Lòmwe Enta Wikhatihtit Wehènchiopànk

Long Ago When They Lived in the East
This is part of a ceremony done by Nora Thompson Dean at the dedication of the Delaware Room at the Bartlesville Public Library History Room on 20 November 1974. Over 100 people attended the ceremony.

English:

Now here on this evening my relatives I want to say a few words.

Lenape:

Yukwe shè ènta lòkwik elànkuntiànk, kèxaptun nkata kèku luwe.

English:

Because there might be a few of us in this house who still can

Lenape:

Eli èt kèxihëna yushè wikwahëmink kwiakwi kàski

English:

understand the Delawares when they say something (in Lenape).

Lenape:

pëntao wàni Lënape ènta kèku luwèt.

English:

Now I want to carry it on now when it is evening

Lenape:

Yukwe shè nkata pëmëxòhtun yukwe ènta lòkwik,

English:

old Delawares now deceased what they did long ago when they lived

Lenape:

xuwi Lënapeyunkahkë ehëlënëmihtit lòmwe ènta wikhatihtit

English:

toward the east in Pennsylvania.

Lenape:

wëntahkwi wèhènchiopànk Pennsylvania.

English:

That great grandmother of mine she advised her children,

Lenape:

Naka ahanhùkwi nuhëma tòlepòmao nèl wënichana,

English:

she said, "Here is what to do when a person makes a new bark house."

Lenape:

tëlao, "Shè ta yu lìsin ènta awèn manitak wëski hòkèsikaon."

English:

Finally this came here to where you and I live.

Lenape:

Xantki yu pèchi yushè ènta wikinèn kiluna,

English:

finally they came here these old sayings.

Lenape:

xantki pètuxweyu yuki xuwi luweokàna.

English:

I am truly glad because I listened well to my now deceased ancestors

Lenape:

Pahkànchi nulelìntàm èli nuli nkëlìstaok nkikayuyëmënaninkahke

English:

when they said something. Still I want to try to do

Lenape:

ènta kèku luwèhtit. Kwiakwi nkata nkwëchilaihòsin

English:

they themselves did long ago when they lived toward east.

Lenape:

nèkao nè èlìsihtit lòmwe ènta wikhatihtit wëntahkwi wèhènchiopànk.

English:

That is all I can say now for a while on this day.

Lenape:

Nal në ntënxi luwèn yukwe lëhapa ènta kishkwik.

English:

[Here Nora addresses the Spirits of the Four Directions]: Oh, Spirit of the East! Oh, Spirit of the South!

Lenape:

Wèhènchiopànk èlan'tuwiàn! Wèhènchi shawnaki èlan'tuwiàn

English:

Oh, Spirit of the West! Oh, Spirit of the North!

Lenape:

Wèhènchi wsikakw èlan'tuwiàn! Wèhènchi luwàneyunk èlan'tuwiàn!

English:

Soon I will smoke this (place with cedar smoke) as my late mother did when she used it.

Lenape:

Xuniti nkwëshhatènëmën yushè nkahèsa nihëlatànk

English:

this place and many Delawares now deceased, precious Delawares,

Lenape:

yushè tali òk xaheli Lënapeyunkahke, ahpashèki Lënapeyunkahke,

English:

they made things so that they could bring them to this place

Lenape:

wëlituwàk kèku tìli kàski pètuneyo yushè tali

English:

History Room. Then this why this fire is brought [this refers to hot coals from a wood fire]

Lenape:

History Room. Na yushè ènta pètasik yushè tëntay,

English:

soon I will use cedar. Thank you. [This refers to burning some red cedar leaves to make smoke to purify the room.]

Lenape:

xuniti xu nakatàmën pëpxòkwës. Wanishi!

Shè Yu Wëski Kèku

Alahòtuwàk

Mikwëna Tëlekhikàn Pwètanehëmaok Lënapeyunkahke

Moni Ta Nëni

Wàni Lënape Elixsit

Na Lënu Òk Nèl Mwekaneyëma