Koluskap nektomones Skitkomiq
[Koluskap departs from the earth]

April 25, 2025
earth_img

ᑕᓐ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ ᒪᒐᐦᐊᑦ

Tan Koluskap macahat,

[When Koluskap went away,]

ᑉᓯᐧ ᒪᒌᐸᐧᓚᔅᐯᓂᐦᐃ ᒋᐲᓚᐦᒄᓱᓕᒋᐦᐃ;

psiw mace-pawlasponihi Cipelahqsulicihi;

[he had got rid of all the terrible monsters]

ᓃᑮᑦ ᓇᐦᐊᑦ ᒪᒐᐦᐊᑦ ᑉᓯᑏ ᑮᒄ᙮  

neket nahat macahat psi-te keq.

[everything had gone then;]

ᑭᐧᐊ ᐧᑭᐧᐃᔨᒃ ᑲᑕᒪ ᐊᐧᑲᒣᒃ

ᔭᓕᐱᓱᐧᐊᐸᓯᔨᒃ ᒃᒋᐦᑯᒃ;

Kiwaqiwiyik katama aqamok

yali-pisuwapasiyik Kcihkuk;

[ the Kiwaqis no longer wandered wildly in the forests,]

ᑫᓗ ᑲᑕᒪ ᐊᑉᒡ ᓰᒃᐸᐦᓚᑭᐧ,

Kollu katama apc sekpahlakiw,

[The kullo no longer frightened,]

ᐄᓕᓯᐳᐧᐁᓪ ᓀᑦ ᐧᐁᓃᔅᒃ ᑕᐦᐊᓗ ᐊᓗᐦᒃ

eli-sipuwol not wonesk tahalu aluhk

[spreading his wings like a cloud]

‘ᑏᐸᔅᑲᑫᓐ ᓇᑲ ᑭᓱᐦᔅ᙮

‘tepaskakon naka kisuhs.

[between him and the sun;]

ᒣᒋᑭᑦ ᑦᒋᓄ ᓚᑌᐧᑮᓭᓄᒃ ᑲᑦᑏ ᒧᐦᐅᑲᐧᐃᔨᓪ;

Mocikit Tcinu latoqesonuk kat-te muhukawiyil;

[the evil Cheenoo in the north no]

ᑲᑕᒪ ᒧᒋᑭᒋᒃ ᐧᐄᔪᓯᓭᒃ,

katama mocikicik weyossisok,

[ are evil beasts,]

ᐧᐊᐦᐊᓐᑐᐧᐁᒃ ᓇᑲ ᒃᒋᐊᑦᐦᐅᓯᓱᐧᐁᒃ

wahantuwok naka kci-athusisuwok

[demons or great serpents ]

ᑲᑕᒪᑌᑌᓕᔅᑲᐧᐊᐧᐃᔨᒃ ᐧᑭᐦᐃᐧ ᐧᐃᑭᑦ᙮

katama-totoli-skawawiyik qihiw wikit.

[to be found near where he lives.]

ᐧᐁᑦ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ ᐊᑉᒡ ᐊᐧᑲᒣᒃ ‘ᑏᓪᑳᑭᒪ ᔅᑭᒋᓄWot Koluskap apc aqamok ‘telkehkima Skicinu

[This Koluskap teaches them]

ᑕᓐ‘ᑌᓕᐊᐧᑲᒥᓕᑕᐦᐊᓱᓪᑎᓐ;

tan ‘toli-aqami-litahasultilin;

[how to be more and more happy;]

ᑲᑕᒪᐁᓗ ‘ᑭᓯᐧᐁᔅᐧᓯᔭᐧᐃ᙮

katama-olu ‘kisi-wolaswiyawi.

[yet they are not grateful.]

ᐲᒋᒣᒋᔭᐦᑎᑦ ᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐁᒃ ᐧᐄᔪᔅᓯᓭᒃ,

Peci-mociyahtit Skicinuwok weyossisok,

[when the indians and animals became bad,]

ᑫᒪᒡ ‘ᑌᒥᑕᐦᐊᓯᒃᐦᐊᐧᐊᓪ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᐱᔨᓪ᙮

komac ‘tomitahasikhawal Koluskapiyil.

[they irritated Koluskap very much.]

ᒪᓓᒻ ᑲᑕᒪ ‘ᑭᓯᐧᐃᒋᔩᒪᐧᐃ

Malom katama ‘kisi-wiciyemawi;

[So then. He can live no more with them;]

ᐄᑐᒋ ᐧᐃᒄᐦᐅᐸᓪᐧᐊᑦ ᓱᐸᔭᑫᒻ ᒥᓇᔅᑭᒃ᙮  

etuci wiqhopalwat sopayakom Minaskik;

[so he makes a feast near lake Minas;]

ᑉᓯᑏ ᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐁᒃ ᓇᑲ ᐧᐄᔦᓯᓭᒃ  ‘ᑌᓕᔭᓂᔭ,

psi-te skicinuwok naka weyossisok ‘toliyaniya;

[all the indians and beasts go to it;]

ᒫᑏᓀᑲᐦᒃ ‘ᑏᐲᔅᓯᓐ ᒃᒋᐁᐧᑭᑌᓀᒃ,

mehtenokahk ‘tepessin kci-oqitonok;[when it is over, he gets into a great canoe;]

ᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐁᒃ ᓇᑲ ‘ᑌᐱᓄᐧᐊᓂᔭ

skicinuwok naka ‘topinuwaniya

[the indians look after him]

ᑌᒃᑭᑏ ᐄᐧᑭᓀᒥᔭᐦᑎᑦ᙮  

tokki-te eqi-nomiyahtit.

