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.
October 24th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
I also have a memory of a song I sang as a Girl Scout. I recall that it was the story of an Eskimo hunter/fisherman looking for his catch. I remember the two verses you share as well others that take him through the hunt. I also recall a ‘refrain’ that goes: “eee-ss a noma mis a wa wa. eee-s a noma mis a wa wa.” Does that sound familiar? There were motions to go with each verse, too… I would LOVE to find the origins and right words for the song, as well! Thank you for asking your question so that I could happen upon the possible answer!
October 25th, 2005 at 7:33 pm
I was able to find the following lyrics for the song.
Okki Tokki Unga
Okki tokki unga, okki tokki unga,
Hey, missa day, missa doh, missa day.
Okki tokki unga, okki tokki unga,
Hey, missa day, missa doh, missa day.
If anyone else has more information, please email me.
Lisa
October 30th, 2005 at 10:23 pm
I was trying to find this exact song when I stumbled on your website. I, too, was looking for the correct words so I could teach it to my little son. I learned it in girl scouts, too, and I had thought there was part that went something like this (I’ll write it phonetically):
On a takanua, On a takanua,
Hey, missa day, missa doh, missa day.
Missawanna, Missawanna (Bang!)
Missawanna, Missawanna (Bang!)
(I think that’s the part where the fisherman uses the gun?)
My memory here is of what I learned about 30 years ago, so I may be completely off.
November 9th, 2005 at 4:31 pm
I am also looking for the lyrics of this song to teach to Brownies. I sang it at nursery school
December 22nd, 2005 at 4:53 pm
Looking for a song that me and a friend from another part of the U.S. both know that goes something like…
awoosha tug tug tug ahhh.
We do not know the spelling or all the words as it was long ago. Any ideas?
January 5th, 2006 at 4:55 pm
This song is the title song in a book called “Okki-Tokki-unga” published in UK by A & C Black Ltd.
The words are written as follows:
Okki-tokki-unga, Okki-tokki-unga,
Hey, Missa Day, Missa Doh, Missa Day,
Okki-tokki-unga, Okki-tokki-unga,
Hey, Missa Day, Missa Doh, Missa Day
Hexa cola misha wani
Hexa cola misha wani
Hexa cola misha wani
The text next to the song says “The eskimo boy’s adventures are mimed as the verses are sung.
I teach 5 – 6 year olds and use it as a speech rhyme rather than a song – the children always enjoy learning the strange words.
Hope this helps!
January 17th, 2006 at 3:46 am
Hi There,
I am hoping you will be able to help me. I love the track Creek Lullaby by Margaret that is featured on the deadwood Soundtrack. I believe it is a Native American song and i would like to know what the lyrics are about / is there a website with Native American Lyrics? If you can be of any help that would be great.
Thank you
Jen
February 18th, 2006 at 10:02 pm
Many, many years ago when my mother was a girl scout leader I remember her teaching us an Indian song that went something like this? Ahhh oonnie oonie ah ah oonie, ahh oonnie ah ah oonie, aie aie aie aie-ki-yay, ki-yay,aie aie aie aie-ki-yay, ki-yay a ooo a geenie keechie. And while we sang we clapped our hands on our knees back and forth to the beat on our knees, and the one sitting to the left and right of us in a circle. This is going back 45 years ago as my mom died before I was 9. Can anyone help me?? I want to teach it to my granddaughter. thank you
July 5th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Regarding Creek Lullaby. this song was recorded in 1943 By Professor Willard Rhodes. Willard Rhodes was a Professor of music at Columbia University and employed by The Bureau of Indian Affairs to compile a recorded catalouge of Native American Songs. Professor Rhodes recorded a young girl named Margaret singing Creek Lullaby. Margaret attened the Haskell Institue in Lawrence, kansas. According to the Professors notes Margaret’s voice “shimmered in the room” The translation, roughly, is
Baby, sleep, sleep, sleep.
Father has gone to find turtle shells.
He said he will return tomorrow.
Baby, sleep, sleep, sleep.
Over three thousands Native American songs are on file at the National Archive and can be traced thru the Library of Congress.
