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.
150 Responses to “Enquiry about Eskimo or Native American Indian Song”
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October 12th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
The melodies origin is not known. Carl Michael Bellman used the melodie as a play for some funnie rhymes of his own as you say. Modern come and go, if this melody is modern i hope you will give us the changing facts so the trouth can be raised as a big statue… hehe :-)
October 13th, 2013 at 7:27 am
Let us discuss the origin of the song instead of arguing on topics like modern, statue and truth.
Claire said, January 5th, 2006, “This song … published in UK by A&C Black Ltd”. When? First edition? Other UK editions? Tune/melody?
And I do believe there is a common wish of reliable translation instead of “fairy tale”.
October 13th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Sorry about that, it was meant as a joke. Your point taken and accepted.
Yes origin is of interest. Maybe Bellman himself has mentioned where he got the melody from. Much work to find out I think. But if it is true as Wikipedia says, then Bellman borrowed the melody from another song. Then it is a good chance he got it from the song this site is about.
A fairy tale is not “good enough” as a common reliable translation I agree .) Still the words are very familiar with old German and old Norse.
A good story if some of it is true he he :-)
November 12th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Johanna wrote:
Hi! I was doing my own websearch for a different indian song I learned in Girl Scouts, but this is the song I remember that was the Eskimo bear hunt:
Osh kosh goona, osh kosh goona,
Hey diddle, hi diddle, ho diddle hey. (Repeat both lines while paddling canoe)
Exa cola meesha wah-nah… (shade your eyes while looking around)
Ahh! (Point because you see something)
Exa cola meesha wah-nah
Ahh!
Repeat the osh kosh part.
I think there were other verses as the Eskimo got closer to the bear, but I can’t remember them. Anyway, your song took me on a trip down memory lane! Fun times with Girl Scouts!
Best,
Johanna
Girl Scout from Missouri during the late 1970s and 80s
January 8th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
Eureka!
The ”Okki-tokki-unga” song is nothing but ”exotic handicraft” produced far from Inuits!
The Swedish ”Gubben Noak” (”Old man Noah”) migrated to Finnish language area, Mr Noak changed his name to ”Ukko Nooa” and, voilá, you´v got the embryo of the ”Inuit/Eskimo hunting/fishing song”. ”Hexa cola misha woni” probably are the relicts of the Finnish numbers ”yksi (or kaksi) kolme neljä viisi”.
You can listen to (and read) the ”Ukko Nooa” song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X01EgXg0pvs
”Okki-tokki-unga”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZarf5dPCvY
”Atte katte noa”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8S90WwftpE
The detailed story about hunting/fishing, paddling, searching, aiming and so on is described in essentially two short sentences: ”Okki-tokki-unga, Hey, Missa Day, Missa Doh, Missa Day” and ”Hexa cola misha woni”. Which of these words (or syllables or letters) are corresponding to the activities mentioned above and finally, as the ”Okki-tokki-unga” song book insists, the Eskimo boy waves to a girl, overturns his kayak and has to swim to the shore to win a bride? (A&C BLACK, second edition 1994)
Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795), Stockholm, Sweden, created ”Gubben Noak” in the 18th century but probably he is not the composer of the music. Anyhow, I dont think he was inspired by any Inuit music and if the Inuits were inspired by him, …
Any comments?
October 9th, 2014 at 11:31 pm
Marty,
Any luck finding the awoosha tug song since your post in 2005? My brother and I both remember it and will crack each other up singing it. Would love to find a recording, even though I know it’s a total long shot.
October 14th, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Jeffrey Adams wrote:
Waki Taki Tumba (rowing)
Waki Taki Tumba
Hey missa dey mis a doa missa dey
Hex a cola mishi waki, oooa! (here you wave)
Hex a cola mishi waki, oooa! (wave)
( I have forgotten the ending, perhaps
repeat the hey missa dey mis a doa missa dey)
I recall this was a standard in music education for Second graders. I learned it in the 1960s so the spelling is probably way off. The song has never left my head.
Jeffrey Adams
December 25th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
I’m looking for a song from my childhood that sounds like this.
Que qua mutty mutty mutty mutty dausnink Que qwa qwe,, Quo qwa quo.
January 6th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
“Que qua mutty mutty mutty mutty dausnink …” sounds like the “O Nicodemo”-song with some “words” replaced. October 11th, 2013 I wrote about it in this thread.
