Video Size
Tlingit Conversation #16
Awligáa.
Speakers are Dr. Shgóonde Walter Soboleff and Keihéenák’w John Martin. Recorded June 2, 2010 at the home of Walter Soboleff in Juneau, Alaska, by Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff.
This material is based on work supported by National Science Foundation grant BCS-0853788 to the University of Alaska Southeast with Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff as Principal Investigator and by National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship 266286-19 to Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or National Endowment for the Humanities.
Tlingit transcription by Daaljíni Mary Folletti. English translation by Ḵaanáḵ Ruth Demmert through 3:18, by Shakʼsháani Margaret Dutson through 26:38, and by Ḵaaḵal.aat Florence Sheakley through the end. Edited by Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty and X̱ʼaagi Sháawu Keri Eggleston.
SYMBOLS: {false start}, [translator/transcriber's note], (added for clarity), ??? = canʼt understand, «quotation marks for Tlingit text (so as not to be confused with Tlingit ʼ)» Time-aligned text for this video was accomplished using ELAN ((Versions 6.0 (2020), 6.1 (2021), and 6.3 (2022) [Computer software]. Nijmegen: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, The Language Archive. Retrieved from https://archive.mpi.nl/tla/elan
The first part of the grouse story is missing because Dr. Soboleff began telling it before the recording equipment was ready for the session. There was no opportunity to re-record.
Kawliteesh; du shát hóochʼ.
He was lonesome; his wife was no longer there.
Gwál wudultʼei.
Maybe they found her.
Áwé daa sáwé aya.áx̱ch?
What is it that he is hearing?
Gaaw yáx̱ áwé duwa.áx̱ch.
It sounds like a drum.
Ch'a yák'udáx̱ áwé awushaa, núkt asíwé gé
All of a sudden it happened, was it a grouse perhaps?
Gaaw yáx̱ hú hú hú hú hú.
Like a drum, hú hú hú hú hú.
Ee.áx̱ji nooch núkt hú, hú, taakw.eetí, hú, hú, hú.
You usually hear the grouse hú hú in the spring hú hú hú.
Áwé át x̱'eiwatán.
So he spoke.
«Aa x̱át tsú.
“Me too.
X̱át tsú, ch'a i yáx̱ áyá x̱at wuliteesh.»
Me too, just like you I'm lonely.”
Áwé núkt áwé yéi yaawaḵaa, «Al'eix̱ x̱ashigóok, al'eix̱.
So it was the grouse that said, “I know how to dance, dance.
Há i een akḵwal'eix̱,»
Well, I will dance with you,”
áwé núkt.
that grouse.
Yáa shkalneek káx̱ áwé.
It's for this story.
Tle shux'áanáx̱ has du éedáx̱ áwé
From the beginning it was from them
l'eix̱ ḵoowdzitee.
that dancing was born.
Tlél kooduneek.
They don't talk about it.
A káx̱ x̱wadzitóow yáa x'úx' ch'áakw kawdujixidi x'úx' áyá.
I read it in this book, this book was written long ago.
Ch'a shux'áanáx̱ áwé kx̱anéek yeedát i een.
Iʼm telling this for the first time now for you.
Ix̱'awduwóos'i,
If youʼre asked,
goodáx̱ sáwé x̱at gag̱eesáa? {A káx̱} a káx̱ á ḵoowashee kawdushxeedí ch'áakw.
from where will I be named? It was found in this book/paper that was written long ago.
Lingít x̱'eidáx̱ áwé kawdujixít.
Told and written from a Tlingit person.
Núktich áyá shoowanei.
Itʼs the grouse that instructed him.
Al'eix̱.
Dancing.
Áwé has duteen nooch yá núkt, has duteen nooch.
So people always see these grouse, they always see them.
X̱áwé, Lingít káaxʼi tsá has atee nooch x̱á has al'eix̱í.
They imitate Tlingit chickens [grouse], see, when they dance.
K'e aadéi yateeyi yé, á yéi áyá.
The way it is, thatʼs how it is.
OK.
Yáat'aa chul g̱unéi kawuljooxú yá saa
This one, before the recording starts, this name
ax̱ tuwáa sigóo gukáax̱ la.aax̱í.
I want you to hear it.
Tlél naliyéidi, {chʼa yéi} ch'a yéi kunalyáat' {g̱unéi} g̱unéi,
Not long, in just this long it will start,
weʼre going to talk for one hour.
OK. Góok, {chʼa yéi chʼa yéi} ch'a yéi googéink', góok.
Go ahead, just a little bit, go ahead.
Áx̱shkadulneek
[Frank Jackʼs Tlingit name]
tléix'aa du saayí
his other name
Ḵaajeesgéix'.
[Frank Jackʼs other Tlingit name]
X̱áach hél x̱wa.aax̱ wéit'aa.
I havenʼt heard that one.
Frank Jack.
Aangóondáx̱.
From Angoon.
Aaá.
Yes.
Aaá. Uhuh.
Teiḵweidí.
Teiḵweidí clan.
Aaá, {te} tlél x̱wa.aax̱ wé saa.
Yes, I havenʼt heard that name.
Ax̱ léelk'u hás áwé.
They were my grandparentsʼ people.
Uhuh, áwé.
Uhuh, thatʼs it.
Ax̱ {tuwáa áx'} ách áwé ax̱ tuwáa sigóo i gukáax̱ la.aax̱í.
That's why I want you to hear it.
Gunalchéesh. Uhuh, ax̱ léelk'u hás saayí.
Thanks. Uhuh, my grandparentsʼ peopleʼs names.
Yéi áwé. Ḵaa yáa at woonéi éesh.
Thatʼs it. The father of respect.
Uhuh.
Daat yáanáx̱ sá x̱ʼadudlitseen.
They value him more than anything.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ách áwé ax̱ tuwáa sigóo gukáax̱ la.aax̱í chul yáat'aa g̱unéi yooxeexjí.
Thatʼs why I want you to hear it before this thing begins recording.
Yakʼéi. Yakʼéi x̱aan keeneek.
Good. Itʼs good that you told me.
Are we ready to start?
Daa sá óoshk'ít a daa x̱'awtuli.aat?
Whatever should we talk about?
Ch'a i toowú aadé sh teedinoogu yé x̱á.
Whatever you feel like.
{a a ha} Am, há yáa yagiyee
Um, well today
ḵuwak'éi.
the weather is good.
Gwál yóo {aa} aadéi
Maybe
shux'wáanáx̱
first
gwál yáat'aa
maybe this one
shux'wáanáx̱ a daa x̱'agax̱tudatáan.
we should talk about first.
Ha góok.
Well go ahead.
Áyá
At this point
Shunanei x'wán góok!
Lead the way, go ahead!
Aangultsóow.
[Name]
Aangaltsóow.
[Name]
Aanchx̱altsóow.
[Name]
Gwál
Maybe
a kaadéi wooshtín
on it together
a daa yéi x̱'agax̱tula.áat.
we could talk about it.
{yá i i i} Yáa Juneau-déin,
Around Juneau,
Juneau-déin,
around Juneau,
has du at saayí áyá, Aanchx̱altsóow.
this is their name, Aanchx̱altsóow.
Mhm.
{yóo} Yáa Juneau ḵwáan
These people of Juneau
ḵúnáx̱ yáa has shayadahéinin.
there used to be a lot of them.
