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Tlingit Conversation #15
Speakers are Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty and Yax̱duláktʼ Lillian Austin, two sisters. Recorded May 18, 2010, by Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff and Liana Wallace at the Lafferty home in Juneau, Alaska.
Áyá wé
So
Tlingit transcription by Naakil.aan Mark Hans Chester. English translation by Naakil.aan Mark Hans Chester and by Shakʼsháani Margaret Dutson with LjáaḵkʼAlice Taff. Edited by X̱ʼaagi Shaawú Keri Eggleston.
has du een kakg̱eenéek.
you will tell them something.
Góok, sh kaneelneek.
Go ahead, tell a story.
Just holler when you're ready.
Góok!
Go ahead!
Yax̱duláktʼ yóo x̱at duwasáakw,
My name is Yax̱duláktʼ,
Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
in Tlingit.
Shangukeidí áyá.
Shangukeidí (clan).
Dleit ḵáa x̱'éináx̱ ḵu.aas Lillian Austin yóo x̱at duwasáakw.
In English though, Iʼm called Lillian Austin.
{wa.é ks-} Wa.é ḵu.aa?
How about you?
X̱át ḵu.aa, Saḵaayí yóo x̱at duwasáakw, Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
Me though, I am called Saḵaayí in Tlingit.
Shangukeidí áyá uháan.
We are Shangukeidí.
Ax̱ shátx̱ix̱ áyá sitee yáat'aa, Yax̱duláktʼ ḵu.aa.
This one is my older sister, Yax̱duláktʼ.
Daax'oonínáx̱ áwé haa wootee shax'sáani, ax̱ tláa jeex'.
We were four girls, our mother had.
Ḵaashtináa yóo wduwasáakw haa tláa.
Our mother was called Ḵaashtináa.
Tléix' aa haa kéek' hás ḵu.aa,
One of our younger sisters however,
Gíl'jaa áwé haa jináḵ woogoot.
Gíl'jaa has left us.
Ḵa Ḵaantaséeyi.
And Ḵaantaséeyi.
Yax̱duláktʼ ḵa x̱át, Saḵaayí,
Yax̱duláktʼ and I, Saḵaayí,
tléináx̱ ḵáa wootee haa éek'.
have one brother.
Ltleiyí yóo wduwasáakw.
His name is Ltleiyí.
Ok.
Did you stop?
Yep.
Ok.
Well, how was that?
Ok.
Now just keep going.
Start.
Talk about the store?
Góok! Sh kaneelneek.
Go ahead! Tell a story.
{Ash een k-} Xunaax' yéi haa teeyí áwé wé
When we lived in Hoonah
hoondaakahídix' yéi jiwtuwanei.
we worked at the store.
L. Kane's yóo duwasáakw.
L. Kane's was its name.
Atx̱á s ahóon ḵa ldakát át,
They sell food, and a variety of goods,
naa.át.
clothing.
Áwé
So
{tléix' tléix' dáa}
Tléix' dáanaa gaaw x̱'áak yéi áyá x̱at wuduwaḵéi áa yéi jix̱waneiyí.
They paid me $1.00 an hour for working there.
Wa.é tsú kwshé?
You too, right?
Tléix' dáanaa ḵa kwáadaa áyá x̱at jiwduwaḵéi x̱át ḵu.aa.
They paid me $1.25 an hour, me though.
Greenwald's store-x' yéi jix̱waanei.
I worked at Greenwald's store.
Jinkaat ḵa déix̱ táakw áwé áx' yéi jix̱waanei.
I worked there for 12 years.
Ldakát át, ldakát át wutuwahoon.
We sold everything, everything.
Atx̱á, naa.át,
Food, clothes,
aan yéi jidunei át,
tools, [things they work with]
ice cream,
ldakát át,
everything,
ldakát át áwé wtuwahoon.
we sold everything.
Ḵa L. Kane's-x' tsú yéi jix̱waanei.
I also worked at L. Kane's.
A ítdáx̱ áwé Juneau-t {x̱waa} ḵux̱waatín.
Afterwards I traveled to Juneau.
Tsu atx̱á daakahídix' yéi jix̱waanei yáax' ḵu.aa.
And I worked in a restaurant here, though.
Percy yóo duwasáakw áwé áx' yéi jix̱waaneiyi yé.
Percy is the name of the place where I worked.
Tle ldakát, x'oon táakw sá yéi jix̱waanei?
In all, how many years did I work?
Gwál am, nás'k jinkaat ḵa keijín táakw.
Maybe um, 35 years.
Xunaadáx̱ ḵa yáat.
in Hoonah and here (Juneau).
Aag̱áa áwé Juneau-t x̱at wuligás'.
Then I moved to Juneau.
{Uháan} Uháan tsú x̱áa haat haa wligás'
We moved here too, see,
Xunaadáx̱.
from Hoonah.
{Hél} hél yéi jinéi tlax̱ áa ḵustí {xu} Xunaa.
There are not many jobs in Hoonah.
Ách áwé {tleyáakʼ} tliyáaxʼ school yan shax̱wlihík wé GED,
That's why I finished that school, that GED,
ḵa wé clerical yóo duwasáagu (át).
and what they call clerical work.
Á tsú yan shax̱wlihík aag̱áa áwé State
When I finished that too, the State
wé State jeeyís áwé yéi jix̱waanei.
I went to work for the State.
Tleiḵáa ḵa nás'k táakw áa yéi x̱wsinei.
I did this for 23 years.
Daa sá tsú?
What else?
Yeedát ḵu.aa, daa sáwé yéi daa.eené?
And now, what are you doing?
Daa sá óosh gé? [At shooḵ]
I wonder what? [Laughter]
Shaa shakéex' yéi jeené!
You work at the top of the mountain (Mt. Roberts Tram).
Yú shaa shakéex' áyá yéi jix̱ané yeedát ḵu.aa wé,
I work on top of the mountain now though,
{wé} wé yaakw yíkdáx̱
those from the boat (tourists)
{haat has ḵoowa-} ḵaa haax̱ has ḵúx̱ {ḵu.oo} ḵu.oo.
people coming here by boat.
Has du een yéi jix̱ané.
I work with them.
{at} Aa x̱dahóon
I sell some
wé Lingít ádi {adu-} áa yéi yateeyi yé.
Tlingit things that are there.
