All My Relations was written by Opolahsomuwehs to provide a brief explanation of Wolastoqey worldviews and to help us understand the interrelatedness of all creation. It is important to note this  interrelatedness is inherent in the Wolastoqey language.

All My relations audio


​Nkisi Tehc / Can Do's

Upon completion of this lesson,

Tpostomun Latuwewakon/ Listening to Wolastoqey

  • Participants can recognize terminology for animals, trees, plants
  • Participants can listen to stories and songs and recognize familiar terms, rhythms and inflections
 
Wolastoqewatu/ Speaking Wolastoqey

  • Participants can sing a song about my relations
  • Participants can talk about the gift of harmony within creation
 
Okitomon Latuwewakon/ Reading Wolastoqey

  • Participants can read short sentences
  • Participants can recognize language features in various texts
 
Wikhomon Latuwewakon/ Writing Wolastoqey

  • Participants can participate in a short play while learning Wolastoqey
  • Participants can write with confidence short sentences

Story: Psiw Ntulnapemok



Psiw Ntulnapemok

Opolahsomuwehs 2007






Neqt yaq pihce, pihce,pihce! Koluskap aliyehpon Skitkomiq, alkehkikemuhpon Skicinwihkuk.


A long time ago, a long, long time ago! Koluscap was travelling upon Mother Earth as a teacher of the Wabinakis.






‘Kisokehkima Weyossis weci woleyuwahtit pomawsuwinu.


His instructions to the animals was to respect and care for the two leggeds.






‘Tiyal “Kwicuhkemaniya Skicinuwok, ktahsomoniya, knassewohutolaniya naka ktolihkewaniya wolama kisi wolawsultuwok.


He told them, “help the Wabanakis, feed them, clothe them, and provide shelter for them so that they will have a good life.






Nil oc ntokehkimak skicinuwok weci wolasuweltomuhtihtit, naka ktimiyewkunia mesq kisapemusk.


I will teach them ceremonies to express their gratitude for all that you give them.






Nit elokitokopon Koluskap, mec tena nit eleyik.


This is how Kuluskap wanted things to be and that is how it is today.






Weyossisok woleyuwawa Skicinu, milaniya ‘pomawsuwakonuwa weci kisawsultihtit.


All the creatures were generous to Wabanakis. They gave their lives so that the peole could eat and have shelter.






Yukt ona Skicinuwok Wolasuweltomuhtuwok ehtahs kotunkatitit.


The people would pay homage before their hunt. they offered tabacco to the anilmals’ spirits for their generosity.






Psiw otehc keq ‘tuwehkaniya, motekon, wiyuhs, skonisol, wipitol kapiw wokosi.


They respected the animals by utilizing all they offered, their skin, their meat, their bones, their fur, their feathers, their teeth even their fingernails.






“Kosicihtun Skicin kat op kisawsiw skat Weyossisok miluwahtit ‘pomawsuwakonuwa.


The Wabanakis knew that they could not survive without the animals.






Tan ote eliyat Skicin, ‘tihin wetawsit.


Wherever the people travelled the animals would provide for them.






Oposiyik nemihtuhtit eci weyossisok woleyuwahtit pomawsuwinu, nekomaw ona wolite koti wicuhkekemuwok.


When the Tree People witnessed the generosity of the animals; they too, were willing to help the Wabanakis.






Nekomaw ona miluwaniya elihkosultihtit, pisunol, oqitonol, micuwakon naka kehsok piluwey miluwahtit.


With gifts of shelter , medicine, canoes, food and utensils.






Pemkiskahk mec ote weyossisok kisapemkosuwok weci kisawsihtit pomawsuwinuwok.


The Tree People and the animals continued to provide for the people.






Qeni aliyatpon Koluskap yut Skitomiq, ‘tanaqotupon kolusuwakon.


As long as Koluskap was here on Mother Earth, harmony among creation was promoted.






Tokec, tehpu kcicihtuwinuhticik alihptuhtit ‘tokehkituwakonol.


Today, his teachings are being revived by Traditional Elders.






Nekomaw oc kmihkuluwemkun weci wolasuweltomuhtiyeq ehtahsikiskahk ‘ciw psiw Kisiyulinaq mahkuyinaq.


They will remind the two leggeds to give thanks for the gifts of creation daily.






Ktahcuwi Kehkiman knicannuk weci nankomihpthtit yuhtol kehkituwakonol nekotomuwinaq Koluskap, ‘ciw weckuwapahsihtit.


It is the responsibility of each generation to carry on the teachings of Koluskap for the ones who are not born yet.






Ehtahs itomeq “Psiw Ntulnapemok” kmihqitahamawa Koluskap, weyossissok, oposiyik naka psiw eyit Kci Kikuwosson.


Today we acknowlege Koluskaps teachings of harmony among Creation when we proudly say, “All my relations”.






Nitte Psiw!


The end of the story

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Land Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge that the Wolastoq Language and Culture Center is located on the traditional unceded and unsurrendered territory of Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet). This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Wolastoqey title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

"We are directed by the government to tell you that the English have no design to take your country or any of your lands from you: or to deprive you of any of your just Rights or Privileges"
(November, 1720, English Treaty Commissioner).

Note: The treaty Commissioners were appointed by the British Crown to negotiate treaties with Wabanaki nations in the 1700s. The Wabanaki nations included the Wolastoqiyik, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscots.
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