{yáa} Yáa
This
dleit ḵáa x̱'éináx̱ Dog Salmon Clan.
in white man's language they were Dog Salmon clan.
L'eineidí.
L'eineidí clan.
Uhuh.
Has du aaní tlein yéeyi áyá.
This used to be their big land.
Has du x̱oox' ḵu yéi wootee Wooshkeetaan.
The Wooshkeetaan were among them though.
Teiḵweidí tsú has du x̱ooxʼ yéi wootee.
Teiḵweidí lived among them too.
Ḵa L'uknax̱.ádi tsú has du x̱oox' yéi wootee.
And L'uknax̱.ádi lived among them too.
Ḵa yáanáx̱ ḵu.aa {has du}
And more though
yéi kaawagéi,
that many,
yáa L'eineidí.
the L'eineidí.
Áwé
So
x̱waa.áx̱
I heard
woosh g̱unayáadei yáa Lingít has du hítx'i, naa daakahídi.
there were different ones, these Tlingit houses, tribal houses.
Áyá Yax̱té áyá wlisaayí s du x̱oox' yáa Juneau, Yax̱té.
Little Dipper was among the best known names in Juneau, Little Dipper.
Yóo goos' tóox' áwé yéi yatee.
It's in the clouds.
Gúx'aa tlein uwayáa.
It looked like a big cup.
A sákwdi áwu á ch'a yeisú taatx' yei dustínch.
Its handle is there you can still see it at night.
Yeisú yei dustínch.
You can still see it.
Yax̱té yéi s aawasáakw.
They called it Little Dipper.
Áwé L'eineidích áwé woohéin.
The L'eineidí clan claimed it.
Tlél ḵu wéit'aa ax̱ jeenáx̱ kawuhá tlax̱ kax̱waneegí ch'a aan ḵu yéi uwayáa has du eenx̱ x̱at sitee x̱át tsú.
Itʼs not really up to me to talk about this even though itʼs like I am one of them.
Yáa L'eineidí yáa Juneau Yax̱té has du hídi saayíx̱ wusitee.
These L'eineidí of Juneau, Little Dipper became the name of their house.
{áwé áwé} Áwé kawdudlix̱eich yáa yeedát x̱áng̱aa.
So they tore it down just recently.
Tlél áx̱ a s'aatí yán ḵuwustee; ḵoowdzitee,
There werenʼt any house leaders there; there was one
tlél x̱áwé tlél ch'a
but he didn't
a daat yawustaag̱í yáx̱ wootee áwé.
take care of it.
Áwé déi kawdudlix̱eich.
So it was finally torn down.
{yá} Áyá s Juneau aa daa kagei áyá Juneau,{ch}ch'a history yáx̱ áyá kx̱anéek yáat'aa ḵu.a x̱áa.
Juneau, around this Juneau, Iʼm telling this thing like a history, however you see.
Áwé, áwé.
Thatʼt it, thatʼs it.
Yóo ah, ah,
That uh, ah,
Yanyeidí tsú {has} has du x̱oodé kadunéek x̱á.
They say that there were Yanyeidí among them too, see.
Wé Áak'w Ḵwáan.
The Auke tribe.
Yanyeidí
Yanyeidí
ḵa Kaagwaantaan.
and Kaagwaantaan.
Uhuh, uhuh. Uhuh.
Ách áyá x̱áwé,
That is why, see,
Ḵaa x̱oox' gé yéi wootee hás tsú Kiks.ádi?
Were the Kiks.ádi among them too?
Ch'a chʼa x̱oodáx̱ has du x̱oodáx̱ yáade aa wligáas' ch'á yeedát x̱áng̱aa,
They just moved here from among them not too long ago,
Kiks.ádi.
the Kiks.ádi.
Ḵa Yanyeidí tsú.
And the Yanyeidí also.
Kaagwaantaan hás áwé
Kaagwaantaan are the ones
ch'a yeedát x̱áng̱aa áwé
just not too long ago
{y y y yáade} yáade aa wdligáas'.
some of them moved over this way.
{tlé} Tlél tlax̱ k'idéin ch'á áx',
Not too good there,
wooch g̱unayáade naa
many different tribes
yáade aa wdligáas'.
moved here.
Mhm.
Yéi jinéi káx̱ áyá
Itʼs for work
tlei shux'áanáx̱ a x̱oo aa yéi jinéi has du kagéi kaawaháa.
the first ones (who came) had work.
Dleit ḵáa jee yáx̱,
Like the white people,
has wuduwaḵéi.
they were paid.
Shux'áa aa gút ḵoowdzitee
The first dimes came into existence
yáa,
yáa góon {yáax'} yáax' wudut'eiyí.
when they found gold over here.
Hás tsú, has du yéi jineiyí
They too, their work,
a tóo yéi wootee hás.
they were in it.
Has jikawduwaḵaa yéi ḵuwanaḵéich.
People say they were paid.
Has sh kawdihoon yú.á.
They hired themselves out, it is said.
Uhuh.
Has sh kawdihoon.
They hired themselves out.
Aag̱áa áwé,
And then,
aag̱áa áwé yáa,
and then this,
yáa góon
this gold
aax̱ kaduhaayí.
was being dug from there.
Áx' yéi jinéi s du kagéi kaawaháa.
They were given a chance to work there.
Has du x̱'éide x̱waa.áx̱.
I heard it from them.
Has du x̱'éide x̱waa.áx̱ {áx' yéi} áx' yéi s jeewanei.
I heard them say they worked there.
Shayawdihaa yáadáx̱.
There were many from here.
Sheet'kaadáx̱ tsú yáadei {aa ḵoow} aa ḵoowdag̱aateen
There were some from Sitka who traveled here
yéi jinéi káx̱.
for work.
Tlél,
Not,
yéi jinéi gút káx̱ Sheet'ká; tlei wdiyáshḵ.
you'd work for a dime in Sitka; it was scarce.
Wudiyáshḵ aatlein.
It was very scarce.
Yóo Dzixwáa, {yá lée} ax̱ léelk'w,
That Dzixwáa, my grandpa,
ax̱ léelk'u hás a daa s x̱'awdataaní áwé {has}
when my grandparents spoke of it,
has du x̱éidei x̱a.áx̱ji nooch
I always heard them say
yá T'aaḵú
the Taku
{áx̱ yaw}
yagéiyi áwé áx̱ yawdi.áa yá Wooshkeetaan has du naakahídi
there were a lot of Wooshkeetaan clan houses there
áx̱ has yawligas'i yé x̱á ysikóo.
where they moved to, you know.
Áyá
And
ah, ḵa yáa ax̱ sáni,
uh, my uncle, [tribal uncle on dadʼs side]
uh, Kusatáan,
uh, [uncleʼs name],
hú tsú a daa x̱'awditaan.
he spoke of this too.
Yáa Yéil naa,
This Raven tribe,
aadé
how
át ḵuwulgáas'i áwé,
people migrated there,
a káx̱ has x̱'adataan nooch.
they always used to talk about it.
Yéi áwé sh kalneek, Dzixwáa
This is how he told it, Dzixwáa
ḵa Yaanashtúḵ.
and Yaanashtúḵ.
Yáa T'aaḵú
The Taku
yá hít
this house
áa s awulyeix̱í áyá,
when they build it there,
has asáakw nooch.
they used to name it.
Yá L'uknax̱.ádi tsú
The Lʼuknax̱.ádi clan also
áa yéi wootee
were living there
has du een.
with them.
