Smoking and Pipes

      
O Great Spirit whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath 
gives life to the world, hear me; I come before you, one of your 
many children.

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, my ears sharp 
to hear your voice.

Make me wise, so that I may know things you have taught my people, 
the lessons you have hidden in every  leaf and rock.
I seek strength not to be superior to my brother, but to be able to 
fight my greatest enemy, myself.

Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, 
so when life fades as a fading sunset, my spirit may come to you 
without shame, I have spoken.


The following is the same prayer translated into the Abenaki 
language, unfortunately some pronunciation marks can not be created 
for this text and as a result you may have a very difficult time 
reading it in its true and proper form.

Alnobai Aiyamiomek

Kchi - niwaskw, - kizi - nodamna - lalomowogan kzilomsenek, tbestawi, 
askwa - in'dawossizwi - ta -in'piwsessi, in'dachwaldam - wijokamwogan 
- ta -sassaginowogan, in'tawagol - chwi - ba - tbestak -klalomowogan, 
in'si'z'gol, - askamiwi - namitoak - toji -wskiwligek, nakilhot - 
kizoz - n'neljial - walilawatoak -kdakinna k'nadodmol - waji - milian 
- wawodamwogan oji kizi, in'kinamotlhowaa - inkawatsowagan nijiak -
lagidamwogan - kottlezit - alomiwi - wanibagw - ta -nagwiwi - sen.

Kchi - niwaskw - k'nadodmol - waji - kizi - mlikigia inda - oji - 
paami - wawodamoa - indaki - nijiak - kanwa - waji - kawoaa - 
in'kadonalgoagw - nia - ta.

Ni - chaga - maawi - adoji - machinaa - ingizi - ji
wanaskol - wlidbimiwi.  Nialets!