Pierre Lecris | Pierre Lecris |
(1)kayâs mistahi nikîh-kitimâkisinân; mâka kîh-mihcêtin ta-mîciyâhk. pisiskiwak nanâtohk kêkway kîh-mihcêtiwak. êkosi mitoni kîh-nêsôwan k-âpacihtâyâhk t-ôh-nipahâyâhkok. |
(1)Of old we were very poor; but there was much for us to eat. Game animals of every kind abounded. But very slight was our equipment for killing them. |
(2)êkosi êkospih aniki kisêyiniwak kîh-wîhtamwak tânisi kêy-ispayik nîkân. êkosi ôma kâ-kîh-itwêcik nikîh-wâpahtên, miton êh-tâpwêcik. awêyiwa êtokê kâh-wîhtamâkocik? êkwa ôma niya k-êspihtisiyân, âsay kahkiyaw âpacihcikan kîh-ihtakon. |
(2)That was the time when those old men told what would happen in the future. And this which they said I have seen, and have seen that they spoke the very truth. By whom, I wonder, were they informed? In the time of men of my age all these implements already existed. |
(3)êkospi wîpac k-âti-mâci-takosihkik kâ-wâpiskiwêcik. kisêyiniwak kîh-wîhtamwak. |
(3)At that old time, soon the whiteskins began to arrive. The old men had foretold it. |
(4)«kâ-wâpiskiwêcik takosihkwâwi, wâh-wêpac kika-nipinânaw.» |
(4)«When the whiteskins arrive, speedily we shall die.» |
(5)êwako mîn ê-kî-wîhtahkik, tânisi kêy-ispayik nîkân. êkosi mihcêt kêkway kîh-wîhtamwak tânisi kêh-ispayik nîkân. iyikohk kâ-kîh-pêhtawakik kêkway kâ-kîh-wîhtahkik, kahkiyaw niwâpahtên. êwako êh-mâmaskâtamân ê-kîh-tâpwêcik, kêkway kâ-kîh-wîhtahkik nîkân. |
(5)For this too they had foretold of future happenings. Many things they had foretold of how it was to happen in the future. As many things as I have heard of their predicting, all I have seen come to pass. I wonder at their accuracy in prophecying. |
(6)êkosi anohc masinahikan êh-wâpahtamân, kâ-wêmistikôsimocik omasinahikaniwâw, wiyawâw mîna ê-kî-wîhtahkik tânisi nîkân kêy-ispayik. kêhcinâ wiyawâw mîna tâpwêwak; mâka mistahi wiyawâw kêkway wîhtamwak; niyân apisîs piko kâ-nêhiyawiyâhk. êkotah ohci niwâpahtên awasimê wiya kêkway êh-miyikôwisit. |
(6)But now I have seen a book, a book of those who speak French, in which they, too, have predicted the future. Certainly they too speak true; moreover they tell many things; we, the Cree, only a few. From this I see that they were better endowed by the Higher Powers. |
(7)êkosi. |
(7)That is all. |