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

  • {false start}
  • (added for clarity)
  • [translator/transcriber's note]
  • ??? = can’t understand
  • «Lingít quotation marks»

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

We use SLEXIL to render ELAN XML output as interactive web pages. Pronounced "sluck-HAIL", SLEXIL means daylight in the Lushootseed language, for which it was originally developed. The name may also be understod as an acronym: Software Linking ELAN XML to Illuminated Language.

SLEXIL is documented here, maintained on github, can be run interactively on the web, and is actively supported by Paul Shannon who welcomes your feedback.

To compare your pronunciation to that of the Tlingit elders, click on the microphone icon located at the right top of the main page. This opens the "RECORD YOURSELF" window in which you can record your own pronunciation of any line of interest.

Begin by clicking on the number of a line of an elder speaking. It may help to do this repeatedly, LISTENING more than reading, absorbing the sounds of their speech. (In English, we donʼt talk the same way a printed word is spelled. The same is true for Tlingít.)

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Usage notes from Alice Taff
Using a Macbook Air M4, Sequoia 15.5, the record-self works fine:
  1. with Firefox 140.0.2
  2. with Safari 18.5
  3. with Chrome 138.0.7204.158
Video Size
Tlingit Conversation #42

Speakers are Ḵeixwnéi Nora Marks Dauenhauer, Kaséix̱ Selina Everson, Bonar Cooley, and Keiyishí Bessie Cooley through 13:36. Then Naakil.aan Mark Hans Chester, Jeeskú Jimmie Johnston, and Sháayi Éesh Smith Katzeek. Recorded August 12, 2010, in the Cooleyʼs garden in Teslin by Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff, then at Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre in Teslin, YT, Canada, by Naakil.aan Mark Hans Chester.
Tlingit transcription by X̱’aagi Sháawu Keri Edwards Eggleston. English translation by Ḵaachkoo.aaḵw Helen Sarabia, Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty, and X̱’aagi Sháawu Keri Edwards Eggleston. Edited by X̱’aagi Sháawu Keri Edwards Eggleston with Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty. And by Keiyishí Bessie Cooley with Yeiltʼoochʼ Tláa Collyne Bunn.
Is this a certain specie? Am. Yup.
Gushé ḵu.aa, domestic berries áyá.
I donʼt know, however, these ones are domestic berries.
Catalog kaax̱ áwé haat jeewahaa. Gee!
They arrived by mail for us from the catalogue. [With respect to this verb: KBCʼs sentences from a story told to Chʼeet Wu Joe Binger, Yeidulatseen Millie Hall and Yeiltʼoochʼ Tláa Collyne Bunn in 2020, about getting wool that was ordered from a catalogue: 1. «Ax̱ tláa ḵa ax̱ éesh kakéin ḵa sʼísaa catalogue kaax̱ a káx̱ has awéis’in.» "My mom and dad used to order wool and material from the catalogue." 2. «Yá ḵóok tlein (ḵáa kasán yáx̱ kuliyáat’) haat jeewaháa.» "This big box (about waist high) came in."]
Yá. Am. Sears Roebuck. [At shooḵ] Ah haa.
This, am. Sears Roebuck. Laughter. Ah haa.
Yá ch'u tlei dax̱ akamsihaa {d}du káa nich. Haa.
Just then they spread out ???
Every year ch'u tlei aadé yaa aa gahéich.
Every year then they always get added to.
Gee.
Mm hm.
Áx̱ eeníde yaa aanaxix. Am.
They're being added to what Iʼve already picked.
Mm hm.
Holy smokes.
These are beautiful berries. Yup.
Goodáx̱ sáyá?
Where are they from?
Edmonton, I think. Edmonton. Edmonton gí? Alberta. Aaa.
