"The Lord's Prayer" in Abenaki
Nemit8kusena Our Father
_________________________ ___________________________________
Nemit8kusena spemkik aian, Our Father in the above Land,
s8gm8walmegwadets aliwizian Sanctified like a chief is thy name.
amanta pachi wawittoak May it be pleasing to our Creator,
ketebaldamuaw8ganek; That we should be forgiven;
ali kitt8gwak kedelaldamu8gan Here on earth as we forgive others.
spemkik dali aliwizian There in the above land shall it be
o nobi dali kik Here the same, here the same
ali kikt8gwadets. On earth may it be obeyed.
M8milina alemikisgak Give us during this day
nedatasigwiskwaab8nemena; Our everyday bread;
ioba achi anhaldamawiaga Also, forgive us
kag8wiulakeban, Our transgressions,
ali niona anhaldamauak As we forgive
kag8wihuhakedebanik; Others their transgressions;
muzak dali chigittawikkak Do not then allow
t8m8ppa uji Us to walk over
saagi-unemihinamega Or hurt anyone
w8walha dakki Protect us at last
saaguazu8mina mamajigek. From all that is very bad.
Nialach. That it may be.
Note - this is not a word for word translation of English,
but is the text of the prayer as it has been said at Odanak
for many years. See below for translations of particular words.
These notes from Cecile Wawanolet.
For the "Alnobak" album, Jesse wrote music, and we adapted
the prayer to a shorter version.(Marge Bruchac)
Nemit8gwes = my father
spemkik = above land
aian = thou art
s8gm8walmegwadets = sanctified or hallowed
s8gmo = chief or leader
(same as "Sagamore")
aliwizian = thy name
amanta = may it please
ketebaldamuaw8ganek = kingdom or reign
tebalda = owner/creator/Lord
(same as "Tabaldak")
spemkik dali = above land dwelling in
io n8bi = here the same
daki kik = on earth
ali kikt8gwadets = may it be obeyed
m8mlina = give us
(same as "mili" give)
alemekisgak = during this day
kisgak = today
nedatasigiskwa = our everyday
ab8nemena = bread
ioba achi anhaldamauak = also, forgive us
anhaldamawin = to forgive
kag8wiulakeban = our trespasses
muzak = do not
Nialach = that it may be
