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Writer's pictureMichelle Nayahamui Rooney

Yo, Nayahamui. Yo, tina Nakimat Nahau.

Nali:

O wuloh.

Wuloh! Wuloh! Wuloh!

Wuloh wawu misikene. Mahapo tukan sawule para tu rangsi pe tuka pwes yii - Nahau Rooney.

Yo, Nayahamui. Yo tina Nakimat.

Nakimat Su’Paranis – noru pihin ta Paranis. Noru. Yo Nayahamui.

Mapondriyo, u kuni Nakimat iya nondriya kol N’drayongai, pakeh kili n’droyi n’dran Nakohai pe Napoton. Uhangini Nakimat - u hang yii sus i ying. Yii m’brunah malaman isa b’mbrunah irikai. Yahan i yos, pe yahan i rayah. Uhangini yii iya isa rayah pihin susun pakeh naki tine.


English:

O thank you.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you everyone. Today we are gathered together to mourn and celebrate - Nahau Rooney.

I am Nayahamui. I am Nakimat’s mother.

Nakimat Su’Paranis – daughter of Paranis. My child. I am Nayahamui.

I was pregnant, and gave birth to Nakimat in the place N’drayongai, near the origins of the water springs Nakohai and Napoton. I raised and nutured Nakimat. I fed her my breast milk. From an infant she became a toddler. Her teeth fell out and her teeth grew back. I raised her until she became a young pubescent girl when her breasts began to form.


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Nali:

Yo tina Nakimat. Yo u mwah. Sangi i lek. I lek leprosy. Nakimat i m’bruskau ara yowu ro N’drayongai. Pe hu yapa Lahan pe yapa Pwihan, hu rikai sai hu ya kol M’brunai, hu ya parii hu Makasol Paliau muvment.


English:

I am Nakimat’s mother. I was sick. My body was sore. Sore with leprosy. When Nakimat was a child, we were at N’drayongai. The leaders of Lahan and Bulihan, left and walked to M’bunai to join the Makasol Paliau movement.


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Nali:

Kamulan, N’drakuh hiluh Korou hilu pisu. Hilu halingi tehe kunu mwa pe hilu sa pe hilu pwai ta Paranis, "Paranis, pe pisu yolu i mwah ara, i mwah namandran. Pwen yolu pisun – N’drakuh pe Korou, yowu sa para andre yowu ka wirii yii ka M’brunai. M’brunai, ara hausik pe dokta ita pe andre hu ka nimnim ka pisu yolu.”


English:

Later, N’drakuh and Korou, my two brothers. They heard that I was sick and the came and said to Paranis, "Paranis, our sister is sick and her illness is strong. So we are her brothers – N’drakuh and Korou, we have come to take her with us to M’bunai. At M’bunai there is a health centre and health workers who can attend to our sister.”


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Nali:

Paranis, i hilingi hilu sowan, pe yowu rikai sai N’drayongai, Pwihan, isa iau Nohang, sa kili Pere, pwan yowu sa rayah M’brunai. Yo, Paranis, noru yolu, parii hilu pisu N’drakuh pe Korou. Yowu rikai sai sa p’wan.


English:

Paranis listened to his two inlaws and we walked from N’drayongai, Bulihan, via Nohang, to Pere, and arrived at M’bunai. Myself, Paranis, our two children, with my two brothers, N’drakuh and Korou. We walked down.


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Nali:

Yowu sa Pere. Yowu hingoh hape. Yowu namnam parii hu kowas ta N’drakuh, Korou pe hu yapa Pwihan.


English:

We arrived at Pere. We took a break. We shared a meal with friends of N’drakuh, Korou and Bulihan leaders.


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Nali:

Ohhhh, noru Nakimat inimei n’dras ara maran kin tis iya lii. I pwes, i nonoyou nondriya ndras. I nimei ni, ara i pwes namandraniya. I hai. Pe isikei yolu taman, “Nano pe tomo, ara n’dran tehe n’dran yowes. Ara n’dran yowes?”

Pe yolu taman yolu hai n’drit pe yolu pwai ya tan.

“Pwiyoh noru. Ara n’dras.”


