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"Maskawasiwin
is a Cree word for Strength. All of the songs in this recording are
dedicated to all of the teachers and teachings that have given me
strength in my life journey thus far. To
my children whom have taught and continue to teach me so much about
life. To my loving grandparents, Frederik and Fabiola Spence, whom have
both provided me with many of life's teachings and whom have shaped me
into the person who I am today. They now guide and protect us from the
Spirit World. To my family and friends, whom have supported me through
this journey of creating and sharing my music. To all of the
contributing artists whom have taken the time to create music for this
recording. To my producer, Marc Merilainen, for sharing his skills and knowledge and for guiding me through the process of recording. Gitchi-miigwech to our Creator, whom has blessed me with the gift of song. To everyone listening to this album, Kininaskomitinao."
- Rosary Spence |
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LYRICS
1. Makonse feat. Jason Chamakese
kinopem eh'metewet Makonse monishihu - Look at the little bear playing, he is beautiful
kinopem eh'metewet Makonse monishihu - Look at the little bear playing, he is beautiful
metew nipiik, miichew nimess - he's playing in the water, he's eating fish
2. Money Cannot be Eaten
only when the tree, has been chopped by your greed hands
only when the last river has been poisoned by your filthiness
only when the last fish has been eaten by your greedy mouth
only when the bird has fallen down from the sky
Chorus
money! cannot be eaten
no it can't be eaten
money can't be eaten x2
only when our last elder has left us for the Spirit world
only when our last child is left standing all alone
only when our languages are no longer spoken by your tongue
only when our ceremonies are no longer healing you
Chorus
now is the time to stand up, now is the time to rise up
Aski needs our help, life is sacred here and now
Eyes of Fire is calling you, "it's time to wake up!"
see the beauty all around, see the skies with conscious eyes
Chorus
Ishkote Kiishikwa prophesied that one day because of greed there would come a time when the fish would die in the steams, the birds would from the skies, the waters would be blackened and the trees would no longer be, and life as we know it would seize to exist. There would come a time when the keepers of the legends, stories, cultural teachings, and ceremonies would need to be restored back to health because life depends on it.
3. Honour feat. Skratch Won
Notawiima G'shemnido, N'gawiima Askii - Great Spirit, Mother Earth
ninikamowinan anoosch kiinawuk oshchi - we are singing this song for you
miigwech kakii miiniesk oma askii, oma nipii, oma minomatisiwin - thank you for this earth, this water, this good life
ninikamowinan kiinawuk oschi, oshkich kakii motechuk awenikanuk - we are singing for you, our ancestors
4. For Myranda feat. Arthur Renwick
I was only 16 and care-free when you came into my world,
I was confused, I was so scared, and I didn't know what to do
and then when I first held you, I said..
Chorus
my sweet baby girl, oh how I love you
my sweet baby girl, I would do anything for you
together here we are, we beat the odds, and we survived
you've been my strength through it all
and you've been my reason to work harder
I thank the Creator for bringing you to me..
Chorus
now here we are, you're all grown
and I see so much of myself in you
your mommy's eyes, your daddy's smile
your gookum's strength, and your mooshum's heart
you're beautiful in and out, my girl..
Chorus
we work, we play, we fight, we love
we sing, we dance, we laugh, and cry
I've raised you up when you fell down
but at the end of the day I say good night to my...
5. Maskawasiwin feat. instrumentals by Willy Metat
this is for all the ones without hope
for those who have shed too many tears
for those who feel left all alone in this world
I heard your voice through the night
your laughter, a memory so clear in my mind
you're smile as bright as the sunshine
you left us too soon with no warning, farewells, or goodbyes
if I could have held your hand one last time
if I could have just one moment with you
I would have said these last few words to you
there is a light and it shines bright for you
inside of you is the answer, inside of you in strength
raise your head up and keep it high
never give up, we love you, stay strong
my sister, maskawasiwin, kisakihetin
6. N'kokum Nikamowin
This song is sung in traditional vocables
I composed this song for my grandmother, Fabiola Spence, in 2009.
7. New Beginnings feat. Cris Derksen
This song is sung in traditional vocables
A lullaby for new beginnings, for the innocence of new life.
