i4Ni by Leonard Sumner

(VERSE 1)
you say you want to shoot the mascot,
but you won’t take your mask off

painted up like ponies
til it’s time to make a stand off

say we gotta stand up
maybe you should sit down

nish be humble

it’s a rumble in the jungle
gettin’ scary in the prairies

and I’m tryin’ not to stumble
cause I’m worried for the babies

separated by a border and a racist military
yeah we seen it all before so it feels so ordinary

canaries in the coal mine
freedom on the goal line

mookoman on slash
earning feathers like the old time

ready in a flash, you’ll be travelling in no time
a beautiful death, waiting for you at the sun down

and if they catch me
they can bury me

sitting down and facing west

(DEATH SONG VOCABLE)

(Hook)
eye for an eye
when it’s war time
all is fair, all is just!

eye for an eye
when it’s war time
all is fair, all is just!

(VERSE 2)

well I’m not a fan of borders
but i like to cross the line

I’m not into to law and order
when it doesn’t value mine

i know this is borrowed time
so i stay up on the grind

investing in my mind
‘nishinaabek paradigms

i have walked a narrow line
vision quest for the divine

necessary sacrifice
for the blessings in my life

though I recognize
prayers can be weaponized

keep a peaceful state of mind
as I send them to the sky

(statement in Anishinaabemowin)

Aye-abijitoo-ung
Ki-gii-gidoo - in-inaan
Mee-ay - bezhigon
Ka-ki-abijitoo-at

May-zhaway-ka-mig
Ki-mishoomis-inaa-nig
Ki-gi-doo-in-inaan Aaniish

Daaw-nizh-ishin - kay-gaa
chi-na-now-a-nithing

Kiish-pin - kikay-da-mung
Ki-gii-gidoo-in-inaan

Akina-kaygoo -
Ki-gikain-daa-min
Ezhini-kaa-tek - omaa akiig

Kiish-pin - waani-too-ung
Ki-gii-doo-in-inaan

Ni-bezhigon - Aye-wani-too-ung
Aan-in - Ki-bimaad-izi-win-in-inaan

Kaawiin - Ni-nun-dawayn-da-theen


(not in the song, but quick translation)

if the young people learn their language
they'll be able to speak with their ancestors
if you can speak your language,
you'll understand this land you come from
if we lose our language
we'll lose a piece of ourselves forever
i don't want that to happen

• Hip-Hop/Rap
• anishinaabe
• country
• indigenous
• rap
• roots
• Winnipeg