English:


Ohhhh, my child Nakimat saw the sea and her eyes opened wide and stared. She was joyful, and played in the sea. When she saw fish, she was delighted. She laughed. She asked her father and I. “Mum and dad, this water, it is like the river Lawes. Is it the river Lawes?”

Her father and I laughed and we told her.

“No. Child. That is the sea.”


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Nali:

Yowu rayah M’brunai mara noru Nakimat tis, iya kol ara namandran pe hu n’dramat soyon. Yowu sa rayah ara yowu ya seu to Korou hilu nambruyun, Nawayin, hilu ro N’drawai. Kamulan yolu Paranis yolu kii seu tolu iya n’dras. Hilu wayi Paranis, Powaseu pe Poyap hilu ro parii yowu. Powaseu imui iya paingan pe Poyap kamulan i yesou iya kili hamou pihi Maleh.

Yowu sa raha M’brunai. Melit masih hiyan.


English:

When we arrived at M’bunai, my daughter Nakimat stared at the very large village with many people. When we arrived, we went to stay with Korou and his wife, Nawayin, at N’drawai. Later, Paranis and I established our home on the sea front. His two brothers, Powaseu and Poyap stayed with us. Later Powaseu returned up to the inland and Poyap married a Maleh woman.

We arrived at M’bunai. Everything was good.


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Nali:

Melit masih hian o hapko umwa ara sangi i lek leprosy iya mumwan.

Pwen, hu dokta hu pwai iya kili Kambruwou. Hu pwai. “Kambruwou, pe a pwai ka ta nalim, Paranis Posenei. A pwai, hu dokta nimnim tahu ara Nayahamui i mwa ara kina mumwan masih. Pe konan, andre ki his n’droi parii hu dokta pe kiya Lorengau haus sik.”


English:

Everything was ok except that my leprosy got worse and very serious.

So the doctors told Kambuou. They said. “Kambuou, tell your brother, Paranis Posenei. Tell him that our health workers’ assessment of Nayahamui is that her illness has worsened and is serious. So never mind, she needs to travel with them on the canoe to Lorengau hospital.


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Nali:

Pwen yo, Nayahamui, u ya Lorengau haus sik.

Nongan i mwiii isa kol M’brunai ara hu pwai Nayahamui andre kiyau kili New Ireland kiya haus sik para leprosy.

Pwen, Nakimat pe taman, Paranis, hilu rikai sai paingan, hilu mui hilu sa pwihan, hilu rikai iau pwihan isa pwan Lorengau.


English:

So, I, Nayahamui, I went to the Lorengau hospital.

The word returned to M’bunai, they said, Nayahamui will need to go to New Ireland to the Leprosy hospital.

So, Nakimat and her father, Paranis, they walked via the inland road, back up to Bulihan and down to Lorengau.


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Nali:

U matin haus sik, pe Nakimat hilu Taman Paranis, hilu sa. Yowu wong hape. U rang si noru pe nambruyu. Hapko, andre ku m’brus tesa?

Pwen ara.

U iau, U iau, U iau masih. U iau pe u ya mat kolo hu New Ireland. Hu roni yo iro haro kol mwonan.


English:

I was sleeping at the hospital, and Nakimat and her father Paranis arrived. We spoke a bit. I cried for my children and my husband. But what could I do?

That’s it.

I left, I left, I left altogether. I left and I died on New Ireland land. They buried me on this distant land.


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Nali:

Ara, yo, Nayahamui. Yo mapondriyo u kunii Nakimat Su’Paranis.

Pe, tono pwi. Tesa tesa i rayah kili Nakimat pe hilu nalin Nahana pe Nakarula, ara tono hapesa pwi. Hiye hiye hu hingini hu noru pihin to matimou ara tono hapesa pwi.

Para tesa kunu mat kol mwonan.


English:

That is me, Nayahamui. I was pregnant and gave birth to Nakimat Su’Paranis.

And I do not know. Whatever happened to Nakimat and her sisters, Anna and Karula. I don’t know. Whoever raised my three daughters, I don’t know anything about it.

Because, I died in a distant land.