Karlene, do you remember anything else of the remaining text? When and where did you sing this song? Who taught you?
February 20th, 2015 at 8:11 pm
I am remembering a song where the name of mostly rivers that derived from Native American languages gave their Native American meanings such as, “Mississippi, where strong rivers flow”. I would love all the words to the song and if possible the tune.
March 9th, 2015 at 12:03 am
Here is yet another version of
A wuni kuni ki yo oonie
A wuni kuni ki yo oonie
Ay ky ay ikki ay kay a nis
Ay ky ay ikki ay kay a nis
A woo, a wuni kee chee
I learned this at a GIrl Scout camp – Camp Shehauqua in NE Pennsylvania about sixty five years ago. I thought it was native American but had no idea of the meaning. It was done slowly and very solemnly.
Sit in tight circle cross-legged with knees just touching.
1 – hands pat x2 on knees, then clap X 2
2 – hands pat x 2 on knees then clap neighbor’s left knee and own right x 2, back to own knees x2 and the own L and neighbor’s R.
3 – Own once, cross hands and do own again then neighbor’s knees, on each side.
4 – own shoulders, cross hands, own shoulders again, pat neighbor’s shoulder on each side
5 – Extend L arm,pat wrist, then shoulder bring up L arm in crossed position the slide out R arm and pat wrist then shoulder
Ends with slowing down and bowing forward.
Will happily sing it to anyone.
March 9th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Thanks for writing Prudence! We would love it if you could sing it for us! -Mama Lisa
UPDATE: Prudence sang A Wuni Kuni for us! You can hear it here.
March 13th, 2015 at 11:23 am
Unga (or oonga) means “to smile”. I believe it is Siberian Yu’pik though being from Nome I was around many different Iñupiaq dialects and Siberian Yu’pik as well as Yu’pik. The translations I’ve seen on here for Umiaq, kayak, mukluk and tupik are pretty close.
March 13th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
Thanks for the tip Miranda! Would you know anyone who could help us further with this song? -Mama Lisa
April 10th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
We posted Ani couni here (with a score).
April 20th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
I learned:
Umiak, kayak, mukluk, tupik
Eskimo words
Learn them if you can
Umiak is an eskimo boat
Tupik an eskimo tent
These two words are eskimo, eskimo
Learn them if you can
Umiak, kayak, mukluk, tupik
Eskimo words
Learn them if you can
Mukluk is an eskimo boot
Kayak a boat for one
If you meet an eskimo, eskimo
You will know just what they meant!
Umiak, kayak, mukluk, tupik
Eskimo words
Learn them if you can
May 2nd, 2015 at 2:09 pm
By chance I found “Girl Scout Pocket Songbook”, “Copyright 1956 by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.” in an archive. On page 14 you’ll find “Kee-Chee” and the explanation(?) “Belgian Congo Game”! And after the song text you have the directions of some complicated actions with hands and knees, left and right, to and fro. What do you say about “Belgian Congo Game”?
May 29th, 2015 at 9:49 am
I ran into this blog while trying to find some information about an old Camp Fire Girls song I used to sing at Camp Tenaya (SoCal) when I was a girl. Has anyone ever heard anything like this?
Tahn-gooo (echo) tahn-gooo Chimdidamayo a may-e-eh
(repeat)
Hoop-deh hoop-deh cunh-deh-o (echo)
Ooooo-wah-e (echo) Oooo-wah-e
Maly-pah-mal-ooweh… (echo)
Babalaba goobalaba goobalaba a dice (echo)
O-nana nana a dice (echo)
a-dice (echo) a dice (echo) a dice
Repeat whole song…
Have this blast from the past running thru my head in the middle of the night and it would be interesting to know where this song came from and what it might mean.
Thanks!
June 3rd, 2015 at 8:22 pm
Martina wrote:
We sing this song at our family gatherings. I think it is an old camp song. The hand motions are fun.
I am not sure of the spelling but I will spell them phonetically as we say them.
The song is narrated by the leader or Chief…
“We are going on a walrus hunt.
We get in our boats and wave to our family.”
Hey Takola mishi waki
(Special wave with one hand)
Hey takola mishi waki
(Wave with the other hand)
Hey takola mishi waki
(Switch hands again and wave)
“We are in our boats now so we are going to row out to the walruses.”