Áwé {áx' a yéi da-} áxʼ yéi yateeyi yé áa yéi jix̱ané.
I work there where it is.
Ḵa daa sá tsú?
And what else?
Shkalneek áwé s du tuwáa sagóo nooch
They always like stories
wé tourists haat has ḵuwateení.
the tourists who travel here.
Mhm.
Ldakát át yéi s ax̱'awóos'ch.
They inquire about everything.
Tléix' táakw áwé áx' yéi jix̱waanei,
I worked there for one year,
dláa ax̱ x̱'oos.
oh, my legs/feet.
Ax̱ kéey wuduwaxaash.
They operated on my knee.
Tlél áx' yéi jix̱wanei tsu.
I didn't work there again.
Ax̱ eetíx̱ áwé iyagút.
You replaced me.
X'oon táakw sáwé áx' yéi jeenéiyi dé?
How many years have you worked there now?
Wé Tram gé?
At the Tram?
Wé shaa shakée. Wé shaa shakée. Mmm.
On the mountain top. On the mountain top.
Jinkaat ḵa nás'k táakw {áa yéi} áa yéi x̱wsinei dé.
I did that there for 13 years now.
Ch'a ḵutaanx' áwé áa yéi jix̱anéi nooch.
I always work up there, only in the summer.
Yeisú yéi jeené kwshé?
Are you still working?
Ch'a yeisú yéi jix̱ané x̱á.
I am still working, see.
X̱át ḵu.aa ch'as atyátx'i áyá x̱latín.
Me though, I just look after children.
Uh, neildáx̱ yéi jix̱anéi nooch.
Uh, I always work from home.
See, Ch'a gwátgeenx' sáwé ah,
Let's see, When is it, uh
Goldbelt teen yéi jix̱anéi nooch.
I always work with Goldbelt.
Oh yeah, wé Lingít x̱'éináx̱ dictionary tsú yéi wdudzinei, kwshé?
Oh yeah, they are working on that Tlingit language dictionary, right?
Mmm.
Yes.
Ḵa wé teachers een tsú yéi jiwtuwanei x̱á yeedát.
And with teachers, we also work with them now, see.
Ldakát át {day} exercise yóo x̱aagút(k) yeedát.
I go and exercise regularly now.
Senior exercise áwé.
Itʼs senior exercise.
X̱át ḵwá tlél tsu daatx̱ sá x̱wagoot.
Me though, I don't go do anything.
Ch'as atyátx'i latíni yéi daax̱anéi yeedát.
I just do babysitting now.
Mmm.
Yes.
Ax̱ dachx̱ánx'iyán áwé x̱latín.
I care for my grandchildren.
{x'oo wáa} X'oonáx̱ s s wootee? Eight-náx̱ kwshé? Wáa sá duwasáakw, eight {dle} dleit ḵáa [meaning Lingít?] x̱'éináx̱?
How many are there? Eight, maybe? What is it they call eight in English [meaning Tlingit?]?
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ eight?
Eight in Tlingit?
Eight gé?
Eight?
Nas'gadooshú.
Eight.
Yéi á. Nas'gadooshúnáx̱ kwshé wootee i aayí?
That's it. Are there eight of yours (grandchildren)?
Ḵúnáx̱ áwé a daa yóo tux̱aatángi nooch x̱áach,
I really think about it myself,
wáa sá yawtuwadlaaḵ x̱á
how did we make it
tlax̱ yéi yakoogéi atyátx'i?
with so many children?
{hél} Hél {haa} Social Service
Social Service didn't
haa éet wudushí x̱á.
help us out, see.
{ch'as} Ch'as yéi jinéi tóonáx̱ áyá wtuwadlaaḵ.
Just, we were able to accomplish it through just working.
Yat'éex'i tsú tuḵdaa.át wutoo.ús'gi noojín.
And it was difficult when we used to always wash diapers.
Mhm.
Hél tsu,
And not,
wáa sá s ayasáakw yeedát?
what are those things called now?
Pampers á.
It's Pampers.
Uháanch ḵu.aa
We however
tlél tsu tléix' yéi aa wtoo.oo.
we didn't ever buy one.
Tlákw áwé tuda.ús'k.
We always wash them (cloth diapers).
Hél tsú Pampers daat át wutusakú x̱á.
And we didn't even know about Pampers.
Áwé áx' tsú yéi jix̱waanei wé Gáaxw X'aayí,
I also worked there at Duck Point,
wé cannery.
the cannery.
Cannery yaa yanaxíxi gé?
When the cannery was running?
Aaá.
Yes.
{can} Tle {shu} shux'wáa aa {yéi ji} ax̱ yéi jineiyíx̱ áwé wsitee wé cannery.
My first job was at the cannery.
1949.
Ḵúnáx̱, ḵúnáx̱ woogéi wé fish
There were lots and lots of fish
aag̱áa yéi jix̱ané.
at the time I worked.
{ḵa} Ḵa yáax' tsú yéi jix̱waanei x̱áawé {wé can} wé cannery.
And I worked here at the cannery too.
Hóoch' ákwé?
Is that all?
Há wáa sá tsú yéi gax̱tooḵáa?
Well, what else can we say?
Ah,
Uh,
wé yéi jix̱aneiyí
when I worked
10 o'clock ts'ootaatdáx̱ áwé
it was from 10 o'clock in the morning
yéi jix̱anéi nooch ch'as
I always worked exactly to
6 o'clock
6 o'clock-dáx̱ tsu neildé,
and home again at 6 o'clock,
atyátx'i x̱'éix̱ at naḵateet.
in order to feed the children.
Ḵa tsú show haa jeex' yéi wootee.
And there was also a movie for us.
Tsu aadéi áwé sháa duwútlx̱.
People always in a hurry.
Show yaa yanaxíxi wé x̱'aháat x̱alatín.
I watch the door while the movie runs.
Gút sáyá kwshé duḵéiyin?
People paid a dime, right?
Mmm.
Yes.
Gút ḵa tléix' dáanaa.
A dime and one dollar.
Tleix' dáanaa
One dollar
ḵa gút.
and a dime.
Sgóonwaanx' áwé kwáadaa yéi s daḵéi nooch.
And the school kids would pay a quarter.
Popcorn ḵa soda pop tsú.