Yéi áwé aklaneek.
This is how he tells the story.
Ách áyá am,
This is why um,
gwál át ḵoowaháa yá gaaw tundatáan
maybe the time has come for you
a kaadé yig̱íx'i {yá} yá has du yanaḵáayi.
to throw in what you think about what they're saying.
Ḵa uháan
And us
yáa
the
Kaagwaantaan
Kaagwaantaan
{shayadigéi} shayadihéin
there were a lot of them
yá Yéil yinaanáx̱ aanáx̱ has aa wusháax'w.
on the Raven side that they married.
Yéi áwé.
That's it.
Yéi áwé kudayéin, yéi áwé {s}
That's the way it happened, thatʼs what
has x̱'ax̱a.áx̱ji nuch.
I used to hear them say.
Goox' sá Kaagwaantaan áa yéi wootee?
Where did the Kaagwaantaan live there?
Áyá T'aḵdeintaan áyá,
The T'aḵdeintaan,
has du shátx'iyánxʼ shayawdihaa.
their wives were many. [Many of their wives were Tʼaḵdeintaan?]
Yéi áwé. Yéi áwé at kudayeinín.
Thatʼs it. Thatʼs the way things were.
Yéi áyá ch'a yóo ch'áakw,
Thatʼs it, a long time ago,
yóo ch'áakw aadéi yéi áx̱ at kudayaayí a káax' áwé.
a long time ago, this is how things happened according to (the plan) there.
A káax' áwé wooch x̱áni yéi ḵundateech.
According to that people lived together.
Wooch x̱áni yéi ḵundateech.
People lived together.
{hél} Hél aadé ch'a yá ḵáax̱ ḵusateeyí,
Being a man, thereʼs no way
hél aadéi ch'a wa.éich,
you canʼt just,
i shaawádi gux̱satée,
the one that will be your wife,
hél gag̱eesaa.
you donʼt name (choose) her.
Hél gag̱eesaa i shaawádi gux̱satée aa.
You donʼt name (choose) the one who is going to be your wife.
Ch'a chʼa chʼa yáa, yáa i tláa ḵa
Just your mother and
yáa, yáa i éesh.
your father.
Has du jeenáx̱ áyá kooháayjin ch'áakw x̱á.
That fell into their hands long ago, see.
Aaá.
Yes.
Tle yéi áwé at téeyin.
And thatʼs just the way it was.
X̱wasiteen.
I saw it.
X̱wasiteen yéi at kawdayaayí.
I saw it as it happened.
Ḵa ḵaa yitshát g̱aa,
And for a person's daughter-in-law,
ḵaa yitshát g̱aa Aangóondáx̱ yóo,
for their daughter-in-law, from Angoon
{yóo yóo yóo} yóo Tlákw Aandéi yan ḵuyaawatán aax̱ áwé.
people headed to Klukwan from there.
Aax̱ áwé ḵoowduwasháax'w Aangóondei.
From there they got married (in?) Angoon. [Itʼs unclear whether the couple would get married and then go back to Angoon, or get married in Angoon.]
Aadéi at nateejí yé ch'áakw.
Thatʼs how things were long ago.
{yóo a} Aadóo jeenáx̱ sá kooháaych yá
Who is in charge of this
aadóo woosh
who
woosh jintáa yan jiwdul.aadí yáa ḵunóok ḵu.aa. Ah,
put their hands together for this reason? [who officiated at the ceremony] Uh,
A daat yóo x̱'atánk gé ḵudzitee.
Is there a speech for this?
{ah tle tle} Tlél x̱wa.aax̱ch.
I havenʼt heard it.
Yáat'aa ḵu.aa áwé x̱wsikóo.
This is the part I know though.
Ḵaa tláa
It was the personʼs mother
ḵa ḵaa éesh áwé
and the father
ḵaa yéet jeeyís
for the personʼs son
asháax'w ḵug̱asteech.
getting married.
Ḵaa tláa ḵá {ḵaa}
A person's mother and
ḵaa éesh has du jeenáx̱ áwé kooháaych
father are in charge
daaḵu.aa sá has du yitshátx̱ gux̱satée.
of whoever their daughter-in-law is going to be.
Yéi áwé x̱waa.áx̱.
This is what I heard.
{wé} Wé ḵaa yitshát,
The daughter-in-law,
Uhuh.
du tláa ḵa du éesh
her mother and father
jeex̱ at duteeyín.
would be given (a dowry).
Ch'á yéi at wul.óo.
Just like a dowry.
At wul.óo.
A dowry.
{gwál} Gwál nageijín shákdé.
Maybe it was a lot, I believe.
{tlé tlé tlé} Tlél ch'á yéi gugéink' chʼa.
It wasnʼt a little.
{tlei tlei k} Tlei k'idéin áwé
It was really
nageich yáa
big, this
yáa at wul.óo.
this dowry.
Yáa ḵaa yitshát
The personʼs daughter-in-law
ḵaa yitshátx̱ gux̱satée aa.
the one who is going to be their daughter-in-law.
Tlél áwé,
Not,
tlél áwé yéi yakḵwaḵaa
Iʼm not going to say
du yeidí ḵoowdzitee, tlél yéi yakḵwaḵaa.
what the value of it was, I wonʼt say.
Ch'a {yáa at ya} at yáa awoonéi áyá yéi nateech.
Itʼs always respectful.
Mhm.
Tlél yaḵéix'i yáx̱ wutee;
It wasnʼt like a price;
at yáa awoonéi tlein áwé
it was showing a deep respect
yan dutéeych.
that they put it down.
Yáa du tláa ḵa du éesh kagéi kooháaych
They show the mother and father
yáa at yáa awoonéi tlein áyá.
deep honor and respect.
Kei dutéeych áwé.
Thatʼs what they put up.
Ḵaa tóog̱aa nateech ḵaa toowú k'éi nooch tsú.
People are always grateful and happy too.
Aax̱ áwé
Itʼs from there
ḵaa sée jeet unaaḵch.
they let their daughter go.
Naa daakahídi,
The tribal house,
du x̱úx̱
her husbandʼs
áa yeex' áwé {yei} yéi nateech.
there inside it is where she lives.
Á áwé wáa sá á x̱'alatseenín
And it used to be very valuable
yáa naa daakahídi du x̱úx̱ naa daakídi yeex' yéi wuteeyí.
this tribal house, living in her husbandʼs tribal house.
{tlei tlél}Tlél tlax̱
Not too much
wudiyáshḵ yáa woosh niyáa
it's rare to separate
has kawdahaayí dleit ḵáach yéi yasáakw "divorce".
white people call it “divorce”.
Yáa Lingít x̱oonáx̱ yéi yateeyi át,
Among the Tlingit people,
tlax̱ wáa sá wdiyáshḵ.
it was very rare.
Aadéi {a yáa} a yáa yawduwanéiyi yé yáa wooch x̱áni yéi ḵoowda.oowú.
The way they respected it, living together.
X̱'awdudlitseen.
It was very highly regarded.
Hél aadéi ch'a koogéiyi
Not just any old way,
ch'a tleix̱déi áwé wooch x̱ánx' yéi ḵundateejín, ch'áakw.
living together was forever, long ago.
Ch'u tlei tleix̱dé.
For forever.
Tlél yaa ḵooshgé
She was foolish,
akawushtaan[í],
to be in the habit of it,
{ya ya} yáa shaawát.
this woman.
