Waniska

Waniska is a traditional Cree song. Although many First Nations/Native American songs may be sung only at specific occasions, I have been told that Waniska may be sung at any time. The Cree, traditionally traders and hunters, are one of the largest First Nations groups in North America, with over 200,000 members living in Canada alone.

*waniskâ! (wake up!)
pêtâpan ôma(Sun rays are showing)
âsay piyêsîsak nikamowak (The Birds are already singing)
pê-miyotâkwan kitaskinaw (Our land is sounding beautiful)

**waniskâ! (wake up!)
pêwâpan ôma (Its early morning/daylight)
âsay piyêsîsak nikamowak (The Birds are already singing)
pê-miyonâkwan kitaskinaw (Our land is looking beautiful)

*from a student (Blue Quills First Nations College Cree Language Program -3 yr B.A. 2011)
**from from Elder (Ministikwan Lake First Nation, SK 2000)

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Wa ni ska, pee ta pun oh ma
Ah say pee see suk
ee nig um oh uk
ee mew nah gwun
ki tus kee no
Way yah hi hi yo

Way ya hey, way yah hey ah ha
Way ya hey, hey, hey
Way ya hey i hiy
Way ya hey i hiy
Way ya hiy hiy yo!

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PRONUNCIATION GUIDE: 

WEYA –way-yah 
HEY – hey 
YAHA – yah-hah 
HAIYO – high-yo   
WANISKA - wah-nees-ka 
PITAPAN - pee-ta-pahn OMA - o-ma 
ASAY - ah-say 
PISISAK -pee-see-sahk 
INIKA - ee-neh-ka
MOWAK - mo-wahk. 
I – ee 
MIYONAKWAN - mʼyo-nah-kwahn
KITASKINAN - kee-tahs-kee-nahn