Boo Maga December 2021
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Secwepemc Translations<br />
of Chrismas Songs<br />
A big thank you to Jean William and Judy Alphonse<br />
for providing copies of these translations.<br />
Tsxwéntiye xwexéytep<br />
(Oh Come All Ye<br />
Faithful)<br />
This translation of Adeste Fideles or “Oh Come All Ye<br />
Faithful” was made in about 1890 by Father LeJeune, OMI,<br />
who was a missionary among the Secwepemc for almost<br />
40 years. Secwepemc people probably helped him with<br />
it. It was originally published in Chinook Shorthand in his<br />
booklet Studies on Shuswap. Ida Williams from Chu Chua<br />
taught it to Marianne Ignace in 1987, who recorded the<br />
words in Secwepemctsin. It is still remembered by many<br />
elders throughout Secwepemc country.<br />
Tsxwéntiye xwexwéytep<br />
Xwéxwistem re qe7tse-kt<br />
Tsxwéntiye, tsxwéntiye ne Bethlehem<br />
Yi7éne tek skw’imém’elt<br />
Re senkúkwpi7s re lesós<br />
Tsxwéntiye tsecwmíntem<br />
Tsxwéntiye tsecwmíntem<br />
Tsxwéntiye tsecwmíntem,<br />
Tqelt kukwpi7kt.<br />
Tigw, Tigw, Tigw<br />
(Jingle Bells)<br />
This translation of Jingle Bells<br />
is known by many Secwepemc<br />
children throughout Secwepemc<br />
country. Bridget Dan from Alkali<br />
Lake (Esk’et) first recorded it on<br />
tape and also translated it.<br />
Togw, tigw, tigw<br />
tigw, tigw, tigw<br />
Tigw, tigw wel re m-yews<br />
qílqeltwilc te7s c7emut<br />
nek’ts’nsqéxe7 te leslí<br />
Cuy’!<br />
Tigw, tigw, tigw<br />
tigw, tigw, tigw<br />
Tigw, tigw wel re m-yews<br />
qílqeltwilc te7s c7emut<br />
nek’ts’nsqéxe7 te leslí<br />
Tekwtukwt te sr7al<br />
(Silent Night)<br />
Antoinette Archie from Canim Lake wrote out<br />
the Secwepemc translation of this song for<br />
the Secwepemc language class in 1996. The<br />
Secwepemc language curriculum committee<br />
practiced it in <strong>December</strong> 1997 and recorded it.<br />
Tekwtúkwt te sr7al, le7 te sr7al<br />
Tet’ílt re stem, tsektsík’t re tmicw<br />
qelentém re skúyes re kí7ce<br />
Kúkwpi7stem te kw’oyí7se te skúye<br />
C7itc ne tqeltks re tmicw<br />
C7itc ne tqeltks re tmicw.<br />
Tekwtúkwt te sr7al, le7 te sr7al<br />
Kupkúkwpi 7 t’llep te swíkems te skuye<br />
Tsetsé7kw’ re stem ne tqeltks re tmicw<br />
Setsínem re lesós, “Alleluyah”<br />
Tskitsc re skw’imém’elt ne tmicw<br />
Tskitsc re skw’imém’elt ne tmicw.<br />
6<br />
BOO MAGA - DECEMBER <strong>2021</strong> BOO MAGA - DECEMBER <strong>2021</strong> 7
Change language