(Clasp your elbows and make a rowing motion)
Aki taki umba, aki taki umba, hey little, hi little, ho little, hey!
Aki taki umba, aki taki umba, hey little, hi little, ho little, hey!
“Now we see the walrus. We take aim and get ready to shoot him.”
(Make your hands look like guns and move them from side to side)
(3x) Hey takola mishi wakie BANG! (Pretend to shoot)
“Now we paddle fast out to get it (the walrus).”
(Grasp elbows again and do the motion quickly)
(2x) Aki taki umba, aki taki umba, hey little, hi little, ho little, hey!
“Now we have to put it in our boat. It is big and very heavy. ”
Hey takola mishi waki
(pretend to be picking up a a heavy sack, give it a try but it is heavy so you grunt)
(try again)Hey takola mishi waki (grunt)
(On the third try you get it in your boat with a loud grunt.)
Hey takola mishi waki (UMPH)!
“Now we will paddle back but our boat is full so it is harder to paddle.”
(Grasp elbows, move slower)
(2x) Aki taki umba, Aki taki umba, hey little, hi little, ho little, hey.
“Now we see our family on the shore!”
(We wave as in the beginning)
(3x) Hey takola mishi waki
“We are excited to see our family and show them the food (the walrus) that we have.”
( You paddle fast now. With your elbows)
(2x) Aki taki umba, aki taki umba, hey little, hi little, ho little, HEY!
June 10th, 2015 at 11:25 pm
Umiak, Kayak, mukluk, Tupik
Oak, a boat for many men
Kayak, a boat for one man
These are Eskimo words
Learn them if you can.
.
June 10th, 2015 at 11:27 pm
Loops,
Umiak, a boat for many men…
June 27th, 2015 at 4:42 pm
A friend of mine woke up with these lyrics in her head and she’s trying to find out if they are correct and/or what they mean. She believes it’s a First Nations song, and learned in her childhood (possibly at camp?). She sounds it out like this:
Awoona koona chucka wooney, awoona koona chucka wonney, eye yi yi yippee yi yi yi , eye, yi yi yipee eye yi yi, a woo, a woo, awooney kooney
I think it’s the Kee Chee song with some words in it she’s made up without realizing it, but if you know of a song that includes the “koona chucka wooney” part, I’d love to know.
Thanks!
Pamela
September 24th, 2015 at 7:15 pm
So glad I found this.
December 21st, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Reply to Hélène of Jan. 26 2012:
I learned this song about 55 years ago, and can remember:
“I will cover your little feet with the soft skin of a moose
I’ll make you a dagger to wear at your belt with the feather of a goose
and though the northern winds may howl
and the northern lights may play
Mother will guard her brown-eyed babe
from dawn till the close of day”
I believe that there was also another verse, but that hasn’t come back to me yet.
January 28th, 2016 at 5:07 am
Ah oonie koonie cha wa oonie
Ah oonie koonie cha wa oonie
ai ai ai icki I kyana
ai ai ai icki I kyana
Ah oooo
ah dini keechee
and we would start with arms extended out… pat hand, pat elbow,pat shoulder..then the same on other side…and were supposed to end with arms outstretched again (c:
February 8th, 2016 at 7:05 am
I was at WBII Scouts this summer and an old Scouter taught it this way:
Way back many years ago an Inuit boy goes hunting for a polar bear.
Acki-tacki-tonga X 2. (paddling)
Ay-ipsa-day-ipsa-day-ipsa-day
You have to be careful not to lean over to one side or the canoe will tip over.
Ipsy-dipsy-cova X2. (calling for polar bear)
Do this several times until you spot the polar bear. Aim and BANG! Oops, missed. That was a warning shot. Again – BANG! Got him!
Then paddle to get the bear. Get his front end (pretend to pull over something heavy) and the stinky end (pull again while holding your nose). Okay, back to this village.
