These prayers were written over many years, some of them born from Native studies classes at Southern Oregon University, Some from my time as a pilgrim with the Spiritual Exercises by St Ignatius de Loyola, and some after I began existing as visible clergy.
Phrasing can seem limited because my knowledge, understanding and access are limited. These dances between English and Wailaki are attempts to pull what remains into living, breathing prayers.
Kaage niiyaang
Quicky you arrive
Bichang yilhgheeh
He likes it
Ky'il'aash kyidiyai
He works in darkness
Na'a tish nunundugee
Take it, Get up
Ts'ighillang
We played
Yolh yolh
He wants it
Yoonighil la'ning
He did get it
Kaagehaa dochug kunneshing diitaa
For a long time, no one shouted
around here.
Kaasiiyaang
I come up
Kaale kung
I am glad
Shundiin kaang yekut inging
It looks like sunshine
Yeh-in-yash
come in, you come in, move
Yolh-yolh
He wants it
Ning-'ish-'a'a
I did mind you and did what you said.
bi-chang-yilh-gheeh
He likes it
K'ai-la-hang
He did do that.
Bi-yii’ yo
His breath, beyond
Show me.
K’isa I ca K’aynt’e
Coyote looks for the sun
Den’ca K’anac
This way the sun comes up
T’o a’bi si’y’in
I stand in the cloud
To’naa’aa
Water, take it
Kaalekung
I am glad
To’taan’nung
Water, Drink it
To Nhushul’kut’dung
Water, I swallow you
Tesiigintel’teng
I carry you with me
Nshonung
This way is good
Kaalehaakung
I am very glad
Do iish’jii kenush’iing
My heart never forgets
Kaande ninghaa nundaash'e
Tomorrow you will dance
Tsee 'naakenneelh qot'de
I will bend a stick for you
Bekang nundushe ninghaa saa’dung hiit
By it dance. Just You. Alone.
Do kaang tingyaashe kaalhbii'kyo
Early you go, early dawn
Kaande kulhbii niishaage
Tomorrow at dawn I come.
Hɑi di· tc‘ε·k tc‘iŋ bit‘íɣɑi’dil’ín
She looked among the people.
Bañ bαl lai ya łtca dε yαb bañ
They called to each other across Island Mountain.
Ts’i-yaadin yił-chii
He gathers people in place.
Yɑł ninyɑ
She came walking
Yolh-yolh
he wants it
bik‘ɑ k‘inícyic
I’ll call for him.
se yε gαñ ƚa nαñ
Under a rock he ran.
hɑiyε·ε binɑ·si·lɑ́ł·’
That is the one I dreamt about.
nɑndɑc
He’ll come back.
gyan sdí.ɣaŋ’
We live here.
Ŋho jii-diŋ
Our heart place
nɑníndɑ
You come back!
Nɑ·ni·diyɑ́·ŋ
I came back.
is-jii’ ’i-di-kants’ehiŋ
my heart is sweet
Yeh-in-yash Taikomol
Come in Sacred fire, Solitude walker, God.
Ning-'ish-'a'a
we do listen and do what you say
Tesiigintel’teng
We carry you with us song-giver
Nshonung Nshonung
This way is good
Bi-chang-yilh-gheeh Olebe
Our Creator looks on us with Joy
K'ai-la-hang Bi-yii’ yo
They did do that, Send their breath beyond
Do iish’jii kenush’iing
Our hearts never forget.
Do Aa’dug gaannelget
Do not be afraid of them
Diikaatinde Shonesh
Do it this way it is good
Do aa'dug gaannelget
Do not be afraid of them
Nunungdugke nulhdush naishaa
Get up They told us
Chosus sul'saa
They told us we will listen
Kaagehaa dochug kunneshing diitaa
For a long time, no one shouted around here.
Kaasiiyaang
We come up
Kaa le kung
We are glad
Shundiin kaang yekut inging
It looks like sunshine
Shaash-naa-t’aa
Flying bears
Nais-aa-niing
They fly around
Naa-dong aa-nul-laa is-kee-taa
What do you do, my people?
Gulh-gel-teel
It is getting dark,
Is-tung-kung
it is cold.
