I am featuring the Hymn “Silent Night” because the Dakota children learned this hymn in boarding school. This hymn is in Dakota, a language the boarding school children were punished for speaking. They learned this hymn in English as they do today. The Dakota people translated the English words into Dakota.

Under President Grant Peace Policy each reservation was assigned to a Christian Religion. The Spirit Lake Reservation was assigned to the Episcopal, but they had no one available, so the Catholic Religion was assigned instead. The Catholics established two boarding schools: St. Michael’s and Seven Dolors. From these churches and schools, the religious holidays were celebrated, and eventually spread to all the homes reservation wide.

Silent Night, Holy Night

Han-he pi Wa-kan kin! En o-was wi-yu skin-yan;

Hun-ku Cin-ca kdu-ha yan-ka, Christ Wa-kan-yan ton-pi on

Wan-kand wo-o-ki-ye! Wan-kand wo-o ki-ye!

Han-he pi Wa-kan kin! Wo-na-hon wo-tan-in

Ma-hpi-ya-to wo-wi-tan, On Wa-kan-Tanka ya-tan-pi.

Christ Wa-ni-ki-ya hi! Christ Wa-ni -ki-ya Hi!

Han-he-pi wa-kan-kin Wa-kan Tanka Cinca

Wo-pe-ki-ton wo-was-ste on i-te a-i-yo-jan-jan

Jesus ni-ton pi kin en, Jesus ni-ton pi kin en.

The Dakota words are hyphenated to fit the melody of this famous hymn. These words come from the Episcopal Hymn Book and are in the Yankton Dakota dialect. Note: the Yankton word Kduha (to have for oneself) is changed to Hduha (Dakota) and Gluha (Lakota), dialects. All the rest of the words are interchangeable.

English Translation

The Sacred Night! everyone celebrating.

Mother and Child is lying there, Sacred Christ is born

Sacredly in peace! Sacredly in peace!

Sacred Night Hear the news

Blue Heavens in glory, God they honor.

Christ the Savior has come! Christ the Savior has come!

The Sacred Night God’s Child

Redeeming us with a bright face

Jesus you are born! Jesus you are born!

Source:

This hymn comes from the following:

Wakan + Cekiye + Odown (Sacred + Prayer + Song)

Hymnal with Tunes and Chants, according to the use of the Episcopal Church in the Missions among the Dakotas of the Missionary District of South Dakota. Edition of 1951, 1966 printing originally printed in 1893. Hymn # 13, Page 19 Silent Night.

(Translation from Dakota by Louis Garcia, Warwick Pubic School, Warwick, N.D.)

Editor’s Note: The remaining portion of the Message From Garcia from Tuesday, Dec. 17 “Drum Keeper” can be found in the 12-19-24 DLJ on pages 2A, 8A and 9A. Many readers cut those articles out and save them.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR