I Will Tell You Something [Mia Éne Gaquai Ntagètam]

Introduction

Iron Thunderhorse∞

The following is a selection of prose and poetry in several Algonquin dialects.1

 

KE MATTA HOM NOOWOSKHUKQUNAT

YOU CANNOT HARM ME

[Quiripey – English]

Ke matta hom noowoskhukqunat

ke matta hom woskehuwonat howan

noh na-kemanumhewawungansh

wutche rashauwandoak.

****

You cannot harm me

you cannot do harm to someone

who has seen visions

of the spirits

****

 

KNISTǍWE

YOU MUST LISTEN

[Mahican – English]

Knistǎwe

onistăwájǎquà ktáhĕnnaak

mamatahak

nanáo p’maosétscheek.

Maowe waadtschachque’tsche

knosochqawáwa

n’ánei

otàwawick.

****

You must listen

with believing hearts

to the sound of

the wild things.

All good souls

follow

the path

inward.

****

 

CASTING THE BONES

I cast the bones

of timeless revelation

into the mystic arch

of Grandmother Moon

Like wind on the water

primal images swirl

shaping, forming

revealing what is

and what will be

Voices of the past reflections

in the fire shadows on the sand

shivers down the spine

Forces moving

to the ancient dance

of nature’s mystery

in spirals and swirls

whirlpools and whirlwinds

 

It’s all reflected

in the bones

falling in place

as archetypes

cast their shadows

****

 

‘LNAPSKUK TELUWA:TIJIK

THE INDIAN ROCKS SAY:

[Hieroglyphs – Micmac – English]

‘lnuwey

The Indian Traditions

kaqma’tuasewikek

it is well known

na ewi:kasik

are written

nekla kunntal ‘lnapskuk

on the Indian Rocks.

Mu te:s wen

Not everyone

kisikimawey ta:n

can read what

‘lnapskuk teluwa:tijik

the Indian rocks say.

Na kwesiket na koqowey

They foretold things

ta:n t’la: ‘itew
and how it would happen,

nuji-kwsiket na.

like a soothsayer.

****

 

MONCHANAMUKQUSSUAU

HE WORKS WONDER

[Natick/Massachusett – English]

Sun kenâum, neemat?

Ahquompak nun-nummâttapsh yôteg

n’sesekwan nukkemoo ne unneu pemsquoh

wunnonkou mohtuppeau

Mishe-anoqs waapemoo

m’michachunk qushkeu

ohke-ōáas’t wunnunògan

ohkeiyeu kachémoo wonk

kussohkóiyeue wadchu-ut

kah nemunum kesuk-ut.

****

Do you see, my brother?

when I sit by the fire

my rattle shakes in a whirlwind evening vanishes

the Dawn-Star rises

my soul returns to mother earth’s breast

out then it comes again

on the mountaintop

and takes me to the sky.

****

 

AMERICAN INDIAN PIDGIN ENGLISH

The English all one Speake

The Spanish all one Aramouse

The French all one Asookekomau

So much Hoggery

So Bigge Walke

So Big Speake

So Big Matchit Laws

These ALL No Wunnegin

Poison Water Make us Sneep

We So Bigge Whipt

Me No Stomany that

Netop, Netop.

****

 

K’PAUW AU THE SHAMAN

[Natick/Massachusett – English]

K’Pauwau

quoshodtum

paomooonk,

ne-unnukquomuwaen

nukkonaeu,

nukkonadchuit.

K’Monetu

natinneham

hamaonk…

nish kemeoogish’t,

wuttahut

kah michachunk.

K’Taupowaw…

noh wunne keketookau

skeetomp’t

ne-annoonaen-in.

****

The Shaman

he predicts

the future,

as a dreamer

in the night,

upon the mountain.

The Diviner

he searches for an answer…

to secret things, in his heart

and soul.

The Wise Man…

he speaks well

to the people

as a messenger.

****

 

TREATY OR TREACHERY?

They said: “Put your mark here”

and you shall have peace with us

and a special place to live

where your people will prosper

as long as the sun shines

and the waters flow.

Our people now live in urban slums

unemployed or receiving welfare

the only true peace they know

comes in a brown paper bag

oh how the poison water does flow

blotting out the sun.

****

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