Abenaki (Wôbanakiôdwawôgan)

Abenaki is an Eastern Algonquian language spoken in Quebec in Canada, and in Vermont in the USA. It was formerly spoken in Maine and New Hampshire as well. There are two varieties of Abenaki: Western and Eastern.

In Canada in 2007 there were 10 fluent speakers of Western Abenaki on the Odanak Reserve, and there were four Western Abenaki speakers at the north end of Lake Champlin in Vermont in 2012.

Eastern Abenaki was spoken in the Androscoggin-Kennebec and Penobscot valleys of Maine in the USA by the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot peoples. The last fluent native speaker of Eastern Abenaki, Madeline Tower Shay, died in 1993. A few Penobscot elders still have some knowledge of the Penobscot dialect of Eastern Abenaki.

Efforts are being made to revive both varieties of Abenaki. These include the production of language learning materials, films and books, and some classes in schools. As a result, several hundred people have some knowledge of Abenaki.

Abenaki pronunciation

Abenaki pronunciation

Download an Abenaki alphabet chart (Excel)

Sample text in Abenaki

Kassiwi Niona Enna Odakozik Chibaio Agaskwikok
Kizos Aalakws Nionakiya Alnobanogan Nionakiya
Aw8zsiswogan Enni Taolani Agaskwikok Noesal Niona
Kizosaltoalakws Taolawisi Maskozisis Taolwisi Nolka Moz
Sibo Ikok Pon Tekw
Wobigid Sanoba Magigwogan
N'mahomios Chibaio
Amikimek Pmegamek Agakidozik
Kazaldozk Nigawes Spemki Toldal8zi Nosokazik
Niona Aho Wobenakiak Kizos Posiwaganogan
Wobenakiak Mozmozik Odiozon
Kinikinik Volcanda Kottliwi Kwahliwi Tapsiwi

Translation

With We Who Visit Ghosts From
The Sun Star of Our Birth and in Our
Infancy Which Is from the Land of
The Rising Star as Long as the Deer and Moose Shall Run Free and the Grass Shall Grow
And the Rivers Run Swiftly the Abenaki Shall Survive
The Whiteman's Wickedness
Again Our Grandfathers Spirits
Have Given Us Guidance and Wisdom to
Rise and Come Together to Dance We Have Been Taught
To Love Mother Earth and to Respect Her
We Are the Children of the Dawn the People
Of the East May the Great Spirit and
The Great Creator Bless Us and Smile upon Us

Chief Edwin "Joe" Pero - Coos (Cowasuck) Deer Clan Prayer
Source: http://www.cowasuck.org/language/lesson23.htm

Videos in Abenaki

Information about Abenaki | Numbers

Links

Information about the Abenaki language and culture
http://www.native-languages.org/abna.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abenaki_language
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/abe
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/aaq
http://westernabenaki.com
http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/abe

Online Abenaki lessons
http://www.cowasuck.org/language/language.htm<
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~abenaki/Wobanaki/

Online Abenaki dictionaries
http://westernabenaki.com
http://www.freelang.net/online/abenaki.php

Algonquian languages

Abenaki, Algonquin, Arapaho, Atikamekw, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Cree (East), Cree (Moose), Cree (Plains), Cree (Swampy), Cree (Woods), Fox, Innu (Montagnais), Kickapoo, Malecite-Passamaquoddy, Loup, Massachusett (Wampanoag), Menominee, Miami, Míkmaq, Mohegan, Mohican, Munsee, Narragansett, Naskapi, Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, Ottawa, Penobscot, Powhatan, Potawatomi, Quiripi, Sauk, Shawnee, Unami (Lenape)

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 19.09.23

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