This material is based on work supported by National Science Foundation grants BCS-0651787 and 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.

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Symobls used in the transcription

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Software Used

Time-aligned text for this video was accomplished using ELAN, Versions 6.0 (2020), 6.1 (2021), and 6.3 (2022) Nijmegen: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, The Language Archive. Retrieved from https://archive.mpi.nl/tla/elan

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Tlingit Conversation #40
Yoo {x̱'a} x̱ʼatángi Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
I'm speaking in Tlingit. A aá.
Speakers are Lasaayí Emma Shorty, Kaséix̱ Selina Everson, Wooshtudeidu.oo Florence Smarch, Tʼaaḵú Tláa Pearl Keenan, Chukatéen Jane Smarch, Kèyishí Bessie Cooley, and Ḵeixwnéi Nora Marks Dauenhauer. Recorded August 13, 2010, at the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre, Teslin, YT, Canada, by Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff.
Tlingit transcription by X̱ʼaagi Sháawu Keri Eggleston. English translation by Sháksháani Margaret Dutson, Ḵaaḵal.aat Florence Sheakley, Kaséix̱ Selina Everson with Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff. Edited by Yeiltʼoochʼ Tláa Collyne Bunn.
At doogú daaduné tlél gí shátx̱.
Hides are being worked on, arenʼt they, older sister.
Aa? At dóogu.
What? Hide. [Moosehide]
No. Nice, you no make any? No. Tléikʼ.
No. Nice, you no make any? No. No. [Florence is asking Pearl if she still tans hides.]
{Tlél it} Tlél áyá,
Not,
tlél x̱at ultseen, do it no more, no more.
I'm not strong, do it no more, no more. [Iʼm not strong; I donʼt do it any more.]
But ax̱ jee yéi yá at doogú, áyá.
But I [have] done hides.
Áyá k'idéin yéi jix̱aneiyí áyá aag̱áa áwé yéi daax̱anéi. I do it, do it, do it, áx̱, I got enough. Yeah.
When Iʼm working well, then I worked on it. I do it, do it, do it, there, I got enough. Yeah.
Ax̱ jee yéi yatee.
I have it.
You still do it?
Yeah, that's what I'm doing.
I used to do it chʼa i yáx̱ when I was strong.
I used to do it just like you when I was strong.
Gaa! I could have finish everything, shátx̱, but, how much I, um, Iʼm
older sister
Kaxéel'ch yéi x̱at wootee.
Trouble made me this way.
Today yet, I cry sometime.
I still cry today yet sometimes.
Oh, yea.
You can't, toowúch gidéin. [inaudible] Mine.
You canʼt feel [too] greatly. [inaudible] Mine.
Haa ítde kg̱eegóot. Tlél unalée dei wéit á.
You can come after us. It's not very far there.
Líl yéi eetéeḵ!
Don't be like that!
Laugh wé i yátx'i jeeyís. Mhm.
Laugh for your children.
Laugh and tease them, talk to them, don't feel bad. Dei wéidu á, weʼre going to be finished, we gonna be going.
Laugh and tease them, talk to them, don't feel bad. Now over there, weʼre going to be finished, we gonna be going.
Yéi áwé ax̱ tuwatee, x̱á.
That's the way I feel, see.
Ch'a tléináx̱ yéi ḵux̱dzitee.
I live alone.
Ax̱ éekʼ hás ḵa ax̱ shátx̱i hás tlél ax̱ jee.
My brothers and my older sisters I donʼt have. [My brothers and older sisters are gone.]
Gone, all of them. It's hard sometime and I want to talk to somebody. That's all I got is that
Léich, Gaandeiléich.
Gaandeiléich. [Pearl may possibly be referring to Marjorie Smith, her niece.]
Ax̱ kéek'. She's good, her, she's really good with me. {eh}
My younger sister.
Du eedé, I
With her,
I really feel good with her.
Hmm.
Hmm.
That's the way you gotta do, wé Mary teen. Aa hah.
Thatʼs the way you have to do with Mary. [Agreemeent.] [Mary is Florenceʼs daughter.]
Dachx̱ánx'i sáani, how many?
Grandchildren, how many?
I yeetx'i hás, sure, has adanáa neech.
Your children, sure, they often drink.
But they sober, the biggest part.
I get up sometimes and I really get lonely, I'm really lonely. I stay here too, all the time, I'm here all the time. I don't know. Everybody think I stay in Whitehorse. No.
Hmm.
I stay here all the time. Just, I go to Whitehorse to see Doctor, I get groceries and, I come back and stay here.
Oh, I ask for you all the time.
Máa sá (ya)téeyi?
How is she?
Oh, Whitehorset yóo yatee.
Oh, she's in Whitehorse.
Yes.
No. That's what they told me.
Naa, it's never that way. I'm always right here, all the time.
Wé ax̱ car-i áwé,
That car of mine,
I put it in the garage, áwé, there they don't see it.
Hmm.
That's when they want to. That's when they say I'm gone.
What we going to talk about?
Haa tlaa hás.
Our mothers.
Áaa.
Yes.
Yeah.
Look, theyʼre all coming back now.
How long ago, Nora, when {sh} he went down there like that?
[Rafting down the Ahrnklin? River]
Um, in the 90's.
Áwés dé.
Then.
Yea, I think we went down ten times.
Gée.
I still wanna go down! [At shook]
[Laughter]
Did you keep a journal? {Of the?}
You wrote???
Yeah.
It's going to be interesting reading for your.
We took our kids, our grandchildren. If you graduate we will take you to the... [Break in recording to find a quieter, shadier location.]
Dougie, lunch isn't until one oʼclock. So, um, Bonar has invited the Alaska delagation to the museum, so do you want to work until noon, then go to the museum and then come back for lunch?
Either way. That's all right.
Sounds good! Mhm.
Yak'éi!
Good!
Whatever you guys want us to do!
No, like I say, we want you to be comfortable, too.
Yak'éi gí?
Is that good?
Aáa, yak'éi. Okay.
Yes, good.
I'll go phone him.
By that time the sun will be over there.
[At shooḵ]
[Laughter]
I'm gonna be warm.
We'll follow the sun.
You want to go over there?
Mhm.
Yes.
Áaa.
Yes.
Ok. [Break in recording.]
Á áwé.
Yes.
Elders, Amaze-uns. Ravens.
Hél a kát gánde nagoodi á?
Is there no bathroom here?
Éee.
Yuck.
Does that door open?
I don't know. I'll go and open it though. I'll run around.
Yeah.
I'll be just a sec. Iʼll go, I'll do it. I have to run this way.