Popcorn and soda pop too.
gút ḵa {s}
A dime (for popcorn) and
kwáadaa áwé soda pop ḵu.aa.
a quarter for a soda pop though.
Ḵúnáx̱ áwé busy-x̱ haa satéeyin,
We used to be really busy,
wé haa yátx'i kéi has nawádi.
when our children were growing up.
Ch'a aan áwé has wutusiwát haa yátx'i.
We raised our children anyway.
Mhm, hél,
Yeah, no,
hél ch'as
without even
wé Social Serivce yóo duwasáagu át hél haa éet has wudashí ha.é!
any help at all from what they call the Social Services, sheesh!
Hél a daat át wutusakóowun.
We didn't know about it.
Nás'k gaawdé yéi x̱'agax̱tula.áat.
We're going to talk until 3:00.
Oh. Did you ever work in Excursion Inlet?
Ok.
She didnʼt, I didn't.
Ch'as Gáaxw X'aayí áwé yéi jix̱waanei x̱át ḵu.aa.
I just worked at Duck Point (cannery), me though.
One year, two years gé áxʼ áwé yéi jiwtuwanei wé cannery?
Did we work one year, two years there at the cannery?
Icy Strait.
In Icy Straits.
Há, Icy Strait káx' kwshé yéi haa nateejín.
Gee, we would always be at Icy Straits, huh.
Mhm.
Yéi haa kusgeiyí.
When we were about this big.
Yéi haa kwsigéi.
We were this big.
Áx' x̱áa kéi haa wdudziwát de.
We were raised there, see.
Haa éeshch áyá haa yagax̱éi nooch hás
Our father would transport us by boat, them,
schóoldei yóo s .átgi.
when they went to school.
Cannery-dáx̱ dei Xunaadéi yaakw yíkt.
On the boat from the cannery to Hoonah.
Tlei yaa has nawádi áwé tsá g̱unéi has uwa.átch.
When they got older, then they started walking.
Xunaadáx̱
From Hoonah
Icy Strait-de. Yéi kwshé?
to Icy Strait. Is that right?
School-dáx̱ áwé,
From school,
School-dáx̱ áwé aadé haa lunagúḵch.
we'd run there from school.
Fall time wé atx̱á yéi s adaanéi,
They worked on food during fall time,
haa tláa.
our mother.
X̱át ḵu.aa, {yéis} yéi x̱at kushigéik', x̱wasikóo ḵu.aa.
Me though, I was small, but I knew.
Atx̱'éeshi ldakát át áwé daat yéi s jinéi noojín.
Dryfish, everything, they would always work on it.
Ḵúnáx̱ yaa yagaxíxch wé atx'aan.
The smokehouse was really going.
Tlákw gán duyáa nooch
People always packing firewood
x̱'aan yís.
for the fire.
Yeedát ḵu.aa, ch'as oil káax' áwé ḵududzitee.
And now people just live off oil.
Gán x̱áawé tooyáa nooch ḵa héen.
We always packed firewood, indeed, and water.
Haa atx̱aayí kayís áwé áx' yéi haa nateech,
We lived there for putting up our food,
Icy Strait.
Nás'gináx̱ áwé wootee wé
There were three of them
haa táayi wé,
our gardens the,
{wáa} wáa sá duwasáakw wé
what's the name of the
wé bay,
the bay
Lingít x̱'éináx̱?
in Tlingit?
Neeka Bay x̱án.
Next to Neeka Bay.
Neeka Bay.
{áʼxʼ} Áx' x̱á yéi haa nateech Spring-dáx̱.
We'd be there from springtime.
April yát {haa yan}
in April
aadéi ntooḵúx̱ch wé garden {yéi j} yéi daané.
we'd go there and work on the garden.
K'únts',
Potatoes,
ḵa s'ín,
and carrots,
tl'aaḵ'wách',
wild rhubarb,
ldakát át áwé.
everything.
Mhm. Has akahéix̱ noojín, haa tláa ḵa haa éesh.
Yes. They always gardened, our mother and our father.
Tlél tsú outboard ḵoostéeyin.
There weren't any outboard motors at the time.
Át x̱áawé naḵúx̱jin, Naḵúx̱jin. SAL
He used to go around by boat, see, (rowing) Going along by boat.
haa éesh.
our father.
Át shukanalx̱ách.
he'd troll around.
Wáang̱aneens áwé kei aa oost'eix̱ch
Sometimes he'd catch one
Mhm.
{wé} Wé t'á.
A king salmon.
Ḵúnáx̱ haa káx̱ {yéi s jee} yéi s jeewanei,
They really worked for us,
wé haa shagóonk'i x̱á.
our dear ancestors, see.
Haa atx̱aayí tlél tsu daa sá store-dáx̱ wudu.oo.
They didn't buy any of our food from the store.
Táakwniyís áyá {has at} yax̱ has at kalagaa ḵúnáx̱ áwé yéi s jinéi noojín.
They regularly put food up for winter, they were always working.
Hél tsú tlax̱ store-dáx̱ at wutoox̱á.
We didnʼt eat much from the store.
Yéi áwé s ḵu.aa, ch'a store-dáx̱ áwé at toox̱á x̱á.
However, that's the way it is (now), we just eat from the store, see.
Tle tléiḵw tsú s akahéix̱ noojín.
Then they would always transplant berries too.
Shákw, tl'aaḵ'wách'.
Strawberries, wild rhubarb.
Wé cannery-x' á tsú kwshé yéi aawa.oo wé shákw,
Maybe s/he put strawberries there at the cannery too,
wé táay? Mhm.
at the garden?
Mhm.
Táay tlénx' x̱áawé yéi teex̱ nooch.
There were always big gardens there.
Shákw.
Strawberries.
{atx'aan} Atx'aan áwé yéi s adaanéi nooch á tsú wé cannery x̱á,
They always worked on smoking things too at the cannery,
Gáaxw X'aayí. Haa léelk'w, X̱'ux'awdu.oo yóo duwasáakw.
Duck Point. Our grandmother was called X̱'ux'awdu.oo.
Yéi kwshigéink'i.
She was this small.
Ch'a aan a x̱oot nanúkch
Even so, she always sat among
wé strawberries.
the strawberries.
Shákw, Mhm.
Strawberries,
a.een nooch.
she always picked them.
A x̱oox̱ yaa g̱anúkch.