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Nali:

Yo, Nayahamui. Yo Noru pihin ta Nakimat. Yii mapondriyan, i kunii yo. I kunii yo parii tomo, Powes Rooney. Yo Nayahamui Su’Powes.

Nano, i titiye Nayahamui tinan toro.


English:

I am Nayahamui. I am the daughter of Nakimat. She was pregnant, she gave birth to me. She gave birth to me with my father, Powes Rooney. I am Nayahamui Su’Powes.

My mother, told me these stories about her mother Nayahamui.


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Nali:

Pwen ara. Nongan i mwii isa kol tehe tinan, Nayahamui, kini mat. Nakimat i rangsi tinan. I koisarii tinan.

Lang ara, melit maluwoh i rayah.


English:

That was it. Word returned home that her mother, Nayahamui, had passed away. Nakimat cried for her mother. She grieved for her mother.

On that day (at that time), two things happened.


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Nali:

Melit si, ara tama Nakimat, Paranis, i pwai toro iya tan. I pwai, “Nakimat, wou andre a mosun skul, konan skul, pe ahingini hilu nalim m’bruskau – Anna pe Karula”.

Lang ara, Nakimat i halingi taman i pwai toro ara m’bralin, m’bralin masi. Yii lolohonge tan masih ara nakiya skul. I rang, i rang iya kili taman. Hapko, taman Paranis, neren i lek para tesa nambruyun kini mat. Hapko lolohongan tan masih ara hiye hiye andre ki hingini norun pihin matimou.


Nakimat i rang. I kusuwai. Pe m’bralin namnam. Lang si, iya lang si. kini namnam pwi.

Iyako, taman drinan i lokuh ta Nakimat pe i pwaiyii yii, pe i pwai, “Kiya, a rang skul, a namili skul, pe a kusuwai, pe an namnam pwi. Konan! Aya!. Aya kili skul, pe tuka nimnim, skul andre ki rayah tesa m’brukonan?”


Pe mahapo, tusa wuleh iye andre tu ka halingii, tehe Nakimat i rangsi skul pe skul tan isa raya tesa?


Ara melit si.


English:

The first thing is that her father, Paranis, said to her. He said, “Nakimat, you will leave school, never mind school, and you will raise your two younger sisters – Anna and Karula.”

On that day, when Nakimat heard her father say this she refused and refused altogether. Her entire being and mind was set on attending school. She pleaded and pleaded and cried to her father. However, her father, was heart broken because his wife had died. He was worried about who would raise his three daughters.


Nakimat cried. She sulked. She refused to eat. One day led into another. She did not eat.

It went like that until eventually, her father was furious with Nakimat and scolded her. He said to her, “Fine, you are crying for school, you want to attend school, so you are sulking and refusing to eat. Never mind then! Go! Go to school, and let us see, what exactly will school result in?”


And today, we are gathered here together and we will hear what Nakimat’s cry to attend school resulted in.


That is one thing that happened.


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Nali:

Pe melit si iya suran. Ara, hu pihin hu ro M’Brunai, hu halingi tehe Paranis, naki yikii hu norun pihin matimou iya kili hu n’dramat haya.

Mahapo ko nano i mat pe u halingi iau yayi Masta tehe Paranis naki hang hu norun hu ka mwii kakili hu tama Nayahamui hu – Pondris pe hu norun - huro Karun.


English:

Another thing also happened. That is the women at M’bunai, they began to hear that Paranis was planning to give his three daughters to other people.

Only now that mama Nakimat has died, I heard from uncle Masta that Paranis was planning to give his children back to Nayahamui’s father’s people – Pondris and his children – at Karun.


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Nali:

Pwen, Nakimat, nano, i titiye toroh. Nambruleu, nambruyu Kambruwou, i hilingii toro, pe i pwai iya kili nambruyun Kambruwou. “Kambruwou, pe an halingii hapesa pwen n’dre pwi?”. Kambruwou, i pwai, “Pwi. Tesa? Apwai. Hapesa melit?”