Acki-tacki-tonga X2 (several times)
Ay-ipsa-day-ipsa-day-ipsa-day
Hey, it’s my friends at the village! (wave excitedly, then pretend to fall out of the canoe)
Acki-tacki-tonga X2 (swimming to shore)
Ay-ipsa-day-ipsa-day-ipsa-day
April 17th, 2016 at 10:56 am
“The sun it rise in da morning, da sun it rise all around..
around…
around…..
around
October 21st, 2016 at 7:34 am
I remember singing a Girl Scout camp song about 45 years ago. It was an Eskimo or American Indian song with the motions mentioned previously of paddling a canoe & hunting, etc, but the lyrics were (this is phonetically as a recall)
Chorus
(Paddle a canoe while singing)
Osh nosh ninga
Osh nosh ninga
Hala hola hala ho
(Repeat)
(Look for a bear)
Osh nosh nish nosh wanee
Osh nosh nish nosh wanee
(Sing chorus)
Song goes on to tell the story about shooting a bear, bringing it home, cooking it, eating it, then having a stomach ache..
We would sing..
Osh Nosh Pepto bismol
Osh Nosh Pepto bismol (while rubbing our stomachs pretending it hurt)
What’s the song & what are the lyrics. It seems like there are several versions, of the same song!
January 6th, 2017 at 8:51 am
I Remember a song from Girl Scouts in the 60’s. I don’t know how to spell it since the Indian language was primarily a spoken language. I’ll do my best. My words are a slight bit different.
A uni uni ka wa uni
A uni uni ka wa uni
Ay yai yai iki ay kai aya
Ay yai yai iki ay kai aya
Oo a uni ki chi
It was an Indian rain song as I recall. It did have all of the hand movements as described in previous posts also.
February 2nd, 2017 at 6:18 pm
ani’qu ne’ chawu’nani’
ani’qu ne’ chawu”nani”
a wa wa’ biqana’ kaye’na
a wa wa’ biqana’ kaye’na
iyahuh’ni bithi’ti’
iyahuh’ni bithi’ti’
February 27th, 2017 at 8:45 am
I read through this chain but didn’t find the one I’m looking for. I learned it more recently (last 5 years) at Girl Scout camp in Oregon, but no longer attend. It sounds like, although my spelling is probably WAY off:
Oh chi chi chai oh
oh yia yo
Oh chi chi chai oh
oh yia yo
Oh we all belong together
Oh yia yo
but that’s all I remember and my understanding was it was an indian song, so this may be a long shot, but thought worth a try. Would love any info anyone has on this.
March 7th, 2017 at 3:10 pm
Very nicely traced. I recall a school program in 1965 thereabouts at Chugiak, Alaska and sitting on the floor singing and doing the motions of the Going on a Whale Hunt song which was presumably Inupiat since we occasionally enjoyed performances and educational experiences in learning about our native peoples and cultural melting pot we were in the sixties. Once I recall a program about the Eskimo Olympics held about the time of Fur Rendezvous. Another time we had an Eskimo Rock Band and I learned one of their hit songs which when translated explained about how their culture was changing for people in their age group. I don’t remember the words very well, but the melody was haunting. Auk taukn’a mauni, yuu ta mauguu, jkauk tauk, nauk klutoii …? … ? hirrl nauck … mauni … Yayayay
March 28th, 2017 at 10:34 pm
My mother used to sing me to sleep with the Eskimo lullaby which starts ‘I will cover your little feet with the soft skin of a moose’ – at least 65 years ago (Amy E 21/12/2015 in response to Helene 26/01/2012 records the first verse of this and I was familiar with some but not all the lines) does anyone know the second verse? It is amazing what a Google search turns up. Lynda H
September 17th, 2017 at 9:20 am
KEE CHEE? I am delighted to find the words to the song we used to chant more than 60 years ago. I think it was at a Girl Scout camp on the Olympic Peninsula at Hood Canal or troop meetings. I lived in Seattle at that time. It was my understanding that it was an Indian song from the Indians in the Puget Sound area, north on the Olympic Peninsula. I still remember the melody and the fun I had playing with what I thought were called Lummi Sticks. The words sent by Safia on June 24, 2008 most closely resemble what I learned. However, I don’t recall the name “Kee Chee” song being mentioned…just chanting the words and playing sticks with a partner while sitting on the floor.
April 10th, 2018 at 11:01 pm
I sang the ata kata nuva song 1983 in the first class in Germany !
