Western Abenaki Dictionary, WAR Radio, and Online Lessons: Home of the Abenaki Language

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Western Abenaki Radio 15 Transcript

Please note: Once again, there's homework! Most is translated below, but some of the commentary included in this episode is left for you to figure out. Have fun and enjoy!

Kwai / nid8bak. / Wliwni / wji / tbestawigw / Aln8bail8baktahiganek.
hello / my friends. / thank you / for / listening / Abenaki Radio to.
Hello my friends. Thank you for listening to Western Abenaki Radio.

Pebon / s8khosa / ta / kizi / adoji / wji / 8tlokaw8ganal / mina.
winter / he arrives / and / already / time / for stories / again.
Winter has arrived and it is the time for storytelling once again.

8daba / n'wl8mawaldamowen / alewa / nis8kwaki / taba / mdala / akw8bigadek!
not / I believe / almost / 2000 / and / 10 / year it is!
I can't believe it is almost 2010!

kwanipok / adoji / askwa / wji / lokamek / kwajemiwi.
during winter / so much / still / to / do / outside.
During the winter there are still many great activities to do outside.

k8dak, / alemegizgak / n'wigi / l8gemapozowak / ta / skaipozowak / kwajemiwi
for example, / during the day / I enjoy / skiing / and / skating / outside
For example, during the day I enjoy skiing and skating outside.

kanwa / p8paami / wigia / nopassaa / 8gemaikok
but, / I especially / like / to walk far / on my snow shoes
But, I especially enjoy going for long walks on my snow shoes.

ps8n / wlin8gwat / ta / chiga ms8gwata / n'wigi / wlih8wak / waz8lisan8bak / kassiwi / nd'aw8ssisemak.
falling snow / looks good / and / when / deep snow / I like / make them / snow men / together with / my children.
The falling snow is so beautiful and when it gets deep, I enjoy making snow men with my children.

Minaguiba / aiag8 / akwi / wanalm8 / kpaga / m8dlat / ta /
Although / must / do not / forget / thick / coat / and /
Although one mustn't forget a thick coat,

meljasak / ala / aalilj8mekik / ta / moswa / ta / asolkw8n / ta / pakalmegwat / pebonibotsal.
mittens / or / gloves / and / a scarf / and / hat / and ofcourse / winter-boots.
mittens (or gloves), a scarf, a hat and ofcourse, winter boots!

chiga / n'kwaskwaji / n'wigi / awazi / pasojiwi / abapskweda.
When / I am cold / I like / to warm myself / near / the stove.
When I'm cold, I enjoy warming myself up beside the stove.

awakan / wz8mi / awazonal, / kanwa / psighakwa / wlidah8zikha
uses it / to much / fuel, / but / splitting wood / good mind make
it certainly takes a lot of fuel, but chopping wood can be very therapeutic.

pamalagimegwak, / n'waj8nemen / 8tlokaw8gan / Henry Lorne Masta / awikhiganek. / n'kawachowi / k'wigsedamen8.
this episode in, / I have it / a story / " / book in. / I hope / you all like listening to it.
In this episode, I have a story for Henry Lorne Masta's book. I hope you enjoy listening to it.

W8BANAKIAK TALI SWANTON VT. / ABENAKI INDIANS AT SWANTON VT.

Wji / akw8bi / id8zik / ta / akw8bi / awikh8zik,
from / as much / is said / and / as much / is written,

angitta / W8bigijik / m8ja / aidit / Swanton Vt. / pab8miwi / 1790 / akw8bigadek,
soon after / whites / start / they live / " / about / " / in the year,

wd'ain8zsa / ni / nonninska / kassokamigzoak / W8banakiak
that they might have been / there / 50 / many there houses (families) / Abenakis

wajiawijik / Alsig8ntekwok / ta / msaltozhanik / skamonkik8nal
where they are from / at the St Francis river (empty cabin river) / and / made big / corn fields

ni / kanwa / waji / kizi / wl8wzidid / aiag8 / achi
so / but / in order / can / live well / need / also

namaskaadid / ta / nadialidid / ta / sawi / aiag8 / nopassadid.
fish / and / hunt / and / sometimes / must / far walk.

