Kenn Pitawanakwat is a writer and teacher from Wiikwemkoong, within the borders of Ontario Canada. His 2015 book When My Son Died, tells of his journey with grief in the hopes to help others find solace and joy. The follow-on to this book, Tell Them, will be released in 2026, and speaks further to the role of faith and connection to walk our live's path with gratitude and peace.

Sit With Us by Kenn Pitawanakwat

Sit With Us consists of a Nishinaabe sacred pipe ceremony, told also, side-by-side, in English, for the purposes of inviting you to sit, listen, and experience it. Kenn also tells us a whimsical short story in the traditional style about beings of snow, and the collection ends with two prayers, reflecting the author's two faiths.

CURATOR'S NOTE

Kenn is a humble man, but he will permit me to shyly tell you what a beautiful gift we've been given in this work. Kenn is an elder, a medicine man and one of the few remaining Nishinaabe first speakers, someone who grew up speaking his indigenous language and who still thinks in it today. This translation of an oral language into a written one can only be approximate and exemplative, but his writing out a sacred pipe ceremony side by side in both languages is a treasure I hope will bring readers much needed peace. –E.D.E. Bell

 

REVIEWS

  • "Come, sit down and listen to the wisdom. There is so much beauty from the Creator in these words. Miigwetch."

    – Joyce Chng, editor at Strange Horizons

  • "An invitation to sit with a pathway, an opening, of remembrance for gratitude and connectivity, full of honest beauty. What a gift."

    – Dhiyanah Hassan, Artist
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

Chi-mewzha.
A very long time ago.
Bzinshen.
Carefully listen.
Chi-mewzha maanda gzhke-e-ziiwin kii-miin-goom-naa-ba.
From so distant times we were granted this gift.
Hey-ya!
Way so long ago.
Gegeti.
So true. Truth we shall see.
Kitch-zhaazhogwa gegeti maanda agii-zhow-web-da-ba.
From so very long ago do we follow origins.
Iw sa!
That which is so.
Enh.
Yes.
Bzinshen.
Listen, follow with ears open.
Gegoo ka-wiindamoon.
I shall tell you something.
Ka-gii-gji-toon dash aji-men-da-man.
Hold, embrace, etch into your memory.
Iw sa.
This is which is so.
Wiikaa akii-noondaman?
Have you ever heard?
Gay-gwa-geh-goh.
Pay no attention. It's okay.
Gegwa gegoo-nendige.
Do not think anything of it.
Mii-naang-waa gego aji-wiindoon-naa.
In this moment I shall tell you.
Mii-genii gaa-naaj-mwa-tah-goh-aan-baa.
That of once I was told so long ago.
Kitchi-mew-zha.
So very long time ago.
Di-bii-iidik gegeti gaa-bi-zi-kaa-gwem-ba-gob-ba-gneh.
Where and whence, it originated I was told.
Enh…
Yes…
Kwii-noon daan?
Do you wish to hear it?
Kiin gwa.
'Tis totally up to you.
Aah…naa-gdo-wenmik kit-ziim-naa-nik.
Aaahh…as we were loved by parents, so shall we care for ours.
Nkii-bi-naag-a-dwe-en-maa-nik gwo gey ngi-mizhomis-naa-nik.
As we returned love and care with grandfathers.
Gey gwa nkookimis-naa-nik.
As with our grandmothers.
Miinwaa gey-wii-nwaa-agidzii-mwaan.
With their parents also.
Kina gwo agii-ken-demi-gwading.
Without doubt, with each were we known long ago.
Kina waaya kiin-gah-dendimi.
Traditional family skills were known by all.
Akii-wii-dook-kaad-mi.
We shared labor, chore, and care.
Nkii-naa-gdo-wen-da-mi.
We lent hands, care, protection, and coddled another.
Agii-aas-igi-bwi-taad-mi.
We stood up for another.
Geget.
'Tis true.
Agii-nishin.
Life was good.
Nishin maadiziwin.
Life remains good.
Nishin-gwo-geyaab-bi.
All remains good.
Enh.
Yes.
Nishin.
It is all good.