The teacher said it comes from Eskimo and i meaning she said from the Philippines
April 26th, 2018 at 6:33 pm
At our BSA camp in the 70’s we knew it as the Walrus Song. Same song, lyrics modified (note the change to Tacoma and Mishawauka) The Walrus Song (Nockynockykoomba)
Lyrics
{Paddling}
Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho
{Searching}
Hey tacomamishawalka Hey tacomamishawalka Hey tacomamishawalka
{Still Paddling}
Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho
{Searching}
Hey tacomamishawalka Hey tacomamishawalka Hey tacomamishawalka
{Sees a Walrus!}
{Make rifle motion}
Hey… tacomamishawalka BANG!!… Hey… tacomamishawalka BANG!!… Hey… tacomamishawalka BANG!!…
{Move canoe quickly}
Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho
{Make grabbing motion}……Hey tacomamishawalka GRUNT Hey tacomamishawalka GRUNT Hey tacomamishawalka GRUNT
{move canoe slowly}
Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho
{Eskimo sees and waves wildly}
Hey tacomamishawalka {waves} Hey tacomamishawalka {waves} Hey tacomamishawalka {waves}
{canoe moves quickly}
Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho Nockynockykoomba Nockynockykoomba Hey diddle Hi diddle Hey diddle Ho
Actions
Put one arm on top of the other crossed on your chest and move them from up and down (that’s paddling your canoe).
Comment
It’s about an eskimo going hunting. First he looks for the walrus {put hand over eyes like searching for something} then he finds the walrus and shoots it {pretend like you’re holding a rifle}. Then he drags the walrus back to his canoe {Make dragging motion and loud grunt} then lastly he sees his family {wave wildly}. …
September 10th, 2018 at 3:31 am
Whale hunting parties involved most of the men of a village paddling out in groups in open skin boats called umiak (used by Yupik and Inuit), outfitted with a harpoon
(Arms crossed, rocking, back and forth motion, as if paddling an umiak–round boat for whale hunting)
Awki taki nugva, awki taki nugva, ayy missa day missa doh missa day
Awki taki nugva, awki taki nugva, ayy missa day missa doh missa day
(Hands to brow, turning to one side, then changing hand and turning to the other side, as if looking to horizon)
Ecchsa koni nisha wanni, ecksa kona nisha wanni, ecksa kona nisha wanni,–hey!
Repeat first verse with faster rocking motion.
Repeat second verse with motion of pointing toward ‘whale’ and at the end, –ohh!
Repeat first verse with rocking motion.
Repeat second verse with motion of drawing arm back as if ready to harpoon, and at the end, –oomph and throw harpoon.
Repeat first verse with slower rocking motion.
Repeat second verse with dragging motion as if pulling something that is resisting capture and is quite heavy, struggling and at the end, –oomph, head down as if exhausted
Repeat first verse with slow rocking motion.
Repeat second verse with pointing toward shore motion, then, as if greeting those on shore, and at the end, –oomph, as continue pulling
Repeat first verse with faster and faster rocking motion.
Repeat second verse with motion of pulling beached whale, and cutting off the whale blubber, and eating it (rubbing tummies)!
October 30th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Here is what I remember. We sang it in front of our parents over 50 years ago:
Okki okki uma, okki okki uma
Hay diddle hi diddle o diddle a
Okki okki uma, okki okk I uma
Hay diddle hi diddle o diddle a.
Ooh makuma wishy-washy – Mush!
Ooh makuma washy-washy – Mush!
Okki okki uma, okki okki uma
Hay diddle hi diddle o diddle a.
I must have sung that song hundreds of times since then. My wife and son heard it often. I learned it a McKinley elementary in West Aliis, Wisconsin. I had the impression we were riding dog sleds.
January 5th, 2019 at 6:36 pm
I went to Girl Scout camp in the Poconos, PA in the 70’s. I remember the song as I learned it, and sang it to my kids when they were young as a “magic healing song”. I learned the same story about a Native American in the canoe first scouting for something to shoot, then shooting an arrow, then hauling in the catch, then paddling home. The lyrics as we sang were
Osh gosh noonga , osh gosh noonga. Heya Hiya Hoya Hey. Repeat this 2X. Then when shooting the arrow…
Ipsa kola missa wanni. 2X.
We propably learned it wrong, but I love it still!
April 28th, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Absolutely fascinating. I also sang a version of the Eskimo hunting song at guides in South Africa in the 1970s. I have been searching for the words for a few years as thought it might be useful for my daughter as a geography teacher. Thanks for everyone’s input.
