These are the prayers used in the Catholic Indian Mass in Cowichan, as found in the 1977 book “Helk̲’emínem St’íwi7elh: Indian Prayers of Southeast Vancouver Island”, edited by David Rozen. To read more about the history of the church and these songs and prayers, you can read the original document here (pdf)
The book was accompanied by a cassette tape. The prayers are spoken, sung, and played by Abel Joe. In the introduction, Rozen writes:
The knowledge of all the following things: Latin, Chinook Jargon, English, Halkomelem, musical notation, and traditional melodies from a variety of north-west groups by Abel Joe put him in a unique position to finalize the prayers in the form in which you see then here.
The prayers on this page have been transcribed into the modern practical orthography with the assistance of Ruby Peter.
God Most High, Have Mercy on Us
tsitsulh si’em’ nu men,
Lord, my father,
m’i tth’hwimutal’hw.
Have mercy on us.
tth’hwimutal’hw ’un’ swe’ ‘un’ mun’u shisi.
Have mercy on your son Jesus Christ.
m’i tth’hwimutal’hw.
Have mercy on us.
tth’hwimutal’hw ’un’ swe’ ’un’ mun’u shisi.
Have mercy on your son Jesus Christ.
—
tsitsulh si’em’ nu shoushoukli
My Lord, Jesus Christ
m’i tth’hwimutal’hw.
Have mercy on us,
tth’hwimutal’hw ’un’ swe’ ’un’ mustimuhw, shisi.
Have mercy on us, your people, Jesus.
m’i tth’hwimutal’hw
Have mercy on us,
tth’hwimutal’hw ’un’ swe’ ’un’ mustimuhw, shisi.
Have mercy on us, your people, Jesus.
—
tsitsulh si’em’ santouspli
Lord, Holy Spirit
m’i tth’hwimutal’hw
Have mercy on us,
tth’hwimutal’hw ’un’ swe’ ’un’ mustimuhw, si’em’.
Have mercy on us, your people, respected one.
m’i tth’hwimutal’hw.
Have mercy on us.
tth’hwimutal’hw’un’ swe’ ’un’ mustimuhw, si’em’.
Have mercy on us, your people, respected one.
The Gloria
(Sung version)
nuwu nu tsitsulh si’em’,
You are my Lord,
’iyus tun’a tumuhw ’u tthu mustimuhw
Peace on earth to the people
‘uy’ tthu shqwaluwuns.
of good will.
nan tst ‘uw’ ts’iithamu,
We praise you,
thq’ulhxe’umuthamu.
We kneel to you.
nan tst ’uw’ stl’i’ ’utl’ nuwu.
We really love you.
ts’iithamu tst tthu nuwu
We want to thank you
‘u thu’i shhw’uy’ tst.
For everything that is good for us.
nuwu nu tsitsulh si’em’.
You are my Lord.
shoushoukli ’uw’ na’nuts’a’ tthu mun’us tthu mens kw’am’kw’um’.
Jesus Christ, the only son of the Almighty Father.
nuwu ni’ ’etth’ut tthu squl tst ’i tun’a tumuhw.
You are the one who wiped away our sins here on earth.
ni’ ch tth’hwimutal’hw.
You had mercy on us.
nilh ’un’ swe’ ’un’ thethi’un
It was your blood
nilh tth’xwat tthu squl tst.
That washed away our sins.
kwunut tthu st’i’wi’ulh tst.
Receive our prayers.
nuwu ni’ tthu si’a’lum’iw’s tthu mens kw’am’kw’um’,
You who are seated at the right hand of the Almighty father,
tth’hwimutal’hw.
Have mercy on us.
’uw’ na’nuts’a’ ch ‘ul’ hay ‘ul’ ‘uy’.
You alone are holy.
’uw’ na’nuts’a’ ch ‘ul’ nuwu nu tsitsulh si’em’,
You alone are my only Lord,
kwun’atul’ ’u tthu tsitsulh si’em’ santouspli,
Together with the Lord, the Holy Spirit,
tun’ni’ tthu shhw’uy’s tthu tsitsulh si’em’ mens kw’am’kw’um’.
From the glory of the Lord, the Almighty Father.
stl’atl’um’ stu’e.
Amen.
The Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)
hay ch ’ul’ xe’xe’, hay ch ’ul’ xe’xe’, hay ch ’ul’ xe’xe’, xe’xe’,
You are sacred, you are sacred, you are sacred, sacred.
kwus m’i ’ewu [’u] tun’i thu lukumunyou.
When you come in Holy Communion.
tsitsulh tumuhw ’i’ tun’a tumuhw.
Heaven and earth.
hay ch ’ul’ sul’its’ ’u kw’uw’ mukw’ ’uy’.
You are filled with glory.
Hosanna ’i kw’i tsitsulh.
Hosanna in the highest.
t’i’wi’ulh tthu nuwu,
Pray to you,
kwus m’i ’ewu tuni’ tthu snes tthu tsitsulh si’em’.
When you come in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna ni’ kw’i tsitsulh.
Hosanna in the highest.
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
mun’us tthu tsitsulh si’em’,
Son of God,
tthu ni’ ’etth’ut tthu squl [tst]
who wiped our sins
’i ’u tun’a tumuhw,
of this world,
tth’hwimutal’hw ch.
have mercy on us.
mun’us tthu tsitsulh si’em’,
Son of God,
tthu ni’ ’etth’ut tthu squl tst
who wiped our sins
’i ’u tun’a tumuhw,
of this world,
tth’hwimutal’hw.
have mercy on us.
mun’us tthu tsitsulh si’em’,
Son of God,
tthu ni’ ’etth’ut tthu squl tst
who wiped our sins
’i ’u tun’a tumuhw,
of this world,
tth’hwimutal’hw,
have mercy on us,
’ukw’ shyuxwuthut [tst].
for our freedom.
Lord, I Am Not Worthy (before Communion)
’o nu tsitsulh si’em’, ’uwu tsun ’iin’ thuthi’
Oh my Lord, I am not worthy
kwus m’i ’ewu ’u thu nu shqwaluwun.
That you should come into my soul,
qwal ’u ch ’utl’ nuwu, nu tsitsulh si’em’,
Speak to me, my Lord,
suw’ hwu thuthi’ tse’ tthunu suli.
And my soul will be healed.
It’s True I’ve Got it (Communion hymn)
’o thu’it ni’ tsun kwunnuhw.
It’s true I got it.
’uweelh tsun ’i kwutheen’
I’ll never let you go. (kwe’thameen’)
nilh tun’a nu stl’i’,
This is what I want,
yuw’un’ tthuw’ mukw’ stem.
It comes before everything.
’o thu’it ni’ tsun kwunnuhw.
It’s true I got it.
tthunu shqwaluwun nilh shisi.
It’s Jesus in my heart.
__
’o thu’it ’i ch hwu’i ’u tthunu suli.
It’s true you are here in my soul,
s’ulhtuns tthunu suli,
The food of my soul,
shkw’am’kw’um’s tthunu suli.
The strength of my soul.
’o thu’it ni’ tsun kwunnuhw.
It’s true I got it.
tthunu shqwaluwun nilh shisi.
It’s Jesus in my heart.
Our Father
tsitsulh si’em’, s’aa’lh men,
High lord, our father,
’uy’ kws ’uw’ mukw’s tthu mustimuhw statul’stuhw tthun’ sne.
Let all the people know thy name.
’uy’ kws nuwu si’em’s tthu s’aa’lh shqwaluwun ’i’ tthuw’ mukw’ stem.
Let you be the one who guides our thoughts in all things.
’uy’ kws xte’ tst ’u tthun’ swe’ ’un’ shqwaluwun ’i ’u tun’a tumuhw
Let us be like your own mind here on earth
st’e ’u tthu lisas ni’ ’u kw’i tsitsulh.
like the angels in heaven.
tun’a kweyul ’i tthuw’ mukw’ skweyul,
Today and everyday,
m’istuhw tthu s’ulhtun tst tun’a lhnimulh.
give us our food.
’uy’ tthu nuwu kwus hay statul’stuhw tthu s’aa’lh squl,
Let you be the only one who knows our sins,
st’e ’u tthey’ tun’a lhnimulh.
the way we are.
’uy’ kwus shtatul’stuhw ttheli’
We want you to know those people
qeel’qul’ital’hw tthu s’aa’lh shqwaluwun.
who are tempting our minds.