8. Iskwewuk feat. Lena Recollet
A song dedicated to the women of the world, life givers, life protectors, without women, mankind would not exist.
9. Nipii
A prayer for the waters.
10. World of Dreams feat. Gabe Gaudet
when I look into your eyes, I see a world full of dreams
take my hand into yours, and there I'll be forever more
eh'kinopemitan, ni'wapitan n'bwamoqwah
takoonah 'chichee, otah ka-eetan, kakikeh
kinopem eh'metewet Makonse monishihu - Look at the little bear playing, he is beautiful
kinopem eh'metewet Makonse monishihu - Look at the little bear playing, he is beautiful
metew nipiik, miichew nimess - he's playing in the water, he's eating fish
2. Money Cannot be Eaten
only when the tree, has been chopped by your greed hands
only when the last river has been poisoned by your filthiness
only when the last fish has been eaten by your greedy mouth
only when the bird has fallen down from the sky
Chorus
money! cannot be eaten
no it can't be eaten
money can't be eaten x2
only when our last elder has left us for the Spirit world
only when our last child is left standing all alone
only when our languages are no longer spoken by your tongue
only when our ceremonies are no longer healing you
Chorus
now is the time to stand up, now is the time to rise up
Aski needs our help, life is sacred here and now
Eyes of Fire is calling you, "it's time to wake up!"
see the beauty all around, see the skies with conscious eyes
Chorus
Ishkote Kiishikwa prophesied that one day because of greed there would come a time when the fish would die in the steams, the birds would from the skies, the waters would be blackened and the trees would no longer be, and life as we know it would seize to exist. There would come a time when the keepers of the legends, stories, cultural teachings, and ceremonies would need to be restored back to health because life depends on it.
3. Honour feat. Skratch Won
Notawiima G'shemnido, N'gawiima Askii - Great Spirit, Mother Earth
ninikamowinan anoosch kiinawuk oshchi - we are singing this song for you
miigwech kakii miiniesk oma askii, oma nipii, oma minomatisiwin - thank you for this earth, this water, this good life
ninikamowinan kiinawuk oschi, oshkich kakii motechuk awenikanuk - we are singing for you, our ancestors
4. For Myranda feat. Arthur Renwick
I was only 16 and care-free when you came into my world,
I was confused, I was so scared, and I didn't know what to do
and then when I first held you, I said..
Chorus
my sweet baby girl, oh how I love you
my sweet baby girl, I would do anything for you
together here we are, we beat the odds, and we survived
you've been my strength through it all
and you've been my reason to work harder
I thank the Creator for bringing you to me..
Chorus
now here we are, you're all grown
and I see so much of myself in you
your mommy's eyes, your daddy's smile
your gookum's strength, and your mooshum's heart
you're beautiful in and out, my girl..
Chorus
we work, we play, we fight, we love
we sing, we dance, we laugh, and cry
I've raised you up when you fell down
but at the end of the day I say good night to my...
5. Maskawasiwin feat. instrumentals by Willy Metat
this is for all the ones without hope
for those who have shed too many tears
for those who feel left all alone in this world
I heard your voice through the night
your laughter, a memory so clear in my mind
you're smile as bright as the sunshine
you left us too soon with no warning, farewells, or goodbyes
if I could have held your hand one last time
if I could have just one moment with you
I would have said these last few words to you
there is a light and it shines bright for you
inside of you is the answer, inside of you in strength
raise your head up and keep it high
never give up, we love you, stay strong
my sister, maskawasiwin, kisakihetin
6. N'kokum Nikamowin
This song is sung in traditional vocables
I composed this song for my grandmother, Fabiola Spence, in 2009.
7. New Beginnings feat. Cris Derksen
This song is sung in traditional vocables
A lullaby for new beginnings, for the innocence of new life.
8. Iskwewuk feat. Lena Recollet
A song dedicated to the women of the world, life givers, life protectors, without women, mankind would not exist.
9. Nipii
A prayer for the waters.
10. World of Dreams feat. Gabe Gaudet
when I look into your eyes, I see a world full of dreams
take my hand into yours, and there I'll be forever more
eh'kinopemitan, ni'wapitan n'bwamoqwah
takoonah 'chichee, otah ka-eetan, kakikeh