocals: Benjamin Chartrand, Malaya Chartrand, Samantha Heard, Sophie Heard, Mia Thomas, Timayah Thomas and Tracy Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm: W.T. Goodspirit
Guitar: Brian Burshtinski
Drums: 
Electric Piano: Rockin' Rod Shapka
 

Hello…tânisi?

How are you?...tânisi kiya?

I am fine…namoya nânitaw

Come on in…pihtikwê

Sit down…api

Have some tea…maskihkiwâpoy minihkwê

 

tâpwê miywâsin, ê-pê-kiyokêyan (it is so goo of you to come visit me)

tânitê ê-kî-itohtêyan? (where did you go?)

mahti âcimo, kîkway ê-kî-osihtâyan? (would you tell a story, what had done?)

mahti âcimostawin? (Would you tell me a story?)

Instrumental

Repeat
 

Track 5: The One Hundred Song (Mitâtahtomitanaw)

 

Written by Wayne Jackson
Vocals: Benjamin Chartrand, Malaya Chartrand, Samantha Heard, Sophie Heard, Mia Thomas, Timayah Thomas and Tracy Jackson

Vocals & Rhythm: W.T. Goodspirit
Guitar: Brian Burshtinski
Drums: 
Electric Piano: Rockin' Rod Shapka
 

pêyakwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

100

nîswâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

200

nistwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

300

nêwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

400

niyânanwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

500

nikotwâskwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

600

têpakohpwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

700

ayinânêwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

800

kêkâ-mitâtahtwâw mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

900

pêyakwâw kihci mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

1000

nîswâw kihci mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

2000

nistwâw kihci mitâtahtomitanaw, repeat 3X

3000
 

Track 6: Wiyascikêtân Sêmâk Êkwa (C'mon, Let's Set the Table) sung to "Video Killed the Radio Star"

 

Written by Bruce Woolley, Geoffery Downes, Trevor Charles re-written by Wayne Jackson

Vocals: Benjamin Chartrand, Malaya Chartrand, Samantha Heard, Sophie Heard, Mia Thomas, Timayah Thomas, Tracy Jackson and W.T. Goodspirit

awîna ana kâ-pê-kiyokâkoyêk anohc? (Who came here to visit y’all today?)

kikway ana kâ-kî-nitawêyihta ôta? (What did s/he want?)

kitasamâw mîcimâpoy cî mîna? (Did you feed her/him some soup?)
wahwâ Oh my!

 

kayâs mâna ê-kî-asahkêhk, (Long ago people used to feed others)

pê-pihtikwênâniwiw ê-piminawasohk (When one came in the cooking started)

pîtos ispayin êkwa namoy nisitohtên (Things have changed so much I cannot understand)
wahwâ Oh my!

 

asâmâtân (Let’s feed her/him)

awîna? (Who?)

nâha okiyokêw (That visitor over there)

 

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa  (C'mon, lets set the table)

 

pê-api êkwa pê-mîciso (Come sit and come and eat)

wah-wah-wahwâ oh my my!

 

sîwihtâkan pê-itisinamawin (Pass to me the salt)
papêskomina mahti nêma (And that pepper too)

wihkasinwa ôhi mîciwina (This food tastes so good)

wahwâ oh my!

sôskwâc êkâ (Just don’t!)

kîkway? What?
manâ-mîciso (eat the food sparingly (gorge out)

 

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)
 

askipwâwa wihkasinwa, (The potatoes taste good)

sôminisak wihkitisiwak (So do the raisins)

wah-wah-wahwâ oh my my!

wah-wah-wahwâ oh my my!
 

Instrumental

 

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

 

askipwâwa wihkasinwa (The potatoes taste so good)

sôminisak wihkitisiwak (The raisins too)

maskihkiwâpoy sêkinamawin (Pour me some tea)

kahkiyaw wihkasinwa (All of it tastes good!)
 

ki-ka-kîsponânaw-wo-wo-wo We will get full

ki-ka-kîsponânaw-wo-wo-wo We will get full
 

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)
wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

wiyascikêtân sêmâk êkwa (C'mon, lets set the table)

Fade out

NEHIYAWE CULTURAL INSTITUTE

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