Sheʼd sit along among them.
Ch'a aan ḵu.aas ḵúnáx̱
Even so, really
{yéi a} yéi s adaanéi noojín.
they would always work on it.
Tlél tsú dulséix̱in ch'áakw.
Long ago they never rested.
Tlél aadé ag̱waag̱aanóogu yé. Tlákw,
People couldn't sit around. Always,
gán, atx̱á, ldakát át yéi s adaanéi noojín.
firewood, food, everything, they would always work on it.
Yánde yaa s akaklagéich.
They were always putting up food.
Yeedát ḵu.aa,
But now,
ch'a tléix' yéi at wudusneiyí, tlei g̱atooḵéech.
doing just one thing, we then sit around.
Ách x̱áawé tlákw ḵuyanéekw x̱á yeedát.
And now see, that's really why people are always sick.
Ch'a haa atx̱aayí áwé toox̱áa noojín.
We always would just eat our foods.
Útlx̱i,
Boiled fish,
a ítnáx̱ áwé tléiḵw kadug̱útlx̱i nooch.
after that, they would mash berries by squeezing them in their hands.
Eex̱ teen.
With grease.
Tsaa eex̱í teen.
With seal grease.
Ḵa Dundas Bay tsú aadéi haa yandux̱éich x̱áwé,
And Dundas Bay too, we would go there as a fleet see,
neigóon {áa yéi} áa yéi yateeyi yé. Shákw.
where the nagoon berries grow. Strawberries.
Ḵúnáx̱ yan has akoolgáaych wé haa shagóonk'.
Our dear ancestors really put up food.
Tlei ax̱ éede yaa nahéin.
I'm getting hungry now.
[At shooḵ] Aaá.
[Laughter] Yes.
Kadux̱ʼál aa áwé,
The one they crunch on,
haa x̱'éix̱ naduteech,
they would give us to eat,
kax̱duxáshch.
they always cut off a piece.
Tsaa eex̱í teen áwé toox̱áa nooch.
We would eat it with seal oil.
Aag̱áa áwé tsá a ítdáx̱ tléiḵw,
And then afterwards berries,
haa x̱'éix̱ naduteech.
they would feed us.
Lingít chʼa ayáx̱ x̱á tlákw at toox̱áa noojín.
We would always eat like Tlingits.
Yeedát ḵu.aa tlél aadé.
And now it's not like that.
Tle jail-de haa shagax̱dutléiḵw yáa
They'll haul us off to jail
cháatl {wutoo} kéi wtoost'eix̱í.
if we catch a halibut.
Hél x̱á ch'u hamburger tsú wutusakóowun ḵach'u wé hot dogs.
We didn't know about hamburgers either or hot dogs.
Ch'as Lingít atx̱aayí áwé wtusikóo x̱á.
It was only Tlingit food that we really knew, see.
Tsaa dleeyí ḵa
Seal meat and
g̱uwakaan dleeyí
deer meat
has asxúk nooch. G̱uwakaan dleeyí.
they would dry it. Deer meat.
Mmm! Has asxúk noojín
Yummy! They would always dry it
eex̱ kaadé.
and put it with oil.
Wáang̱aneens áwé
Sometimes
seagull eggs át kooháaych,
when it's time for seagull eggs,
aag̱áa áwé aag̱áa naḵúx̱ch ldakát,
we would go out after them all of us,
haa éesh hás ḵa haa léelk'u hás.
our fathers, and our grandparents.
Glacier Bay-dé has yanagwéich.
They would go by fleet to Glacier Bay.
Yeah, Glacier Bay-x' x̱áa tsú kei haa wdudziwát.
Yeah, we were also brought up in Glacier Bay.
Wé baby-x̱ sateeyí áwé tsaa
The babies, seal
{wé ah}
wé taay du x̱'éix̱ naduteech áwé {a}
they would feed (babies) the (seal) fat
{du x̱'é a dus x̱á} a kát x̱at seiwax'áḵw.
I forgot it.
Al'aa nooch wé taay!
Always sucking on the fat!
Haat has awux̱áaych
They would bring
seagull eggs.
Yéi kdigeiyi jar tóox' aa yéi ndu.eich.
They would put some into a jar this big.
A taadáx̱
And on the bottom of it
seal eex̱.
seal grease.
Eex̱ táax' yéi du.úx̱gun kwshé,
They put them on grease, right,
wé seagull eggs? Mhm.
the seagull eggs? Yes.
Eex̱ káx'.
On the oil.
Ḵa seal meat uwaxúgu aa.
And the seal meat that was dried.
K'wát', Ldakát át,
Eggs, Everything,
a tóode yéi s adaa.néi nooch,
they always put it into jars,
big jars ḵa ch'a cans, five gallon cans.
big jars, and those cans, five gallon cans.
Has awusxoogú tsá haat has woogwéich
After they dried it then they would come by fleet
Glacier Bay-dáx̱.
from Glacier Bay.
Atx̱'éeshi,
Dryfish,
halibut.
Ḵúnáx̱ haat has (oo) at woox̱áaych haa éesh ḵa haa léelk'w.
They would always really come loaded, our father and our grandparent.
Yéi áwé store-t uwa.át yáanáx̱ k'éi nooch.
It's always better than going to the store.
Kwshé? Mhm.
Right? Yeah.
Áwé shux'áa,
That first one,
a shux'áa wé
the first
washing machine haa jee
washing machine we
yéi wooteeyi gé ysikóo?
got, you know?
It's gas. Gas áwé.
It's gas.
Dutséx̱di nooch.
They'd kick it.
Oh! Ch'as yóot'át áwé x̱wsikóo!
Oh! That other thing is what I really knew!
Washboard! Ldakát át too.ús'gi nooch, washboard!
A washboard! We always used to wash everything with that washboard!
Ḵa yaa kakduljúxwch.
And they'd crank it by hand.
Yóot áwé dutsoow nuch.
They would always put it, in.
Ax̱ éek'
My brother,
Paul Osbourne yóo duwasáakw.
his name is Paul Osbourne.
Hóoch áwé a tóode atsóow nooch,
He was the one who would put (laundry) into it,
x̱a.ús'k x̱át ḵu.aa.
and me, I wash it.
«Wa.é déis nida.óos'!
“Itʼs your turn, you wash it!
Yaa kakḵwalajóox!»