English:

So, Nakimat, mama, told me her story in this way. Nambruleu, the wife of Kambuou, heard this news, and she said to her husband Kambuou. “Kambuou, have you heard something or not?”. Kambuou, replied, “No. What? Say it. Is there something?”


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Nali:

Nambruleu, nambruyu Kambruwou, i pwai iya kili nambruyun, “Pe wayim, Paranis naki kii hu norun – hu m’brunah pihin matimou – Nakimat, Anna, pe Karula. Na kii kii hu kiyau kili hu n’dramat haya andre hu ka hangini hu. Pe konan, a pwai ka kili Paranis, pe ki wirii hu matimou kene ka sa nondriya wum tolu.


English:

Nambruleu, wife of Kambuou, she told her husband, “Your brother, Paranis, is planning to give his children – the three daughthers – Nakimat, Anna, and Karula. He is planning to give them away to some people to raise them. So never mind that, tell Paranis to bring all three of them to us into our home.


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Nali:

Pwen – Nakimat, hilu nalin malmou – Anna pe Karula - hu ya nondria wum ta Nambruleu pe Kambruwou.

Ara Nambruleu nambruyu Kambuou. Iya parii yii ara hilu nali Nayahamui – Nakepou pe Nakipit - hilu namili hu m’brunah pihin matimou.


English:

So – Nakimat, and her two sisters – Anna and Karula – they went into Nambruleu and Kambuou’s home.

That is Nambruleu the wife of Kambuou. Together with the two sisters of Nayahamui – Nakepou and Nakipit – they loved the three girl children.


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Nali:

Pwen, Nakimat iya nondriya seu ta Kambruwou, ara Nakimat Su’Paranis, noru Nayahamui, ngalan iya rayah Nahau Kambuwou, noru Nambreleu pe Kambruwou.


English:

So, Nakimat went into Kambuou’s home, and Nakimat Su’Paranis, daughter of Nayahamui, her name became Nahau Kambuou, the child of Nambruleu and Kambuou.


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Nali:

Pwen, kamulan, iya skul, iya lotu, pe hu lotu hu singani yii – hu baptise – hu yii kii ngalan iya Elizabeth.

Nahau Elizabeth Kambruwou.

Iya, iya, i iesou iya kilii tomo Powes – Wesley James Rooney – pwen isa rayah – Nahau Elizabeth Kambuwou Rooney.


English:

Then later, when she went to school, she went to church and the church washed her - they baptised her – and they gave her the name Elizabeth.

Nahau Elizabeth Kambuou.

It went and went and she married my father Powes – Wesley James Rooney – and she became Nahau Elizabeth Kambuou Rooney.


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Nali:

Yo Nayahamui, Yo tinan.

Ohhh wuloh! Wuloh! Wuloh!


Mapondriyo, yii iro nondriya n’driyo, u kunii yii, isa m’brunah malaman, isa rayah m’brunah irikai, pe yahan i yos pe yahan irayah, isa noru pihin susun naki tine. Ara yii noru. Noru pihin. Yo Nayahamui, yo u sus yii, ukiii namnam iya pohon, u namilii yii, u pwaii yii, u pwahanou iya tan, pe u hanginii yii.


Yo Nayahamui. Yo tinan isa rayah pihin pakeh susun naki tine.

U pwes, u pwes masih para u halingi tehe noru isa rayah pihi lapan ta Manus, Papua New Guinea, pe kol masih.


English:

I am Nayahamui. I am her mother.

Ohhh thank you! Thank you! Thank you!


When I was pregnant, she was in my belly, I gave birth to her, she was a baby, she became a toddler, her teeth fell out and her teeth grew back, she grew to a child whose breast were beginning to form. Throughout she was my child. My daughter. I am Nayahamui, I breast fed her, I placed food in her mouth, I loved her, I scolded her, I advised and guided her, and I nurtured her.


I am Nayahamui. I was her mother up until her breasts began to form.

I am overjoyed. I am very overjoyed because I hear that my daughter became a Pihi Lapan – a leader, a female chief and elder – in Manus, Papua New Guinea and throughout all the world.


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Nali:

Wuloh! Wuloh! Wuloh!