Ḵa yáa du x̱úx̱ tsú tlél yaa ḵooshgé {ch'a}
And her husband too, he was foolish
ch'u tlei tléix' áwé,
it was just one,
wooch x̱áni yéi ḵoowditee.
they lived together.
Yáa yeedádi ḵwáan
The people of today
gwál yisikóo dei {sax̱waa} isax̱waa.áx̱.
maybe you already know, I heard you say it.
Hél dáanaa a x̱'áak wusnei yá asháax'w.
There was no money involved in marriage.
Uh, tléik', tléik'.
Uh, no, no.
Dleit ḵáa ḵu.aa
The white man though
yáa tl'eḵkakées
the ring
yáa
the
du tuwáa wsigóowu shaawát
woman that he liked
áwé
so
tl'eḵkakées du jeex̱ yéi at dusnei.
he would give her a ring.
Aaá.
Yes.
Áyá Lingítx̱ haa wusteeyí ḵu.aa
Us being Tlingit though,
ah,
yóo ah,
that uh,
{asháax'w koowú}
{ḵaa} ḵaa tláa du éesh asháax'w
the person's mother's father would
daa x̱'awdataan.
talk about the marriage.
Áyá, ah,
So, uh,
{yóo has at has at yal} yóo has {at yala} at wulyaag̱ú yáx̱
itʼs like they represent things thus
a tóox̱ yan téeych has du yóo x̱'atángi.
their words were put into it.
Áyá ah,
So uh,
Yóo ḵux̱aajeek
I always wondered about it
yaa yéi x̱at kusagéink'i.
when I was little.
Hél ax̱ gukáa has awus.aax̱.
They never let me hear it.
Ch'a {ayáx̱ áwé} ayáx̱ áwé yeeyaḵaa.
You said the right thing.
Lingít
Tlingit
yóo x̱'atángi
language
ayáx̱ áwé at wuduteeyí
when it's put correctly
wáa sá x̱'alitseen.
how valuable it is.
Wáa sá x̱'ali(tseen).
How priceless it is.
Yóo áwé haa kg̱watée.
That's the way we're going to be.
Ch'u tlei {yéi áwé yóo uh} yéi áwé {yax̱}
That is the way
yax̱ tee haa yóo x̱'atánk.
it is put, our words.
Dleit ḵáa ḵu.aa,
But white people,
has du yóo x̱'atángi yahaayí ḵa wooch yáa at yawusḵaa.
a symbol of their words and a promise.
Kées áwé a yaahaayíx̱,
A bracelet is a symbol,
{tlʼéḵ} Tl'éḵka.át yóo gé duwasáakw?
Is it called a ring?
Aaá, tl'éḵka.ádi, yeah.
Yes, a ring, yeah.
A yahaayí áwé.
It's a symbol.
Uhuh.
A yahaayí áwé.
It's a symbol.
Yóo x̱'atánk yahaayí.
A symbol of the spoken word.
At yawusḵaa yahaayí áwé.
That is the symbol of the promise.
Mhm.
{d d} Dleit ḵáa tundatáani áwé yéi yatee.
That is the white man's thinking.
Uháan Lingítx̱ haa sateeyí ḵu.aa,
We who are Tlingit however,
haa yóo x̱'atángi áwé {x̱ʼay x̱a} x̱'awdudlitseen.
our words are very valued.
Yóo x̱áawéi yaawaḵaa yóot'át,
What that person said, see,
a kát haa saayatee.
we remember it.
Wooch yáa at yawusḵaa.
A promise.
Dleit ḵáa ḵu.aa
But the white man
woosh jín dudléig̱u nooch a káx' yóo x̱á kg̱watée Lingít ḵu tléik'.
always shake hands on it (to say) so it shall be, but the Tlingit people don't.
{du} Du yóo x̱'atángi áwé
Itʼs their word
x̱'awdudlitseen,
that is valued,
Lingít,
for Tlingits,
du yóo x̱'atángi.
their word.
Wudu.aax̱í áwé,
When it is heard,
wuduwa.áx̱.
it is heard.
Ax̱ éesh,
My father,
ax̱ tuwáa sigóo x̱'akax̱waneegí.
I want to quote him.
Yak'éi, yak'éi.
Good, good.
Yáa ax̱ tláa daa x̱'agux̱dataaní,
When he was going to talk about my mother,
áwé yóo x̱at yasaḵéigun,
he used to say to me,
«Ax̱ káani.»
“My in-law.”
Ax̱ káani, yéi áwé ax̱ yáx̱ x̱'alyoo nooch.
My in-law, is what he used to call me.
Ah, yeedádi x̱áng̱aa áwé
Uh, not too long ago
k'idéin ax̱ daa yaa ḵushusigéi wáanáx̱ sá yéi x̱'analyóo.
I came to understand very well why he addresses (me) that way.
Ḵaa yóo x̱'atángi gax̱dulyeix̱í,
When you're going to make your speech,
hél a g̱óot utée nooch
you don't leave out
X̱'awulyoo.
Addressing.
x̱'awulyoo woosh yáa yaduné.
addressing each other with respect.
Áyá ách áwé a káx̱ x̱'ayax̱wditán yáat'aa.
So that is why I spoke about this.
Ḵaa tóog̱aa wooteeyi aa
The one that people like
ḵustí
the life
yinaadéi,
toward it,
has awlitseen, aadóo sá
they gave it importance, whoever
ḵaa yitshátx'x̱
the daughter-in-law
gux̱sateeyí.
is to be.
Áwé a káx̱ {x̱ʼayadi} x̱'ayayditán.
This is what you spoke about.
Gunalchéesh {i du} i at wulyaag̱ú.
Thank you for your comparison.
Aaá. Ch'a uwayáa
Yes. It seems like
gwál dleit ḵáa yáx̱ x̱'akḵwadatáan,
maybe I will speak like the white man,
yan áwé kaysix'óo.
you nailed it. [Using an English expression]
Yáa tundatáan
These thoughts
{aadéi} aadéi
the way
ḵunáax̱ daak keeyanigi yé
you explained it
ax̱ daa yaa ḵushusigéi.
I understand it.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Yáat'aa tsú ax̱ tuwáa sigóo {yanaa}
This one too, I would like to,
yáa tundatáan yan shawtulixíx kwshé.
if we're finished with these thoughts, maybe.
Aaá, góok.
Yes, go ahead.
Yáatʼaa
This one
x'úx' kaadéi,
on the paper,
kax̱wshixeet.
I wrote it down.
Shux'áanáx̱ ldakát yá naa
First, all the clans
dleit ḵáa yáa haa daat
a white person, about us
yáa
that
Anthropology, wáa sá duwasáakw Lingít x̱'éináx̱?
Anthropology, how is it called in Tlingit?
Lingít aa ḵusteeyí.
The way of human life.
Áwé x'úx' kaadéi s akawshixeet.
They wrote it on paper.
Áyá
And this
shayawdihaa yá Yéil yinaanáx̱ aanáx̱.
there were a lot (of clans) on the Raven side.
Áwé
So
yáa
this
akshaxeet
they write
haa yóo x̱'atángi áwé x̱oo x̱á kḵwasáay.
in our language, you see,I'm going to name them off.
I gúk aawasháadi aa x'wán
The one that catches your ear
a daa x̱'agax̱tudatáan.
we'll talk about it.
