I was struck by this song. The lyrics are from an old Ojibwe hymnal that someone was kind enough to put online. I was especially struck by this word, Maamoyawedaa.
In Hebrew, Hallelu jah is an imperative: (all of you) Praise the Lord!
I asked my husband Neaseno what this word Maamoyawedaa would translate out to be. He said it would mean something along the lines of, You and Your Name are greater than anything else. However, it means so much more culturally that cannot be translated into English. What an incredible expression of Praise to the Lord!
I last heard this song on Easter Sunday, and our worship team added a bridge: He is not dead, He is Alive! My hope is found in Jesus Christ! I added this bridge in because it is so fitting. But I wrote it in Potawatomi. I hope that’s ok.
–Zagjewekwe nin se wdekweyomen o Neaseno
35 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Gii’-aabijiibaa Jesus, oo maamoyawedaa!
Ambe wawizhendandaa, oo maamoyawedaa!
Gaa-kichi-wiisagined, oo maamoyawedaa!
ji-onji-giishpinaninang, oo maamoyawedaa!
Nagamotawaadaa Christ, oo maamoyawedaa!
ishpiming nemadabid, oo maamoyawedaa!
jiibegamigong gaa’-asind, oo maamoyawedaa!
Giinawind gaa’-onjined, oo maamoyawedaa!
Ogodagiziwinan, oo maamoyawedaa!
gibimaaji’igomin, oo maamoyawedaa!
iwidi ogimaawi, oo maamoyawedaa!
endazhi-nagamotawind, oo maamoyawedaa!
Oh cho mbosit….Nesh je ebmadzet!!!!
Ebgosénmayan se o Jesus!
Neaseno 