August 7th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
I learned the Eskimo paddling song like this.
Atakata nuva, atakata nuva,
hey missah day missah doe ah misah day
Ex ecola misah wahtah, ex ecola missah wahtah
Atakata nuva, atakata nuva, hey missah day missah doe ah missah day
I recall that it was about paddling and preparing to go on the hunt.
August 31st, 2006 at 11:23 am
This is a little different, but for over a year now I have been combing the Internet for the the lyrics and translation of a CD recorded under the name of Spirit Nation featuring Judy Crescenzo of the Tucuhnut Tribe. The music was co-produced by David Evans and Jimmy Waldo. I believe the language is Lakota and I listen to this CD almost everyday. I am trying to contact the artist or writers, or someone familiar with this CD and can help me or direct me to someone who can. It would mean alot to me! Thanks. Bill
January 8th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
This is what was printed in an old Teacher’s Ed. music book I have–Music and You, Gd 2, Macmillan, 1988.
Atakata Nuva Eskimo hunting song
At-a-kat-a nu-va,
At-a-kat-a nu-va,
Ah mis-a-day, mis-a-do-mis-a-day.
Hex-a col-a-mis-a wa-ta,
Hex-a col-a-mis-a wa-ta,
At-a-kat-a nu-va,
At-a-kat-a nu-va,
Ah mis-a-day, mis-a-do-mis-a-day.
January 31st, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I learned this song in scout about 32 years ago.
I recall the lyrics as follows: (spelling phonetically)
Osh kash ka noon ga, osh kash ka noon ga
Hey diddle hi diddle hey diddle ho
Epsee cola mish a wanne, epse cola mish a wanne
Osh kash ka noon ga, osh kash ka noon ga
Hey diddle hi diddle hey diddle ho
I this all that I can remember.
Lori
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I would also love to know which tribe this song comes from, and what language it’s in.
****
FYI I found the explanation of the actions that go with the song:
“The eskimo boy’s adventures are mimed as the verses are sung.”
First verse-throw the net out/drag the net back/Second verse-look for the fish/Third verse-Wave Good-bye
You can purchase the book it’s in (from the UK) – click the link to get to the site to buy it online.
The Book is called “Okki-Tokki-Unga” and it has 55 action songs in it.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:46 am
OMG! So many people looking for this song! I heard it for the first time when our 2 1/2 yr old daughter performed it with her class mates yesterday. I asked the teachers the meaning of the lyrics but they did not know. They only said it is an eskimo fish hunting song. So i thought i would research it on the web but have not found the real lyrics or the meaning of the song. I hope someone finds the meaning so i can explain to our li’l girl. It might just turn out to be a collection of fun sounds with no meaning. Would love to get some inputs.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Nicki Bowden was nice enough to send me a recording of her students singing Okki Tokki Unga. Click the link below to hear it…
MP3 of Okki Tokki Unga
Many thanks to Nicki Bowden and Class 2 Balshaw Lane Primary School for the wonderful recording!
April 10th, 2007 at 10:33 am
The song that Judy printed above was the one we learned in the 1950’s by our elementary music teacher. I remember the words exactly like they are written above – (Atakata Nuva Eskimo hunting song). I remember we made canoe paddling motions and right after we would say “Hex-a col-a-mis-a wa-ta”, we would shout “bang”. Must have been the gun shooting the duck. Our teacher told us it was an Eskimo duck hunting song. Thanks for printing the words. I’ve tried to teach it to my grandchildren, but wasn’t quite sure how to pronounce it all.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Does anybody have the written translation of this Native American song?
May 18th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
i am learning this song in music just now. My teacher asked us to find out where the song came from. thanks for your comments, they have been very helpful
June 15th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I’m a counsler at a Girl Scout camp this summer, and we sing both the “eskimo song” and “kee-chee”, but have NO idea what any of it means! It’s nice to know we aren’t the only one’s who are stumped. I’m also amazed at how many version’s of the song there are! When we sing the eskimo song, the motions we use tell of a man who kisses his wife goodbye before he goes hunting, looks for the bear, shoots the bear, and returns home triumphant.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
That’s interesting about your motions to the Eskimo song.
I’m not familiar with the Kee-chee Song. How does that one go?
October 20th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Karen wrote:
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 rona ,hexa coola misha rona (Children then stop rowing and look around with hand up at forehead then repeat the song).
I’ve added the word rona, that was in it when my daughter did it at school a couple of years ago.
Lovely song, all about clubbing a seal!
October 31st, 2007 at 5:45 am
NO one has mentioned the meaning of the words Okki tokki Unga- does anyone know??? I have tought this song for years as a music teacher- but would love to now the menaing.
November 18th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Re: Creek lullaby by Margaret translation posted by Bellamama (2006)
“Baby, sleep, sleep, sleep.
Father has gone to find turtle shells.
He said he will return tomorrow.
Baby, sleep, sleep, sleep”
Wondering what the original native american lyrics are and what tribe/dialect?
Thanks if anyone can help.
January 21st, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I am in a fourth grade class and we are learning about Alaska. We have learned a song called Ata Kata Nuva and the way that we have learned it is:
ATA KATA NUVA
ATA KATA NUVA
AHH MISSA DEY MISSA DEY MISSA DEY
ATA KATA NUVA
ATA KATA NUVA
AHH MISSA DEY MISSA DEY MISSA DEY
We are trying to find out what it means in English, and would love anybody’s help!!
Thank you,
Jess
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 am
my 5 year old came home singing this song and i remembered the song from when i was at primary but my son kept singing he lived in mexico! so i thought i’d look for it on the web and now i’ve found the words again we can sing it together!!!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I am looking for a song my grandmother sang to me in Wewoka, Oklahoma, long ago.
Words sounded like:
Ki mo naro
Capn karo
ki mo naro karo
simmon aitchee, vommin aitchee
latibo rigdum
latibo rigdum ki mo.
June 8th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I teach preschool for over 25 years and have taught the song by memory:
(with arms crossed like saying “HOW” and rocking them)
chorus:
auk auk a-newka, auk auk a-newka,
ay-mis a-daymis a-doe-mis a-day. (repeat)
(act out kissing hand while rubbing nose)
eskimo a-kes awana (repeat)
same words back and forth but with different actions:
rowing canoe, spearing for fish, hunting for bear, stirring the soup,
drinking from bowl, yawning goodnight.
I learned it in girl scouts in 1966 in northern IN. It is nice to know others have remembered it also. I will probably continue to teach it the way I remember.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Hi,
I just came across this song on the Wiggles debut CD from 1991! My son absolutely loves it, but he calls it the “walkie-talkie” song. He IS only three though. Personally, I had never heard it before. I assumed it was soemthing aboriginal, since many of their songs are from the native Austrialians or New Zealanders. Thanks for all of the information!
Stef
June 24th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Joanne,
I know Kee Chee-with hand movements in the circle and with 2 people facing each other using 2 sticks each and twirling them as well as passing them back and forth to each other. I learned it in Girl Scouts in Florida about 43 years ago.
I can sing it to you. I was here trying to find out where it came from?I think I might have also seen it listed on another website which listed old Girl Scout song books.
Ah uni kuni cha a uni
Ah uni kuni cha a uni
Ay Ay Ay iki ay kay ey
Ay Ay Ay iki ay kay ey
Ah u
Ah uni
Kee Chee.
Safia
June 24th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I found more info re: Kee Chee
STRUCTURED CURRICULUM LESSON PLAN
Week: 7 Subject: Music Grade Level: K-3
“Tell the children that Kee Chee is a game song that the children who live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo play. This country is located in the Southern portion of the African continent… Play the recording of Kee Chee again and ask the children to pat the steady beat. Demonstrate the hand-pat pattern. Practice by asking the children to echo each step, without the music…
1. Pat your knees one time.
2. Cross your hands and pat your knees one time.
3. Uncross your hands and pat your knees one time…”
July 20th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I am looking for the lyrics to a Native American song and one of the lines is “We humble ourselves to the children.” Can anyone help??