Yak'éi.
That's good.
Yáadu yáa Yéil yinaanáx̱ aanáx̱.
Here it is on the Raven side.
G̱aanax̱.ádi.
[Clan names on the Raven side for the next several lines]
{a taaḵw} Taakw.aaneidí.
G̱aanax̱teidí.
Tʼéex'.ádi.
Ishkeetaan.
{l'uknax̱} Lʼuknax̱.ádi.
X'at'ka.aayí.
Ḵoosk'eidí.
Laachaneidí.
Kiks.ádi.
Teeyhittaan.
Teeyineidí.
Deisheetaan.
Aanx̱'aaḵhittaan.
L'eeneidí.
T'aḵdeintaan.
{lukaax̱}
Lukwaax̱ .ádi .ádi.
Lukaax̱.ádi
{noow}
{noowshaak}
Noowshaka.aayí.
Kwáashkʼi Ḵwáan.
Wéix̱'hineidí.
Yéesḵaneidí.
L'ookwaneidí.
Ḵooyeidí.
Téel'hittaan.
Goodáx̱ sáwé yaysiháa yei
Where did you gather it from, these
Sákwaneidí.
[clan name]
Goodáx̱ sáwé yaysiháa?
Where did you gather them from?
[At shooḵ]
[Laughter]
Gijooḵhittaan.
[clan name]
Lʼeeneidí.
Kooḵhittaan.
Ḵa yáa
And this
aadéi
is how
yéi koogéi {yal} Yéil yinaanáx̱ aanáx̱.
many there are on the Raven side.
Yáa dleit ḵáa yá x'úx' kaadéi yaa s akanashxídi áwé ch'a g̱oot yéidei
Itʼs the white manʼs writing in the book, just any old way
aa xat has yasáakw x̱á ysikóo.
they pronounce things, you know.
Ch'a a kayaa.
It's just approximate.
Ách áwé ax̱ tuwáa wsigóo i gukáax̱ la.aax̱í.
This is why I wanted you to hear it.
Aaá, ch'a ayáx̱ áwé.
Yes, that's right.
Ch'a ayáx̱ áwé.
That's right.
Wáa yateex' sáwé woosh kaanáx̱ gax̱du.ádin
Once in a while when they will gather together,
yáa
this
dleit ḵáach yéi yasáakw program yaa naxíxi,
when what the white man calls a program, is happening,
yáa Lingít niyaanáx̱
in the Tlingit way
kaawaxeexi át gax̱dusnéi áwé yéi ḵuwanaḵéich Lingít x̱'éináx̱,
when theyʼre going to put on a program, people say in Tlingit,
«Aan ḵukdushxeet át has du jee yéi wuteeyí
“If they have a video camera
has du tuwáa sigoowú has akawushxeedí wé aan ḵukdushxeet át,
if they want to record with the video camera,
jinkaat dáanaax̱ gux̱satée.»
it's going to be ten dollars.”
Aag̱áa áwé tsá, ag̱áa áwé tsá
That is when
{aadéi kax̱sha} aadéi gax̱tudashée has akawushxeedí.
we are going to help them record.
X'oondahéen sáwé yisiteen wa.éich?
How many times have you seen this?
Yéi at kawdayaayí áwé a daa yóo tux̱aatánk.
When that happens, I think about it.
Ch'a ldakát át áwé déi s awsikóo ḵa a yahaayí tsú.
They know everything already, and have pictures too.
A yahaayí tsú ldakát yá Lingít aaní káa yéi yatee x'úx' káa yéi yatee ax̱ jeewú á wéidu á.
Everything in the world is already written in books and there's pictures too, I have it, itʼs over there.
Ax̱ jeewú x'úx' woosh g̱unayáadei x'úx'.
I have books, all different kinds of books.
A yahaayí x'úx' a káa yéi yatee.
There's a picture of it in the book.
Hél aadéi yaa at gax̱tooshigéiyi yé.
We can't keep it for ourselves.
Ch'a has du jeewú á,
They already have it,
hás jee yei yeedat. ???
them, now. ???
Áwé iyasaayi aa
The ones you named,
yáa woosh g̱unayáade k'e yáa Ishkeetaan
itʼs different, the Ishkeetaan
G̱aanax̱.ádi x̱oonáx̱ áwé.
from the G̱aanax̱.ádi.
Ishkeetaan ḵa G̱aanax̱teidí.
Ishkeetaan and G̱aanax̱teidí clans.
Has du x̱oonáx̱ {ka} kaawahaayi át áwé.
They stem from them.
Mhm.
{ísh} Íshkee, x̱áat,
A fishing hole, salmon,
a káx̱ héeni yéi áwé.
up the stream, thatʼs it.
Héen yik.
In the stream.
Aaá héen yíxʼ.
Yes, in the stream.
Ísh yóo duwasáakw
Fishing hole is what they call it,
a káax̱ saa áwé,
that's what the name comes from,
Íshkeetaan.
Íshkeetaan.
Wé héen yík tláakw kanadaa nooch wé ísh.
The water flows fast through the fishing hole.
Aaá.
Yes.
Hél aadé ch'a tliyéi yan g̱waadaayí.
It can't flow slowly.
Yées héen áwé tlákw a kaadéi kooháaych, ách áwé
Fresh water always flows into it, that's why
aax̱ dax̱ítch.
they spawn there.
Uhuh.
Aax̱ dax̱ítch.
They spawn there.
{wé} Wé daa sá a kát wuheení,
Whatever flows into there,
aax̱ dax̱ítch.
they spawn there.
Íshkeetaan.
Íshkeetaan.
Jimmie Fox hás áwé.
Jimmie Fox is one of them.
Yáa wdashaaní áwé yáa Juneau-dáx̱ ḵoowateen
When he got old, he left Juneau
Tlákw Aandé
to Klukwan,
G̱aanax̱teidí aaní áwé {ax̱}
land of the G̱aanax̱teidí,
{áa ḵux̱ du ḵoow} áa ḵux̱ ḵuwditín.
he went back there.
Ḵúnáx̱,
Really,
ḵúnáx̱ aax̱ kawsixadi yé du ḵusteeyí.
his culture really pulled him back.
Ch'a yáa Lingít x̱'éináx̱ ḵu áwé
But in Tlingit
wé {yéi} yéi dusáagun Weihá.
his name was Weihá.
Jimmie Fox, Weihá.
Ch'áagu Lingít saayí áwé.
Thatʼs an old Tlingit name.
Yáa sgóonx' yéi x̱at wuteeyí
When I went to school
nás'gináx̱
three
sgóonwaan áa yéi wuteeyí,
students that were there,
dáx̱náx̱ ḵáa ḵa tléináx̱ has du dlaak'.
two boys and their one sister.
Weihá has du saayí shóox̱ wusitee, Rachel Weihá,
Weihá became their last name, Rachel Weihá,
David Weihá and Clifford Weihá, all Lingít surnames. Interesting, very interesting, all the Lingít names. Weihá, Weihá.
Áwé, {a a dáx̱ wé} kayshixídi aa,
The ones that you wrote,
{wé} wé Teeyhittaan (clan), thatʼs Raven side.
Has du at.óowux̱ áwé sitee kwshé wé xíxch' tsú wé Íshkeetaan.
Itʼs their clan property, right, the frog, the Íshkeetaan clan too?
Aaá, aaá, xíxch'.
