Ikhaiyana

by Hannah Henry

Remember my grandfather
Vmafo ikhaiyana
Remember my grandmother
Sv pokni ikhaiyana
Remember our people
Pim okla ikhaiyana
Their bodies are dead, their spirits alive.
I haknip vt illi, imi shilombish vt okchaya
 In the rivers, the trees, in you and I
Bok, iti, chishno micha vno aiena ka foka
I will walk with them
Iba nowa la chi
I will speak their language
Im anumpa anumpuli la chi
I will listen to their words
Im anumpa haklo la chi
I will care for their home
I chukka ya achukmvt eishi la chi
My home I will remember, my feet upon the earth, my eyes to the rising sun
A chukka ikhaiyana la chi, svyyi yvt yakni o pakna, sv nishkin vt hvshi kucha ka pisa

They are not dead until our mouths forget their words
Pi takha yvt anumpa im ahksi makosh ont illi.