Prayers in our Native Language

[Neskie Manuel]

Wow Thanks for sharing that, I can't wait to see the video on YouTube.
 One of the first things I learned was 'A Secwepemc Prayer' [1], if
you ever fly into Kamloops BC you'll see it posted at the airport[2].
Prayer is a good way to start learning the language.  It will be said
before meals, at gatherings and before you go to bed.  Prayers
reinforce everything about the language, and communicate an important
message to ourselves, our family and friends, as well as the Creator
(or who/whatever you believe in).  The revitalization of Hebrew had
something to reciting prayers.

[1] - http://neskiemanuel.ath.cx/mp3/A%20Secwepemc%20Prayer.mp3
[2] - http://www.kamloopsairport.com/sitecm/i/secwepemc%20prayer.jpg

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 11:30 AM, Tammy DeCoteau <tdc.aaia at verizon.net> wrote:
> Han Mitakuyapi,
>
> Throughout the years, our program has been visited by members of our
> community asking for help from them with prayers.  In fact, if you ask
> adults why they want to learn their language, to be able to pray to the
> Creator in their language is often either the reason or the secondmost
> reason.
>
> We are in the middle of a project to create three CDs of everyday language
> in Dakotah and all year long I have struggled with the idea of creating the
> third CD as parts of prayers.  The time has arrived to make this decision
> and I have decided not to.
>
> Each time we have been asked for help, I have saved whatever the elders
> worked on ... in fact, I never throw anything away, even drafts because no
> one might remember that word or those words later on.  So I do have what I
> would consider a "general" prayer and I will be putting this on youtube in
> the next few days.
>
> I want people to know, though, that we are not saying that this is how you
> should pray, but simply offering this as one way that a group of elders came
> up with to help people who have asked for that help.
>
> Pidamayaye.
>
> Tammy DeCoteau
> AAIA Native Language Program