Katrina will love to watch the Teslin dancers
and their songs.
Cookies!
Who's dog is that?
Norma.
That's Emmaʼs grandson.
[Joking]
[At shooḵ] Thatʼs my dog.
[Laughter]
Náʼ! Norma.
This is for you. [Take it.]
Oh.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Now youʼre involved. [At shooḵ]
[Laughter]
My nature.
Emma sá x̱'akḵwawóos'
I will ask Emma
x̱ʼéix̱ een x̱ʼawutaaní,
who she spoke with,
x̱ʼéix̱ een x̱'awutaaní.
who she spoke with.
Yeah, you were. Mhm.
Gook, gí?
Go ahead, right? [Letʼs start, should we?]
Gook!
Go ahead!
Gook. Haa. Dei yan x̱'eeyataanín, gí?
Go ahead. Did you already speak?
Áaa.
Yes.
[inaudible] ḵu.á yan yoo x̱ʼeitánjin. ???
[inaudible] however, it was spoken. [I already finished speaking.]
Ax̱ tuwáa sigóo, ḵu.aa,
I want, however,
siyéix̱ yoo x̱'ax̱atáni. Ah ha.
to speak (to you) the next day.
Góok!
Go ahead!
Tlél yá yeedát.
Not right now.
See if she wants to say things though.
Aam, ldakát yeewáan sigóo aan
All if you want
I tuwáa sigóo,
Do you want,
Ḵúnáx̱ yaawat'aa.
It's real hot.
Aáa.
Yes.
You have another question?
Yéi áwé ix̱'ax̱awóos'.
That's what I'm asking you.
Not this minute.
Góok, gí, Alice?
Go ahead, right, Alice?
Wa.é ax̱ aat, sá gí?
Do you, my aunt, (want to) talk?
Chukateen. Máa sá ax̱ aat, sá gí?
Do you, my aunt, (want to) talk??
Aat, i tuwáa gí sigóo,
Auntie, do you want,
am, yoo x̱'eeyataaní?
um, to speak?
Ch'a wé
Just
{ah} haa ḵusteeyí
our way of life
a daat áwé yoo
is what about
x̱'atuli.átk yá ts'ootaat.
we were talking this morning.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ḵa
And
maanxʼás wé Law, tsú.
perhaps Law too.
Lingít law.
Tlingit law.
Ah, yéi
Uh, like this,
hóoch' gé yéi s ḵuwusteeyí?
is it over, their way of living?
A daat áwé yoo x̱'amtuli.aat yá ts'ootaat.
That's what we spoke about this morning.
Máa sá yaa at ganeech (ganeich) haa náḵ awugoodi?
What always happens when someone leaves us?
Yéi yáx̱ ḵa,
Like this, just,
am, máa sá ḵoowawát.
um, how the person grew up,
máa sá ḵutoostéeyin.
the way we used to live.
Á áwé.
That's what.
Dei yaa kanajúx wé,
It's running now, that
wé aankadushxít át.
the camera.
I tuwáa sigóo ch'a a daat
If you'd like
yoo {too} teeyataaní, yak'éi.
to just think about it, that's good.
Ax̱ shátx̱ {teel am}
My older sister
tlél yoo x̱'eiwutaaní.
didn't speak
ch'u l.
before.
Tlagoo ḵáawu,
The old timers,
haa aan eeteeyí téen yáat.
our footprints on the land are here.
Á áyá ax̱ toowú yanéekw a daadé.
I feel bad about it.
Haa x̱oot ḵaa shuwaxíx.
We're beginning to dwindle in numbers.
Ax̱ shátx̱
My older sister
haa jeet á ḵudzitee
is living with us
yeedát.
right now.
Hé! Yaa yagaxíxjin yáat.
Well! A lot of things used to happen here.
Yaakw, daa sé, dzísk'w du.óondin.
Boat, whatever, they used to shoot at moose.
«Góok!»
“Go ahead!”
Tléix' dzísk'w {wudu} wudujaag̱í, ldakát,
When they killed one moose, everyone,
aadé naa jee, «Góok,
it goes to people, “Go ahead,
daa sá yee tuwáa sigóo,
whatever you want,
aax̱ gaỹtí.»
take it.”
Ldakát.
All of it.
Aadé na.átjin.
They used to go there every time.
Yá yeedát ḵu.aa, tlél áyáx̱ at utí.
Right now things aren't like that.
Seems like tlél too woosh wutuskú,
Seems like we don't even know each other,
yeedádi ḵáawu.
people today.
Á áyá ax̱ toowú yanéekw a jiyeet.
I feel sad under the burden of it.
Hé! Goosú
My! Where
yéi haa nateejín, yóot
we used to be this way, over there
tléix' x̱'aan
one fire
shóode du.aakjín.
used to be built.
Áx' at gadus.ee neejín.
They always used to cook there.
Tea yéi daadunéi neejín.
Tea always used to be made.
Goosú kayaaní?
Where are the leaves?
Tlákw dei, haat dul.aatjín kayaaní.
All the time they used to bring leaves.
Tlél ch'e kaax̱ at dux̱áayin, chʼaagu ḵáawu.
They ate off nothing but that, the people of the past.
Kayaaní áwé
Leaves
kadulxásh jinéiyi jín yáax'.
are cut into pieces, work by hand here. ???
Atx̱á a káa x̱ʼe i x̱ʼoolʼ yá at
Food on it for your belly, this thing. ???
Dzísk'u shaayí.
A moose head.
Góok!
Go ahead!
A shóowu g̱aa x̱ʼéi yee jin atx̱á.
They used to sit around eating food by hand???
Tlél yéi at utí yeedát.
Things are not that way now.
Tle ch'a gushé áa de yéi yaa at naneen yá yéi
Now I just donʼt know whatʼs happening now, these
yeedádi ḵáawu.
people today.
Tlél ḵustí, tlél haa ḵustí has awuskú
They donʼt know, they know nothing about our way of life
yeedádi ḵáawu.
this generation.
Tle ch'a koogéiyi,
Any old way,
tle ch'a koogéiyi {haa} haa éex̱ has x̱'ataan neech.
any old way they always speak to us without respect.
Tlél yéi áyá
That isn't the way
yáx̱ haa yan wuduswáadin,
they used to raise us,
tlagu ḵáawu.
the old timers.
Ch'a yéi haa kusgéiyi dáx̱,
From the time we were little, [from the time we were this high]
haa tláa hás {haa} haa een yoo has x̱'ali.átgin neejín.
our mothers always used to talk with us.
«Yéi haagú yáa.
“Come over here.
Líl kei idahánjiḵ!
Don't stand up!