Yes, yes, frog.
Wé Sheet'ká,
In Sitka,
wáa sá duwasáakw wé Sheet'ká aan?
what do they call the one in Sitka?
Xíxch' has ayahéin.
They (also) claim the frog.
Kiks.ádi. Kiks.ádi, yeah.
Tlél wooch jeex̱ has akawusxaat.
They didn't argue about it.
Yóo Yaakwdáat,
In Yakutat,
tsú áx' ḵaa tuwáa wsigóo xíxch' at oohéin.
people there wanted to own the frog too.
Áwé ax̱ tláach kanéegi,
My mother talked about it,
Sheet'káx' tlax̱ l unalgeijí áwé ax̱ tláa.
in Sitka before she grew up.
Has du k'idaakáx' yéi has wootee.
They lived next door.
Áwé a daax̱ at kawdixéel'.
There was trouble over it.
Yaakwdáat ḵwáan ḵa Sheet'ká aa Kiks.ádi.
The Yakutat people and the Sitka Kiks.ádi.
A daax̱ at kawdixéel' aatlein.
There was big trouble over it.
Áwé yéi x̱waajée
I think
tlei yáa yagiyeedé
to this day
{Sheet'ká, Sheet'ká} Sheet'ká ḵwáanch áwé yaawadlaaḵ.
the Sitka people won.
Ḵúnáx̱
Really
has du at.óowux̱ sitee wé
itʼs their emblem (crest)
Yaakwdáat aa hás ḵu áwé tlei déi s ajeewanáḵ.
it was the Yakutat people though that just let it go.
Áx̱ kawdihaa.
It faded away.
Aaá, tlei s ajeewanáḵ,
Yes, they let it go,
wé Yaakwdáatdáx̱ aa ḵu.aa.
the ones from Yakutat though.
A daax̱ at kawdixéel' aatlein,
There was a lot of trouble over it,
ax̱ tláach kanéek.
my mother talked about it.
Aawa.áx̱ kawdudligaaw has du k'idaakáx'.
She heard them fighting next door.
A daax̱ kawdudligaaw x̱'éig̱aa.
The really fought over it.
Yóo ax̱ léelk'u jeex' áwé yéi wootee tsú wé xíxch'.
And my grandfather also had the frog.
Uh, William Johnson.
Yéil Kúdi Hít.
Raven Nest House.
Uhuh. Uhuh.
Áyá yéi áwé sax̱waa.áx̱ du yóo x̱'atángi.
This is what I heard him say.
Yeedát g̱unéi yakg̱waxéex, yáa
Now it's going to begin, this
al'eix̱ tlein a káax̱ dulyeix̱.
big dance they do for it.
Aag̱áa áwé xíxch'i s'áaxw ax̱ sháa aawatee.
Then they put the frog hat on my head.
Ḵa yá naaxein.
And a Chilkat blanket.
X̱at x̱'eiwawóos',
Someone asked me,
«Ayáx̱ gé ilitseen,
“Are you strong enough,
Chx̱ánk',
Grandchild,
{yáa} yáa haa naakahídi {yaa shuni.át} yaa shuneegúdi?»
to be the leader of our clan house?”
Áwé hóoch áyá,
Heʼs the one,
du tuwáa wsigóo
he liked
aadéi ax̱ yóo x̱'atángi yax̱ x̱walayeix̱,
the way I made my speech,
x̱walayaag̱ú.
the way I represented it.
Áwé x̱at saga.aax̱, dé yá {ax̱ náa} ax̱ náade akaawanáa. {ax̱}
He wanted to hear my speech, so he put it on me.
Ax̱ sháax̱ aawatee wé xíxch'i s'áaxw.
He put the frog hat on me.
Hél yá ḵu.aa hél {du} du x̱'akáax̱ x̱'ax̱wda.aa.
I didnʼt speak like he wanted me to though.
«Hél ayáx̱ x̱at woowáat,» yéi daayax̱aḵá.
“Iʼm not old enough,” I said.
«Léelk'w,
“Grandpa,
ch'a aadéi yéi x̱at na.oo.
please forgive me.
Daat yáanáx̱ sá ix̱'ax̱litseen.
I value your words more than anything.
A yáat'aa ḵu áwé shákdé yakḵwadláaḵ.»
Maybe this time though I will do it.”
Ayáx̱ áwé,
Thatʼs right,
ayáx̱ áwé yeeyaḵaa.
thatʼs right what you said.
I daa yaa ḵushuwsigéi.
You understood.
Tlél tléik' ḵu yéi yayiḵaa.
You didnʼt say no.
A tóox̱ ḵu áwé yeegoot yéi ḵuwanaḵéich.
But you stepped into it is what people say.
Ḵaa yáa uwané.
Respecting someone.
A tóox̱ yeegoot du yóo x̱'atángi.
You walked into his words.
A tóox̱ yeegoot.
You stepped into it.
Áwé,
So,
yóo át ḵu ax̱ náat aawayíḵ
that thing they put on me
yáat'aa yáa yéi too.úx̱xʼu aa x̱á
this one that we wear all the time, see,
ax̱ aat
my aunt
Daisy Phillips-ch áwé uwaḵáa ax̱ jeeyís yá xíxch'.
Daisy Phillips sewed it for me, this frog.
William Johnson-ch áyá ax̱ náat uwawúx̱.
Itʼs William Johnson that put it on me.
Uhuh. Uhuh.
«I ádi, i jeeyís áyá yáat'aa ḵu.aa
“Yours, this one is for you
Uhuh.
i léelk'ux̱ x̱at sateeyéech.
because Iʼm your grandparent.
Yéil Kúdi Híttaan
The Raven Nest House
i léelk'u hás has du naakahídi áyá.
this is your grandparentsʼ clan house.
Uhuh.
Ách áyá i náade sax̱waahéi yáat'aa ḵu.aa,» yéi x̱at daayaḵá.
This is why I want you to have this one,” this is what he tells me.
Aag̱áa yéi x̱at yawsiḵaa,
And then he told me,
«Yáa Íshkeetaan, Jimmie Fox,
“This Íshkeetaan, Jimmie Fox,
dáx̱ áyá haa jeet wudzinéi wé xíxch'.»
this is where we acquired the frog from.”
Has asáagun ḵu.éex' ḵóox' Jimmie Fox.
They used to name Jimmie Fox during the party.
Has asáagun.
They used to name him.
Ḵa du goodás' á tsú kei du.aax̱jín.
They used to bring his shirt out too.
Gwál yisiteen wa.éich tsú.
Maybe you saw it too.
Du {goo} kʼoodás'i.
His shirt.
Kei du.aax̱ch.
They'd bring it out.
X̱wasiteen.
I saw it.
Haa, kʼé chʼa tléix'aa,
Well, another thing,
{yóo} yóo haa church-i,
our church,
Xúnaa Presbyterian Church,
Hoonah Presbyterian church,
áx̱ áwé ḵusatéeyin, William Johnson. Aaá.
William Johnson was a member there. Yes.
A tóox'
In it
ch'a yá officer yáx̱ kudayéin; tlél gé elder-x̱ wustee?
he was like an officer; wasnʼt he an elder?
Elder-x̱ ágé wusitee?
Was he an elder?
Elder.
Yáa haa church-i tóox',
In our church,
saa tleinx̱ sitee elder-x̱ wudulyeix̱í.
itʼs a big name when they make someone an elder.