September 16th, 2019 at 10:58 pm
For over 30 years I’ve had vivid memories of being in Primary School (Scotland) sitting on the brown spiky-carpet gym hall floor pretending to paddle a canoe, hands over eyes looking out and then waving to a wife. I always had a clear image of an eskimo in my head whilst singing it. Whenever I asked anyone about it, no one could remember!
I absolutely loved that action song and it brings back really happy memories for me. Thank You for this blog which finally helped me find the song!! :). I’m going to teach it to my children now!!
December 9th, 2019 at 8:25 pm
In reply to Hélenè, January 26th, 2012.
In kindergarten we learned “the Laplander Lullaby”, and I still sing the refrain, which is all I remember, to my grandchildren:
And though the Northern winds may blow,
And the Northern lights may play,
Mother will guard her brown-eyed babe,
from dusk to the break of day.
There are two other replies here, that reference this song that tie what Hélenè remembers with what I remember. One is Amy E, December 21st, 2015.
April 13th, 2020 at 9:32 pm
The way we sang it with preschool children…
(Canoeing movements to the left and right)
Awki tawki noonga
Awki tawki noonga
Hey diddle oh diddle eye diddle aye
Awki tawki Nunga
Awki tawki Nunga
Hey diddle oh diddle eye diddle aye
(Raising both hands in the air to say hello to the indians)
Hepsacola michuagi
Hepsacola michuagi
Hepsacola michuagi
(Back to rowing…)
Awki tawki Nunga
Awki tawki Nunga
Hey diddle oh diddle eye diddle aye…
July 30th, 2020 at 8:56 pm
Be prepared!
With us, in Hungary, in our scout camp, we sing and play this Eskimo song in the following way,
which we call Seal Hunt.
We are kneeling around the campfire.
Sing:
Aki-taki yumba, aki-taki yumba, heyyah-heyyah-ho.
Aki-taki yumba, aki-taki yumba, heyyah-heyyah-ho.
/ Meanwhile, we imitate rowing in a kayak. /
Epsimora mishi-moree.
Epsimora mishi-moree.
/ In this verse, we put our right palm over our eyes as if we were watching something. Respectively, when the seal hunt is in place, we simulate shooting with a bow./
Meanwhile, we also say a tale:
The little Eskimo sets off on his first seal hunt with a kayak alone and says goodbye to his parents. Then we sing the song three times until he slowly approaches the seal, then during the fourth “Epsimora” he drops the prey and lifts it into the kayak and slowly heads home. However, in front of his village, the kayak overturns and the loot is lost. In the end, your mother says, “No problem, little boy, next time you’ll manage to hunt it.”
Curiosity:
The story is about the little, small Eskimo. The word “little and small” in Hungarian = KICSI, pronunciation = Kee-Chee.
February 22nd, 2021 at 1:11 pm
Alternative actions for those not comfortable asking children to mime harpooning, hunting, etc
Use the faster section for cutting ice into building blocks. We mime sawing, and we really put the elbow-grease into it.
Use the slower section for hauling the heavy ice into position. You are building the igloo in three stages to match three repeats of the song.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:10 pm
My deceased ex husband would sing a lullaby(?) To our daughter that his mother or grandmother would sing in chippewa. It went something like this, bab in da na, da ma ja da, da gutch in da na, da be da bin.
Anyone familiar with this? I spelled it phonetically.
March 2nd, 2022 at 8:23 pm
Daniel C. wrote, “It is an Inuit song about hunting…I learned this song in grade one..My teacher said at the end the hunter dies by drowning.”
March 15th, 2022 at 11:57 pm
In camp, in the late sixties early seventies, in Wisconsin. The song sounded like:
A oomie coomie Cha a oomie
A oomie ccomie Cha a oomie
Aye aye aye icki I Kai a moose
Aye aye aye icki I Kai a moose
A umm, a umm a key chee
I am so glad others know what I am talking about. Been trying to find the translation (and correct spelling, I’m sure I butchered it, lol).
July 2nd, 2022 at 1:51 am
Yes, Carol T.! Have you seen this? https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4368&c=23 It has an audio clip. If anyone can find a video of girls sitting cross-legged and making the motions to this song, I’d love it. Thanks!
July 17th, 2022 at 6:04 am
This is the 3rd of 3 comments – I found a great site with 2 separate videos: https://www.bethsnotesplus.com/2015/12/kee-chee.html I hope it’s helps someone!