[until they see him no more.]

ᒪᓕᑏ ᑭᓯᒃᓯᑲᔭᐸᒪᐦᑎᑦ,

Mali-te kisi-ksikayapamahtit,

[Then after they had lost sight of him,]

ᒦᒡᐁᑏᐁᓗ ᓄᑐᐧᐊᐧᐊᓪ ᐄᓓᒥ ᓕᓐᑐᓕᒋᓪ,

mec-ote-olu nutuwawal elomi-lintulicil;

[they still hear him singing,]

ᐊᐦᐊᒋᐧ ᐁᓓᒥ ᓇᐧᑕᒄᓱ ᐄᓓᒥᐱᐦᒌᑌᒃ,

ahaciw olomi-nawtaqsu elomi-pihcetok;

[ it gets fainter as he departs; ]

ᑫᔅᐯᓐᑏ ᓃᑮ ᓰᓭᒥᑏ ‘ᑏᐧᑭᓐᑐᐧᐊᐧᐊᐧ᙮

kospon-te neke sesomi-te ‘teqintuwawaw.

[(untill) at length it is not heard at all anymore.]

ᓂᑦᐁᓇᑉᓯᑏ ᒋᑯᐳᓪᑐᐧᐁᒃ᙮

Nit-ona psi-te cikopultuwok.

[Then all are silent.]

ᓇᑲ ᐊᔅᓭᑭᓓᒧᐦᐧᑲᓂᔭ᙮

Naka assokilomuhqaniya.

[And a wonderment came upon them.]

ᐧᐄᔪᓯᓭᒃ ᓐᓭᑌᐧᑐᓪᑐᐦᓭᐯᓂᒃ ᐲᔅᐧᑫᓐ ᒃᓚᑐᐧᐄᐧᐊᑫᓄᐧᐊ,

Weyossisok  nsotowtultuhsoponik*

pesqon klatuwewakonuwa;

[ The animals used to use one speech together; ]

ᓂᑦ ᑕᓐᑏ ᐧᐁᓐ ᐄᓕᐧᐄᐧᐃᑉᐦᐊᐧᐄᑦ,

Nit tan-te wen eli-wewiphawet,

[ but now whenever anyone calls (says anything), ]

ᔭᑦᑏ ᓃᑫᒻ ᐲᔅᐧᑫᓐ ᐄᓓᐧᑭᔭᑦ ᐊᑉᒡ ᑫᑌᒃ᙮

yat-te nekom pesqon eloqiyat apc kotok.

[he uses, first one (language) and then another.]

ᑲᑕᒪ ᐊᑉᒡ ᒪᐧᐄᐧᐃᔨᒃ ᐊᑉᒡᑏᐦᒡ

Katama apc mawewiyik apc-tehc

[No more they shall be together again]

ᔭᑲ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ ᐊᐸᑏᐧᑲᑦ,

yaka Koluskap apateqat,

[until Koluskap returns.]

ᐊᑉᒡᑏᐦᒡ ᒪᐧᐄᒪ,

Apc-tehc mawema,

[ Then again, he will make feasts for them; ]

ᓀᑦᐁᒡ ᐊᑉᒡ ᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐁᒃ ᓴᓐᑮᐧᐃᒪᐧᐃᔭᓂᔭ᙮  

not-oc apc skicinuwok sankewi-mawiyaniya.

[ and then again, the indians will dwell peacefully together. ]

ᑉᓯᑏ ᑮᒄ ‘ᑭᐧᐊᒑᑐᓐ᙮

Psi-te keq ‘kiwacehtun. [ Everything mourns.]

ᓕᑕᐦᐊᓱ,

Litahasu,

[it is said that,]

ᓃᑮ ᐧᐄᒋᒪᒐᐦᐊᑦ ᐊᑲᑎᒃ,

neke weci-macahat Akadik,

[after he went away from Acadia,]

ᓂᑦ ᓀᑦ ᐧᐊᐱᑯᐦᑯᒃᐦᐊᐦᔅ ᐄᓓᐧᑭᔦᔅ

ᐄᑌᓕᓚᒪᐦᐧᑭᐦᑫᒃ,

nit not wapi-Kuhkukhahs eloqiyes*

etoli-lamahqihkuk;

[that great white owl went away to the deep woods;]

ᑲᑦᑏᐦᒡ ᐊᑉᒡ ᐊᐸᒋᔨᐧ,

kat-tehc apc apaciyiw,

[he will return no more,]

ᑌᑭ ᐊᑉᒡ ᓄᑕᓯᐦᐧᑲᑦ

ᐧᐅᓕᑕᐦᐊᓯᒃᑐᐧᐊᑦ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᐱᔨᓪ᙮  

tokki apc nutasihqat

wolitahasiktuwat Kuloskapiyil.

[until he can come out to welcome Koluskap.]

