Shon Kwa niha ka ronh hia ke teh si te ronh Wa kwa; sen na to ken tih:
Sa ia nehr tshe rah, a on ta weht
Tsi neneh she reh; eh nen ia wen neh
ne onhwen tia keh: tsi on nenh ni tiot ne Ka ronh hia keh
Tah kionh; ne kenh wen ni se ra teh
n’iah teh wen ni se ra keht
on kwa na ta ronhk: ne o ni
ten ta kwa rih wi iohs ten
ne tsi ni ion kwa rih wah ne ron’tsi tsha
kher rih wi iohs ten nis
ne row tih wa ne ra ahks se ronh neonitohsatakwahsarineh
tsi non we: ton ta kwa the nion te nohk ton ta kwa ia ta konh
tsi non weh, ne ha ioh ten se rahk senh: I ken I se sa wenkh.
Nekaianertsherah,neoni
ne hah sahts tenh se rah, ne o ni ne on weh senh tshe rah.
Tsi ni ien hen weh, nohk
tsi ni ien hen weh. A:wen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Ne Ro ya ner ra ke nouh ne, ne wa hoe ny yagh tea,
Tha ta oe gwa touh wea tsyogh se; yagh o the nouh i kea.
Ra ouh ha tea hax nye tye shek’, tsi noe’ ka hea ti yoh;
Ea ha gwagh sha ri net’ ak ta tsi kagh ne ko yo gwats.
Teas ha te ny a gwa doen hets, ea ha kya dea ha wit’,
A te righ wa gwa rih syouh s’ra ne tsi yo ha da tye.
Nea yea ke we tsi kea he youh, yagh thea wak te roe shek’;
Yagh o the nouh tha kets ha nik’, ne wa het kea o kouh.
I kea ie se te nig we kouh, tho ie kea sa tea nits,
Ne wa kouh wes gwa tha o ni sea ni dea regh tshe ra.
Ea ya ke nig we koe ha ke, ne tsi ni yea hea we,
Ra o nouhsa kouh Ro ya ner eakiteroetake.
(From Ne Kaghyadouhsera ne Yoedereanayeadagwha [The Book of Common Prayer], New England Company, 1842.)
Note: The words are printed in syllables for ease of pronunciation. The unfortunate side effect is that this makes it more difficult to discern the breaks between words.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
He revives my soul
and guides me along right pathways for his name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of
those who trouble me;
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
(From the Book of Alternative Services, General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1985.)
Eh nonwe siwenniseratenion waharihowanate ne Cesar-August n'akwekon nonkweokon aiontatsennaren. Nok nonen siiakahewe neh naiawenne, Cyrenius rakora kenhne ne Syri nonwe. Akwekon kati tsiontatsennaraneskwe tsinonwe Tiakotonnishen. Tahatenti kati oni neneh ne Sose tso tkanataien ne Nazareth Galilene, tsi tkanataien ne Bethlehem niiahare, neh tsi ethononwe thonatonnisentakwe ne Tawit rawatsiratatie. Nenskatne aonwatisennaren n'Onwari, neseken kariwisonhonne enhotiniake, onen oni oia nikaiatoten. Tsinikariwes etho ienes onen iakahewe naiowiraientane. Warennakerate ne roienha neh oni ne takowanen, oniataraasonha wattowawenhekte nok tsi kontekwaientakwa ne katsenen wahoiationnite, aseken iah tehotinaktatsenrion tsi ioswenkarentonnion.