E-he aa-daa-chun-naa ko-sung-yung-e
Yes, you be careful
Shaash ish-chaang
yaa-gul-us
Bear jumped at me
Do-aa-dug-gaan-nel-get
Do not be afraid of them
Do-gaang tun-dul-lo-he
Do not laugh at them
Kaa shaa k’e-naash
Quickly the sun goes down
do-naa-he-dii-yiish-tse-hung
She does not seem to breathe
Chin-naa-sii-laalh
I dreamed about something
Kaan-de te-taa-shaa
I will go to the river tomorrow.
aa-dug-mao-shul-de
I will wash my face
Hai Saa-ne se hai baang-kyo aa-nung to de-nii
That standing rock at the ocean says that water makes the noise.
Kun-dung sii-liing-kun-tse-hung
I hear that i am close
Nush-aa-nii-la-he
What shall i do?
Kun-tee-hiit taal-le shuln-un ste-che shaalh-un
‘This way, dive in’, my sister told me
Dii-kaa-tin-de Sho-nesh
You do this way is good.
To Yilh tsug-gul-laa
She plays with water
Dii Yit-de tush-shaa
Here she goes downstream
Do-yaa-kun-nesh-tse-hung
I do not hear any talking
Do-naa-he-dii-yiish-tse-hung
She does not seem to breathe
Chesh-kai-she-tkun-kul-lush-ing
It looks like a girl
Nes-yaa-nun-kul-lush-ing
It looks like a boy
Gul-chaa-de-tse-hung yii-baang
I hear shouting from the other side
Dun-shosh aang
What says it?
Cho-sus-sul-saa
I will listen
Yo-ho-ho yung-ye-tse hung
Yohoho i hear them say
Do-kaang ting-yaa-she kaalh-bii-kyo
Early you go, early dawn
Kaan-de kulh-bii nii-shaa-ge
Tomorrow at dawn i come
Naa-shai-hiit aash-t’e-kaash shaa-nun-taa
I go about, i am in the creeks.
Kaa-ge-haa do-chug-kun-nesh-ing dii-taa
For a long time, no one shouted around here.
Kaa-sii-yaang
I come up
Kaa-le-kung
I am glad
Yo-ho-o, yo-ho-o
(Lii)
Shun-dii-ne-kaang-ye-kut-ing-ing
It looks like sunshine
Shish-ta
our father
yɑ·bi yiit
lives in up there- house (art in heaven)
hɑi nconiŋ
he is good (hallowed be thy name)
Yeh-in-yash yolh-yolh
he comes in, he wants it (kingdom comes/ will is done)
nε bαn a na gαt da cε bε gε
on earth it will always go
Yo bαn a na gαt da cε bε gε
on ‘heaven’ it will always go.
Shigung-tish k̯’int’ɑŋ
give to me acorn
(see also Shigung-tish che-tas: give to me acorn bread)
na'a tish take it
(forgive our tresspasses)
Shi-jii-k'ee-in Baahntceeki
i forgot the crying ghost place (as we forget)
ngk'eh-nay-'a'-ang
I did mind you and did what you said. (lead us not into temptation?)
ts’iyɑ·din yictc‘ín’niŋ
he has gathered people in place (Deliver us)
nish.kyáɣ ’aht’iŋ
he is big, all (Kingdom, power, Glory)
Né-’e-shoŋ
It gets ripe/comes to be good (Forever and ever)
Us-lii-de let it be (amen)
Nshon Ky’óoshe’
Good Mary
to yił tsαg gαl la
With water she plays.
Ninti sha’ge
In the night i dreamed i will go
Tił-ky’et’
You set fire going along.
Hai, nshonen shi-jii’diŋ Jii's'iis
That one is good from your heart place Jesus
Nshonen Ky’óoshe, shis-naŋ
Good Mary, Mother of ‘over us one’
Bi· sínɣɑŋ -aa Nhaas
she made a home for the benefit of all of us all
Diikaatinde Shonesh
Do it this way it is good
Do aa'dug gaannelget
Do not be afraid of them
Nunungdugke nulhdush naishaa
Get up I told you
Chosus sul'saa
I will listen
Ishjii Lii Shish-ta Do-do-nosh-lung
Our hearts sing that the Father will not leave you
Nshon ’Í-l-leh
May your life become good
Naaheesiidiiyich
you get your breath back
Do aa'dug gaannelget
Do not be afraid
Ki kαł gαł wos se kyo
May you rest deeply
Ne-enchon
It comes to be Good
Isjii lii Ish-ta, Shei, YoKoŋ
Our hearts sing to Father, His Son, and Sacred Fire Spirit.
Us-lii-de
Let it be
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