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I hope you enjoy them
Translations
Akua Tuta
Be careful what you do
Be careful what you do with the thing that has given to you
Be careful what you do
Be careful what you do . . . the way you were raised
Be careful what you do
Be careful what you do with the thing you protect
Be careful what you do
Be careful what you do with the thing which has helped you
Take care of our land
Be careful what you do – the way you were raised
Take care of our grandfathers
Take care of our grandmothers too
Take care of your children and your brother and sister’s children too
Rough Translations:
These are not directly correct, but they catch many of the keywords and capture the total feeling of the piece. Anything in [ ] is meant to explain a set of lyrics that I cannot directly place into an easily written English sentence. Again, these are rough translations.
E Uassiuian:
[a song about growing up and missing the days as a child. But still living life and not being trapped to the past.]
now I see how I live
now I see how I grew up
now, I am really confused because
of my life before now.
But really, we live and
We should always be careful what we do.
I am content with my present lifestyle,
But I still think back to playing with my friends . . . . .
[when I think about playing with friends,
my mind journeys back to my childhood]
thinking about nothing,
just looking back,
looking at how I was raised,
you cannot go back forever.
But honestly, we should live in a way that
We take care of ourselves [we should take care to live to the fullest now]
Be content with our present lifestyle . . .
. . . I see . . . my childhood . .. .
Kashtin
[song about wanting to just sit and watch the rest of the world go by . . . worn out by the ‘tornado’. The CD jacket pretty much describes this song already]
Doing nothing, just sitting here.
[but all this stuff is happening and I am needed in all these places]
now I don’t know what to do . . .
just sit here forever
Now I don’t want to play
Now I don’t have any desire for [set plans/guarantees]
Now I don’t want to play
Now I don’t have any desire for [set plans/guarantees]
So here I sit doing nothing…
?people watching me sing?
?singing to help/for help?
Just sit and watch
Now I don’t have any desire to play
Now I don’t have any desire for [set plans/guarantees]
***I think this song may be about wanting to just go home instead of performing a show. Often times, Kashtin will make statements about how the life of musicians keeps them away from home and how they wish they could just be back home. In this case, the song would be about Claude McKenzie wanting to stop a performance and just go home because the ‘tornado’ has been too much for him tonight . . . then again . . . this is all purely speculation. ***
E Peikussian [a song about being alone]
Alone . . . dreaming . . .
Not knowing . . .
Alone . . thinking/contemplating . . .
Not knowing . . .
?Trying to have fun?
Along . . . dreaming . . .
Not knowing . . .
Alone . . .contemplating . . .
Not knowing . . .
This is how I live.
This is how I sing . . .
Pakuakumit
[The CD jacket is practically the lyrics. I use to know most of these words . . . but it has been so long since I spoke Innu-aimun I forgot the meaning of most of the words in this song]
For a long time we had many friends
From all the communities such as Pessamit, Pakuakumit, and Ekuanshit
You come to hear us sing and you come to dance.
All of you, we play for you and you dance to our music.
Shashish
[it is basically this]
for a long time you haven’t come
for a long time I haven’t seen you
for a long time we have not spent time together
for a long time we haven’t shared stories with one another.
[we are best friends even though we haven’t even seen or heard each other in such a long time]
Apu Tshekuan
Tshinanu
[follow it…it is simple yet powerful]
all of us . .
all of us . .
let us look at our way of life . .
our children
our grandfathers
all of us . .
all of us . .
let us look at our way of life
our Rivers
our Lands
this is the reason/one has a reason [referring to the Land, Children, Elders, Rivers, etc…]
Tipatshimun
[pretty much what the CD jacket says. It is a story about the devil on the reservation and how a boy named Eloi is waiting for his friends so he can hear the story.]
it begins by saying something along the lines of ‘now hear a story I am going to tell you but I am not sure which parts are true.’ And then throughout the song I can make out parts about the story, such as the beginning of the second verse talks about how Eloi is waiting for his friends . . .
the song is a story being told . . so naturally throughout it you hear words which mean ‘it was said by’ and ‘so-in-so said’ . . but since it moves fast and my Innu-aimun is poor . . . I am not sure how the story goes.
Uitshi
Ashtam Nituapam
[very rough, but follow it]
come fine me . . .