Mahapo ko noru Nakimat kini mat, i matin iye pe mahapo andre ku halingi titiye ta ngalan masih - Nakimat Su’Paranis, Noru Nayahamui, Nahau Elizabeth Kambruwou Rooney.

Hu titiye tan masih. Skul tan ta’peh?, m’brulen tan ta’peh?, nonoyou pe pwesai tan ta’peh?. Iesou tan ta’peh?. Norun hiyeh hiyeh?. Pe hiyeh hiyeh saya hu isa kilii yii ta’peh?


English:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!


Only now that my child, Nakimat, has died, she is asleep here, and only today I will hear her stories and all her names – Nakimat Su’Paranis, child of Nayahamui, Nahau, Elizabeth Kambuou Rooney.

All her stories. What was her schooling like? What was her work like? What was her play and joy like? What was her marriage like? Who are her children? And who and who came to her through what pathways?


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Nali:

Kapa na pasanii Nakimat Su’Paranis, Nahau Elizabeth Kambruwou Rooney andre a pasani ngalan masikene. Titiye tan ita nondriya ngalan masih.


English:

If you want to know Nakimat Su’Paranis, Nahau Elizabeth Kambuou Rooney, then you must know all her names. Her story is in her all names.


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Nali:

Nongo mahapo, andre kiro nongna Nali koh. Paratesa, Nakimat Nahau andre ki pwai toro sa tam, “Yorou masikene andre tuka pasinii pe ka wong nong na kol torou.” Pwen mahapo nongo iye kapa na pasani ngolo mahapo, andre wawu ka kah hu Nali huro pairii yorou mahapo pe ka sikei hu. Andre hu ka pwai toro sa tam:

Kapa na pasanii yi, andre a pasini ngalan masih - Nakimat SuParanis, noru Nayahamui, Nahau Elizabeth Kambuou Rooney. Pe andre a pasanii hu Nali, pe hu Manus.


English:

My words today, will remain in the Nali language only. Because Nakimat Nahau will say to you, “We must all know and speak our languages.” So, if you wish to know my words today, you will need to seek out Nali people who are amongst us today and ask them. They will tell you this:


If you want to know her, you will need to know all her names – Nakimat Su’Paranis, child of Nayahamui, Nahau Elizabeth Kambuou Rooney. You will also need to know Nali people, and Manus people.


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Nali:


Napai, Narukan si.


English:

Pidgeon/Dove, a bird.


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Nali:

Yo, Nayahamui. Yo Noru pihin ta Nakimat Nahau.

Lang ne u his n’droi (balus) pe u iau Canberra pe n’droi balus i woh iya kili Brisbane, ara uro nondriya n’droi pe u nimei norukan hamou iro woh kalsiu parii n’droi. Kini rang pwi. N’drinan i lokuh pwi. Pwi masih. Norukan ara i woh parii n'droi balu. Ara yii i pokayan pe i pwes pe i woh parii yo. U pwandre ara norukan iye u nimeii ara nasi Nayahamui pe nano Nakimat hilu woh parii yo. Hilu ikii poke sa toh.


N'drukonan paralii ara, pakeh Norun naki mat ara nasi Nayahamui kinisa iro parii yo pe hu noru hu Canberra pakeh walah si kini iau.


Yo pihin para rait pe nondria hu nongo walah si kini iau pake Nakimat i mat ara Nasi Nayahamui iro nondriya nongo rait pe pweheri to haiya.


Pwen, unimei norukan ara, ara u pwandre ara nasi Nayahamui pe nano Nakimat hilu woh parii yo.


English:

I am Nayahamui. I am the daughter of Nakimat Nahau.

On the day I got on the plane to from Canberra to Brisbane and the plane flew to Brisbane, when I was in the plane, and I saw the vision of a bird flying beside the plane. It was not crying. It was not angry at all. That bird flew with the plane. It was strong and happy to be flying with me. I think this bird I saw was grandmother Nayahamui and mother Nakimat flying with me. They gave me strength.


In fact, approaching the time that Nakimat her daughter passed away, Nayahamui had come and been with my children and I in Canberra around one month beforehand.