ᓂᑦᑏ ᒦᒡ ᑌᑮ ᓚᒪᐦᐧᑭᐦᑯᒃ ᒣᑖᑕᒄᓯᑦ

Nit-te mec toke lamahqihkuk motehtaqsit

[So still in the depths (of the forest) he sounds his]

[ ᑯᑯᐦᐅ ]

“Kookoohoo”

[Kookohoo!]

ᑫᓭᓇ ᑎᐦᑌᑫᓪ ᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐃᓚᑐᐧᐄᐧᐊᑫᓄᒃ

kosona tihtokol skicinuwi-latuwewakonuk [or the horned owl says in Indian speech:]

[ ᓐᒣᔅᑮᔨᓐ, ᓐᒣᔅᑮᔨᓐ ]

“nmoskeyin, nmoskeyin”.

[“I am sorry, I am sorry.”]

ᓇᑲ ᓂᒃᑦ ᐁᐧᑭᒧᐧᐁᒃ ᓂᐦᐃᐦᑦ

‘ᑫᑐᓐᑫᑐᓐ ᓇᑲ ‘ᑏᒥᔅ,

Naka nikt oqimuwok nihiht ‘kotunketun

naka ‘temis,

[And those loons who hunted for him and were his dogs,]

ᐊᓕ ᑲᑕᒪ ᓴᓐᑮᐧᐃᔨᒃ ᔅᐯᒣᒃ

ᓇᑲ ᐄᒫᑮᐧ ᓴᐱ ᔅᑭᑦᑫᒥᒄ,

ali katama sankewiyik sikawiyik spomok

naka emehkew sapi skitkomiq,

[they wander without rest up and down through the world,]

‘ᓰᓭᒥᐧᑭᓗᐧᐊᐦᐊᐧᐊᓪ ‘ᑐᑏᒻᑯᐧᐊᓪ,

‘Sesomi-qiluwahawal ‘tutemkuwal;

[vainly seeking their master;]

ᒋᐯᑭᐦᑕᒄᓱᐧᐁᒃ ᐄᑌᓖᐧᐋᑐᐦᑎᑦ᙮

cipokihtaqsuwok etolewehtuhtit.

[they cry;]

  ᔪᑦ ᐄᑌᓕ ᐊᐧᑫᑦ ᐧᐧᐧ ᐁᓓᒧᔅ ᓴᓭᑏᒧ,

Yut etoli-aqot…Olomuss sasotemu,

[so they wail (as a dog cries),]

ᑮᓄᒃᐁᓗ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ ᐧᐄᒋᒪᒐᐦᐊ ᐯᒪᐧᓱᐧᐊᑫᓀᒃ,

kenuk-olu Koluskap weci-macaha pomawsuwakonok, [but Koluskap goes away from life,]

ᑫᓭᓇ ᒉᓃᓱ ‘ᑌᓕᐲᒥᔭᓐᑕᐦᐊᓗ ᔅᑭᑕᐱᔨᒃ᙮

kosona conessu ‘toli-pemiyan tahalu skitapiyik.

[or he ceases to wander about like men.]

‘ᑕᑭᓄᐧᐊᐦᑐᐧᐊᔅᐯᓂᐦᐃ ᐁᐧᑭᒧ

‘Takinuwahtuwasponihi Oqimu

[He announced through the loons]

ᓴᐱᔭᓕᐲᒋᑕᐦᑮᒋᐦᐃ,

sapi-yali-pecitahkecihi,

[to those who would come to him already,]

ᒦᔅᒄ ᓃᑮ ᒪᒐᐦᐊᒄ ᑮᑳᓯᑫᑌᓐᐁᒡ,

mesq neke macahaq kekehsikoton-oc,

[many years before he went away,]

ᑕᓐ ᐧᐁᑦᐁᒡ ᐧᑭᓗᐧᐁᐦᐁᑎᒋᓪ ᐲᔅᐧᑫᓐᐁᒡ

tan wot-oc qiluwohoticil pesqon-oc

[that is shall be that whoever will seek him out (in his retirement),]

ᑕᓐ ᐄᓕᐸᐧᐊᑌᒧᐦᑎᑦ ᒥᓚᓐᐁᒡ

tan eli-pawatomuhlit milan-oc

[he will give to them (that seeker) one thing they may desire,]

ᑕᓐ ᑖᐳ ᐄᓕᐸᐧᐊᑌᒃ᙮  

tan tehpu eli-pawatok.

[whatever they may want.]

ᑌᑮᒡ, ᑲᑦᑏᑲᐦᒃ ᓯᑭᐦᑫᓐ

Tokec, kat-te-kahk sikihkon [Now, although, it is hard]

ᓇᑲ ᓯᑭᐧᑫᑦ ᒣᒋᐦᑕᓱ ᓇᑲ ᐱᐦᒌᑐ,

naka sikiqot mocihtasu naka pihcetu,

[and terrible and far]

ᓂᒃᑦᑏᐦᒡ ᐊᐦᒍᐧᐃᓕᐧᑕᑌᒧᐦᑎᑦ

nikt-tehc ahcuwi-litwatomuhtit

[(and) those will have to suffer]

ᑕᓐ ᔪᒃᑦ ᑫᑎᒧᔅᑯᐧᐊᒋᒃ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᐱᔨᓪ,

tan yukt koti-moskuwacik Koluskapiyil,

[(much) who wish to find Kuloskap,]

ᒃᒌᔭᐧᐃᐧᐅᐯᓂᒃ ‘ᑦᐁᐧᑮᒋᑕᐦᐧᑭᒃ ᔅᑭᑕᐱᔨᒃ᙮

kceyawiwusponik ‘t-oqecitahqik skitapiyik.

