NOTINIKEW

by Andrew Balfour

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Cypress Choral Music · Notinikew (sample) – Andrew Balfour

featuring Dead of Winter (from Winnipeg)

LYRICS

Texts by Andrew Balfour except where noted

Calling all okihcitawak

pêyak, nîso, nisto, nêwo, niyânan one, two, three, four, five alpha, bravo, charlie, delta, echo

help us

nôtinikêw

nitopayîstawêw pêyak, nîso, nisto, nêwo, niyânan kîsikâwasan

makes war
one, two, three, four, five flash in the sky

nôtinikêw nipiwin kîsikâwasan nôtinitowin

going to war death
flash in the sky a war

Sniper’s Dream – narration

I went to war

I went to war. I offered my life to protect this country.
I have come back. I fought for you and I fought for all those who sat in this office

during the war. I have the right to ask you to give us back our Sun Dance. (anonymous Indigenous Veteran)

pôni-pimâtisiwin

pôni-pimâtisiwin the end of living

nimosôm – narration

nôhkom, help me

nôhkom my grandmother help me

ka-pôni-nôtinitowak after the war nôhkom, help me

I am being hunted
minahowin prey

nôhkom, bring me
nanâtawihowin, healing medicine

Anthem for a Doomed Youth – Text by Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

okihcitawak – narration

wîtaskîwin (?)

wîtaskîwin nôtinikêw sâkowewin May death find you with the creator in mind nakî iskotêw

peace
going to war making a war cry

stop fire

kâkîcihiwêwin

isîhcikêwin nôtinikêwin ka-poni-[nôtinitowak] nâtawihowin

act of healing ceremony fighting a war after the war healing medicine