I am all along . . .
Come,
Say you will care for me . . .
Hold me . . .
I know you don’t know where I am . . .
But I know you will find me . . .
I don’t see anything tonight and because of this
I am very lonely . . .
I am lonely . . .
Come,
You say you will care for me,
Hold me . . .
I know you don’t know where I am
But I know you will find me . .
And when you find me
You will hold me
And care for me.
Shteteian
When I leave I will come back
When I leave you will be able to find me
When I leave I will come back
Know what I am thinking
Know what I am experiencing . . .
Know that you too will be experiencing it as well [the pain of being separated]
Be content to know I will return,
Be content to know you will see me again,
Be content to know I won’t be lost
Be content to know I won’t be lost . . .
My Daughter
[I need to brush up on my Innu-aimun . . . but here is what I can hear so far]
my daughter. . . my daughter . . .
you I hold and care for . . .
I am your father and your friend . . .
My daughter . . . go to sleep . . . go to sleep . . .
E uassiuian [Childhood – state of being a child]
N’tshish nuaten eshenniuian
N’tshish nuaten eshen’tautshian
N’thish tapue pussen’taman
nte ueshket ka inniuian
Muk tapue ninen n’tinniun
Tshetshi nan’tam akua tuteman
Ne menuen’ten eshenakushian
E uataman e uassiuian
Eshk tapue ne mamet’nenten
net ueshket ka metueian
kametueian shet nuitsheuan
tshetshi nan’tam tekushenian
Apu tshekuan n’tshish iten’taman
nte aitapian nte uateman
nte e uataman nte ka n’tautshian
apu tshi nan’tam tekushenian
Muk tapue ninen n’tinniun
tshetshi nan’tam akua tuteman
i menuen’ten eshenakushian
e uataman e uassiuian
Kashtin [Tornado]
Nte n’tshish nte ntepen apu tshekuan tutaman
N’tshen muk n’tshitap’maut ka pet metuetau
nan’tam neminuaten nte e uitsheukau
n’tshish nepukuaten tshi uapmikau
n’tshish apu tshessen’taman nte tshe tutaman
tshetshi nan’tam taian e uapmikau
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshi metueian
n’tshish apu shapentaman tshishtuasheian
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshi metuaeian
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshishtuasheian
Nte N’tshish nte ntepen apu tshekuan tutaman
Niminuaten nan’tam nte uapmikau
nan’tam niminuaten nte uitsheukau
n'tshish nipukuaten tshi uapmikau
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshi metueian
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshishtuasheian
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshi metueian
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshishtuasheian
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshi metuaeian
N’tshish apu shapentaman tshishtuasheian
E Peikussian [Solitude – state of being one]
E peikussian epuamiteian
Apu nita un’tshessitaman
nite uetshiian
E peikussian mamit’nen’taman
Apu nita un’tshessitaman
Nite ka inniuian
e peikussian epuamiteian
apu tshi un’tshessitaman
nin eshiniuian
Tshi uiten kie nin
nite uetshiian
Nin eshiniuian
A . . A . . A . .
E peikussian e puamiteian
Apu nita un’tshessitaman
nite ueshiian
E peikussian mamit’nen’taman
Apu nita un’tshessitaman
Nite ka metueian
E peikussian miamit’nen’taman
Apu nita un’tshessitaman
Nin eshiniuian
A . . A . . A . .
Tshi uiten kie nin
Nite uetshiian
Nin eshiniuian
Tshi uiten kie nin
Nite uetshiian
Nin eshinikashian
Pakuakumit [is an Innu community]
E kunnu minuat tshe nekumian
miam uitakushit ka tutaman
ashit nuitsheuan
E kunnu minuat peikuau tshe pamuteian
tshe uataman minuat peikuau
e man’teuian
Ni minuen’ten e uishamin
E tepuashin tshetshi uapmin
ni pukuaten tshetshi tshiueian
nte menepian
kie shah n’tshish anu metshetut niuitseuan
Pessamit nte Pakuakumit kie mak Kuanshit
kassinu tshessentamut muenu n’tshish
pet eshen’kaskuk
E uapmakau e nikamutau nenekamun
Ni minuen’ten e uishamin
E tepuashin tshetshi uapmin
ni pukuaten tshetshi tshiueian
nte menepain
Ni minuen’ten e uishamin
E tepuashin tshetshi uapmin
ni pukuaten tshetshi tshiueian
nte menepain
ni minuen’ten e uishamin
e tepuashin tshetshi uapmin
ni pukuaten tshetshi tshiueian
nte menepian … Ni pukuaten tshetshi tshiueian nte…
Shashish
Shashish apu takushinian
Shashish apu uapmitan
Tsheshi mupishtatan
tshetshi uauitamatan
nte uetiteian
E . . . . . .