Yáaxʼ, yá lingít tlein áyá yóo x̱'ali.átk.
Here, honorable people are speaking.
Át yisa.áx̱,
Listen to it, [All of you listen to it,]
héi yoo x̱'atánk,
these words,
g̱ayisakóowut.»
so you can learn.”
Daa sá a daa yoo s x̱'ala.átgin,
Whatever they're speaking about,
tlél aadóo sá
nobody
kei idahánjiḵ!
stands up!
Á áyá
That is what
a daa yoo tux̱aatángi neech
I always think about
neil ḵanóogún ch'a tléináx̱.
when I'm sitting home alone.
X̱adaḵéis' nich, ch'a daa sá yéi daax̱aneiyí
Sometimes when I am sewing or whatever I am doing
ḵaa eetínáx̱.
without people.
Yáat'át shakdé ax̱ toowú
This one, maybe my thoughts,
change-ix̱ gux̱satée ax̱ toowú.
I will change my mind.
Yóo ax̱ tuteeyí nich.
That is how I always feel.
Wáa yateeyi gáan yáax̱ nax̱agútch.
Sometimes I would go outside.
Sh káa x̱'eix̱dagáx'ch.
I pray about it.
Dikée yateeyi haa S'aatí x̱a.éex' nich.
Our Master Above, I call on Him.
A káa a x̱'ax̱dagáx'in neech.
I always pray about it.
Yá haa aaní.
This land of ours.
All over the world.
Ayáx̱ kei jinastanjí ???daayax̱aḵáa nich.
Itʼs like he raises his hands to me, I always tell him. ??? [Itʼs as if I always tell him to hold me up, to bless me. ???]
When Iʼm going down
tléináx̱
alone
ḵanúkch
I sit down every time
ax̱ toowú néekw nich áyú {yee}
I always feel great sorrow
yeedát k'isáani aadé s yateeyi yé.
the way this generation is going now.
Gu.aal kwshé
I wish
has du éede tudashéeyeeḵ.
we could help them.
Ḵa yá has at danaayí,
And this when theyʼre drinking,
ḵut kei has shunaxíx.
theyʼre dying off.
A yéi has adaná át.
This thing [alcohol] theyʼre drinking.
Tlél yéi at utéeyin ch'áakw.
It never used to be that way long ago.
Tlél
We never
has du x̱ántx̱ too.aadín.
used to go to them.
Góok, yéi koogei,
Go ahead, that much,
has akanahéinjin, ch'áagu ḵáawu.
they used to mix it, the old timers. [That much they used to brew it, the old timers.???]
Tlél yá aadé haa a li.oosi áx̱.
They never were noisy there.
Has du x̱áni áx̱ a toowú kʼéijin yóo.
Amongst them they used to be happy there.
No.
Tlél has du x̱ánx̱ too.aadín.
We never used to go by them.
Kaagéináx̱ áwé
Silently, it was,
has at danáa neejín áwé
they used to always drink
has akawuhéeni át.
the brew they made.
Tlagóo wush,
Old stories, together,
tlagóo sheeyí
the old songs
has ashée neejín.
they always used to sing it.
Tlagóo ḵáawu at sheeyí has ashée neejín.
The old timer's songs they used to always sing.
Hé! At shoowu gaaw ??? dusheejín.
Well! They always used to sing for part of an hour. ???
Gunalchéesh
Thank you
ax̱ x̱'éide yeeysa.aax̱í.
for listening to me.
Ch'a yee een sh kakḵwalneek.
Iʼm just going to tell you all this.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Hóoch' ákwé? Aaá.
Is that all? Yes.
Gunalchéesh, Aat. Mmhm.
Thank you, Auntie.
Góok!
Go ahead!
Wa.éch déis.
It's your turn now.
Please.
Long, long time ago
ax̱ sáni áwé.
thatʼs my uncle. [fatherʼs brother]
Haa een {sh ke}sh kamdliník.
He began to talk to us.
Ch'a yéi áwé du x̱ánt x̱waagút.
And so I went by him.
Ḵa yóot'át
And that thing
education exchange yóo duwasaagu át.
“education exchange”, that thing is called.
Áx' aawatóow.
He read it there.
Akamlineek; ch'a yeisú ax̱ jeewú.
He told the story of it; I still have it.
Dleit ḵáanáx̱ áwé
In English
du jeeyís kax̱wshixít.
I wrote it for him.
Ḵaa ká áwé yéi daatoonéi uháan.
And we're working on it, all of us.
Ko̱oḵhíttaan
A Ko̱oḵhíttaan [a clan on the Crow side, (Raven side) in Teslin, Carcross, Atlin and other places.]
shaawát.
woman.
Aag̱áa áwé
And then
du x̱ánt wutuwa.át.
we went by him.
Ýéi haa yamsiḵaa,
He told us,
«Áyú gwáalaach ádi.
“That potlatch thing
A daat gí yeeysikóo?
Do you know something about it?
Goodáx̱ sáwé
Where does it
ḵoomdzitee?
come from?
Áwé gwáalaach ádi yeeysikóo gi?»
Do you know about the potlatch thing?”
«Tlaaỹ!» yóo daayatooḵá.
“No!” we tell him.
Á áwé haa een
That's what
akanéek.
he tells about with us.
Ch'áagu yéeyi yóo x̱'ayaḵá yú
Of long ago he says that over
Carcross yóo duwasáagu yéix'
at the place called Carcross
ch'a yeisú yéi duwa.óo.
they still use it there.
Ách ganya.eetí s'íx'i yóo duwasáagu.
That is why they call it fire dish.
Tle ch'as wé x̱'aan áwé yéi daadunée (daadunéi).
They would fix the fire. [A fire would be done/built.]
Tle áyú s'íx'
Then a dish [fire dishes]
woosh kaadé yéi daaduné nich,
they always worked on them all together,
aag̱áa áwé gíwé x̱'aan,
and then I guess the fire,
x̱ánde {has ana} has na.átch.
they would go by it. [I guess they would go by the fire.]
Tle wé x̱'aan tóode yéi daaduné.
Then they would put it right in the fire.
Tleidahéen yú.á
One time, they say,
áwé Juneau,
in Juneau,
áx' áwé,
that is where,
tléináx̱ ḵáa ḵa du shát
one man and his wife
áa yéi has yatee.
they lived there.
Á aag̱áa áwé has du yádi ḵoomdzitee.
Then at the time their child was born.
Hé.
Yep.
Tlax̱ máa sá
How very
has du toowú yak'éi.
happy they were.
Shaawát has amsinook.
They carried a baby girl. [They had a baby girl.]