I'll crank it!”
Paul!
Ch'a sagóo nooch yéi daatooneiyí.
We would just do things with joy.
Yeedát ḵu.aa,
And now,
«Yat'éex'.
“It's too hard.
Tlél aadé yéi nḵwasineiyí,» yóo s x̱'ayaḵáa nooch, atyátx'i.
I can't do this,” is what they always say, the kids.
«S'íx' kana.óos'!»
“Wash the dishes!”
«Gah! Ḵútx̱ yat'éex'!»
“No! It's too hard to do!”
Shux'áa ḵu.aa héen tooyáa nooch.
First of all, we would go and pack water.
Aag̱áa tsá stoox káx' yan dus.éench,
And then it would be put on the stove,
yat'aayi héen.
hot water.
S'íx' ka.ús'gu yís,
For washing the dishes,
at sa.ée yís,
for cooking,
ḵa t'áa ká mop-x̱ dulyéx̱.
and mopping the floor.
Ldakát át áwé {d}
For all those things
áwé stoox kát dust'áa nooch wé héen.
water would be heated up on the stove.
Ldakát Yeedát ḵu.aa,
Everything, And now
tle wé ceiling x̱áawé tsú too.ús'gi nooch wé show yayís x̱á.
even the ceiling weʼd wash for the movie show, see.
Gút, gút káx̱ áwé ldakát yéi too.ús'gi nooch wé. Yeah.
We would clean up the house, wash everything for a dime.
«Kéi ḵukg̱wanéekw,»
“Someone is going to get sick,”
yéi haa daayaḵáa nooch haa tláa.
that's what our mother would tell us.
Tlél clean-x̱ eesteeyí kéi ikg̱wanéekw.
If you are not a clean person you will get sick.
Chʼa ldakát át yaa kg̱ee.óos'
You should clean everything around you
Lysol teen.
with Lysol cleaner.
Yeedát ḵu.aa, tlél, tlél aadé.
Nowadays, it's not, it's just not like that.
X̱át tsú tle kei yaa nx̱askéin yeedát.
Me too, I'm getting lazy now.
A ítdáx̱ áwé haa éet kaawanák wé,
After that it became a habit for us,
neil yéi daané.
household chores.
Ch'as áwé yéi áyá daatoonéiyin
We just always did it
kéi haa nawádi.
when we were growing up.
Gút káx̱ áwé
It was for a dime
tlax̱ áa yéi jitoonéi noojín x̱á.
we always used to work there, see.
Shoowú yís áwé,
For a nickle though,
áwé, gút shoowú tsú,
and for a nickle too,
háatchaa yóo toosáagun wé candy.
we called candy “háatchaa”.
Yéi kwligéi wé candy.
(A bag of) candy was this big.
Háatchaa.
Candy.
Ldakát áwé a tóox' yéi nateech.
All of it was inside it (a bag).
Shoowú yís.
For a nickle.
Yeedát ḵu.aa,
And now,
wáa sá x̱'alitseen?
how expensive is it?
Tléix' dáanaa yéi koogéi.
One dollar for (a bag) that big.
Irene een x̱aáwé tlél a yáanáx̱ yaa too.átjin x̱á.
Irene and I would never walk past it.
Gút shoowú wé háatchaa.
Candy was a nickle.
Tlákw too.óo noojín.
We would always buy it.
Ḵa daa sá tsú?
And what else?
Ash katoolyádi ḵu.aa,
When we played though,
éeḵxʼ áwé ash katoolyát nooch.
we would play on the beach.
L'éiwx' yéi yateeyi yé.
The place where there was fine sand.
Paper dolls daa katoojeilch.
We would play paper dolls.
Tle wé té yaa ktulayéx̱ch hít yáx̱.
And we'd make the rocks like a house.
Yáadu haa káayag̱ijeidí,
Here is our chair,
haa table-yí.
our table.
Ldakát át.
Everything.
Paper dolls a yík yéi ntoo.eich.
We would put paper dolls in it.
Esther Lindoff
yóo duwasáakw.
is her name.
Married-x̱ wusteeyí ḵú, Esther Case
But when she became married, Esther Case
yóo duwasáakw.
is her name.
Du een áwé
It was with her
kéi x̱at uwawát.
I grew up.
Yeedát ḵu.aa haa náḵ woogoot.
She has left us now though.
Yeedát ḵu.aa, tlél tsu paper dolls wuduskú.
And today, they don't know what paper dolls are.
Yéi áwé ash kadulyát noojín ch'áakw.
That is the way they always used to play long ago.
Kick-the-can tsú {adul} ash kadulyát noojín.
They'd play Kick-the-can too!
Haa gagéin.
Hopscotch.
Haa gagéin tsú.
Hopscotch too.
Haa gagéin. Hopscotch.
Hopscotch.
Áwé,
So,
yaakw {át} át wutooḵoox̱ú wé
we would go in a boat, to
Gáaxw X'aayí.
Duck Point.
{Fran} Ḵaaswóot
Francis Austin
Francis yóo duwasáakw dleit ḵáa x̱'éináx̱, Francis Austin.
her name in English is Francis, Francis Austin.
Haa een daak wulihásh tle yóo deikéex'.
It drifted way offshore with us.
Deikéedei haa een wulihásh.
It drifted out with us.
Wé ax̱áa, l tsú ax̱áa haa jee.
The paddle, we were without the paddle too.
A yíkt áwé katoosg̱áax̱ ḵúnáx̱.
We really were crying aboard the boat.
Ash katoolyát áwé haa een daak wulihásh wé yaakw.
As we played, the boat drifted out with us.
Há, wáa sá yayeeydláaḵ?
Gee, how did you all get back?
Hél x̱wasakú x̱áwé!
I really don't know!
Yee sháan wuduwatúxw!
Your minds were awhirl!
Haa tláa x̱áwé has danáḵws'i nooch wé cháatl
Our mother see, they always jigged for halibut
{wé de can} wé cannery deikée.
out from the cannery.
Ax̱áa tsú,
She paddles too,
wáa sá duwasáakw?
what's her name?
Daasdiyáa een kwshé?
Was it with Daasdiyáa perhaps?
Wé halibut hook yú,
That halibut hook,
wáa sá duwasáakw wooshdáx̱-
what is it called, apart
Náxw, náxw.
