Mi’kmaw Hymn for Flag Raising (Mi’kmawey Ktapekiaqn)
Nepsa’tunej wli Mtawekn,
Ta’n westawu’lkw neya’toq klujjewey; Nenuite’tmnej kli’kn,
Ta’n kaqamik Se’nt A’newey.
Wli ntunej ketleweyuaqn
Kisu’lkiktuk weji wla’luek;
Klnmnej alasutmaqn
Wlo’tiktuk ela’luek.
Let’s raise the good flag,
When the Savior brings out the cross;
Remember well the safe place,
The one standing belonging to St. Anne.
Let us speak the truth
From our Creator we get goodness;
Let us keep praying
It will bring us to a better place.
The Bluenose: Queen of the Grand Banks Schooners
Once again with the tide she slips her lines
Turns her head and comes awake
Where she lay so still there at Privateer’s Wharf
Now she quickly gathers way
She will range far south from the harbour mouth
And rejoice with every wave
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun
Feel her bow rise free of Mother Sea
In a sunburst cloud of spray
That stings the cheek while
the rigging will speak
Of sea-miles gone away
She is always best under full press
Hard over as she’ll lay
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun?
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun?
Bridge:
That proud, fast Queen of the Grand Banks Fleet
Portrayed on every dime
Knew hard work in her time... hard work in every line
The rich men’s toys of the Gloucester boys
With their token bit of cod
They snapped their spars and strained to pass her by
But she left them all behind
Now her namesake daughter remains to show what she has been
What every schoolboy remembers and will not come again
To think she’s the last of the Grand Banks Schooners
That fed so many men
Who will know the Bluenosein the sun?
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun?
So does she not take wing like a living thing
Child of the moving tide?
See her pass with grace on the water’s face
With clean and quiet pride
Our own tall ship of great renown still lifts unto the sky
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun?
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun?
Who will know the Bluenose in the sun?
Know the Bluenose in the sun?
Know the Bluenose in the sun?
I'Ko
“Wilfred Prosper explained that nskawaqn tells a tale. When asked what it told a tale about he replied:
‘I don’t really know cause there’s no words to it. [Wilfred sings “I’ko”] What’s that mean? It means nothing. But just the way it’s performed, I guess that means something... Why do they put on a dance for the chief... after he was selected in 1919? And after it was all over they went into the wigwam and they put on this feast dance. So, what they did meant something to fit the occasion. Certainly not the words. The gestures, maybe... If it was done for a marriage ceremony, it was done differently. Not much different, it’s probably the same song, but they probably did something a little different.’”
From an interview with Wilfred Prosper and Dr. Margaret Johnson (1992) by Dr. Trudy Sable. As quoted in the book: The Language of This Land, Mi’kma’ki by Trudy Sable and Bernie Francis.
Aaron Prosper’s thoughts:
“He is describing a dance known as the neskawet or nskawaqn. It is said that this was a welcome or war dance, performed by leaders when they arrived at ceremonial gatherings. The earliest written description of the dance is in 1758, by Fr. Pierre Maillard. The song that is paired with the dance is I’ko, often referred to as a Feast Song or Welcoming Song. While the song is still sung today, the last known time that dance was performed was in the 1930s (with the last date being unknown). A combination of centralization and World War 2 likely had a significant impact on the survival of this dance.”
J'entends le moulin
J’entends le moulin, tique, tique, taque,
J’entends le moulin, taque.
Mon père a fait bâtir maison,
J’entends le moulin (taque).
L’a fait bâtir à trois pignons.
Tique, taque, tique, taque.
J’entends le moulin, tique, tique, taque,
J’entends le moulin, taque.
I hear the millwheel, tick, tick, tock,
I hear the millwheel, tock.
My father is having a house built,
I hear the millwheel, tock.
It’s being built with three gables.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
I hear the millwheel, tick, tick, tock,
I hear the millwheel, tock.
Whale Song
Nesinska’q an mile tujiw elapi
Telamk na kilu’nu wenskaqao’wek elo’
Telamk na kilu’nu wenskaqo’qek elo’
Nitaptut ksma’tekewikw elaji
Telamk na kilu’nu wenskaqo’qek elo’
Telamk na kilu’nu wenskaqo’qek elo’
Nitaptut ksma’tekewikw elaji
Nesinska’q na mile tujiw elapi
Telaptm na kmatkinu kisi naqasik elo’
Telaptm na kmatikinu kisi naqasik elo’
Nitaptut ksma’tekewikw elaji
Telaptm na kmatkinu kisi naqasik elo’
Nitaptut ksma’tekewikw elaji
I can see for 30 miles
It appears my food is drifting this way.
It appears my food is drifting this way.
‘My friends push me’ he told them.
It appears my food is drifting this way.
It appears my food is drifting this way.
‘My friends push me’ he told them.
I can see for 30 miles.
It appears our area has been abandoned.
It appears our area has been abandoned.
‘My friends push me’ he told them.
It appears our area has been abandoned.
It appears our area has been abandoned.
‘My friends push me’ he told them.
Mi'kmaq Honour Song
Kepmite’tmnej ta’n teli l’nuwulti’kw
Ni’kma’jtut mawita’nej
Kepmite’tmnej ta’n wettapeksulti’k
Ni’kma’jtut apoqnmatultinej
Apoqnmatultinej ta’n Kisu’lkw teli ika’luksi’kw
wla wskitqamu way-yah-hey-yoh
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah-hay-yoh (repeat)
Let us greatly respect our nativeness
My people, let us gather;
Let us greatly respect our aboriginal roots
My people, let us help one another.
Let us help one another
according to the Creator’s intention
for putting us on this planet.