1895: “Chinook Hymns” in Chinuk Pipa (Part 4: Naika Chako Wawa)
Pages 2, 3, and part of 4 in the small book “Chinook Hymns” (6th edition, 1895, Kamloops) show us the song, “Naika Chako Wawa”…
(Here’s a link to all installments in this mini-series.)
This is another lyric that’s straightforward, fluent Northern Dialect Chinook Jargon.
The tune is probably French.
< Naika chako wawa. >
Naika chako wawa tlus mirsi
‘I come to say a good thanks’
Kopa maika tlus ShK
‘To you, good Jesus;’
Naika tiki wawa aias tlus
‘I want to say very good things’
Kopa maika naika papa
‘To you, my father;’
Naika tiki mamuk yutl maika
‘I want to make you proud;’
Naika mamuk taii maika
‘I respect you;’
Wik kata pus naika chako til ⌉ {BIS}
‘I can’t get tired (of it)’ {REPEAT}
Pus naika tlus nanich maika ⌋
‘When I’m paying attention to you.’Kata pus wik yutl naika tomtom
‘How could I not be proud’
Kopa maika tlus ShK
‘Of you, good Jesus;’
Ayu kwanisim maika mamuk
‘You always do so much’
Pus hilp kanawi tilikom
‘To help everyone;’
Iht aias haha maika mamuk
‘There’s one (particular) great sacred thing you did;’
Wik saia maika mimlus
‘Near your death’
Maika mamuk tlus ⊕ ⌉ {BIS}
‘You made the good eucharist’ {REPEAT}
Pus alki naika chako tlus ⌋
‘So I would some day get better.’
