Belinda wrote me…
Dear Lisa,
Just an enquiry. I work in child care and would like to teach this song I learnt as a student but I have not got the full song, I believe it is an Eskimo song or I think an American Indian (song). I can only type it as I would sing it. Here I go…
Oky Toky Unga
Oky toky unga, oky toky unga,
(Children do the actions of paddling a canoe while sitting on the floor)
Hey misha, dey misha, do misha dey,
(Then the next part goes something like this…)
Hexa coola misha,hexa coola misha
(Children then stop rowing and look around with hand up at forehead then repeat the song).Does this song sound at all famaliar? I would really love the correct words.
Belinda
If anyone can help with the lyrics to this song, please write me.
Thanks!
Lisa
UPDATE: Check the COMMENTS below for the full lyrics to this song!
For the lyrics to some other Native American songs, you can go to…
Mama Lisa’s Gabrielinos Page or
Mama Lisa’s Lipan Apache Page
This article was posted on Monday, October 3rd, 2005 at 1:12 pm and is filed under American Kids Songs, Apache, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Creek, Eskimo, Eskimo Songs, Folk Songs, Gabrielinos, Languages, Muscogee (Creek), Native American Indian, Native American Indian Songs, Questions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
August 7th, 2025 at 5:23 am
I was researching the rumor that my grandfather was indigenous to Norway, one of the Saami people. (Tons of evidence on both sides). But during my research, I came across a comment about the language, something like “it’s not simple like octa guocta” which I learned meant “one, two.” Since I knew this song as a child, I wondered if it was a Saami song. There are both forest Saami (reindeer herders) and coastal Saami (fishermen.) My family were fishermen whether they were Saami or not, on the east coast of Norway.
If I learn any more, or find sheet music, pray I remember to find this page again to update you.