Iah ihnon tehken eh nonwe, katsenen sakohnaststerista astste ronnonwestskwe nok asontakwekon sakotinonnaties ne raotitsenenhokon. Ok taontierentsi kenh wahoketote Raronhiakeronon, akwa oni wathotiwannhake ne Niio raoswathetsera, nok wathonathonharenron. Nok tanon ne Raronhiakeronon, wasakawenhase : Tosa sewateronn : Asekon nonwa neh kwaroriane ne kowanen aesewatonnharen, ok neh sakat tsinonkati nonkwetakwekon. Ne tsi onwa kenh wenniserate, Tawit raonatakon etsisewennakerati ne Sesakoskontakohe ne oni ne Keristos, Roianer. Nok kenh kaien watenientenstakwen, neh oni entsisewaienterestakwe : nonen entsisewaiatatsenri neraksaa oniataraasonha tehawawenhekston, nok Katsenen tsi kontekkwatahasta raiationni. Nok ok eh iakaniionten rotitiokwatsanit ratironhiakeronon Karonhiake tahatiientakwe
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in
tehonwanonweronnions ne Niio, ronton : Ahonwasennaien ne Niio Karonhiake! Skennen Kenhak nonwentsiake! Niakonikonriio nonkwe. Nok nonen Karonhiake siionsahonne ne Ratironhiakeronon, wahonniron ne katsenen sakonasterista : Enhioh Bethlehem niiore niiehetewe, tewatkensera tsini tiawenhon tsioni nahoten wasonkwatokaten ne Rawenniio. Kasterihenke kati eh wahonnete, nok iasakotiiatatsenri n'Onwari tanon ne Sose nok oni ne raksaa tsi kontekkwatahasta raiationni. Nok nonen Sahonwaken, neh sahatitharakwe tsiniiot tsi tonwatirori ne raksaa raiatatake. Tsiniiakon wahonronke, wahakonerakwenhaton tsi nahoten ronton nekatsenen sakonaststerista. Nok n'Onwari akwa neneh neok ne ioteweientontie aonikonrakon oni sewatateiarakwennihakwe. Nok sahontenti ne katsenen sakonaststerista ronwanentons oni tehonwanonweronnionne ne Niio : tsi eh nahawenne tsi wahonronke tsi oni waontkatto tsiniiot tsironwatirori. (Luc II:1-20)
the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:1-20, NRSV)
Awententaonke, Wariwatere eh wahete tsi thaiatatakwe sekon ok satetiokaras, nok ontkatho tsi kanenhiarakwen ne kanontektonne. Tonsonratate saiakororiana ne Simon Tier tanon ne Iesos ronoronkwakwe, wakenron : Sonwaiatatakwen ne Roianer n’oshonwakon ; iah oni teionkwaterientare kah niiehonwaiatenha. Nensok rotention ne Tier tanon ne saiatat, nok eh wanete tsi tioshonwe. Nok tetsiaron tenitakke ; ne tanon ne saiatat ne tehoka tsiniiot ne Tier, neh kati rahente iaharawe tsi tioshonwe. Nok iathastsakete iahatketoten, wahatkatho n’oniatarahasonha eh kakeron ; iah kit anon tiiehostsnenton. Ethone ne Simon Tier ohnaken ratakhe eh warawe, nok iahastsnente oshonwakon wahatkatho oni ne raonha noniatarahasonha ehtake kakeron. Nok ne rotenontsistoroktonne ne Iesos iah tiiatekaieston n’otiake oniataraasonha akwa neneh akte nikaien tanon kawenonni. Ethone onen ne rahentene siiahanewe tsi iokaronte, iahastsnente oni neneh nok wahatkatho taretakwe oni. Aseken areko sihoterientare tsiniiot tsi kaiaton tsi enshatonnhete. Nok saiatenti.