Ni / k8dak / pasgueda / wakaswak / w'dali / weskok8gon8zsa / Magua, / kwahliwi / Sal8nnaki / Nbesek.
so / for example / once / a few / there / intercepted / Iroquios, / near / Saranac / Lake.

Maguak / paamalozhanik / 8ndaki / agm8w8 / taaba / w'mataoogw8bani
The Iroquois / they were more numerous / than / them / and would / finish them

chaga / 8nda / w'guitaalmegwown8 / kanwa / achi / agm8w8 / w'zakp8wlegw8 / nitta / tali / wibiwi
if / not / they respected them / but / also / they / fear them / right away / there / only

wd'asko8ldin8 / ta8lawiba / niswak / pezoak / 8mpchi kadawi / awdidida.
they wait / like would / two / bobcats / wanting / to fight.

Ni / W8banakiak / kadopidid / azi / pazgo / wmow8n / manhakw8gana
then / the Abenakis / were hungry / each / one / he ate it / inner pine bark

ni / sibiwi / kistodid / waji / migakadit / nitta / achi / adoji
then / later / they decided / to / they fight / immediately / also / so much

m8ja / nawadwadid pmeg8did ta kwakwah8midid.
start / war dance / and / they yell.

Ni / kadonalgodiji / kizi /polwaadid,
So / they attack / already / they ran away,

w'mamhlawi / kog8lewan8 / maguwak / ni / onka / waji / askwa / liwilh8mek / Maguak.
they strongly / cried out / cowards / so / it is / for / still / called / cowards.

Ni / 8zidaiwi / agm8w8 / wd'eliwihl8n8 / W8banakia / "Adirondacks" / manhakw8gana / mowojik.
and / in responding / they / called / the Abenaki / Adirondacks / inner bark / eaters.

According to tradition and to some record when the Whites
first settled at Swanton, Vt., in 1790 approximately, the St-Francis
Abenaki Indians had there about fifty wigwams with large corn
fields, but in order to make a fine living they needed some fish and
meat; therefore they had to go fishing and hunting and sometimes
did go quite far. For instance a few of them were one day inter-
cepted by a greater number of Iroquois near Saranac Lake and all
would undoubtedly have been killed but for the great fear that the
one and the other party had of each other. They both simply re-
mained on their guard even as two wild cats do when about to fight.
Finally the Abenakis being very hungry began, one at a time, to eat
the pith of a pine tree. after which they decided to fight and at once
started on a wardance shouting and yelling. The Iroquois slyly
withdrew and when the Abenakis perceived that their enemies were
leaving they cried out aloud "Magowak Magowak" "Cowards, Cow-
ards." and that is the reason why the Iroquois arc still called Ma-
guak. In return they called the Abenakis "Adirondacks" --bark eaters.

For this complete story and many more, check out Henry Lorne Masta's book Abenaki Indian Legends, Grammar and Place Names

Wlinib8iamih8muk / Merry Christmas

Wig8dam8da / Let Us Rejoice

8zidawaw8gan / THE ANSWER

Awanika aop natamid
Who was the first

nodamen lal8mow8gan
to hear the voice

neg8nit idamop
of the Old One who said

kizi adoji 8dabi?
it is time to rest?

Awasos
Was it the bear

w'kwilawaton w8gwasem?
seeking its den?

Chegual
Was it the frog

gamego kawik?
diving deep to sleep?

Abazi
Was it the tree

poniadonal wanibagol?
setting free its leaves?

8da n'wawaldamowen.
I do not know.

kanwa kita spiwi nia.
But listen with me.

kizilla k'nodaji
Perhaps you'll hear

8zidawaw8gan
the answer

Ps8niwi.
in the falling snow.