Haam, aag̱áa áwé yeisú
Well, at that time now
kadag̱áax̱ neech wé shaawát.
the woman would always cry (loudly).
G̱áax̱ neech, ch'as g̱áax̱ neech.
She always cries, just cries.
Áwé tleidahéen áwé yéi ayamsiḵáa du shaawádi,
One time he told his woman,
«Kéi nax̱tooḵoox̱.»
“Let's go (by boat).”
«Gwál yáat áwé ch'a daa sá wé bother akamliyek.»
“Maybe here, there is some kind of spirit.” [a “bother”] ???
«Ax̱ séek',
“My daughter,
kéi nax̱tooḵoox̱.
let us go (by boat).
Ch'a goox' sá áa yéi haa kg̱watée.
We'll stay wherever we can.
Gwál aadé i eedé gux̱dashée.»
Maybe it will help you.”
Yóo áwé daayaḵá du shaawádi.
Thatʼs what heʼs saying to his wife.
Tle has wooḵoox̱.
Then they just left (by boat).
Tlax̱ yak'éiyi yé áwé át wooḵoox̱.
It was very good place that he boated to.
Haam. «Yáax' áwé yéi haa kg̱watée,» yóo adaayaḵá.
Well, “We're going to live here,” he said to her.
Tle anáx̱, wé yaakw yeedáx̱
Then there from the boat
kei has amli.át has du {x'át} átx'i sáani.
they picked up their belongings.
Ch'as some time áwé tlél ug̱aax̱ neech.
For just some time she didn't always cry.
Tle yóotʼaa tóode {yaa s} yáatʼaat
Then that thing [goes] into her, this thing
has du káa yáx̱ yéinaa ádi áwé tsáa
on them there, that thing, then
kei dag̱áx̱ neech, g̱áx̱ neech, g̱áx̱ neech.
she always cries, always cries, always cries.
«Hadóo, ax̱ séek', gushé máa sá yateeyi yé.»
“Oh dear, my daughter. I donʼt know what is at this place.”
Át has anasnúkch.
They carry her.
Á áwé tleidahéen
That is one time
has du átx'i sáani,
their few belongings,
has du akg̱wax̱áa át,
the things that theyʼre going to eat,
woosh kaadé yéi has adaané.
they are gathering them together.
Good worker, aatlein yéi jiné wé ḵáa.
Good worker, the man works hard.
Wé has du gáni, has du atx̱aayí,
Their wood, their food,
woosh kaadé yéi adaané a tóode.
he gathers it together into it.
Du shaawádi ḵu.aa, áwés át anasnúkch.
His wife though, always carries her around.
Wé has du yádi gushé aadé yateeyi yé ch'a tlákw
Their child, I wonder [I donʼt know] the way she always
g̱áx̱ neech.
cries.
Aag̱áa áwé
That is when
du shaawádi yéi adaayaḵá,
he said to his wife,
«Gushé máa sá yatee wé ax̱ séek'.
“I donʼt know what is wrong with my daughter.”
Gwál yá wóotl
Maybe this trouble
yóo {wé ka?} yáx̱
that like
something in the air, gíwé?
something in the air, maybe?
Aandawéidi yéi aya.óo.»
It is something here that will cause something [bad] to happen.” [”Aandawéide” means that something is done that will cause other things, often tragic, to happen.]
Yóo áwé adaayaḵá. Hé.
Thatʼs what he said to her. Goodness.
Ch'a g̱ég̱aa
In vain
asán neech. Ch'a g̱ég̱aa ch'a héide.
he always heals her. In vain, over there.
Yóode has adaanéi neech has du yádi.
They do that with their child over there.
Áwé tleidahéen áwé
Then this one time
{sham, ash}
shamdinúk wé ḵáa.
he got up, the man.
Wé x̱'áan kaadé
On the fire
x̱'áan yéi aawa.áx̱, du sé.
on the fire there he hears her voice.
A kát aawa.ák.
He fixed the fire.
Tle chʼa goodáx̱ áwé
Then just where from
tlél du sé oo.áx̱ch wé du séek'.
he couldnʼt hear his daughter's voice.
«Haahá!
“Hmmm!
Táach uwajáḵ ax̱ séek',» yóo tuwatee.
My daughter is asleep,” he thought.
Gwál wé báadáx̱ amliyéli át,
Maybe from “the bad thing” is a tricky [deceiving] thing, [Maybe the deceiving thing is from the “bad”.]
yéili át.
a deceiving thing.
Á gíwé du x̱ándáx̱
Maybe from her
ḵut woogoot yóo tuwatee.
it got lost, is what he thought. ???
Tle wé du shaawádi (kʼal x̱ʼéi náḵni ???) tín áwé,
When his wife ??? when it lets her voice go ??? with,
shamdinúk, hú tsú.
she got up, her too.
Tle yóo du {x̱} x̱úx̱ át.
Then there, her husband.
Du x̱úx̱ x̱'aan yaax̱ déi woogoot.
Her husband went along by the fire.
Aag̱áa áwé yéi ayamsiḵaa du x̱úx̱,
Then she said to her husband,
«Ch'a k'eekát táach uwajáḵ,
“She just [a little while ago] fell asleep,
haa séek',» yóo adaayaḵá.
our daughter,” she says.
«Yeisú a gaawú yaa kanayát'.»
“The time is now coming.”
Tle yéi ayamsiḵaa du shaawádi, «Shee dei, shee. ???
Then he said to his wife, “Calm [down] now. ???
Du x̱ánde nagú.
Go to her.
I toowóoch ágé g̱aa yáx̱ yatee?»
Do you think sheʼs all right?”
Á áwé tle aadé woogoot. Daa sá ch'u tlél aa ḵustée? Goosú?
Then she went towards there. What, just now sheʼs not there? Where is she?
Aax̱ áwé ayamdihaan tle du x̱úx̱ x̱ánt uwagút.
She fled from there and went to her husband.
Kadag̱áax̱.
She is crying out.
«Hadó.o.o! Gushé máa sá woonei haa séek'? Tlél aa ḵustée.» yóo adaayaḵá.
“Oh no! I donʼt know what happened to our daughter? Sheʼs not there.” she tells him.
Máa sá has gug̱asgéet? Yeisú atgutú át has ḵushee.
What are they going to do? Now they're around in the woods searching.
Wé héen tsú a yaax̱ dé has woo.aat. Tléik'.
They went down along the river now too. No.
«Tle oowayáa {wu}wooyík yéide amdzigeet,»
“Itʼs as if she fell into space,” [Itʼs as if she fell into “thin air”.]
yóo áwé adaayaḵá du x̱ó̱x̱ (x̱úx̱).
she said to her husband.