Edmonton, I think. Edmonton. Edmonton? Alberta. Yes.
Tléik'.
No.
Daa sáwé yéi adaané Alice?
What is Alice doing?
Camera át awsitee.
She's carrying a camera around.
Um. [At shooḵ] Nora was asking what species there. Boyne and Everbearings.
Boint and what?
[Boyne] and what?
Everbearing.
Oh, wow! Boyne and Everbearing. Mhm.
You can tell itʼs everbearing. [At shooḵ]
['Laughter']
Um, where is McFaydenʼs? Edmonton?
No, uh, Brandon, Manitoba. Oh, I just told a lie. Ha ha ha. I said theyʼre from Edmonton.
How are you tonight?
Very good thank you. I see youʼre happy to have
youʼre in the berry patch. Oh, yeah. Iʼm happy.
[At shooḵ] I had a little sleep, so.
['Laughter']
Well thereʼs plenty of berries there to keep you happy for a while.
Boy, they are a lot of berries.
Filled my basket.
Just started picking this week actually.
Oh, wow!
Too doo!
Uh, du yéi jineiyí áyá yáa, yá farm.
This is his work, this farm, [indicating her husband Bonar]
yá tléiḵw ḵa wé
these berries and the
hú too {akama}
them too
akaawahaayi át.
things he planted.
Beets ḵa k'únts'.
Beets and potatoes.
We got Native potatoes.
Aam. Á tsú wutuwa.oo.
We use that too.
Haaw. Mhm. We just have one from our friend, from my friend. She passed away. But she, before she passed away she gave me a little sack of potatoes. Mhm. She said itʼs been our, in our family for 100 years.
Oh, my.
Yeah.
Lingít yáx̱ kadixwás' a x̱oo aa.
Some of them look like people.
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Yeah. Everbearing.
Ḵúnáx̱ á yáaxʼ.
Lots of them here.
Oh, look at that! Aah! Oh! My!
Goodness.
Ax̱ shátx̱ Ḵees.éix̱,
My older sister, Ḵees.éix̱, [Bessieʼs older sister Lucy]
Aaá.
Yes.
Tleidahéen áwé
One time
wutuwax̱o̱ox̱.
we called her.
Yóode gax̱too.áat.
We're going to go over there.
Little holiday, you know?
Ách áwé, am,
And so um,
wutuwax̱o̱ox̱, áyá
we called her over, so it is,
yá haa neilí.
to our house.
Eex̱í ch'a yéi ḵʼwátl yú, yú á
Lard bucket [tin pails that were sold full of lard] there, there
tle «Wé tléiḵw tsú aax̱ aa .ín.
then, "After, pick some of the berries too.
Ch'a a shoowú, am, wéix' .ín, la.á.
Just pick half of them, there, and leave them [the rest] there.
Adáx̱, am
But, um,
tléixʼ aa a shoowú .ín
pick the other half
i jeeyís,» yóo daayatooḵá. Ah ha.
for you," we told her. Ah ha.
Á áwé tlei
Then
neil yee too.áat áwé
when we were going inside our home
aam, yéi haa daayaḵá, «Hadóo!
she said to us, "Wow!
Wé tléiḵw x̱wa.eení,
When I was picking berries,
I thought I died and went to heaven." Oh yes. [At shooḵ]
['Laughter']
Thatʼs the way my mother, I could just hear her picking raspberries.
Ah hah.
What joy it was to them.
Look under the, the branches. Thatʼs where you find lots more.
Yáat'aa kei, kei sheeỹla.aadí
If you lift this one up
ch'u tlei áa, áa yéi aa yatee á tsú.
there's still lots here, this one too.
Tlaḵwyádi yóo dax̱ duwasáakw yáat'aa,
These ones are called raspberries, [baby berries, berry children, also tléiḵw yádi]
yá tléiḵw. Thimbleberries. Aaá.
this berry, yes.
Are these potatoes?
Daa sá?
What?
K'únts' ákyá?
Are these potatoes?
Áaa.
Yes.
Át tsú aa {ya}aa mtuwax̱áa.
We ate some of that too.
Maybe one or two plants kei akaawahaa.
He dug up maybe one or two plants.
Aadóoch sá?
Who (did)?
Wé, i káani. Ha.
Your brother-in-law. [Here Bessie is referring to Bonar]
Máa sá dax̱ yak'éi.
How very good they are.
Wow. Are they Yukon Gold?
Tléik'.
No.
Ah, Norland yóo duwasáakw.
Ah, they're called Norland.
Á áwé k'idéin ka.éix̱.
They grow real good.