Kenh kaien n’Onwari astste naoshonwati kenteron tewasenttos ; tsi kati nikariwes tewasenttos, iaontketoten oshonwakon. Nok eh wahakoken Tenironhiakeronon kenrakenseroskon ronastston, nistskwahere saiatat tsi rakonhentakwe, nok saiatat tsi iatehasitaientakwe ne Iesos. Nok wakonwenhase : oh niiotieren tsi tesasenthos? Tontakenron : ne ki tsi teionkekwenni ne Roianer, tanon iah tewakaterientare kah onte niiehonwa iatenha. Nok nonen siiaontewennokten, watewatkarhateni, nok wahoken eh ihrate neneh Iesos; iah kit anon tetioterientare iah oni teisweron neh
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’
ontekenh ne Iesos. Wahenron ne Iesos : oh niiotieren tsi tesasenthos? Onka seiatisaks, wahere naonha tsi onnontonnion neh kenh ne ratsitsiaienthos, wahawenhase kati : Saianer : toka ise iestsiatenha, takrori tsinonwe nisaien nok iensekko. Sarenhase ne Iesos : Wari! Nok tonsontkarhateni, wahawenhase: Rabbonni! Tontahenron ne Iesos tosa kenh niiatatier : aseken areko Rakenineha tiiesewakenon; was tanon seroriana n’iakwatatekenha : Rakenineha sake, nok etsisewanineha oni nise; Ake‐Niione, Etsisewa‐Niione oni nise. Wari‐ tere ionsonwe nok saiakorori ne raotiokwa tsi sahoken ne Roianer nok oni tsi raonha rarori neh nikarihoten. (San XX:1‐18)
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:1‐18, NRSV)
In oral tradition, the Rotinonhsyón:ni “open” gatherings of people with the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen, commonly referred to as the “Opening Address” or the “Thanksgiving Address”. A more literal translation, in the words of Elder Tom Porter is “what we say before we do anything important”.
This ceremony acknowledges and recognizes the importance and relationship of all life forces in Creation. The purpose is to bring the minds of everyone at the gathering together as one.
Below is a short version of the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen; there are many written versions, all reflecting the same purpose. In oral tradition, as the Speaker is speaking in the moment and from his heart, rarely will the exact wording be used each time it is conducted.
Kentsyóhkwa sewatahonsí:yohst kén’ nikarihwéhsha. Everyone (the group) listen well for a short time.
Ne kati tentshitewanonhwera:ton ne Shonkwaya’tishon ne wahi rohsa’anyon tsi naho:ten teyo’tawenrye ne kentho tsi ohwentsya:te. I will give thanks to the Creator for the things that go about on the earth.
Akwé:kon énhska entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne onkwe’shon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks to the people. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne yethinihstenha tsi ohwentsya:te.Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks to our mother the earth. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne ohneka’shon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks to the waters. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne kentsyon’kshon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks to the fish. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne ohtera’shon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the roots. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne ohente’shon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the grasses. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne ononhkwa’shon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks to the medicines. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne otsinonwa’shon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks to the bugs. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne tyonnhehkwen. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks to the sustenance foods. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne kahi’kshon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the fruit. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne kontirio. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the animals. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne karonta’shon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the trees. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne otsi’ten’okon:’a. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikonhra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the birds. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne kaye:ri nikawera:ke. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the four winds. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon tetshitewanonhera:tons ne etshitewa’tsi:’a entyekhenhnekha karahkwa. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for our elder brother the sun. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne yethihsotha ahsonthennekha karahkwa. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for our grandmother moon. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon teyethinonhwera:tons ne ostistohkaronnyon. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for the stars. Now our minds are one.
Akwé:kon énhska’t entitewawenon:ni ne onkwa’nikonhra táhnon tetshitewanonhwera:tons ne Shonkwaya’tishon tsi niyoyaneres nahoten’shon:’a rosa’anyon ne sken:nen aetewatonnyonhseke. Etho niyohtónha’k ne onkwa’nikón:ra. We will make our minds one and give thanks for our Creator for the good things we will continue to think peacefully about.
O:nen tho niyore wa’katerihwatkwé:ni, tokat othe:nen shonke’nikónhrhen, i:se ki’ ne’e aesewatashón:teron. É:tho’k nikawén:nake. Now I have done all I can do, if there is anything I have forgotten, it’s up to you to fix it. That is all.