Aag̱áa kadag̱áax̱.
And then she cried.
Aaá. Ch'e (chʼa) k'ikát has woox̱éix'w.
Yes. They barely slept. [They barely managed to get a little sleep.]
Hú, wé shaawát.
Her, the woman.
Tlél daa sá has oox̱á aadé has du toowú yanéegu yé.
They didn't eat anything, the way they were devastated.
Aag̱áa áwé
And then
tléix' áa. «Tayeedé kḵwagóot,» yóo adaayaḵá du x̱ó̱x̱ (x̱úx̱).
one of them. “I'm going to bed,” she told her husband.
Áwé du x̱ó̱x̱ (x̱úx̱)̱ ḵu.aa, áwés yéi adaayaḵá,
Her husband though, said,
«Kát akḵwa.áak,» yóo x̱'ayaḵá.
“I will build a fire,” he said to her.
«Wooyíkde uyéx̱ áx̱.»
“She is gone towards space.” [She is gone into nothing, into oblivion.]
«Ax̱ séek' aadé uyeix̱í,
“If my daughter is gone out there,
Du x̱'éix̱ at kuḵatée wé x̱'aan tóonáx̱.»
I will feed her through the fire.”
Aag̱áa áwé, yeisú
And then, now
áwé has du atx̱aayí
their food
tle wé x̱'aan daak áwé yan ool.aatch, ḵílaa, s'íx'.
they would place the platters and dishes around the fire.
Tle ashalahíkx̱.
Then he fills them.
Hah, aax̱ áwé guntú,
Well, after that, under the blanket,
tayeedé nagútch.
he went to bed.
Ts'ootaat tle yéi a ḵee.é yéi uwagút áwé áa shax̱ʼaan
In the morning, when daybreak [dawn] came there, at the top of the fire,
wé s'íx', áwé,
the dishes,
x̱'aan kaadé yéi adaanéi. Shwu.
he would put them in the fire. Shwu. [Chukateen makes the sound of the food being thrown into the fire.]
A kát kélʼt ldakát yéi awsinei dáx̱ áwé.
On it [the dish] was ashes; from all of them he did that. [On top of the dishes were ashes, and he cleaned the ashes off them.]
Tliyéi yéi ana.átch.
Calm/stillness came. ???
Aag̱áa áwé yaakw,
And then a boat,
gwál yú "ship"
maybe that “ship”
yóotʼaa duwasáakw.
that one is called.
Has du yáanáx̱ át has naḵúx̱ch.
They are travelling around nearby them.
Tleidahéen
One time
ch'a yeisú yéi ḵuwanóok wé ḵáa
the man was still doing that [the fire dishes]
yaakw has amsiteen.
they saw a boat.
Tle, yéi has du niyaadé áwé yaa naḵúx̱.
And then, it was moving towards them.
Á tle át ḵóox̱ áwé,
When it got there,
tleeyéi yéi has wootee, has du x̱ánde has woo.aat.
they stopped and they went to them.
Ch'as yéi adaayaḵá wéit, wé shaawát ḵa wé ḵáa,
He said to the woman and the man there,
«Shkalneek tín áwé,
“With a story, [the “sh” in shkalneek can only be heard when speech is slowed down.]
x̱ánde yaa ntoo.át, shkalneek tín.»
we are coming to you with a story.”
«Hadóo,» yóo x̱'ayaḵá.
“Oh, my,” he said.
«Daaḵú kalneek tín sáwé haat yee.een?» aa yóo adaayaḵá. «Haat yi.át.»
“Which story did you [come here] with?” he said to them there. “Come here.”
Aag̱áa áwé yéi adaayaḵá wé shaawát ḵa wé ḵáa,
And then he said to the woman and the man,
«I séek' wutusiteen,»
“We saw your daughter,”
yóo x̱'ayaḵá.
he said.
«I séek' wutusiteen.
“We saw your daughter.
Gwál yeeỹsikóo yeewháan tsú
Maybe you folks know too
wé éil' káx̱
on the ocean
té tlein áwé héennáx̱ naashóowu,» s x̱ʼawóosʼ.
a big rock is sticking up out of the water,” he asks them.
«Tle yá a kináa áwé át .áa yóot.» {yóo daa} yóo x̱'ayaḵá.
“And right on top of it she was sitting,” he said.
«Dleit yáx̱ yatee l'aak yéi aya.óo.
“She's wearing a white dress.
Aag̱áa tsá áwé {du shaawú} du shax̱aawú
And then her hair,
tle wéi du x̱'oos x'aanáx̱
down to her feet
kaawa.aa.
it grew.
Tlei, kínaa.át yáx̱ áwé yéi aya.óowu du shax̱aawú.»
She wore her hair like a coat.”
Yéi wutusiteen!»
“That's what we saw!”
«Aag̱áa áwé yeisú,
“And then, now
i x̱ánt x̱wagoodí,
when I come to you,
ax̱ éesh ḵa ax̱ tláa has du x̱ánde naḵoox̱.»
go to my father and mother.”
Tle k'idéin á du een akaawaneek áwé áa yéi has yateeyí yé.
Then she carefully explained to him where they are.
«Yéi has yanasḵá
“Tell them
aandawéide áwé has ḵuwanóok.
they're doing things wrong. [”aandawéide” means that what is being done may lead to other, possibly bad, or tragic, things, happening.]
Aandawéide. Tlél ayáx̱ has ḵuwanook!»
The wrong way. They weren't doing things right!”
«Wé atx̱á, ch'as wéit,
“The food, just there,
x̱'aant
fire
taat yéi has adaanéi.»
they were doing it at night.” [They were working on the food at the fire at night.]
«Tlél ax̱ éex̱ dasheeyí!
“It doesn't help me!
Tlél ax̱ éex̱ dashee.
It doesn't help me.
Ch'a neechká áwé,
It's useless, [itʼs for nothing]
wé x̱'aan,
the fire,
x̱'aan kaadé {yéi daax̱anéi} yéi adaanéi, ax̱ éesh. {Am.}
my father doing that on the fire.
Aandé nag̱agoot ax̱ éesh.
Let my father go to town.
Aag̱áa tsá ch'a daa sá akg̱wa.oo.
Then he'll just buy whatever.
Áwé yaakw has du x̱ándáx̱ yaa nakó̱x̱u (naḵúx̱u),
When a boat is going past them,
has du x̱ánt yaa gaḵúx̱ch.
it keeps going by them.
Has g̱ax̱oox̱!»
Call them!”