October 14th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
So “) to find the Eskimo hunting song— thanks everyone!
The Kee-chee song was also one we sang in Camp Fire Girls years ago and someone still in that organization could probably tell you more. I remember the words as:
Ah woonie toonie cha, a woonie
(repeat)
I, I, I, ikie, I kie amos,
(repeat)
A woonie
A woonie, kee-chee!
The movements:
start with hands up/palms facing out on ‘Ah’
‘woonie’ pat knees once,
‘toonie’ cross arms to pat opposite knees
‘cha’ pat knees as in ‘woonie’.
Then repeat this same sequence throughout. At ending, hands up/palms out for “kee-chee!”
Thanks for hosting such a swell site, Mama Lisa!
February 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am
umiak,kiyak,muluk,tupik,are words to a song they made us sing in grade school,do you know where to find the song name?
February 28th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Hi Jim,
We haven’t found a name – but we found a little about a possible meaning on Monkey Filter:
“umiak kayak mukluk tupik, umiak kayak mukluk tupik, umiak, a boat for many men; kayak, a boat for one man. umiak, kayak, eskimo words”.
Does anyone else know anything about this song or the which language it’s in? We appreciate any help.
Mama Lisa
March 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I remember this from when I was in Girl Scouts and this is all phonetic – I don’t remember at all what it meant.
A woonie oonie kai ai oonie
A woonie oonie kai ai oonie
Kai ai ippie ai kai amos
Kai ai ippie ai kai amos
A woo
A woonie keechie
It was fun to sing. My sister and I would sing it even though we were in our fifties. Kids these days miss out on so much.
March 6th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
The following comments: Kelley’s (Oct 14th/08) + Safia’s (June 24th/08) + Joanne’s (Feb 18 /06) all refer to the Ani couni chaouani Song spelled in different ways.
If anyone would like to sing it for us, please email me at lisa@mamalisa.com . Thanks! -Mama Lisa
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I am 47, living in England and I remember being taught a song called Hockta Cockta Nova…all at least that’s what I thought…it was 40 years ago. It’s been great to come on here and see what I was actually taught!!
I was told it as an Eskimo whaling song, but then I was 7 at the time and my memory is fading!
March 26th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Hi,
I’m urgently looking for the original lyrics of ‘Creek Lullaby’ by Margaret.
Can anyone help? I can see above that a few people have requested them too.
Thanks very much
April 8th, 2009 at 6:23 am
my sister and i sang this song in brownies in england 40+ yrs ago.
for us it was:
okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym,
okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym,
(during this part, sung at normal speed, we mimed paddling first one side and then the other of a one person kayak)
pepsi cora misa warra, pepsi cora misa warra, (sung slowly while looking around with hand shading eyes, then pointed aha! when you spotted the whale )
(sung very fast) okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym,
okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym, (paddling much faster to catch up to the whale, then aimed and fired your harpoon)
(sung very slowly)
okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym,
okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym, (sung very slowly as you pulled in the whale hand over hand on the end of the harpoon rope, lifted it into the kayak then,
(normal speed as you rowed home)
okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym,
okta kocta noova, okta kocta noova, ay me saday me sadora me sadaym,
we are thinking it must have been a very small whale!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I’m now 42 yrs old, but in kindergarten we sang this inuit seal hunting song and I remember it well, in adition to all the actions – I still humm it from time to time:
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
(sung very lively, with actions being: paddle your kayak, fist-over-fist, one stroke on the right side, then 1 stroke on the left side)
Essa coa mishi wana, Essa coa mishi wana
(sung slowly, while scanning the horizon for seals by putting hour hand above your brow – similar to a salute, as if shielding your eyes, and you spot a seal, so the next verse is again sung lively as you paddle over to chase the seal)
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
(you now slowly throw the harpoon, overhand, and sing slowly:)
Essa coa mishi wana, Essa coa mishi wana
(you have speared the seal, so you race over in your kayak to retrieve it:)
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
(now you must pull the heavy seal aboard your kayak – hard work, so once again sung slowly:)
Essa coa mishi wana, Essa coa mishi wana
(you can now paddle home to your family with a fresh kill:)
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
Otikotanuva, Otikotanuva,
Hey missa day, missa doa missa day
June 10th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
So pleased to have found this website and mp3 of oki toki unga! My daughter will be 18 on Monday and I am putting together a cd of memorable songs from her life so far! In Primary 1 she sang this with great enthusiasm with all the added actions-happy memories!