Shashish apu takushinian
Shashish apu uapmitan
Tshetshi mupishtatan
Tshetshi tipatshimushtatan
tan ka ishuapitaman
E . . I . . . I . . . I . . .
Shashish apu takushinian
Shashish apu uapmitan
Tshe uitsheuan’tatan
mashten ka uapmitan
shash apu tshissitaman
E . . . I . . . I . . . I . . .
Shashish apu takushinian
Shashish apu uapmitan
Tshe uitsheuan’tatan
Mashten ka uapmitan
Shash apu tshissitaman
E . . . I . . . I . . I . .
Apu Tshekuan [nothing]
Apu tshekuan iten’taman
nte etein
Apu tshekuan iten’taman
e uapmitan
Tshekuan tshe tutaman
e tshitap’matan
Tshet’ssen’taman eshk peikuen
menuataman nte e uapmitan
e tshet’ssen’taman nte etein
E uap’mitan E uapmitan
E uapmitan E uapmitan
Apu shapentaman tshe uitamatan
Tshe uitamatan menuatetan
Tshekuan tshe tutaman
e tshitap’matan
Tshet’ssen’taman eshk peikuen
menuataman nte e uapmitan
e tshet’ssen’taman nte etein
E uap’mitan E uapmitan
E uapmitan E uapmitan
Apu shapentaman tshe uitamatan
Tshe uitamatan menuatetan
Tshekuan tshe tutaman
e tshitap’matan
Tshet’ssen’taman eshk peikuen
menuataman nte e uapmitan
e tshet’ssen’taman nte etein
E uap’mitan E uapmitan
E uapmitan E uapmitan
Tshinanu [We/All of us]
Tshinanu ui tshissentetau
Tshinanu tshinanu
tshinanu uauatetau
tshinanu tshmeshkananmenu
Tshinanu u. . . u . . u . . .
Tshituassminut
Tshinanu u . . . u . . . u . . .
[3 times]
Tshinanu u. . . u . . .
Shtapuenanu
Tipatshimun [story]
N’tshish nepeteti tipatshimun
muk pu tshessen’taman
tshi tapuenanut
Sheshush tsha n’tshishkueu
kametshin n’tshish katshi autak
Muk tshiam nika putatau
issishueu pu tat nte uen tsheka
tshi shakuiat
Matshi tshin shatshuapem
nte pet tshin tshika uitsheuan’tau
Tshessekut petakushu nte Eloi tepuatam
tshetshi t’tuampman nte uitshuat
Kutunnu ashu petetet tshishtuanu
Shetan Pishum
N’tshishuk kasht’nam umitshem
muk pu tsheseentak uennu n’tshish
nte tsh n’tuapamat
Matshi tshin shatshuapem
nte pet tshin tshika uitsheuanitau
Muk ka tshessen’taman ume n’tshish
nte pet tshe ishitessein
matshi nte shatshuap tshitshuat
nte pet inniuin . . .
