8. Penobscot Nepi (Water) Song

Song Nepi (Water) Song
Music & Words Gabriel Paul
Composed in 2017(?)

In Penboscot
​nəpi
kkəseləmələpəna
kči-wəliwəni nəpi
kkihčitamitəhαmələpəna

In English
water
we love you
thank you so much, water
​we respect you

My attempt at IPA
nɜbe
gəzɑl  molvənɑ
gəddʒi  hwəlihwəni  nɜbe 
gədʒi  dəmi  dəhɑ  molvənɑ 

Notes: Today’s song is by Gabriel Paul, of the Crow and Eel Clan of the Penobscot, whose homelands are located along various waterways in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. The song is a song to thank and honor water. I encourage you to learn and take it to water near you to sing -- and then maybe create your own water song and connect to the water that is near you!

Gabe describes the song's origins on this webpage, and he and his niece, Leigh, have given permission for this song to be sung and shared freely. It is a privilege to be invited to sing in the language of the Penawahpskek nation, and I’ll help you learn it with care – but know that we are guests, and I'm sure I have an accent – it’s okay to be uncomfortable, and honored at the same time. Then visit the Penobscot nation site to respectfully learn more about these people who claim one of the oldest continuous governments in the world.
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A people who have lived in one place for 11,000 years have a very different perspective than mine, as a child of immigrants. In this episode, I quote Weh'na Ha'mu' Kwasset (She Who Brings the Light), an Indigenous writer and visionary who was raised on Penobscot land, and is also known as Sherri Mitchell. Her book is Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change.

Youtube recording of Leigh Neptune singing this song.

Nuts and Bolts: This song is unison, unmetered, Ionian (major).