[yet there are many who try.]

ᒃᓄᑐᓂᓂᔭᐁᒡ ᓂᒃᑦ ‘ᑦᐁᐧᑮᒋᑕᒄᓰᐯᓂᒃ

Knutuniniya-oc nikt ‘t-oqecitaqsehponik

[You shall hear of those who resolved to try]

ᓇᑲ ᐄᓕᑏᐱᔭᐦᑎᑦ᙮

naka eli-tepiyahtits.

[and what happened to them.]

ᑕᔪᐧᐁᒃ ᑉᓯᐧ ᔅᑭᑕᐱᔨᒃ ᓄᑐᒧᐦᑎᑦ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ

Tayuwek psiw skitapiyik nutumohtit Koluskap

[When all men hear that Koluskap]

ᒥᓗᐧᐊᓐ ᑕᓐ ᐧᐄᓐᐁᓕᐸᐧᐊᑌᒃ miluwan tan wen eli-pawatok

[will give whatever is wanted,]

ᓄᐦᐅᐧᐁᒃ ᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐁᒃ ‘ᑦᐁᐧᑮᒋᑕᒄᓵᐯᓂᒃ,

nuhuwok skicinuwok ‘t-oqecitaqsehponik,

[three indians resolved to try it;]

ᐲᔅᒄ ᐧᐁᓚᔅᑌᒄ

pesq Wolastoq

[one from St. John River ]

ᓇᑲ ᓂᓱᐧᐁᒃ ᐸᓃᐧᐊᑉᔅᑮᐧᐃᔨᒃ ᙮

naka nisuwok Panewapskewiyik.

[and two from Penobscots.]

ᐁᓓᐧᑭᐯᓚᓯᒃ ᐱᐦᒌᑐ

Oloqipolasik pihcetu

[They way is long and hard,]

ᓇᑲ ᓯᑭᐦᑫᓐ ᓴᒃᓖᔪ ‘ᑕᐦᒍᐧᐃ‘ᓯᑫᓀᒪᒃ;

naka sikihkon sakleyu ‘Tahcuwi-’sikonomak;

[(and) difficult which they must suffer;]

ᐁᓗᐧᐃᑳᓯᑫᑌᓐ ‘ᑭᐦᑫᒣᓂᔭ

Oluwikehsikoton ‘kihkomoniya

[Seven years they journey]

ᓇᑲ ᐲᒋᐦᓴᒣᓂᔭ᙮

naka pecihsamoniya.

[and they arrive.]

ᑉᒡᒉᔅᓭᓪ

Pcossol [at last,]

ᓂᐦᑲᓂᐧ ᓄᐦᐅᐧᐁᒃ ᑭᓱᐦᓭᒃ ᐄᑐᑌᒃ ᐧᐃᑭᓕᑦ,

nihkaniw nuhuwok kisuhsok etutok wikilit,

[being already three months from where he dwells,]

ᓄᑐᒧᐧᐊᓂᔭ, ᒣᑏᑭᓚᓕᒋᐦᐃ ‘ᑏᒥᔅ᙮

nutomuwaniya, motekilalicihi ‘temis;

[they hear his dogs barking;]

ᐄᓓᒥᑏ ᐧᐄᐧᒐᐧᑫᒧᐦᑎᑦ ᑭᔅᑲᐦᑭᐧᐃᒃ

elomi-te wecwawkomuhtit kiskahkiwik

[as they draw nearer, day by day,]

ᐄᓓᒥᑭᓐᑕᒄᓱᐧᐁᒃ ‘ᑭᓚᒋᒃ ᐁᓓᒧᔅᓭᒃ

elomi-kintaqsuwok ‘kilacik olomussok

[the barking dogs get louders]

ᓇᑲ ᓂᑦ ᑭᓯᒃᒋᐧᑮᒌᑕᓯᐦᑭᓪ,

naka nit kisi kci-Qecetasihkil,

[and then after great trials,]

ᒣᔅᑯᐧᐊᓂᔭ ᓴᑫᒪᐧᐊᐦᒧᑦ

moskuwaniya sakomawahmut

[they find the ruler]

ᔅᑭᑕᐱ ᓇᑲ ᐧᐄᔪᓯᔅ᙮

skitapi naka weyossis.

[of men and beasts.]

ᐧᐁᓕᑕᐦᐊᓱᐧᐃ ᓀᒥᐦᔪᑯᐧᐊᓪ ᓇᑲ ᐧᐊᓂᔪᑯᓂᔭ,

Wolitahasuwi-nomihyukuwal naka waniyukuniya; [He welcomes and entertains them;]

‘ᑦᐁᐧᑮᒋᒧᓪᑯᓂᔭ ᑮᒄᓕ ᐸᐧᐊᑌᒣᒃ᙮

‘t-oqecimulkuniya keq-li pawatomok.

[ he asks them what they want.]

ᐲᔅᒄ,

Pesq,

[One,]

ᒃᒋᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐃᑦᓕ ᐸᐧᐊᑌᒻ ᓂᐦᑕᐧᐃ ᑫᑐᓐᑲᓐ᙮

kci-skicinuwit-li, pawatom nihtawi-kotunkan.