A tóox' ágé elder-x̱ wusitee, William Johnson?
(In the church) was William Johnson an elder?
Aaá.
Yes.
Wé ax̱ éesh tsú elder-x̱ wusteeyín, ách áwé
My father also became an elder, that's why
yá Sheldon Jackson-dáx̱ {x̱at kaawa}
from Sheldon Jackson
x̱at kaawanáa ax̱ éesh.
my father sent me.
Yáa tléix' yateeyi aa káx̱ áwé ix̱'ax̱waawóos'.
I asked you about this one thing.
Yéi áyá x̱waa.áx̱.
This is what I heard.
{has} Du dáanaayi tlein
His big money
bank-t teen.
with the bank.
Áyá
So
{aadóo kagéix'} daat kagéi sá kakg̱wahaayí,
what is it going to coincide with
áyá a eeteenáx̱ at yatee.
that's what's needed.
Áyá {y y}yáa church kagéi aa kg̱aháa.
Let some of it come before the church.
Aadóo sá ḵu yéi yakg̱waḵáa
Who though will say
x̱á du church-i x̱aawéi
that was his church
a tóox' at sateeyín.
and he was important in it.
A tóox' wulisaayí du church-i.
His name was important in his church.
Áwé dleit ḵáa niyaanáx̱ áwé yéi ḵuwanaḵéich,
In the white man's way they say,
«Yak'éi x̱á,
“It's good indeed,
yáadu gút k'isáani,
here is a little money,
du church-i kagéi aa kaháa,» tsú yéi ḵuwanaḵéich.
some of it can go to their church,” that's what people say.
Ch'a ayáx̱ áyá yáat'aa i een kax̱anéek x̱á.
This is the truth that I am telling you, see.
{tle tle} Tlél at wusg̱áax̱ yáx̱ áyá yóo x̱'ax̱aatánk, tléik'.
I'm not talking like I'm asking for anything, no.
Hél at wusg̱áax̱ yáx̱, xá.
Not asking for anything, see.
Yak'éi.
That's good.
Ch'a, chʼa yéi ḵu ayáx̱ at kudayáa.
But this is how things are.
Yéi yateeyi at kagéix' x̱á.
Things happen together, see.
Áwé ch'a i gukát x̱waatée x̱á.
I'm just telling you to let you know.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
{x̱á} X̱á yá gaaw
At this time
yá gaaw haa jeet axawatée yáa, yáa aan yátk'u.
this precious person gave us this time.
At wuskú tlein káx̱ áyá,
This is for big knowledge,
at wuskú tlein káx̱ áyá.
this is for big knowledge.
Déi yaa kunawáchʼ haa gaawú yáa Lingít aaní káx'.
Our time is getting short on this earth now.
Áyá haa sagax̱du.áx̱ch.
They are going to hear our voices.
Yóo áyá ḵuyakg̱waḵáa,
This is what they'll say,
«K'é has du x̱'éit sa.áx̱.
“Please listen to them.
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ áyá yóo s x̱'ali.átk.
They are speaking in the Tlingit language.
Tlél x'úx' kaax̱ áyá
Itʼs not from a book
has du ée wdultóow yáa yóo x̱'atánk.
that they learned this language.
Has du tláa ḵa has du éesh, has du káak, has du x̱oonx'í, has du léelk'u hás
Their mother and their father, their uncle, their relatives, their grandparents
aadéi yóo s x̱'ala.átgi yé yéeyi áyá.»
this is how they used to speak.”
Á áyá
This is
áyá has du x̱'éide, has du x̱'éide iya.áx̱ch,
this is what you hear them saying,
«Aadéi yóo x̱'adul.átgi yéi yéeyi ch'áakw.»
“This is how they used to speak long ago.”
Ách áyá gunalchéesh yéi iyakḵwasaḵáa
This is why I'm going to say thank you to you
{ch'a chʼa} ch'a haa eenx̱ iwusteeyí. X̱át tsú {tlé}
for being among us. Me too,
tlél yéi tlax̱ k'idéin x̱'eix̱a.áx̱ch x̱áach tsú ch'a aan áyá,
I don't understand it very well, me too, just the same,
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ yóo x̱'ax̱aatánk.
I speak the Tlingit language.
{tlél tlél} Tlél
Not
Lingít {aan} aan yádi yáx̱ yóo x̱'eix̱ataanch.
I donʼt speak like a noble person.
Ch'a, chʼa yéi yóo x̱'ax̱aatánk Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
This is just how I speak Tlingit.
{ách áwé} Ách áyá ax̱ toowú yak'éi
This is why I'm happy
áyá ax̱ sé a kaadéi yaa nas.áx̱i yá át.
that my voice is being recorded on this thing.
Ḵa wa.é tsú ax̱ yáanáx̱ áyá k'idéin
And you too, better than me
yisikóo yáa Lingít yóo x̱'atánk, ách áwé i x̱'éit ux̱sa.aax̱.
you know the Tlingit language, which is why I listen to you.
Uwayáa wa.é tsú haa ée latóow, ách áyá
It's like you're also teaching us, this is why
sh tóog̱aa x̱at ditee
I'm grateful
ch'a yéi x̱at teeyí teen áyá
being as I am
yee een sh kax̱daneek.
I'm telling you about my background.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Ch'a uwayáa
It's like
héennáx̱ kéi x̱at iyateeyi yáx̱ áyá x̱at yisinei yáa, yáa
you saved me from the water
a tóode yóo x̱'aduwatángi át yóo shaawát,
the recorder that you talk into, that lady [referring to Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff],
du tóox̱ kei at uwaxíx
it occured to her
haa x̱'éit g̱asa.aax̱ít.
(to record) so they could hear our speaking.
Ḵáa yáa át wooné áyá ax̱ tuwáa sigóo
Out of respect, I want
yéi yóo x̱'atánk x̱walayeix̱í i gukáax'.
to speak for you to hear me.
Gunalchéesh.
Yáa woosh yinaa yádix̱ haa sitee.
We're clan brothers. [Both Raven]
Yakʼéi.
Itʼs good.
Yáa Yéil yátx'ix̱ haa sitee.
We're children of the Raven.
Yéi x̱á yatee.
That's right indeed.
Ách áyá tlax̱ wáa sá ax̱ toowú wootáax̱'u yáx̱ woonei tliyaatgé
Thatʼs why it was like my feelings sank the other day
{woosh} woosh jeeyawaadéi áyá x̱'awtuditaan.
we were speaking kind of like against each other.
Aaá, aaá.
Yes, yes.
Áyá
So
tle aax̱ yei wootee.
it was after that.
Yá neilx' a daa yéi tux̱waatánk.
At home I was thinking about it.
Ch'a wáa sá gax̱toosgéet yá shaawát haa jeet x̱'awditán?
What are we going to do now that the lady [Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff] telephoned us?
Aaá, aaá.
Yes, yes.
Ch'a yeisú a daa yóo x̱'atula.átgi áwé,
While we were still speaking about it,
wé tóonáx̱ yóo x̱'aduwatángi át áwé shwudigwál.
the telephone rang.
Áwé
So
isax̱waa.áx̱.
I heard your voice.
Áwé tsú haa tóoxʼ yéi at uwaxíx.
We got an idea. [It fell into our head.]
