Sigwan Pedgipaiôba: Spring Equinox March 20, 2023

Today, March 20th of 2023 on the Gregorian calendar, the sun’s journey marks the return of SIgwan - the Spring - to the north country. On this day the travel of Nmahom Kizos-Grandfather Sun across the sky matches that of Nokomes Kizos-Grandmother Moon, with day and night, lightness and darkness, being of equal duration - in balance - at the belly of Nigawes Akik-Mother Earth.

Shared here is a wonderful vintage tribute to this happy returning of warmth and brightness to Ndakinna, the Abenaki homelands, drawn from the transcript of Episode 9 of Western Abenaki Radio online:

kd'alamikawelba!
You all I greet!

Pamgisgak / pita / n'wlidah8zi / ali / matanaski / Sigwan / pedgipai8 / li / Nd'ahkinna!
today / very / I am happy / because / finally / Spring / has returned / to / our land!

nikw8bi / waz8li / matanaski / zogebaso / achi / kizi / ndadan / zogalikan.
now / snow / finally melts / and / already / my dad / makes maple syrup.

nabihla / kikhadin.
soon it will be / planting time.

askwa / tkidebakad / kanwa / kisokol / gwenahla.
still / cold at night / but / the days / grow longer.

achi / n'namih8 / gwikweskas / kdak / gizegad.
also / I saw / a robin / the other / day.

Nakwaltak / nd'agiziji / kdak / olawigh8zow8gan / kizit8gw / Sozap Blwchak.
next / I will read / another / poem / by / Joseph Bruchac.

Coming tomorrow!