Halibut hook, halibut hook.
Mmm.
Yes.
Náxw teen yóo dunáḵws'i noojín.
They used to jig for halibut with a halibut hook.
Ligéiyi aa áwé yan has oox̱aach wé cháatl.
They'd drag a big halibut ashore.
Atx̱'éeshi sákw áwé yéi s adaanéi noojín ḵúnáx̱.
They would really work on it (halibut) for dryfish.
Tlél tsu outboard,
Without an outboard motor,
ax̱áa teen áwé {át} át ḵuyanagwéijin.
the fleet would go out using oars.
Ldakát yéit.
Everywhere.
Áwé déix̱, déix̱ ax̱áa kát Willie,
Two of them, Willie had two paddles.
Wáa sá duwasáakw,
How is he called,
Willie, Lingít x̱'éináx̱? Grandpa?
in Tlingit, Willie? Grandpa?
Aaá, ḵa {ax̱} ax̱ éesh een has ax̱áa nooch.
Yeah, and he always paddled with my father.
X̱'aléix̱'w.
[Name]
Ldakát yéit has naḵúx̱ch.
They would go around everywhere.
Hél
Not
Haa shaawakúx áyá!
Gee, we are thirsty!
Ḵúnáx̱ si.áat'i aa tea áyá.
This tea is really cold.
Ch'áakw yéi dusáagun, cháayoo.
Long ago, they called it “cháayoo.”
We tea-x̱ sitee yeedát ḵu.aa.
Itʼs tea now however.
S'ikshaldéen áwé tudanáayin.
We used drink that Hudson Bay tea.
Ágé g̱áatl a káx',
Was it pilot bread in it,
kadulx'éil nooch.
they'd crumble it.
G̱áatl dujáḵ. Bowl, bowl kát.
They'd “kill” the pilot bread. Bowl, in a bowl.
Eex̱ teen.
With grease.
Wooch daséix' a náa ??? dux̱áa nooch x̱á.
They would take turns eating it.
Tea,
tea áwé {yéi aadé} yéi daadunéiyi áwé {k} has aklaneek x̱á.
while working on tea they tell stories.
{du} «Wudujáḵ,» yéi gé dusáagun?
“Killing,” is that what they used to call it?
«G̱áatl gax̱toojáaḵ,» yéi yanaḵéich, Mom.
“We're going to 'kill' the crackers,” Mom always said.
Wooch daséix'án x̱áawé {dux̱áa} dul'óok nooch.
They would take turns sipping (the tea), see.
{hél tsu s'een} Hél tsú electric lig̱ht haa x̱án x̱á.
There werenʼt electric lights by us, see.
Kerosene.
Wáa sá duwasáakw Lingít x̱'éináx̱?
What is that called in Tlingit?
Á yéi asáakw noojín, ax̱gunhéen.
It always used to be called, “ax̱gunhéen.” [water that burns]
Ax̱ganhéen.
Kerosene.
{a tóo} A káax' áwé g̱aḵéech wé
It would sit on it, the
Áwé haa een, s'eenáa.
With us light.
haa een sh kadulneek nooch há.
they would tell stories to us.
Lax̱éitl'sháni áwé haa een kadulneek nooch há.
They would always tell us scary stories.
Tléix' át akoogaanch wé s'eenáa.
There was only one light burning.
Yeedát ḵu.aa ḵux̱ yaa gagúch yá s'eenáa.
Now however, the lights go backwards.
Góok, gwá?
Go ahead, what?
Ch'as {kei} kei yandusḵéin yóo s'eenáa yeedát.
They're charging a lot for the lights now.
Mhm.
Ḵúnáx̱.
Really.
Ax̱gunhéen tóox' yéi g̱ax̱tooḵée pretty soon.
We are going to sit in kerosene (light) pretty soon.
Siḵéi x̱á yawdudziḵáa wé s'eenáa.
They increased the price of the lights.
Tsu kaadé. Aaá.
Again. Yes.
Hél x̱á {át} yá át wutusakóowun wé
We didn't know about this thing, the
aax̱ shakdusanaatlʼ ??? s'eenáa.
??? (electric?) light.
Ch'áakw aadé ḵutoosteeyí yáx̱
The way we lived long ago
ḵutoostee áwé déi yak'éi.
our life was fine.
Gán gax̱tooyáa ḵa,
We pack fire wood, and
ax̱gunhéen s'eenáayi.
kerosene lamps.
Haa jeeyís áyá kagax̱dulx̱óot'.
Theyʼll split the wood for us.
Tlákw x̱áawé gán tooyáa noojín.
We always used to pack firewood.
School-dáx̱, yax̱ wawaadí, ch'as gán, gán tsú naayaa.
After school, growing up, just wood, packing wood.
Áwé {sh daa} a kát sh daa gax̱tuda.óos' wé aa tsú,
The water we were going to use for washing,
tlákw áwé dust'eix̱ nooch.
we'd always heat it up.
Tooyáa nooch. Mhm.
We always pack it.
Wáa sá duwasáakw wé soap yéi ntoo.eich?
What is it called, the soap that weʼd use?
A kát du.ús'k wé
Washing on it, the
X̱'aan yáx̱ yateeyi wé ús'aa.
The red soap.
Fels, Fels Naptha yóo duwasáakw.
It's called Fels Naptha.
A kát yóo du.ús'gi noojín
Theyʼd always wash (clothes) on it
washboard.
Hél tsú tóo toonook x̱áawé yéi jiné
We didn't feel the work, see
ch'as ash koolyát yáx̱ áwé nateech.
it was just like playing.
Yeedát ḵu.aa tlax̱ yéi lidzée ḵaa jeex'.
And now, it's difficult for people.
Yeedát ḵu.aa yéi atyátx'i éex' gax̱dultóowu
Now, the children will be taught
tlél aadéi yéi jing̱aaneiyi yé atyátx'i.
children can't work like that.
Yéi ḵaa yaduḵáa nooch yeedát.
Today, people are always told this.
Mhm.
«Tlél du éex' yéi jisanéiḵ wé atyátx'i!»
“Don't make the kids work!”
Ch'a yéi x̱ʼayaḵáa áyá yaa s at gaskwéich.
Just saying this, they are starting to learn it.
Tlél has du éex' dultóowu,
If they aren't taught,
ch'a yéi áwé s gug̱atée.
that's just the way they are going to be.
