MI'KMAW CULTURE
- MI'KMAW SONGS

Mi'kmaq Songs

Like most First Nations, the Mi'kmaq have an extensive collection of traditional songs and chants. Many of these have fallen into disuse, but the following are some common ones that are still sung frequently at a mawi'omi or during ceremonies. Where possible, translations are provided, but in many cases the songs consisted of "vocables," or spoken syllables that have no real meaning or translation. Many such vocables were intended to express emotion, rather than actual words.

You can click on the icon after the title to listen to Muin'iskw perform the song.

 

Kepmite'tmnej - The Mi'kmaq Honour Song

Kepmite'tmnej, the Mi'kmaw Honour Song, was received in the sweatlodge by George Paul in the 1980s. A singer-songwriter from the Metepenagiag First Nation (Red Bank), New Brunswick, George has been involved with the Traditional Movement in reviving Mi'kmaw songs, chants, and ceremonies for over thirty years. This song features a combination of meaningful text in Mi'kmaq and vocables, and it is generally repeated four times.

Kepmite'tmnej ta'n teli l'nuwulti'kw
 
Geb-me-day-de-mah-nej don delly ull-nole-deek
Let us greatly respect our being L'nu
Ni'kma'jtut mawita'nej
 
Ni-gah-mahj-dood (gay) mah-wee-dah-nej
My people let us gather
Kepmite'tmnej ta'n wettapeksulti'k
 
Geb-me-day-de-mah-nej don wed-ah-beck-sool-deeg
Let us greatly respect our native roots
Ni'kma'jtut apoqnmatultinej
 
Ni-gah-mahj-dood (gay) ah-bone-mah-dole-dee-nej
My people let us help one another
Apoqnmatultinej ta'n Kisu'lkw teli ika'luksi'kw
 
Ah-bone-mah-dolt-dee-nej don Gee-soolk delly ee-gah-loog-seeg
Let us help one another as Creator intended when he put us
wla wskitqamu      way-yah-hey-yoh
 

oo-lah wis-geet-ah-moo way-yah-hey-yoh
on the earth.

   
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah
Way-yoh-way-hi-yah-hay-yoh
(vocables)

 

Wejkwita'jik - the Gathering Song

 

As the name implies, a Gathering Song is sung to celebrate a gathering of the people. It should be mentioned that there are a number of different songs that are referred to as Gathering songs, and there is some debate regarding which, if any, is THE Gathering song.

Wejkwita'jik nkikma'q wula tet nike' a

Wej-gwee-dah-jik nin-gig-ah-mah woo-lah ded nee-gay ah
Our people are coming, right here, now
Ma'wiomi weskowa'sit, weltasualtultiek (ah way) Mah-wee-oh-mee wis-goh-wah-seet, well-dah-swole-doo-deeg (ah way)
A gathering is happening; we are all happy to see each other
   
Wejkwita'jik niskamijk wula tet nike' a Wej-gwee-dah-jik niss-gah-mij woo-lah ded nee-gay ah
The spirits are coming, right here, now
Nenmitij na telta'jik, petaqte'ji'jk wtowtiwow.
 
Nen-ah-mee-deej na dell-dah-jig, beh-dok-day-jeejk oo-dow-dee-woh
They know where they are going, their road is straight
   
Wejkwita'jik no'kmaq wula tet nike' a
 
Wej-gwee-dah-jik noh-gah-mah woo-lah ded nee-gay ah
Our relations are coming, right here, now.
Pepkwijete' ma'tijik newtitpa'q    Way ha ya yo way.
 

Beb-kwi-jeh-day-mah-dih-jeeg nayoh-dee-bah    Way ha ya yo way.
They will drum all night.

   
Refrain:  
A way ha, way ha, way ha ya
Way ha way ha ya
Way ha ya yo way

A way ha, way ha, way ha ya
Way ha way ha ya
Way ha ya you way
(vocables)

 

Kwanu'te' - the Feast Song

 

This song is sung in honour of a feast, and in honour of all those beings that gave themselves to be part of the feast. There are many different versions of this song. The meanings of the words, if any, have been lost in time, and they are sung as vocables today.