I am a woman who writes (poetry) and in my writing (poetry) in the month leading up to Nakimat’s passing my poetry was about Nasi Nayahamui.


So, this bird I saw, I believe it was Nayahamui and Nakimat flying and being present with me.


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Nali:

Kapa a pasanii, Yowu Pwihan ara Napai – pai ara norukan. Pe Napai ara ngolo yowu haya seu ta Nambruwah pe hu tan. Ara ngala – Nayahamui pe Nakimat iro sai ta Nambruwah.


Pwen u pasanii tehe, norukan ara i who parii yo ara yii Nayahamui pe Nakimat.


English:

If you know us Bulihan then Napai. Pai is a bird – a pidgeon or some say a dove. Napai is the name for some of us who belong to the family of the old lady Nambruwah – mother of Nayahamui and her sisters. This is our clan name so Nayahamui and Nakimat and their sisters and daughters are referred to as Napai.


So I know that this bird that was flying with me is Nayahamui and Nakimat.


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Nali:

Nimnim to ara u pwandre tehe Nasi Nayahamui iro pwai toro sa to, “Michelle Nayahamui, a rangsi tinam pe a tine! A tine! A tine, pe yolu kahale ka kol kilii Papua New Guinea. Tuka Moresby, pwen tuka wirii Noru ka kol ka ronii yii. Yolu m’brulen tolu namandran ita kol. A tine pe tukayau ka kol ka roni Noru pe tinam. Hu nongo pe titiye to para m’brulen to uhangini noru, andre wou aya pe a pwai pe hu n’dramat masikene ka halingii pe hu ka pasanii titiye to pe noru.


Yo Nayahamui, Yo tina Nakimat.


English:

In my view I think that Nasi Nayahamui was saying to me, “Michelle Nayahamui, cry for your mother and get up! Get up! Get up, and let us hurry up and go home to Papua New Guinea. Let’s go to Moresby and let us take my child home to bury her. We have a big job to do. Get up and let us go home to bury my child and your mother. My words, and my story and my labour in raising my child, you will go and tell so that everyone will listen to it and know my story and my child.


I am Nayahamui, I am Nakimat’s mother.


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Nali:

Ariyako.

Nakimat Nahau tehe hamou norukan.


English:

That is all.

Nakimat Nahau is like a bird.


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Nali:

Tu Papua New Guinea tu pwai – Nahau yii tehe Kumul – Kumul i woh. I woh iya kili kol masih pe mahapo imwii isa kol Papua New Guinea.


Yowu Manus. Yorou Manus tu pwai – Chauka. Nahau tehe Chauka. Chauka i who, i woh iya kol mwenan pe Mahapo Chauka nakimui isa kol.


Pe yowu Nali, yorou Nali, Pwihan, lahan tupwai Nakimat ara yii Napai.


Moh andre Kumul pe Chauka ka woh pairii Napai pe Napai kimui kiya ndroyi n’drai tan pe kolon.


Wuloh! Wuloh masikene!


English:

We Papua New Guineans, we say – Nahau is like Kumul – Kumul is flying. She has flown to the entire world and today has returned home to Papua New Guinea.


Us Manus. Us Manus, we say – Chauka. Nahau is like Chauka. Chauka has flown and flown to faraway lands and today Chauka is returning home to Manus.


And us Nali, Us Nali, Bulihan, Lahan, we say, Nakimat is Napai.


Tomorrow Kumul and Chauka will fly with Napai and Napai will return to her blood and her home.


Thank you! Thank you everyone.


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Nali:

U wirii poho yowu family masih pe u pwai wuloh! Wuloh namandran para tu rang sii yii kawule, tu koisarii yii, tu titiye ngalan masih, tu pwes yii, pe tu roni yii kawule.


Wuloh! Wuloh! Wuloh!


English:

On behalf of all our family and I say thank you. Thank you very much for mourning with us, grieving her, and storying her names, celebrating her, and burying her together.


Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!


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Nali:

Nakimat Nahau. Yapan ki toholi wou. Wou a hangoh ka hian.


English:

Nakimat Nahau. God bless you. Rest in Peace.


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