«G̱unéitkanaayí
“The opposite clan [members of the opposite clan, or moiety]
has du jeedé yéi gag̱isanée,
you'll give it to them,
wé átx'i sáani.
the little things.
Ḵa,
And,
gán yayeedé s'íx' yóo gag̱eesáa.
the dish that goes in the fire is what you'll call it.
X̱'an.eetí s'íx'.
Firepit dish.
Á áwé,
And then,
atx̱á a káa yéi koogéi.???
you'll [put] the food on it, that much. [Chukateen shows with her gestures.]
Gunéitkanaayí jéede gag̱isa.áat. Náʼ. Haa.
You'll give it to the opposite clan. Here, take it. Haa.
Yan yeesaneeyí,
When you're finished,
{chʼu} chʼu yú niyisdé gag̱eegóot.»
then you will go to the prepared [place, the fire].”
«Tle yá yeedádidáx̱
“From this time on
yéi awsnee.
it is done [this way].
{Yéi} Yéi áwé,
That's the way,
tlél,
not,
tlél atx̱á yóo gant kei agux̱sagaan.
he [or she] wonʼt burn the food up in the fire.
Wé s'íx' tin ḵwa ḵáa jeedé yéi agux̱sanée.
With the bowls though she [or he] will give [the food] to people.
Aag̱áa áwé ax̱ eedé gux̱dashée,»
Then it will help me,”
yóo adaayaḵá.
she said to him.
«Ax̱ jeeyís
“For me
gunéitkanaayí s gug̱ax̱áa
the opposite clan will eat it
ḵaa jeedé yéi daa.eenéiyi.» Haa.
what you were giving out to people.”
Yéi áwé.
That's right. [And so it is.]
Aag̱áa áwé tle at uwashúḵ ax̱ sáni yéeyi.
And then my past uncle laughed.
«Chukateen,
“Chukateen, [Jane Smarchʼs name]
tlél tlag̱eiyí de gé wooxeex?»
did it [not] enter your brain?”
Haam, long time ago áwé haa een akamlineek.
Well, long time ago he told us about it.
Haam, sometime,
Well, sometime,
óosh
if only
Carcross people, has du jeeyís kax̱wlineek.
Carcross people, for them I told about this.
Dikée Aanḵáawu sateení ???
The Lord above, seeing it,
yéi at gug̱anée.
it will happen.
Yéi áwé i een kax̱wlineek áyú, ch'áagu yéeyi tlaagu.
That's what I told you, a legend of long ago.
Ax̱ sáni haa een akamlineek.
My uncle [fatherʼs brother] is the one who told us.
Góok.
Go ahead.
X̱at x̱'amdixwétl.
My mouth is tired.
Áwé gánkas'íx'i yóo toosáakw uháanch, x̱á.
That's what we call fire dish, us, you know. [you see]
That's the same thing.
Aaá.
Yes
Yeah.
Same thing.
{Ganká-} they call it {x̱'an aa} x̱'aan yá eetí s'íx'i
They call it fire dish. [Original translation had the following note: Using a bowl instead of the fire.]
too they call it. That's how they called, named it for us that time. In place of the fire, thatʼs what it means, you see.
Tsá s du tuwáa sigóowu aa atx̱á a kaadé.
The kind of food they (the deceased) liked is put in there.
Mhm. Special!
Mhm. Special! [the special food they liked.]
Ch'as daa sá ash tuwáa sagóowun.
Whatever they liked.
Mhm.
Yeedát ḵwá tle naa.át een átxʼ káa yéi ndu.eich.
Now however they put some clothes in there.
Gankas'íx'i.
The fire bowl.
Hmm!
Tléix'aa shaawát yéi haa ayawsiḵaa,
One lady told us,
«Ch'as atx̱á áwé a kaadé.»
“You only put food in there.”
Mhm.
Yeedát ḵwá changex̱ yaa nasteen. Mhm.
But now it's starting to change.
Oh, everything. Everything.
Áyú Carcross-dáx̱,
So, from Carcross,
Lingít yéi áwé has ḵuwanóok ch'a yeisú.
people [the Tlingit ]are still doing that.
X̱'aan kaadé yéi {na} daadunéi neech.
They put it in the fire. [Putting it on the fire is always done.]
S'íx' kaadáx̱, atx̱á, kei dusgánch.
They burn up the food from the dish.
Tléix'aa ax̱ yáa ḵut woonei ḵúnáx̱.
There's something that really amazes me.
Ax̱ tláa hospital-x' yéi yatee.
My mother was in the hospital.
Dei hél ulcheen yáx̱ yatee.
She was already very weak.
Du ḵáash wool'éex' á x̱óo áwé aadé yóo átxʼi yéix' wdzigeet
Her hip broke she fell on the bathroom
ch'a t'áa ká.
floor.
Tle pneumonia-x̱ wusitee. Mmm.
Then it became pneumonia.
Aag̱áa áwé wé
And then that
Tenakee-dáx̱ shaawát,
the lady from Tenakee,
Wushtlein du shát, Mhm.
Wushtlein's wife, Mhm.
Ax̱ tláa een kei uwawát.
She grew up with my mother.
Yéi haa ayawsiḵaa, ax̱ shátx̱i een,
She said to us, with my older sister,
«Dei any day
“Any day now
gug̱walsáa yee tláa.
your mother will rest.
Dei s'ig̱eeḵáawu een at x̱á.»
She is already eating with the ancestors.”
Ax̱ tláa áwé,
My mother,
áa, ch'as du x̱'éi yak'éiyi aa,
the food that was her favorite,
yaaw {ka} kas'úkx̱u.
fried herring.
«Oh, yak'éi, ax̱ séekʼ.» Ḵúnáx̱ at x̱á.
“Oh, it's real good, my daughter.” She ate a lot.
{thatʼs} Aag̱áa áwé yéi yaawaḵaa,
And then she said,
«Yan sheeda.ín ax̱ kéek hás.
“Get my younger sisters ready.
Dei s'ig̱eeḵáawu een at x̱á, yee tláa.»
She's already eating with the ancestors, your mother.”
{thatʼs} Áwé,
So,
it kind of ties into the fire dishes.
We look after that too, everything.
Wé x̱ʼankaadas'íx',
The fire dishes,
record 'em, who we gonna give it to.
record 'em, who we gonna give it to. [Itʼs kept track of, who we are going to give the fire dishes to.]
Kelk'étl'gináx̱. Mhm.
Quietly. [Agreement]
We put on fire. Tlél, we don't do it any old way. Everything. We look after everything good way.
We put on fire. Not, we don't do it any old way. Everything. We look after everything good way.
Aan a x̱ʼéis ??? ḵuwunee.