’uy’ kwus kw’am’kw’um’stuhw tthu s’aa’lh shqwaluwun
Keep our minds strong
kws ’uwu tst tum’temut ’i’ qul’qul’il.
so we never do evil.
stl’atl’um’ st’e.
Amen.
How Can I Pray?
t’i’wi’ulh tsun tse’, t’i’wi’ulh tsun tse’.
I will pray, I will pray.
nilh tse’ q’u kw’uw’ nu sht’e
It will be like that for me
wulh t’i’wi’ulh tsun tse’.
When I pray.
’etsune’ tsun kwu’elh.
O poor me.
(thume’ twice)
nilh tse’ q’u kw’uw’ nu sht’e
It will be like that for me
nilh tse’ q’u kw’uw’ nu sht’e
It will be like that for me
wulh t’i’wi’ulh tsun tse’
When I pray
wulh t’i’wi’ulh tsun tse’.
When I pray.
’etsune’ tse’ kwu’elh.
O poor me.
Glory be
Glori hwunem’ ’u tthu tsitsulh si’em’ mens.
Glory to the Lord God the Father
hwunem’ ’u tthu tsitsulh si’em’ mun’us.
Glory to the Lord the son.
hwunem’ ’u tthu tsitsulh si’em’ santuspli.
Glory to the Lord the son.
— This part from Ruby Peter.
stl’atl’um’ kw’u wulh hithulh
It was good a long time ago,
’i’ ’u tun’ a kweyul ’i’ kw’uw’ yaths.
today and always.
stl’atl’um’ st’e.
Amen
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
’o Meli, ’een’thu statul’stuhw ’uwus stsekwul’us ’i’ ’ikw’ut tthun’ siiye’ye’
O Mary, I know that you would not turn your people away
kws m’is ’ewu qwal ’u tthu nuwu.
when they come to speak to you.
nilh tthunu squl nush xi’xe’ kwunus nem’ qwal ’u tthu tsitsulh si’em’.
It is because of my sins that I am ashamed to go speak to the Lord.
st’e ’u tthey’ m’i tsun ’ewu kwunus qwal tthu nuwu, tens tthu shoushoukli.
Therefore, I come to speak to you, the mother of Jesus Christ.
nu stl’i’ kw’un’s ts’ewutham’shuhw kwunus ’uwu nem’un’ tus ’u tthu qul mustimuhw.
I want you to help me so that I will not go the place of the bad people.
kw’unus ’uw’ yaths ’uw’ ’i ’i ’u tun’ a tumuhw.
so that I will be here on earth.
’o Meli, kwunut [ch] tthunu swe’ nu st’i’wi’ulh.
O Mary, take my prayers.
’i’ nem’ustuhw [ch] ’u tthu[n’] swe’ ’un’ mun’u shoushoukli.
and give them to your own son, Jesus Christ.
stl’atl’um’ st’e
Amen
Before the sign of the cross
’o Meli, nuwu tsitsulh tens tthu nuwu.
O Mary, you are our High Mother.
’amust tst tthu nuwe ’u tthu ’uy’ shqwaluwun.
We will give you good will.
’uwu ch ’i’kw’utuhw tthu sts’iiyelh tst
Do not throw away our pleading
’i’ nilh tse’ suw’ kw’atal’hwuhw ’u tuni’ ’u tthu qul.
so you will take evil away from us.
stl’atl’um’ st’e.
Amen.
Ruby Peter’s version
This is how Ruby Peter dictated it to Donna Gerdts in 2005.
’o Meli, nuwu tens tthu tsitsulh si’em’.
Oh, Mary, you are the mother of the Lord.
’amusthamu tst tse’ ’u tthu ’uy’ shqwaluwun.
We will give you good will.
’uwu ch ’i’kw’utuhw tthu sts’iiyelh tst
Do not throw away our pleading
’i’ nilh tse’ suw’ kw’e’yetal’hwuhw ’u tuni’ ’u tthu qul.
so you will take evil away from us.
stl’atl’um’ st’e.
Amen.
Sign of the cross
hwunem’ kw’ snes tthu mens ’i’ tthu mun’us ’i’ tthu santouspli.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
stl’atl’um’ st’e.
Amen.