Yáa yeedát
And now
woosh een a kaadéi yóo x'awtuli.át yáa
we're speaking together for it, these
yées kei kanawát ḵu.oo
young people growing up
haa sag̱a.aax̱ít.
so they can hear our voices.
Aaá yak'éi, yak'éi.
Yes, that's good, that's good.
Haa sag̱a.aax̱ít.
So they can hear our voices.
Ch'as hóochʼ áyá
Only this is all,
gwál wa.é tsú yéi ituwatee,
maybe you feel the same,
ch'áakw ḵaa náḵ wutoo.aadí,
long ago when we left people,
yá yées ḵu.oo
the young people
gwál haa x̱'éide gax̱dus.áax̱.
maybe will listen to us.
Áwé
So
aag̱áa áyá
that's when
haa tundatáani tsú yéi kg̱watée x̱'alatseen.
our thoughts too will be that way, valuable.
Daat yáanáx̱ sá x̱'adultseen nooch ḵaa yátx'i, ḵaa dachx̱ánx'i yán.
Peopleʼs children and peopleʼs grandchildren are valued above all else.
Ách áyá woosh tin
This is why together
a tóodei haa sawdu.aax̱í
when they hear our voices
ch'a á áwé aan x̱adatóow yéi áwé sh kax̱alneek.
itʼs that which I'm counting on, that's what I'm saying.
Ḵa yáa {uháan}
And
wuháan {daat} daat yáanáx̱ sá {x̱ali} x̱'ax̱litseen i yóo x̱'atángi.
we value your words more than anything.
{aa} Aadéi yidaxun yé.
The way you carry yourself.
Ch'a ḵushukoojeis'.
Giving direction.
{x̱ʼáax̱} X̱'áak daa x̱'awdutaaní,
When itʼs talked about,
a káx̱ iyatee.
you're protecting it.
Ch'as yak'éi yinaadé ḵu.aa
Toward the good side
ḵushukeejeis'.
you're instructing people.
Áyá, ách áyá ax̱ toowú wook'éi yáa
So this is why I'm happy that
haa gukáa kayda.aayí yáat.
you've included it for us to hear here.
Yakʼéi.
Thatʼs good.
A tóode has x̱'ax̱du.aax̱í.
So that people can hear them in it.
Ch'a yéi ch'a gunalchéesh
Just thank you
ch'a yéi yaa x̱at x̱'andu.áx̱.
this is what Iʼm being heard saying.
Yéi áyá x̱át tsú. Gunalchéesh.
That's right, me also. Thank you.
X̱át tsú hóoch' een yís áyá
Me too, this is the last time
yóo x̱'akḵwatáan yáa át yáa kanajúxu.
I will speak on this thing thatʼs running (video camera).
Wáa sá ax̱ sh tóog̱aa x̱at datee nooch.
I'm always so very thankful. [How very much Iʼm grateful.]
Ch'a yéi googéink' x̱'ax̱waa.áx̱ch Lingít yóo x̱'atángi ch'a yéi googéink'.
Just a little I can understand Tlingit, just a little.
Áyá a daa yoo tux̱aatángit
When I think about it
yáa ax̱ partner yéi yanaḵéijin
my partner used to say
at g̱aax̱satéenin ḵa
when she might have seen something and
ch'a daa sá awu.aax̱í yéi áwé yanaḵéijin,
whatever she heard, she used to say,
«Tlél áwé tlax̱ wulkoodzí.»
“It wasn't that amazing.”
Yéi áwé sh daa tux̱dataaní,
This is what I'm thinking about myself,
tlél áwé tlax̱ ulkoodzí,
it's not really that amazing,
yáa ax̱ at x̱'a.áx̱ji yéi áyá.
my understanding of things, thatʼs it.
Gunalchéesh, yáax' áwé tlei yánde shukḵwasatáan, gunalchéesh.
Thank you, this is where I'm going to end it, thank you.
Gwál hóoch'i aa áyá gux̱satée yá tundatáan.
Maybe this will be the last thought.
Hél gooháa nooch
It's always obvious
yáa a tóox' kei ḵuwuwáadi ḵaa yóo x̱'atángi.
when a person has grown up with their language.
Hél {uwa} yan uwagudi yáx̱
Thereʼs no difficulty
yax̱ kudayáa át wulyáaḵw.
in using analogies.
{ḵay} Ḵa ch'a daa sá daa x̱'awduwataan.
And whatever one is speaking about.
Áwé eetí yáanáx̱,
More,
ax̱ gúk
my ear
{áaa} kei ashátch
always catches
yá ḵaa yóo x̱'atángi aadéi yaa nas.áx̱i yé.
the tone of the person's voice.
Hél gooháa nooch.
It's obvious.
Áyá s du séide {x̱wa} x̱waa.áx̱ yáa University of Alaska.
I heard their voices at the University of Alaska.
Ch'a yéi googéink' áwé yóo x̱'ax̱waatán Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
I spoke a little Tlingit.
Áwé has sax̱waa.áx̱.
And I heard them.
Tlax̱ wáa sá {ha}
How very
haa toowú yak'éi yáa át wutusa.aax̱í yá Lingít x̱'éináx̱ yóo x̱'atángi yáa,
happy we are that we can listen to the Tlingit language, these,
Wa.é tsú a tóode wduwasáa
They also mentioned your name
yáa Lingít x̱'éináx̱ x̱'aydataaní.
that you speak Tlingit.
Chʼu l yéi ḵudujée nooch.
People never think it will be that way.
Gwál hél haa x̱'éit has wus.aax̱.
Maybe they didn't listen to us.
Aag̱áa áwé x̱a.áax̱.
And then I heard it.
Ax̱ yáa yéi woonei.
I got a vision.
Ách áwé aadéi at x̱waa.ax̱i yé
That's why the way I hear things
has du x̱'éidáx̱ aadé x̱waa.ax̱i yé áwé ax̱ tuwáa wsigóo
the way I hear them I wanted
wa.é tsú i een kax̱waneegí aadé has x̱'ayaḵa yé. Yakʼéi, gunalchéesh.
to tell you too what they were saying. Itʼs good, thank you.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Aag̱áa áwé ch'a l yéi ḵudujeeyí
And then people don't really think about it
yáa
this
a kaadé yaa kanajúx a tóode x̱'aydataaní x̱át tsú
is recording, when you talk into it, me too
{áaa} ax̱ sé wudu.aax̱í.
that my voice is heard.
{áaa} Dikée Aanḵáawu ch'a yéi
God
yéi haa daayaḵáa nooch,
is always saying to us,
«Yan yeené.
“You all get ready.
I toowú yan yisaneiyí,
If your mind is made up,
aag̱áa hél toowú sh kei kg̱idakʼei.»
then you wonʼt be happy with yourself.” [You need to have an open mind.]
Dikée Aanḵáawu aadé haa koo.aḵw yé.
What the Lord has planned for us.
Hél wuduskú
Nobody knows
ḵaa gaawú
their time
aag̱áa yánde shukg̱wasyiḵ yé.
when heʼs going to stop filling it.
Ách áwé yéi haa daayaḵáa nooch,
That is why he says to us,
«Yan yeené.»
“You all get ready.”
Yéi ax̱ toowú yatee yáa át, yá yóo x̱'atánk.
That is how I feel about this thing, this conversation.
Has du jeeyís áyá.
This is for them.
Yak'éi.
That's good.
Yánde yaa ntootéen yá yóo x̱'atánk.
We're laying this conversation down. [ending it]