[the oldest indian,wishes to have luck in hunting.]

ᓴᐱᑯ,

Sapiku,

[He is faithful,]

ᑮᓄᒃᐁᓗ ᓄᑐᑦᐦᐊᒻᐧᑫᓱ ᐯᒪᐧᓱᐧᐃᓄᐧᐃᐦᑯᒃ,

kenuk-olu nututhamqesu pomawsuwinuwihkuk,

[but he is of small account among the people,]

ᐁᐯᒉᓪ ᑲᑕᒪ ᓂᐦᑕᐧᐃᑫᑐᓐᑭᐧ᙮

ipocol katama nihtawi-kotunkiw.

[because he has no luck in hunting.]

ᓂᑦᓕ ᐧᐃᒄᐦᑌᒻ ᒣᓭᓀᒧᐧᐊᓐ

Nit-li wiqhtom mosonomuwan[Therefore, he asks that he may have luck in catching]

ᓇᑲ ᓈᐸᐦᐊᓐ ᐧᐄᔦᓯᔅ᙮

naka nehpahan weyossis.

[and killing animals.]

ᓂᑦ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ ᒥᓚᓐ ᐱᐱᐧᑲᑖᓯᔅ,

Nit Koluskap milan pipiqatehsis,

[Then Koluskap gives him a little flute,]

ᒣᑏᐧᐁᓓᓄᐧᐃᐱᐱᐧᑭᑦ ᙮

motewolonuwi-pipiqat.

[a wizard pipe;]

ᑉᓯᐧᑏᐦᒡ ᐧᐄᓐ ᓄᑐᒃ ᐧᐁᓪᓵᑦᒣᓐ

Psiw-tehc wen nutuk wolsehtmon  

[everyone who hears it is pleased]

ᓇᑲ ᓚᓭᓄᐧᐃᐧ

naka lasonuwiw

[and it charms]

ᑕᓐ ᑖᐳ ᐧᐄᔪᓯᓱᓪ ᓄᓱᑲᐦᑫᓪᐁᒡ  

tan tehpu weyossisol nusukahkol-oc

[whatever animal it may be, to follow him]

ᑕᓐ ᐧᐁᑦ ᐸᐧᐊᑌᒃ᙮

tan wot pitwatok.

[who plays upon it.]

ᓂᑦ ᓂᓱᐧᐄᐧᐃ ᔅᑭᒋᓐ ᔭᐦᐊ ᑮᒄ ᐸᐧᐊᑌᒣᓐ᙮

Nit nisuwewi skicin yaha keq pawatomon:

[Then the second Indian is asked what he wants:]

[ᓐᒧᐦᓴᓪᑯᓐᐋᑕ ᐋᐱᒋᒃ᙮ ] “Nmuhsalkun-ehta ehpicik.”

[“that women will really love me.”]

ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ ‘ᑎᔭᓪ,

Koluskap ‘tiyal:

[Koluskap says to him:]

[ ᑳᓱᐧᐁᒃ ? ]

“Kehsuwok?”

[“How many?”]

ᑲᑕᒪᑏ ᑭᓄᐧᐋᓚᐧᐃᔨᒃ

katama-te kinuwehlawiyik;

[ he does not indicate them:]

[ᑖᐳ ‘ᑏᐲᓗᐦᑎᑦᐁᒡ,

“Tehpu ‘tepeluhtit-oc,

[“Only let it be enough]

ᑫᓭᓇᑏ ᐊᐧᑲᒣᒃ ‘ᑏᐲᓗᐦᑎᑦᐁᒡ]

kosona-te aqamok ‘tepeluhtit-oc.”

[or more than enough.”]

ᓂᑦ ᐄᓪᓵᑐᐧᐊᑦ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ,

Nit elsehtuwat Koluskap,

[Then Koluskap hears this,]

ᑲᑦᑏᐧᑭᓐ ᐧᐁᓕᑕᐦᐊᑌᒧᐧᐊᓐ,

kat-te-qin wolitahatomuwan, [he is not at all pleased,]

ᑮᓄᒃᐁᓗ ᐧᐁᓖᐧᒥᐦᐧᑮᑐᑌᒻ ᒥᓚᓐ ᑉᑌᐧᑲᑉ

kenok-olu wolemwihqetutom milan ptoqap

[but he smiles and gives him a bag]

ᓴᐦᑫᓕᒃᐯᓰᐱᐦᑏ,

sahkoli-kposepihte,

[tightly tied;]

‘ᑎᔭᓪ:

‘Tiyal:

[he says to him:]

[ ᒧᓴ ᐊᑉᐧᑫᑐᐦᒃᐁᒡ ᑌᒃᑭᔭᑲ ‘ᑭᑯᒃ ᐲᒋᔩᔦᓐ ]  

“Musa apqotuhk-oc tokki-yaka ‘kikuk peciyeyon.”

[“Do not open it until you arrive at home.”]

ᐧᐁᓚᔅᐧᐄᓪᑌᒣᓐ ᓇᑲ ᒪᒐᐦᐊᓐ᙮

Wolasweltomon naka macahan.

[He thanks him and then he departs.]

