THE WALUM OLUM

 

	Pehella wtenk lennapewi tulapewini psakwiken woliwikgun wittank talli.  After the flood the Lenapi from the turtle [boat] were close together, living together in houses.
	Topan-akpinep, wineu-akpinep, kshakan-akpinep, thupin akpinep.  The water froze over where they stayed: snow came, the wind blew, and it was cold.
	Lowankwamink wulaton wtakan tihill kelik meshautang sili ewak.  There where the land slopes north, as it grew cold they secured many big deer and pieces of buffalo meat.
	Chintanes-sin powalessin peyachik wikhichik pokwihil.  As they journeyed, the hunters separated from the farmers, who remained;
	Eluwi-chitanesit eluwi takauwesit, elowi chiksit, elowichik delsinewo.  The strongest, the gentlest, the most pious did this: they were the hunters.
	Lowaniwi, wapaniwi, shawaniwi, wunkeniwi, elowichik apakachik.  The hunters travled to the north, east, south, and west.
	Lumowaki, lowanaki tulpenaki elowaki tulapiwi linapiwi.  In that northern land of long ago, the land of the turtle [boat] the lenape from the turtle were hunters.
	Wemiako yagawan tendki lakkawelendam nakopowa wemi qwenluen atam.  All the hearths of that land were troubled: everyone said to the priest, "Let us depart."
	Akhokink wapaneu wemoltin palliaal kitelendam aptelendam.  Earnestly grieving they left, going to the Snake land in the east.
	Pechimuin shakowen nungihillan lusasaki pikihil pokwihil akomenaki.  Tattered and torn, weak, worried, and trembling they went to the Snake island.
	Nihillapewin komelendam lowaniwi wemiten chihillen winiaken.  The free people of the north, having no attachments, left the land of snow.
	Namesuagipek pohapockhapek guneunga waplanewa ouken waptumewi ouken.  The fathers of Bald Eagle and White Wolf remain by the clear waters of snow mountain where fish are abundant.
	Amokolon nallahemen agunouken pawasinep wapasinep akomenep.  Travling upstream by canoe our fathers dreamed of Snake Island to the east.
	Wihlamok kicholen luchundi, Wematam akomen luchundi.  Head Beaver and Big Bird said, "Let us all go to Snake Island."
	Witehen wemiluen wemaken nihillen.  All of them agreed to go to that land, all who were free.
	Nguttichin lowiniwi, Nguttichin wapaniwi, Agamunk topanpek Wulliton epannek.  Those of the north and those of the east agreed that it would be good to live on the other side of the frozen sea.
	Wulelemil w'shakuppek, Wemopannek hakhsinipek, Kitahikan pokhakhopek.  All went across the tidal sea on the wonderful, slippery, stone-hard water.
	Tellenchen kittapakki nillawi, Wemoltin gutikuni nillawi, Akomen wapanawaki nillawi, Ponskan, ponskan, wemiwi olini.  Ten thousand day and night walk to the east, they all walk to Snake Island.
	Lowanapi, wapanapi, shawanapi, Lanewapi, tamakwapi, tumewapi, Elowapi, powatapi, wilawapi, Okwisapi, danisapi, allumapi,  The Lenape from the north, the east, and the south; The Eagle clan, Beaver clan, and Wolf clan; the hunters, shamans, and leaders with their wives, daughters, and dogs,
	Wemipayat gunéunga shinaking, Wunkenapi chanelendam payaking, Allowelendam kowiyey tulpaking.  They all came from the hills of snow to the land of pine forests, but those from the west came with hesitation because they loved their old home at the Turtle land.