Ch'as át loowagooḵ.
They only run around.
Wé school-t x̱wagoodí tsu, {tlél}
When I went to school
hél dleit ḵáa x̱'eix̱a.áxch áwé.
I didn't understand English.
Ch'a aan áwé, schóol-de x̱waagoot.
Even so, I went to school.
Ax̱ éesh {ax̱ náa yéi}
My father
ax̱ kinaak.ádi a káx̱ yéi ateech áwé yisikóo x̱á.
would put my coat on, you know, see.
"Here," yei x̱ʼayaḵá, "Here."
“Here,” he says, “Here.”
Ch'as {a} hél x̱wasakú tsú aadé yóo x̱'ayax̱aḵaayí.
I didn't know how to say it.
Aaá.
Yeah.
X̱át schóol-t x̱wagoodí x̱at x̱'awduwawóos', «Wáa sá iduwasáakw?»
Me, when I got to school, they asked me, “What is your name?”
«Saḵaayí há chʼas yéi x̱áawé ḵáach x̱at sáakw nooch, Saḵaayí.»
“Saḵaayí (Anita's Tlingit name) thatʼs what people always call me, Saḵaayí.”
???
Oh yeah. «Hél aadé yéi yang̱eeyaḵaayi yé.
“You can't say that.
I tláa teen kagax̱toonéek.»
We are going to tell your mom.”
Ách áyá neil x̱wadzig̱áx̱, «Wáa sá l du tóo ushgú yéi x̱at dusáagu Saḵaayí?
That's why I came home crying, “Why don't they like me being called Saḵaayí?
Ch'as yéi x̱áa x̱at eesáakw nooch,» yéi yax̱wsiḵaa ax̱ tláa.
You always call me that,” I told my mother.
Áwé wé graduate-x̱ x̱at wusteeyí wé eighth grade-dáx̱
When I graduated from 8th grade
Sophie-ch áwé shakawlikúch' áwé.
Sophie curled her hair.
{héen}
Wé x̱'aan tóode yóo aawatée wé aan shakdulkúch' át.
She put the curling iron in the fire.
Wé tlei du shá shakawlikúch'.
Then she curled her hair.
Shax̱aawúnax̱ yóot wusixíx.
Her hair fell out.
Graduation yís áwé yéi ahé.
It was for graduation.
Sophie!
Yáadu ḵ'eikaxwéin yánde gax̱tusatée ldakát ax̱ shax̱aawú káa yáanáx̱ wusixeex.
We were going to put a flower here (indicating the side of her head) and it fell (apart) all over my hair through here.
Graduation {áyá} áyá a yís yánde yaa ndusnéin x̱á.
It was getting ready for graduation.
Ch'een tlein áwé du sháax' yéi wduwa.oo.
They wore a big ribbon in their hair.
Du shax̱aawú átx̱ wusixeex ???
It fell from her hair.
Há wáa sá tsú adaanéi nooch,
How did she always fix it,
Auntie Ida áyá?
Auntie Ida?
Wáa sá adaanéi nooch du shax̱aawú?
How did she fix her hair?
Tlél tsá aatx̱ kéi oosxíxch!
It never fell out!
Stóox tóode x̱áwé s anateech, wé shakakúch'aa.
Sheʼd put the curling iron in the stove.
Aag̱áa tsá has du shá.
And then their hair.
Tlél yawtoodlaaḵ!
We didnʼt succeed!
Kax̱'íl'aa tsá kwshé dust'eix̱ín?
They used to heat up the iron, huh?
(Sigh)
Yeedát tlél yéi at duteen nooch yá kax̱'íl'aa.
Now you don't see those irons.
Yeedát ḵu.aa,
Now however,
Áwé dust'eix̱ín.
They used to heat it up.
Héen yáx̱.
Like water.
Ḵaajuhéikw yóo gé dusáagun?
Was her name Ḵaajuhéikw?
Sophie Marvin.
Haa x̱ánx' x̱áwé kéi s uwawát wé;
They grew up with us;
has du éesh woonaa,
their father died,
haa káak.
our uncle.
Ch'áakw tlél wuduskóowun ḵaa saayí.
Long ago, people didn't know people's names.
Ch'as Lingít saayí yéi too.úx̱x'un.
We just used Tlingit names.
Ldakát ḵaa saayí áwé wtusikóo Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
We knew everyone's names in Tlingit.
Yeedát ḵu.aa,
Now however,
ch'as dleit ḵáa, a kát haa seiwax'áḵw yeedát.
just English (names), we're forgetting (Tlingit names) now.
Mhm.
Ch'as Lingít saayí x̱áa yéi wdu.úx̱x'un.
People just used to use Tlingit names, see.
Aadóo sá am,
Who um,
Táx̱' Hít yeex' yéi yatee ldakát,
everyone in Snail House
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ áwé wdudzikóo ḵaa saayí.
knows people's names in Tlingit.
Ḵaa Shaayí Hít tsú ldakát Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
In Head House too, everything in Tlingit.
Yeedát ḵu.aa, {ldakát yá ḵa} ldakát át {haa kát s} a kát haa seiwax'áḵw.
Now however, we are forgetting everything.
Tsú haa yóo x̱'atángi tsú a kaadé yaa haa sanax'áḵw yeedát.
Our language too, we're forgetting it now.
Ách áwé lidzée yeedát atyátx'i éex' at dultóowu.
That's why it's hard now, teaching children.
Yak'éi yeedát
It's good now
school, sgóonwaan éex' dultóowu
in school, that they're teaching the students
k'idéin has ayang̱adlaag̱ít.
so they can learn it well.
Tsú haa yóo x̱'atángi.
Our language too.
Haa éex' at dultóowu neilx'í.
They taught us things at home.
Haa een áwé sh kadulník noojín.
They always used to tell us stories.
Tlél tsu kawtushaxeet kwshé?
We didn't write it down, did we?
«Átx̱ nas.aax̱!»
“Listen to it!”
Yéi haa daayaduḵáa nooch «Átx̱ nas.aax̱!
They used to always tell us, “Listen to it!
Aag̱áa áwé ch'a gag̱isakóo.»
Then you'll know it.”
Ách áwé ch'as Lingít x̱'éináx̱
That's why just in Tlingit
haa een at kawdudlineek.
they told us stories.