With it the food it happens to people. ???
Ch'a yéi koosgei g̱áa áwé káa yéi du.úx̱xʼ.
They just put a little bit in there.
Mmhmm.
Yáat'át.
This one.
No, you can't.
Well, the reason why I tell that, you know, is because, because of, ah, some people don't do that yet, eh? Some people do it by burning food up, and that {la} that girl, she send word back to her parents to tell them they were doing wrong.
Tlél áyáx̱ has ḵoonook.
They didn't do things right.
Then she told them to pile that, just like the way we do. Pile that food on that dish and give it away to somebody. That's the way we do it here, ok? But in Carcross they don't do that. And the one person got mad at me because of it. Because I told him we don't do it that way. We give food away in a dish. He jumped in his car and took off back to Carcross. That really hurt, you know? It hurt to find that, ah, he left because he was angry, and it also hurt because I was sad that he didn't understand that we didn't do it that way.
It's also good to have, um, each community do it the way they feel.
Mhm.
Just as long as they do it, you know. We don't have to tell them theyʼre doing it wrong. Because theyʼre already feeling bad about doing with their relatives. So, um, I don't think we should straighten out anything theyʼre already doing.
Mhm.
I don't know if each of our community in the coast,
Well,
does it a little different.
I'm glad
we hear from youse too.
Uháan tsú,
Us too,
haa tuwáa sigóo
we like
máa sáyá ḵuydziteeyí, Juneau.
how you live in Juneau.
Mhm.
Tlél ch'as haa aayí áwé á ká x̱ánt yeey.aat.
You didn't just come here (to hear about) ours.
We gotta know some, just like that, we all together.
Mhm.
I'm glad you tell us something, too.
Maybe Sitka does it different. Maybe Angoon does it different. A little bit different. And Juneau does it a lttle bit different. But they still do it, {the wa} which is what we want to count.
Tlaagú aayí haa tláa hás,
Long ago our mothers,
haa éesh hás,
our fathers,
á káa a yéi jitooné neejin.
we always used to work [like they always did].
Still yet today, we do, thatʼs right, everything good way yet.
Yeah.
That's good.
Mhm.
I think because those young people, when they put that, put it in the fire, they don't understand the Tlingit language when they say,
«Gén kaadé s'íx'i.»
“On-the-fire-dish.”
They figure itʼs, that's the way it was, to put it in the fire.
Haa léelk'w hés,
Our grandparents,
How many times they used to tell us,
«G̱anú yáax', át sa.áx̱.»
“Sit here and listen.”
Am, «Tle ayáx̱ kaduneek át,
Um, “Things that are told correctly,
tlél a shóox̱ aa eeteeḵ.
don't add anything to it.
Ḵa tlél tsú leave it out.»
And don't leave anything out.”
How many times they used to tell us that.
Yéi haa daayaduḵáa neejín. (daayaduḵá)
They always used to say that to us.
Tle ayáx̱ kaduneek neech, Lingít.
They always tell it right, Tlingit people.
Áwé atyátx'i ḵáaḵw daaḵ yaa has na.ádi,
When the children are faltering,
has shukoodujeit. (shukoodujeisʼ.)
they are given advice. [people give them advice.]
Just they get mad at you. They think they know better and they talk about you. Itʼs really bad, when they don't listen.
Éch (Ách) áwé
That is why
haa shagóoni áyá daatooneiyi át; yóodu
our history of how we did things; over there [the history of the things we work on; over there]
yú á yéi yatee.
it's all over there.
You give up telling them because you don't like {to} somebody to tell you, sass you back, and get mad at you. Haam. But it's not the Tlingit way. It's not our traditional way. Haam.
Well.
Ách áwé yeedét (yeedát),
That is why now,
we're loosing all our language,
yú haa ḵusteeyí.
our way of life.
Our justice system.
Áyá ḵut wugoodí lingít
And so a lost person
ch'a koogéiyi has adaanéi neech. Am.
they just did things any old way. Um.
Ách áwé yeedát de, we donʼt have nothing.
And then that is why now, we donʼt have nothing.
This is why, we really {tryly} should finally bring back our justice system, our traditional true ways, and stick with it. If you just think back to our grandmothers and grandfathers, the way they taught us. They were really good teachers.
There is, um, a lot of things out of our control, which is contributing
haa x̱oodéi.
among us.
Haa x̱oox' yéi yaa naneiní.
It's starting to be among us.
Yáa {i i} ch'a g̱óot yéidáx̱ ḵu.oo
People from different places,
haa x̱oodéi yéi has adaané
they bring to us
wé l ushk'éiyi át.
bad things.
A x̱oo aa s'eiḵ.
Some of it is smoke. [smoking]
A x̱oo aa
Some of it
ch'a náakw yáx̱ ei.
things like medicine.
Atyátx'i x̱oodé,
Among the children,
x̱oox' yéi yatee.
it's among them.
Ách áyá tlél,
That is why not,
hél ch'u aadé has du daa ayanax̱tuwadlaag̱u yé, yá haa,
we can't do anything to help them, our, [there is no way we can help (succeed with) them]
haa dachx̱ánx'i sáani
our grandchildren
ḵa haa yátx'i.
and our children.
Ixkéedáx̱ jinaaháa yéi
It comes from down south [fate]
yóo l ushk'éiyi át.
that bad stuff.
Áwé tle wé atyátx'i x̱oox' yéi yateek.
And the children, it's among them.
Ách áwé tlél ḵáa x̱'éit has wus.aax̱ tsú {á ká yá} {á kaax'}
That is why they don't listen to anyone
á kaax̱.
from it. [about it.]
Tle sá, drugs.
Just name it, drugs.
Aáa.
Yes.
Drugs yóo duwasáakw.
It's called drugs.
A x̱óo aa marijuana, a x̱óo aa
Some of it is marijuana, some of it is
wáa sá dax̱ duwasáakw?
what do they call them?
Hél a g̱óot utí yáax̱, ldakát yáax̱, Thatʼs right.
It doesn't leave us alone either, all over,
everything, áaa, tle yéi has yatee yú wé
everything, yes, now they're like that, the
a yáx̱ harmless ???, wé aa.
like harmless???, that thing.
Wé atyátx'i tlél ḵaa x̱'éix̱ has wus.aax̱. Mhm.
The children don't listen to anyone.
That's a,
Áwé náakwx̱ wududliyéx̱i át tsú tle has, Áaa,
The things that are used for medicine too, they, Yes,
ách kʼéi ??? yáaxʼ. Tle yóo náakwx̱ wududliyéx̱i át tsú tle
and so here.??? Now the things that are medicine too
has ax̱á
they eat it
wé yées ḵáax'w.
the young people.