Uitshi [help]
Tshunuau nan’tam ueshket ka pet uitamuiek
Apu tshessen’taman mue pet
tshe ishitssean
Tshinuau nan’tam ueshket ka pet uitamuiek
apu tsheesentaman mue pet
tshe ishitsseian
Apu tshekuan peikuen umue n’tshish
Tipenteman
Mauat apu tshessen’taman tshi minuataman
Ni minuaten nan’tam nte pet p’muteian
Pessish nitnat tsheka ne pet katak taian
Miamet’nenteman tanta pet
tshe petshishinan
Apu usstutaman nuneshen
Ashtam Utshi
Apu tshekuan peikuen umue n’tshish
Tipenteman
mauat apu tshessen’taman tshi minuataman
Apu tshekuan peikuen umue n’tshish
Tipenteman
Mauat apu tshessen’taman tshi minuataman
Apu tshekuan peikuen umue n’tshish
Tipenteman
Mauat apu tshessen’taman tshi minuataman
Apu tshekuan peikuen umue n’tshish
Tipenteman
Mauat apu tshessen’taman tshi minuataman
Tshinuau nan’tam ueshket ka pet uitamuiek
apu tsheesentaman mue pet
tshe ishitsseian
Tshinuau nan’tam ueshket ka pet uitamuiek
apu tsheesentaman mue pet
tshe ishitsseian
Apu tshekuan peikuen umue n’tshish
Tipenteman
Mauat apu tshessen’taman tshi minuataman
Ashtam Nituapam
Ashtam nituapam nte nit’nat
nte pessish tshe shenamatan
Ashtam nituapam nte ni’nat
tshe nishushiak tshe shuenataman
Apu tshessent’taman nte uetshiin
muk netshessen’ten
Tsheshuentakushen
Pet uitamu akuaten’min
ashit e shuen’min
pet uitamu
apu tshekuan uat’man e tepeshkat
nte uatman tshetshi peikussian
Apu shetshishian tshe uitmatan
ashtam nituapman nte nit’nat
tshe nishushiak tshe shuenamatan
apu tshessen’taman nte uetshiin
muk netshessenten
tsheshuen’takushin
pet uitemu akuatenmin
ashit e shuen’min
pet uitamu
apu tshekuan uat’man e tepeshkat
nte uatman tshetshi peikussian
Apu shetshishian tshi uitmantan
Shet shuenimitan
Ashtam nituapam . . Ashtam nituapam . .
Ashtam nituapam . . Ashtam nituapam . .
Shteteian
Shteteian tshetssen’ten kau tshe takushenian
tshetssen’ten kau tshe n’tuapemitan
Tshetssen’ten kau tshe takushenian
Shteteian tshetssen’ten kau tshe takushenian
tshetssen’ten kau tshe n’tuapemitan
Tshetssen’ten kau tshe takushenian
Tshetssenten etenimetan
Tshetssenten e shatshitan
Tshetssenten kie tshi mueshtataman
Tshetssenten kie tshi mueshtataman
A . . . A . . . A . . .
Tshetssenten etenimetan
Tshetssenten e shatshitan
Tshetssenten kie tshi mueshtataman
Tshetssenten kie tshi mueshtataman
Tekushinian tekushienian
Nemenueniten e uapmitan
Nemenueniten katshi neshtuapmetan
Nemenueniten katshi neshtuapmetan
A . . . A . . . A . . .
Tekushinian tekushienian
Nemenueniten e uapmitan
Nemenueniten katshi neshtuapmetan
Nemenueniten katshi neshtuapmetan
Nitanish [n’teish – My Daughter]
N’teish N’teish tshissenten e tenemukuin tshissenten e shuenimukuin
N’teish N’teish tshissenten e tenemukuin ka ui tut tshi anemeshin
N’teish N’teish tshissenten nte uetshiin tshissenten uet tshinuetamen
N’teish N’teish ka ui nta un’tshissitut Tshikanesh ke tshuitsheuan
N’teish N’teish tshissenten e tenemukuin tshissenten e shuenimukuin
N’teish N’teish tshissenten e tenemukuin ka ui tut tshi anemeshin
N’teish N’teish ka ui nta un’tshissitut Tshikanesh ke tshuitsheuan
N’teish N’teish Toshoku uaten tsheishinakushin tshek uaten nte mesheshtin
Akua Tuta
Akua tuta, akua tuta
Akua tuta tshekuan kaminekuin
Akua tuta
Naketuenta kiei tshin tshekuan
kanetaunekuin
Hey, hey, hey
Akua tuta
Akua tuta tshekuan kakunuene mekuin
Akua tuta
Naketuanta kiei tshin tshekuan kauitshikuin
Hey, hey, hey
Akua tshe tessinnu
Akua tuta nete kiei tshin kanetaunekuin
Akua tshe mushumenut
Akua kiei tshukumenut eshei
Akua tshe tuassimenut
Akua kiei tsheshimenut eshei
Hey, hey, hey
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