Haa yóo x̱'atánk tsú.
Our language too.
Ch'a aan á yeedát ḵu.aa a kát haa seiwax'áḵw de.
Even so, now we forgot it.
Ch'áakw tsú stoox daa g̱áa g̱aḵéejin xáanaax'.
Long ago, people used to sit around the stove in the evenings.
Yisikóo gé?
You know?
Grandpa haa x̱ánt has oo.átch.
Grandpa would come visit us.
Aag̱áa áwé tsá
And then
ldakát yan at wudux̱aayí a daa g̱áa g̱aḵéech wé stoox.
when everyone was done eating, they'd sit around the stove.
Xákwl'i.
Soapberries.
Xákwl'i kadulxákw nooch, remember? Mhm.
They'd mix up soapberries, remember?
Haa jín een. Mhm.
With our hands.
Yeedát ḵu.aa tlél tsu.
Not now, however.
Mixer kaadé yakg̱eeléet yeedát.
Now you throw it in a mixer.
Ch'as Lingít atx̱aayí x̱áwé wtusakóowun; {tlél} hél ch'u apples ḵach'u bananas wutusakú dei.
We just knew Tlingit food, see; we didn't know about apples or bananas.
Ḵachʼu milk.
Or milk.
Daa sáwé ḵaa x̱'éix̱ dutéex̱ nooch, canned milk kwshé?
What did they give people, canned milk, was it?
Mhm. Mhm.
First time
yeedát yéi x̱'ayax̱aḵáa nooch
now I always say
ax̱ tláa áwé s akawdliteen.
they copied my mother.
Wé pig skin.
The pig skin.
Yisikóo gé?
You know?
Wé um, bacon.
That um, bacon.
Bacon tayee yáa skin
Under the bacon, this skin
a taayí
its fat
shuwuxeex áwé wé bacon,
when the bacon ran out,
tle akagaxáshch,
she'd cut it up,
Mom.
Oven tóode anas.ínch
she'd put it in the oven
all day.
Yan woo.eeyí haa jeet aa ootéeych.
When it was done cooking, she'd give us some.
Best! Ḵúnáx̱ kools'úkjin.
It was really crispy.
Yisikóo gé?
You know?
Mhm.
Ách áyá x̱'ayax̱aḵáa
That's why I always say
ax̱ tláa áwé s akawdliteen
they copied my mom
wé pig skins teen.
with the pig skins.
Wa.é tsú kwshé wé laaḵ'ásk yéi daanéi tsú ḵ'asagóowun haa jee.
You too, maybe, it used to be fun for us to work on seaweed too.
Gáanx' kantusahéich x̱á.
We'd spread it out outside.
Ch'éiy!
Gee!
Ḵúnáx̱ áwé laaḵ'ásk yéi daatoonéi nooch.
We really worked on putting up seaweed.
Áwé ḵúnáx̱ áa jiduskaa nooch áyá yaa kanaljúxu.
People would get lazy grinding it.
Ldakát át yéi yaa shuneelhíkch.
You used to fill everything up.
Roof, hít kanáak.
Roof, on the house.
Sheets káx' yéi ndu.eijín.
They'd spread it on sheets.
Aag̱áa áwé tsá kadulxákwx'u nooch.
After that they'd grind it.
Yéi wtusaneiyí áwé, yéi ntoo.eich.
After we'd make it, we'd use it.
Yéi kwdigei.
They were this small.
Tsu ḵóok kaadé
Into a box
kawdudzit'ági aa. {kawdus} Kawdudzit'ák, yeah.
the stuff that was pressed together. Pressed together, yeah.
Wé 5 gallon can kaadé.
Into a 5 gallon can.
Aaá, aag̱áa tsú té a kanáak.
Yeah, and then with a rock on top.
Awdagaaní tsu gáande yéi daadunéi nooch
When it's sunny they'd take it outside again
a yíkdáx̱.
from out of there.
G̱agaan yíndei wooxeexí tsu neildé yéi daadunéi nooch.
When the sun goes down, they take it inside again.
All day áyá yéi jidunéi nooch a daat,
They'd work on it all day,
laaḵ'ásk.
the seaweed.
Yeedát ḵu tlél yéi aa dustínch,
Now however, you don't see it,
wé kawdudzit'ági aa laaḵ'ásk.
the compressed seaweed.
Ch'as {ka} kawdudlixágu aa áwé {yéi} yéi tusatínch yeedát.
Just the kind that's ground is what we see now.
Sixty dollars yéi áwé s ahun nooch yéi kwdligéiyi aa.
They sell one this big for sixty dollars.
Hmh.
Uháanch ḵu.aa áwé ḵaa x̱'éix̱ tooteex̱ín.
We used to share it with people however.
Tlél duhoon.
It's not to be sold.
Ḵaa x̱'éix̱ aa át tlél duhoon.
What you put up to eat is not to be sold.
«Ch'a yéi ḵaa x̱'éix̱ gag̱eetée,» yóo haa daayaḵáa nooch haa tláa.
“You just give it to people to eat,” our mother always told us.
«Lax̱éitl i éex' gux̱satée
“It will bring you luck
ḵaa x̱'éix̱ at eeteex̱í,
when you give people food,
daa sá i jeex' yéi yatee atx̱á.
whatever food you have.
A daax' yéi jeeyaneiyí atx̱á ḵaa x̱'éix̱ gag̱eetée.
The food that you work on, you should share with people.
I ée sh jigux̱daḵéi,» yóo haa daayaḵáa noojín haa tláa.
It will come back to you,” our mother always used to tell us.
{hél ḵ'an} «Hél ḵ'anashgidéix̱ {káana} sitee yáanáx̱ yayigoodíḵ,» yéi haa daayaḵáa nooch.
“Don't walk past a poor person,” she always told us.
{ḵaa x̱'éix̱ du} «Daa sá i jeewú du x̱'éix̱ gag̱eetéex̱.»
“Whatever you have, you should give him/her to eat.”
Yéi áwé wooch éex̱ dushee noojín.
That's the way people used to help each other.
Yeedát ḵu.aa,
Now however,
ch'as haa éex' at duhóon.
they just sell us things.
Hél tsú dáanaa wtusakú x̱áwé ch'áakw. Mmm.
We also didn't know about money long ago. Yes.