ᓄᐦᐅᐧᐄᐧᐃᔅᑭᒋᓐ ᐧᐁᓚᐲᐧᐃᑦ᙮  

Nuhuwewi-skicin wolapewit.

[The third indian is hadnsome;]

ᑖᐳ ᐄᓕᐧᐁᑲᑦᐦᐄᒪ ᔅᑭᓄᐦᔅ,

Tehpu eli-wakathema skinuhs,

[ only he is a foolish youth,]

ᑉᓯᑏ ᒧᐦᓭᓐ ᐄᓚᐦᑏ

psi-te mushon elahte [all his heart is on]

ᑕᓐ ᐄᓕᑭᓯᓯᒃᑏᓪᒧᐦᐊᑦ ᔅᑭᒋᓄ, ᔭᐦᐊᓐ:

tan eli-kisi-siktelmuhat skicinu, yahan:

[how he can make the indians laugh; he is aksed:]

[ ᑮᒄᐁᓗ ᑭᓪ ᐸᐧᐊᑌᒣᓐ? ]

“Keq-olu kil pawatomon?”

[“What do you want?”]

‘ᑎᑌᒣᓐ ᐱᔩᒥᑖᑉ ᐸᓕᓭᒧᐧᐃᔭᑦ

‘titomon piyemi-tehp palisomuwiyat

[He says it would please him most,]

ᑕᓐᐁᑉ ‘ᑌᓕᑭᓯᐊᔅᓭᐦᑕᒄᓱ᙮

tan-op ‘toli-kisi-assohtaqsu.

[if he could make a stranger noise.]

ᓂᑦ ᐊᐧᐃᓯᐧ ᓄᑕᐦᓱ ᐧᐊᐸᓇᐦᑭᒃ᙮  

Nit awisiw nutahsu Wapanahkik.

[This (noise) is seldom heard by the wabanaki.]

ᓂᑦ, ᐃᑕᓱ,

Nit, itasu,

[This, it is said],

ᐲᒋᑏ ᑌᑮᒡ ᓄᑕᐧᑫᑦ ᒪᒃᔅᑲᓐᑳᑌᓪ ᐅᐦᒋᑲᓐᓭᓪ

ᒦᒻᐦᐊᐧᐃᓵᑕᔨᐧ ᒃᒋᐦᑯᒃ ᔅᑭᒋᓄᐧᐃᐦᑯᒃ᙮

peci-te tokec nutaqot makskankehtol uhcikansol

memhawi-sehtayiw kcihkuk Skicinuwihkuk.

is heard even now in a few abandoned wigwamsin the wild wood among the indians.

ᒦᒡᑏᐁᓗ ᔪᑦ ᓇᑲ ᔪᑦ ᓯᑭᒣᑏᐧᐁᓓᓐ

Mec-te-olu yut naka yut siki- motewolon

[There is still here a there a hard magician]

ᑫᓭᓇ ᐊᓯᐦᑲᐲᔨᑦ ᔅᑦᑕᑉ,

kosona asihkapeyit skitap,

[or wonder-working man,]

ᓂᑦ ᒃᒋᒋᐦᑕᒄ ᑕᓐᓕ ᐲᒋᑉᑕᓱ;

nit kcicihtaq tan-li peciptasu;

[he (who) knows how to produce it]

ᑕᓐ ᒫᒌᓱᒥᑦ ᐊᔅᓭᒃᑕᐧᑲᐦᒃ

tan mehcessumit assoktaqahk

[the sound is so wonderful in quality]

ᑕᓐ ᔪᒃᑌᒃ ᓄᑐᐦᑭᒃ ᑕᐦᒍᐧᐃ ᓯᒃᑏᓪᒧᓪᑐᐧᐁᒃ᙮

tan yuktok nutuhkik tahcuwi siktelmoltuwok.

[that those who hear it must laugh.]

ᓂᑦ ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ

Nit koluskap

[Then Koluskap]

‘ᑦᐄᓪᑭᒣᓐ ᓂᒪᒄᓱᐧᐄᓱᐧᐁᓪ ᒃᒋᐦᑯᒃ

‘t-elkimon Nimaqsuwesuwol kcihkuk

[orders the Marten to the woods]

ᓇᒋᑫᑐᓐᑯᓐ ᑮᒄᓰᔾ ᐧᐄᒋᐸᐦᑭᒃ

Naci-kotunkun keqsey wecipahkik[ to fetch a certain root which,]

ᓂᑦ ᒥᐦᑕᓯᒃ ᐄᓪᑯᓱᓴᓰᐦᑲᓱ

nit mihtasik elkosusasehkasu

[when eaten,will cause a miracle]

ᑕᐦᐊᓗ ᓂᑦ ᔅᑭᓄᐦᔅ ᐄᓕᐸᐧᐊᑌᒃᓕ

tahalu nit skinuhs eli-pawatok-li;

[as the youth desires it,]

ᑭᓄᐧᐋᑐᐧᐊ ᑲᑕᒪ ᓴᒫᑐᐧᐊᓐ

kinwehtuwa katama samehtuwan

[but he warns him that he shall not touch it]

ᑌᑭᔭᑲ ᐧᐃᑯᒃ ᐲᒋᔭᑦ᙮

tokki-yaka wikuk peciyat.

[until he comes home.]

************This being touched will not be beneficial to him.

He thanks him and departs.]

