01 August 2011

The Chief's Prayers

Today is both the start of the month of Santa Rosa for the Carib Community in Arima, Trinidad & Tobago, as well as African Emancipation Day. Sometimes the two events are jointly celebrated on top of Calvary Hill in Arima, where the events begin at 6:00am with the blasting of the cannon. As that cannon is blasted, this post is scheduled to go up. Usually a smoke ceremony is held by the Caribs, and this is a collection of some of the prayers used by Chief Ricardo Bharath Hernandez. Best wishes to the Carib Community and Happy Emancipation Day!

LOKONO PRAYER

Adaiahiili Tamushi Anshika ba
O Great Spirit God give us your
Maiauhii daiba wai koma anshihi
Peace so we can love as you love us
Amarita mun sakwa daiba
Make us healthy so
Wai koma kamunka usahu kahiihii
We can have a good life
Wa chin achi waianchicha
We praise you O Lord

AMERICAN INDIAN PRAYER

Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.

(translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark in 1887)
published in Native American Prayers - by the Episcopal Church.

LOKONO-ENGLISH PRAYER

We send our prayers to the Great Spirit
Adaiahiili Tamushi
Whose manifestation we see in the spirit of the hawk,
Whose spirit we see in the mighty wind,
Whose spirit manifests through the sacred fire,
Who gives sustenance through the waters,
Who is ever-present in the forests,
And who gives us the provisions of the earth.
And through Santa Rosa,
We ask that he may receive our prayers,
As we pray for forgiveness,
As we pray in thanksgiving,
As we pray for continued blessings
For our Community,
For our Borough,
For our nation,
And for our world.
Amen.

Here are some more prayers in the various Indigenous languages of the Caribbean:

THE LORD’S PRAYER IN THE MAINLAND CARIB LANGUAGE

Kioumoue tetaniem oubecouyum:
santiketàla eyeti:
membouilla biouboutou malibatali:
Mingatte-catou-thoattica ayeoula tibouic monba cachi tibuic-bali oubecou.
Huere-bali im-eboue bimàle louago lica hueyou icoigne:
roya-catou-kia-banum huenocaten huiouine cachi roya-ouabàli nhìuine innocatitium ouaone.
Aca menépeton-ouahattica toróman tachaouonnê-tebouroni:
irheu chibacaiketa-baoua touaria toulibani-hanhan-catou.

THE HAIL MARY IN THE CARIB LANGUAGE

Mábuiga María
Buíntibu labu gracis
Búmañei
Abúreme biníuatibu
Jádan sun
UUríña biníuatiguiyé
Tin bágaim Jesus.
Sándu María lúguchu
Búnguiu
Ayumuraguabá uáu
Gafigontíua
Uguñetó, lídan
Ora uóuve. Ítara la.

THE LORD’S PRAYER IN THE WARAO LANGUAGE

Karima, najamutuata jakutai,
Jiwai yatomanetekunarai.
Jirujuna rujanu rijana.
Najamutuata jiaobojona eku abaya.
Raina eku monukajase jiaobojona eku abakunarai.
Kanajoro ama saba jakutai taisi kamoau.
Kaisiko asiraja nonajakutai taisi kuare barinaka kaobojona bereaoko.
Taisi monuka kaobojona asirajasi kuare barinaka bere.
Kayakara minaka jau.
Tiarone asiraja arotuma amojekumo kejeronu.
Iji are Airamo tane rujakitane ja.
Iji are jijara taeraja.
Iji are Airamowitu.
Amén.

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