Peace for Native Americans Poetry from Year of The Poet (Vol 61)
Featured in The Year of the Poet January, 2019 Volume 61.
Poetry can change the world. Words, language, all the ways to communicate with and listen to each other can transform the world, as we know it. There is so much to learn from the way an individual, a community, or language group uses words.
For example, the words for peace and war are very similar “odriyohdędaˀǫh” (war) and “odriyohsrędaˀǫh” (peace) in Cayuga, a Native American language spoken in Canada. The government is trying to preserve the language and culture but there are less than 80 fluent speakers left.
Peace “Odriyohsrędaˀǫh” literally means the war has laid down or finished. For native speakers the words create an image, perhaps of men laying weapons down or a symbolic “war” laying down in a field where crops can once again be planted and children can grow.
Each of the world’s seven or eight thousand languages creates different images, evokes diverse emotions, and carries a unique cultural significance.
In 2019 the Poets of the Inner Child Poetry Posse will breathe life into words creating a kind of visual poetry, arranging the letters to reflect each poet’s inner voice manifested on the page while honoring the languages and cultures of many people around the world as well as our own diverse ancestry.
Each month we will visit a different region of the world, finding what is often stunningly beautiful, sometimes tragic and emotion-laden but always insightful and thought provoking. This year as our words journey across the pages and into the world we honor the United Nations which has declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
This month let your eyes …
“Anuhtunyu” (rejoice or adopt peace of mind) in Oneida spoken in the Great Lakes region
“Ilihá:lon” (awaken, opening one’s eyes from sleep) in Kosati spoken in Louisiana and Texas, US
“Dseekshyaaksh” (strut or walk with a flair) in Shm’algyack spoken in Alaska, US
“Dladáal” (stroll or walk slowly) in Haida spoken in British Columbia, Canada
“Máñi” (travel or journey) in Ioway-Otoe-Missouria spoken in Kansas, US
“Ji-k’ein” (jump around) in Tlingit spoken in the Pacific Northwest of North America
“Tc’īgagō” (run) in Jacarilla Apache or Eastern Apache spoken in the North America
“Nəpə̀mkawα” (walk or travel) in Abenaki-Penobscot spoken in Maine, US and Quebec, Canada
“Zdocumb” (dance) in the Nanticoke Dialect of Massachusetts, US
… across the pages of this book, a tribute to Native American languages and cultures.
Peace From Sea to Mountain
“Gyamgm’aatk” moon in Shm’algyack
a Native American language of Alaska
hangs over the sea
where young men harvest “gyantee” (sea cucumber)
and the waves roll “gya’galtk” (to roll)
“gya’wn” (now, today) as we stroll through the dictionary
taking a stab at peace and calm
“gyehlk” (to spear, stab)
“gyeksh (to be calm, peace)
feeling something will happen and change life for the better
“gyelkwsh” (to feel something will happen)
while hunting for berries in the mountains
“gyem” (Saskatoon berries)
“gyepsh” (hill, mountain, up high)
seeking high places as we learn more about the life
of words and hearts
A Peace of Attrition
The Canadian government is fighting
to keep Cayuga alive
only 79 fluent speakers know the words
“odriyohdędaˀǫh” war
and “odriyohsrędaˀǫh” peace literally
the war has laid down or finished
Perhaps this war on words
killing languages everyday
will end when we lay down
aggressive words
arrogant words
hateful words
and words meant to silence another
Perhaps we will all speak the native tongues of our ancestors
of our friends and family
and then learn the languages loved by those across the sea
when we raise up words of peace
“odriyohsrędaˀǫh”
loving words
companionate words
and words meant to include everyone
Conlang Peace
If you made up a word
constructed a language (conlang)
for peace
What would you build
would it be full of gentle melodious vowels
or a consonant root
resembling a natural language
Would it be whimsical or utilitarian
easy to learn would it be
memorable and lasting
like the peace it describes
or have an S like “sérë”
or an R as in “rainë”
both peace in Tolkein’s Elvish Quenya
Would it be more like “wayu” in Wasaqalu
or “paco” in Esperanto
Klingon for peace “roj”
or “panpi” in Lojban
“eace-pay” in Pig Latin
“Fpomtokx” or “aylrrtok”
peace in Na’vi a conlang
spoken by the people of Pandora
“e-wee-ne-tu” another movie word for peace
in Pocahontas resembling a Native American language
but made up all the same
Originally published in The Year of The Poet (Vol 61) at http://www.innerchildpress.com/the-year-of-the-poet.php on January 1, 2019.