ᐁᓗᐧᐃᑫᓀᒃ ᑳᓯᑫᑌᓐ ᐧᐁᑲᓐᑫᒣᓂᔭ,  

Oluwikonok kehsikoton wokankomoniya;

[Seven years they journey (out);]

ᓂᑦᐁᓗ ᑖᐳ ᐁᓗᐧᐃᐦᑫᓀᒃᑭᓱᐦᔅᑫᓂᐧ

nit-olu tehpu Oluwihkonok kisuhskoniw

[now only seven days]

ᐸᐧᐊᓪᐧᑲᐦᒃ ᐧᐄᓱᐧᐄᒪᐦᑎᑦ ᐄᓚᑭᑉᓚᓯᒃ᙮

pawalqahk wesuwemahtit elakiplasik.

[ are needed when they return on the trail.]

ᐲᔅᒄ ᑖᐳ ᐊᐸᒋᔭᑦ ᓄᐧᐃᐦᑎᑦ ᐧᐃᑯᒃ ᐊᑉᒡ᙮

Pesq tehpu apaciyat nuwihtit wikuk apc [(but) one only of the three returns home again.]

ᐧᐁᑦ ᓂᑦ ᑫᑐᓐᑮᐧᐃᓐ᙮

Wot nit kotunkewin;  

[This is the hunter,]

ᐱᐱᐧᑲᑖᓯᔅ ᐱᑦᔅᓇᑫᓀᒃ ᐋᑏᒃ,

pipiqatehsis pitsnakonok ehtek,

[his little pipe being in his pocket]

ᑲᑏᐧᑮᒃ ‘ᑌᒥᑕᐦᐊᑌᒧ ᒧᔅᐦᐁᓀᒃ;

kateqek ‘tomitahatomu mushonok;

[he does not worry at all in his heart;]

ᔭᓗᐦᓰ ᒃᒋᐦᑯᒃ; ᑕᓐ ᐧᑮᓇᐧᓯᑦ

yaluhse Kcihkuk; tan qenawsit

[he goes through the woods, as long as he lives,]

ᒦᒋᒥᐧᑏᐦᒡ ᒧᓯᐦᑐᓐ ᐊᐧᑲᑕᓖ ᐧᐃᑯᒃ᙮

mecimiw-tehc musihtun aqqatale wikuk.

[ it shall always be that he will find venison in his wigwam.]

ᑮᓄᒃᐁᓗ ᓂᑦ ᐸᐧᐊᑦᑫᔅ ᒧᓴᓪᐦᑯᓐ ᐋᐱᓕᒋᐦᐃ

Kenuk-olu nit pawatkos musalhkun ehpilicihi

[But he who wished that women should love him]

ᒧᑮᑖᑲ ᑲᑕᒪ ᒧᓱᓇᐧᐅᓐ ᓂᓱᐧᐃᑎᒋᓪ;

moketehka katama musonawon nisuwiticil;

[never wins a wife;]

ᑲᑕᒪ ᐱᐦᒌᑐ ᐄᓗᐦᓱ ᐄᑐᒋᐊᑉᐧᑮᑕᒄ ᒣᑏᐧᑲᑉ᙮  

katama pihcetu eluhsu etuci-apqetaq moteqap.

he does not go far before he opens his bag.

ᓴᒃᐦᐃᓄᐦᑎᑦ ᐧᐁᓕᑎᒋᒃ ᑕᐦᐊᓗ ᐧᐊᐱ ᐯᓖᓭᒃ;

Sakhinuhtit woliticik tahalu wapi polesok;Out comes beautiful ones like white doves;

ᐧᐃᐧᓇᓱᒃᑕᐦᑯ ᐧᐁᓕᑯᓪᑐᐧᐁᒃ ᐱᓪᔅᐧᑳᓯᓭᒃ

wiwnasuktahku wolikultuwok pilsqehsisok

[fair girls surround him]

ᑭᓯᐳᓴᐧᑭᔭᐧᓓᓕᐦᑯᓪᑐᐧᐁᒃ

Kisi-pusaqiyalwolihkultuwok.

[with blacking burning eyes]

ᓇᑲ ᓯᓰᓚᒻᓱᐧᐃ ᐱᔮᓱᐧᐁᓪᐧᐃᐧᓇᓯᐳᓱᓪᑐᐧᐁᒃ:

naka sisselamsuwi piyehsuwol wiwnasiposultuwok;

[and flowing is their hair,]

ᔪᑦ ᐅᑯᔅᐧᑫᓂᑦ, ᐊᔪᑦ ᐧᐄᒋᒥᑦ,

yut ukusqenit, ayut wecimit,

[they swarm about him more and more then, when they him he forbids them;]

ᐄᒋᑏ ᐊᐦᐊᒋᐧ ᐄᓓᒥᐧᐃᐧᓇᓯᐯᓱᓪᑐᐧᐁᒃ᙮  

peci-te ahaciw elomi-wiwnasiposultuwok.

ᑲᑕᒪᑭᒋᒃ ‘ᓭᑌᒧᐧᐃᔨᒃ, ‘ᑦᐁᐧᑮᒋᐳᔅᑮᒥᓐ;

katamakicik ‘sotomuwiyik, ‘t-oqeci-puskemin;

[He orders them not to press him;]

ᑲᑕᒪᑌᒃ ᙮ ᐁᑌᓕ ᐊᐧᓓᓚᑌᒃ;

katamatok. Etoli-alwolatok;

ᐧᐃᒄᐧᐊᓚᒧᓯᑫ᙮

wiqwalamusike. they swarm about him more and more.

he tries to escapes;

it is not possible.

