A work inspired by the Mohawk Thanksgiving ceremony
lyrics
sung entirely in Mohawk (with translation by Amalli Nalli of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe) Mohawk words with English translation provided below.
Akwé:kon énska (We are all one/everyone is one)
Entitewahwe'nón:ni (We will wrap/put together)
Onkwa'nikòn:ra (Our minds)
Tánon (And)
Teiethinonhwaraton Ne (We give our greetings, thanks and love to)
Onkweshón:'a (The people)
Ionkhi'nisténha Ohwéntsia (Our Mother Earth)
Ohneka'shón:'a (The waters)
Kentsion'shón:'a (The fish)
Ohonte'shón:'a (The plants)
Kahishón:'a (The fruit)
Ononhkwa'shón:'a (The medicines)
Kaienthóshera (The food plants/harvest plants)
Kontírio (The animals)
Nia'tekakwírake (The trees)
Otsi'ten'okón:'a (The birds)
Kaié:ri Nikawerá:ke (The four winds: east,west,north,south)
Ionkhihsothokón:'a Ratiwé:ras (The thunders)
Sonkwahtsí:'a Kiohkehnékha Karáhkwa (Elder brother the sun)
Ionkhihsótha Ahsonhthenhnékha Karáhkwa (Grandmother moon)
Iotsistohkwarónion (The stars)
Kaié:ri Niionkwé:take (The four beings, enlightened teachers)
Shonkwaia'tíson (The creator)
Tho niiohtónhak ne onkwa'nikòn:ra (Now our minds are one)
Sewarihónia iethiien'okón:a tsi ohwentsiake ne ionkwa'nisténsera
(Teach your children that the earth is our mother)
O'kén:ra (Dirt, soil)
Ó:iente (Wood)
Ohné:kanos (Water)
Iohnhonwataien (Puddle, pond)
Kahionhatáke (Stream, creek)
Ká:nen (Seed)
Karonhiá:ke (The sky, heaven)
Ó:kwire (Tree, sapling)
Onèn:ta (Evergreen, conifer)
Onenia'shon:'a (Rocks)
Ohwentsià:ke (World, ground, earth)
Kaniá:tara (River, body of water)
Otsi'tsia'shón:'a (Flowers)
Kontatewenniio (Wild plants)
Oskenón:ton (Deer)
Tsikara'kwístak (Robin)
Terí:teri (Bluejay)
Tsistekeriiá:kon (Owl)
Otsi'nahkontahkwá:ne (Bee)
Takwa'áhson (Spider)
Tewattsirókwas (Firefly)
Tsiki'nhontstókhi (Ant)
Tsiktsinón:nawen (Butterfly)
Iaonhará:ien (There is frost on the ground)
Iaó:te (It is windy)
Iokennó:ron (It is raining)
Io'keren:'en (It is snowing)
Ioráhkote (It is sunny)
Tekanien'kwataséhne (A storm is coming)
Konnorónhkwa':sera (Love)
Konnorónhkwa (I love you)
Atohnhetshera (Spirit)
Skén:nen (Peace, serenity)
Niá:wen (Thank you)
Atenró:sera (Friendship)
Wahta (Sugar maple)
Ononta' (Hill)
Onontá:wanen (Mountain)
Sewatahonsatàt (Listen all of you, open your ears)
Tsa'tekaia'takweh:ti:io (Equality, matters of equal level)
Kaná:ieta (A sense of pride, dignity, honor)
Kaianase (Rights, the power of goodness)
Tsi shé:kon ionkwátkatho (May we still see, may we continue to greet)
Ó:wera (Air)
Kaniehtahkwá:tshera (Trust, believe)
credits
from For Love and Only for Love,
released December 21, 2020
Performed by The Crossing, conducted by Donald Nally.
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