Kwanu tey, kwanu tey

Gwah-noo-day  gwah-noo-day 
Kwanu tey, kwanu tana hey

Gwah-noo-day, gwah-noo-dah-nah-hay

   
Refrain:  
Kwana li a, kwanu tan a hey Gwah-nah-lee-yah, gwah-noo-dah-nah-hay
Kwana li a, kwanu tan a hey Gwah-nah-lee-yah, gwah-noo-dah-nah-hay
Kwana li a, kwanu tey Gwah-nah-lee-yah, gwah-noo-day
Kwana li a, kwanu tey

Gwah-nah-lee-yah, gwah-noo-day

Kwana li a, kwanu tan a hey yah hey yoh Gwah-nah-lee-yah, gwah-noo-dah-nah    hay-yah-hay-yoh
   
Additional verses:  

I'ko', i'kaney

Ee-goh ee-gah-nay
I'ko', i'kana

Ee-goh, ee-gah-nah

   

Te' aka, te' aka

Day ah-kah, day ah-kah
Te' aka, te' aka

Day ah-kah, day ah-kah

 

Iknmuwetu - the Giveaway Song

 

Traditional teachings warn about allowing one's possessions to become to important in one's life, to the point where they possess you. To reinforce this teaching, a Giveaway is often part of a traditional gathering. Participants place objects on a blanket, then everyone takes turns selecting an object to take home with them. This teaches us to give, and also provides us with a reminder of the gathering. The following song is often sung while the ceremony takes place (My thanks to Ida Denny for providing the words - the link is to a YouTube video of George Paul's recording.)

Bridge:

We' o he' ha, We' o he' ha

Way yo hay ya, way yo hay ya
We' o he' ha, We' o he' ha he' o

Way yo hay ya, way yo hay ya hay yo

   
Msit n'njank*, wjit kilow Um sit nin jahnk, oo jeet gee low
Msit n'njank*, wjit kilow Um sit nin jahnk, oo jeet gee low
Iknmua'taqn iknmulnoq Ee kin nim moo wah dah on ee gin nim moo loh
Kkijnu wsitqamu aq wnjanji'k

kee ji noo oo sit ah moo ah win jon jeeg

   
Bridge between each verse
Replace n'njank with the following word for additional verses
 

Msit kisiku'k, wjit kilow

Um sit gih see goog, oo jeet gee low
Msit n'kwe'ji'jk, wjit kilow

Um sit en gway jeej, jeet gee low

Msit n'jiknamk, wjit kilow Um sit en jee gah nahmk, jeet gee low

Msit no'kmaq, wjit kilow

Um sit noh gah mah, oo jeet gee low
   

 

Kitpuewey Ktapekiaqn - the Eagle Song

 

This traditional song honours Kitpu, the eagle. Unfortunately, I have no recording of this song, but for those who are familiar with it and want the lyrics, here you go.

Bridge:  
Yi'o o yi'o o yi'o un ne' Yo ho yo ho yo ha nay
Yi'o o yi'o o yi'o un ne' Yo ho yo ho yo ha nay
   
E’, musikiskituk na’ metewintoq Ay, moosi gis kut duke na med doh win tog
Peji-kinua’tuiek kitpu, na’ Bay jee kin noo odd do we egg, gid poo nah
Peji-kinua’tuiek kitpu, na’ Bay jee kin noo odd do we egg, gid poo nah
   
Bridge  
   
E’, musikiskituk na’ metewintoq Ay, moosi gis kut duke na med doh win tog
Kiwto’qaqsinte’w kitpu na’ Ghee iw tog och sin day, gid poo nah
Kiwto’qaqsinte’w kitpu na’ Ghee iw tog och sin day, gid poo nah
   
Bridge  
   
E’, musikiskituk na’ metewintoq Ay, moosi gis kut duke na med doh win tog
Me’ki wula’liek kitpu na’ May ghee woo law lee egg, gid poo nah
Me’ki wula’liek kitpu na’ May ghee woo law lee egg, gid poo nah
   
Bridge  

 

Mi'kmaw History >>>

 
Updated: 26 Mar 2016 Print Page