ᒪᓓᒻ ᐁᑌ ᒣᐦᒋᓂᔭ;

Malom-ote mehciniya;

[Then he dies;]

ᔪᒃᑌᒃ ᐁᓪᐧᑲᐱᓯᒋᒃ ᒣᔅᑯᐧᐊᐧᐊᓪ᙮

yuktok el-qapisicik moskuwawal.

So he chokes; he struggles for breath.

ᑕᓐᐁᓗ ‘ᑌᓕᐱᔭᓂᔭ ᐱᓪᔅᐧᑫᐦᓯᔅᑯᒃ,

Tan-olu ‘toli-piyaniya pilsqehsiskuk,

[those passing by find him.]

ᑲᑕᒪ ᑕᓐ ᑖᐳ ᐄᓕᑭᑦ ᔅᑭᑕᑉ ᒃᒋᒋᑐᒌᔭᐧᐃ᙮

katama tan tehpu elikit skitap kcicituceyawi.

[What became of the girls no living man knows.]

ᓂᑦ ᑌᑮᒡᐁᒡ ᓄᐦᐅᐧᐄᐧᐄᔨᔅᑭᒋᓐ ᐄᓓᒥᔭᑦ ᐧᐁᓕᑕᐦᐊᓱ ᓃᒄᑌᑮᔨᐧ᙮  

Nit tokec-oc nuhuweweyi-skicin  elomiyat wolitahasu neqtokeyiw.

[Then the third indian

goes merrily along alone.]

ᓭᓚᐦᑭᐧ-ᑌ ᓭᔅᓚᐦᑭᐧ ᐯᔅᐧᑫᓐ ‘ᑌᓕᑕᐦᐊᓱᐧᐊᑫᓀᒃ

Solahkiw-te seslahkiw pesqon

‘Tolitahasuwakonok

[Suddenly, it occurs to him

(sticks in his thought) ]

ᑫᓗᔅᑲᑉ ᐁᓗ ᑮᒄ ᒥᓪᑯᐦᓈᐯᓐ᙮

Koluskap-olu keq milkuhnehpon. [that koluskap had given him something.]

ᑲᑦᑏ ᒪᒌᑏᑉᑕᐦᐊᑌᒧᐧᐊᓐ ᔪᐦᐅᑦ:

Kat-te mace-teptahatomuwan yuhut:

[He does not think that he (koluskap) said to him;]

[ ᐲᒋᔭᔨᓐ ᔭᑲ ᒃᒥᒋᓐ᙮]

“peciyayin yaka kmicin.”

[ “When you arrive, you may eat it.” ]

ᓂᑦᐁᓗ ᐧᐁᓕ ᒧᔅᑳᑐᓐ ᐧᐄᒍᐸᐦᑭᒃ;

Nit-olu woli muskehtun wecupahkik;

[ so he takes out the root; ]

ᐧᐁᓕᑏᐁᓇ ᒥᒋᓐ ᓇᑲ ᒣᔅᐧᑫᑦᒍᓪ ᐧᐁᓕᑭᓯᓂᑦᓕᑭᓯᐦᑐᒃ,

woli-te-ona micin naka mosqotcul woli-kisi-nit-li-kisihtuk,

[well then,

he eats it and scarcely before he has done it, ]

ᓂᑦ ᐄᑐᒋᐧᐄᐧᐃᑕᑌᒃ ᐄᓕᓃᑫᒻᐁᒡᑭᓯᐊᓭᑭᑕᒄᓯᑦ

ᒣᑏᐧᐁᓓᓄᐧᐃ ᐧᐁᒉᐸᐦᑭᒃ ᐄᓕᔭᑦ᙮

nit etuci-wewitatok

eli-nekom-oc-kisi-assokitaqsit

motewolonuwi-wocopahkik eliyat.

[he knows he can make the magic sound

from the magic root which he has.]

ᐸᐸᐦᐊᓄᐧᑌᒃᐁᑏ ‘ᑭᓯ ᑭᒃᓗᑌᒣᓐ ᐄᓕᐯᑫᑕᐧᑮᐧᐃᔦᒃ ᐄᓓᒣᑦᓂᐦᑯᒃ ᐄᓓᒣᒋᓐᒻᒥᐦᑯᒃ; ᐊᔪᑦ᙮

Papahantuwok-ote ‘kisi-kiklutomon

eli-pokotaqewiyok elomotnihkuk

elomocinkomihkuk; ayut.

[ It resounds,

it wakens the echoesin the mountains.]

Jeremy Dutcher

Jeremy Dutcher is a classically trained Wolastoqey musician and vocal artist from Neqotkuk. His formal education includes a dual Bachelor of Arts in Music and Social Anthropology from Dalhousie University, where he also received classical training as an operatic tenor. In 2024, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Education from Nipissing University for his contributions to Indigenous language revitalization through music. Jeremy blends archival recordings of Wolastoqey Elders with contemporary music to bring the language to life. His Polaris Prize-winning debut album sparked international conversation about Indigenous language and identity.