Has awushgóogu
When they learn how to do it
k'idéin,
real well,
tle áwé, ḵáa léelk'u náagu ḵa ch'u {ḵa} tláa náagu,
then, their grandparents' or even their mother's medicine,
tle yax̱ ayadusx̱áaych.
they eat it all up.
Á áwé ḵúnáx̱ {ḵaa, ḵa,}
That is what
ḵáa jee yat'éex'.
is very hard for them. [for people.]
Ax̱ jee yat'éex' x̱át, ax̱ dachx̱ánx'i sáani,
It's hard for me, my grandchildren,
yéi s adaaneiyí.
when they do that.
X̱wasikóo yéi s adaanéi.
I know that they do it.
A káx̱ {x̱'aw} x̱'ax̱waawóos' has du éesh,
I asked their father about it,
«Yéi át gé {has} yéi has adaané?»
“Do they do this?”
«Aáa,» yéi yaawaḵaa has du éesh.
“Yes,” said their father.
Tlél ch'a aadé ux̱tudzigeedí yé ḵoostí. Yeah.
There's nothing we can do. Yeah.
Hél wutusakú daat náakw sáwé; tlél wutusakú goodáx̱ sá jinaahaayí.
We don't know what medicine; we don't know where it comes from.
Hél tsú wtusakú
We don't even know
tsú, aa,
also, uh,
a géidáx̱ sateeyí {yéi yéi } yóo
if it's against
United States law geidáx̱ sateeyí.
the law of the United States.
Hél wutusakú.
We don't know.
Á áyá {ke} a kináade at s'óow
Chopping above it
tsú yá haa, haa atyátx'i
also our, our children
tlél {át wusuk lél wus} tlél at wuskoowú
if they don't know
kináade at s'óow,
chopping, (hewn logs keep piling up.)
yá náakw.
this medicine.
Drugs.
Yáax' áwé kwshé yéi iyatee á tsú?
Are you perhaps that way here also?
Áaa.
Yes.
Seriously, a yáax' yéi yatee á tsú.
Seriously, it's here also.
You donʼt know who's selling it.
Áyú náakw atgutóodáx̱ náakw ḵu.aa,
The medicine from the woods though,
x̱at s x̱ʼéi s ??? át dlinook.
I make them taste it. ???
When they catch cold, ná! Well, we'll cook some,
When they catch cold, here! Well, we'll cook some,
yóo Lingít náagu.
that Tlingit medicine.
They don't want to drink it.
Tlél has du tuwáa ushgú.
They don't want it.
That's all, tle ch'as a káax' ḵux̱wdzitee yú,
That's all I live by, that
atgutú náakw.
forest medicine. [medicine from the forest.]
Tlél yóo nurse x̱ánde yoo x̱agútk.
I don't go to the nurse.
I'll use my own.
Iʼll use my own. [ medicine]
Mhm.
[Agreement]
Máa sáyá {ha} yá haa een sáwé jeenáḵ ??? tláa hás?
How much it is with us, around here left by our mothers. ???
A káa áyá,
That's how it is,
yóo á yéi ḵukḵwastée x̱á yóo.
this is the way I'll live, you see.
Mhm. Yáat'át, átx̱ agux̱layéix̱ ldakát át.
Yes. [Agreement] This one I will use all of it. [This one, it will be used for it, everything.]
Ch'a daa sé (sá)
Whatever
áyú ká tooḵéejin, hah? Mhm.
we used to sit there, right? Yes. [Agreement]
Go down to your momʼs. We eat. She got a big garden used to be 12 Mile. [At that location.]
[ 12 Mile was a homestead on Teslin Lake, built by George and Annie (Sidney) Geddes, 12 miles east of the town of Teslin. Many families grew up there, including Virginia Smarch and her children. Tʼaaḵú Tláa Pearl (Geddes) Keenan, Gadzóosdaa Virginia (Geddes) Smarch, Pansy (Geddes) Bailey, Ted Geddes and Cliff Geddes were George and Annie Geddesʼ children who were raised at 12 Mile. ]
Ldakát aadé na.átjin.
Everybody used to go there.
Áwé {da} du een at dux̱áa neejín,
People used to eat with him,
du éesh.
her father. [Florence gestures towards Tʼaaḵú Tláa Pearl Keenan, whose father was George Geddes, who built a home and big garden down at 12 Mile. (Mentioned earlier.)]
Goosú yeedát?
Where is it now?
Tlél woosh wuduskú yeedát.
Nobody knows each other nowadays.
{at uh} ax̱ toowú yanéekw haa ḵusteeyí. Mhm. Thatʼs right.
I feel very hurt about our life style.
Ách áyá haa adetxʼi haa dakán yaa na.át.
That's why we are losing our children. [They're walking away from us.]
We've been talking about drugs.
Mmm.
Tlél a g̱óot utí yáat.
We are not without that here.
All over. Mhm. When my kids say, "We donʼt use drugs."
Tláyn. (Tléikʼ.)
No.
Tlél daa sá.
Nothing.
«Jáa,» yéi daayax̱aḵá,
“Quiet,” I tell them,
«You don't fool me.»
“You donʼt fool me.”
Ahah.
Yes.
Don't fool me. [At shooḵ]
[Laughter]
[At shooḵ]
[Laughter]
Wududlis'íni s'éiḵ.
The hidden smoke.
Aáa.
Yes.
Atgutú áa yéináx̱. [Atshooḵ]
There around the woods [Hiding in the woods to smoke.] [Laughter]
Wáang̱aneens háatl' daakahídi. [Atshooḵ]
Sometimes in the outhouse. [Laughter]
Atyátx'ix̱ haa sateeyí áwé,
When we were children,
{áa} áa awtudlis'ín wé, toilet.
we hid there, the toilet.
Tlei ch'a one package áwé wtusit'ei áwé,
We found one package,
Chesterfields.
Chesterfields.
Áwé toos'éiḵ.
We were smoking it.
Wé toilet, ḵwá ásíwé tlél ldakát,
And the toilet, maybe not all of it,
yéi a kaax̱ (x̱óo tle ???) gé wé [At shooḵ]
had wide gaps between [Laughter]
wé t'áa. [At shooḵ]
the boards. [Laughter]
Ldakát át haa náḵ áwé shataan wé s'eiḵ.
Between the boards all the smoke was coming out.
[At shooḵ] Uháan a kát.
[Laughter] It was on us.
They found us [At shooḵ] smoking cigarettes.
They found us [laughter] smoking cigarettes.
This recording continues on #41.