June 15th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
My mom taught us an old eskimo song that she learned in girl scouts, but none of it looks like the verses you have here…
Shannee annee mannee annee
Ish key quu key quee kway-ah, quee kwai-ah
Shannee annee mannee annee
Ish key quu key quee kway-ah, quee kwai-ah
Oh nick-o-name-o, Oh shannee annee oopah,
Oh nick-o-name-o, Oh shannee annee oopah,
oopah oopah oopah
killee killee killee killee wash wash wash wash
keyah keyah kiyah,
killee killee killee killee wash wash wash wash
keyah keyah kiyah,
Oh nick-o-name-o, Oh shannee annee oopah,
Oh nick-o-name-o, Oh shannee annee oopah,
oopah oopah oopah
Anyone know anything like that?
June 26th, 2009 at 11:16 am
this song is from girl guides/girl scouts these day just wonderin if u no where it cum from here it is
a wanna kuni ani wanni
a wanna kuni ani wanni
i i i ipi i i ani
i i i ipi i i ani
oh ye watcha mikey chi
August 12th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Please Help ! My niece is getting married in a few weeks and her sister wants to give a marriage toast to incorporate the some of the words from an old song or story she remembered from kindergarten.
It starts out by Uni kuni cha cha cha… but we’d like to have the exact words. Any help that you could provide would be great.
Thank you…
August 12th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
We have the lyrics to Ani couni at…
http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=70&c=17
Cheers!
Mama Lisa
September 20th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Isn’t it funny how we all have versions of the same song. We used to do the Kee-Chee song in Girl Scouts in Arkansas, but learned it a little differently. (same hand movements, though):
Ay uni kee-chee kah, ay uni.
Ay uni kee-chee kah, ay uni.
Ay Ay Ay, iki Ay Ay Ay
Ay Ay Ay, iki Ay Ay Ay
Ay uni kee-chee kah, ay uni. (repeat last line and get softer and softer)
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:10 am
When i was in grade chool we used to sing a song called “the eskimo song” i think…….it went
Umiak, Kayak, Muckluk, Tupik
Umiak, Kayak, Muckluk, Tupik
Umiak is a boat for many men,
Kayak a boat for one man
blah…blah…blah
I dont remember the rest of the words……can someone help me out and give me the words to the entire song
Thanks
Greg
November 4th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I grew up in Canada and learned “Oki toki unga” as a child, but now live in Norway and was interested to hear that kids sing “Atte Katte Noa” to the same tune:
Attekatte Noa, attekatte Noa.
Emmisa, demissa dollamissa du!
Setra kallamissa rato, setra kallamissa rato.
Attekatte Noa, attekatte Noa.
Emmisa, demissa dollamissa du.
No one here seems to know where it comes from or what it means, and they don’t associate it with anything Inuit, but it’s obviously the same song, especially compared to the version that Greg and Judy remember. Wonder if Norwegians learned it through the UK version or if the Norwegian roots go way back to their own direct contact with Inuit people through their history of seafaring. Would love to believe it was the latter, and given that it’s considered a traditional historical children’s song here I’m inclined to believe they learned it directly. The song gave rise to a kids’ TV program in the ’80s and is also the name of a kid’s clothes store, which makes searching on the interntett for more info on the Norwegian version kind of tricky…
November 4th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
That’s interesting Heather… please let us know if you learn more about it. I’ve been getting frustrated lately by the same phenomena where searches are taken over by more popular stuff. All you can do is add a – sign to your search with a word that you don’t want in the search. So if it’s TV you don’t want in the search put at the end -TV sometimes this helps narrow down your search. Good luck! Mama Lisa