Ya. Gee. I know. Ya.
Short season áwé,
It's a short season
haa jee yéi yatee, ách áwé ch'as á
we have, that's why just
wé Netted Gems ax̱ tuwáa sigóo.
(those) Netted Gems I like.
Daa sá?
What?
Netted Gems yóo duwasáagu aa.
The ones called Netted Gems.
Áwé ax̱ tuwáa sigóo.
Those are the ones I like.
Daakw.aa {am}
Some of them
ḵúdáx̱ yeekooyáat' yaa dax̱ kana.éini.
they take too long to grow.
Oh.
Wéit'aa áwé.
Those ones.
Maybe you have to start them in a hot house?
Greenhouse? I donʼt think so.
Yáat'aa ch'u tlé,
This one
tl'átgi tóode akaawahaa. Ha.
he just put right into the ground.
Aax̱ awé yáa dax̱ kana.éin.
From that, they're growing here.
Yóodu aa tsú wé k'únts'.
There's other potatoes there too.
K'únts' ákwé? Áaa.
Are those potatoes? Yes.
Ha.é!
Wow!
Wéit ḵu,a, beets.
Over there though, beets.
Where? Beets.
Wéit.
There.
Haw.
Well.
A yáx̱ dag̱aatee yú wé Uh huh. stalks. Uhuh. Máa sá duwasáakw stalks?
They look like stalks. How do you say "stalks"?
A t'áni. Uhuh.
Branches.
Are you done, Nora?
No, weʼre just walking.
Aag̱áa át x̱at yakawli.éis'.
It's like I'm staggering around. [because there are so many beautiful berries]
Wéidu áx̱ ???
over there is my ???
Chʼa l ike sunflowers.
Just like sunflowers.
Daa sáwé?
What's that?
Skeeters among them.
Goosú wa.éi, Bessie?
Where are you Bessie?
Yáadu x̱át.
Here I am.
Letʼs see yours, Nora. Oh my!
A yáanáx̱ ḵu.aa. Yup.
More though. Yup.
Not any more.
No fair cheating.
[At shooḵ] Iʼm not cheating.
['Laughter']
[At shooḵ] Iʼm not cheating.
['Laughter']
Never tell lies.
No.
Just keep your mouth shut.
Iʼm trying to get this branch over. That a girl.
Red currants, neist'eiyáa yóo gí duwasáakw?
Are red currants called «neist'eiyáa»?
Daa sá?
What?
Neist'eiyáa.
Red currants.
Kʼeiyáa?
['Possibly mishearing the word "Neistʼeiyáa" and then mispronouncing it.']
Neist'eiyáa.
Red currants.
Neist'eiyáa.
Red currants.
How do you make? Red currants?
Yéi gíwé duwasáakw?
Is that what they call it?
Tlél x̱wasakú.
I don't know.
I make a kanéegwál', uhuh, out of black currants.
I make a berry and salmon eggs pudding dish out of black currants.
Grey currants.
Mhm. Shaax̱.
Grey currants.
Itʼs good.
Mhm. Pudding.
I canʼt believe I picked this much.
You should have been here last night. There was more.
Oh! Wux̱. My, those skeeters. Iʼm going to be full of welts.
Uhuh.
I used to pull carrots up for my grandmother, Molly Gamble.
Then run like crazy. Gee!
Should have had him pull some. Násʼk tóode.
[her husband Bonar] Three in there.
Berry picking x̱waagoot.
I went going berry picking.
Aaá.
Yes.
Tléikʼ.
No. [Bessie is trying to pull out some carrots.]
Quart áwé.
That's a quart.
They hide. Tsóokʼ á.
They hide. More, in that place.
Hide. Goodáx̱ i
Hide. Where are your
I aayí ḵu.aa, {am i}
Yours, however,
S'ín. Oh!
His carrots.
Oh my. Nice!
Hahaa.
Very nice. Náʼ. Real big property.
Very nice. Here. Real big property.
Do you want one?
Mmm. Not now.
I do.
Sheʼll eat it.
Weʼll wash it off inside. Give it to Nora; sheʼll eat anything.
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Alice, do you want one?
Aaá.
Yes.
Oh! You got a nice one. You got a good one.
Yeah.
You can wash it off inside.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Wáa sa?
What?
S'ín.
Carrot.
S'ín.
Carrot.
???
???
Ínt?
Carrots? [A try at pronouncing the word for carrots: sʼín.]
Aaa.
S'ín.
Carrot.
Mhm. Glottalized S, short high I, N.
S'ín.
Carrot.
Yá haa tuwáa sigóo, yá haa yáx̱,
We want this, like us,
has du daa yaa ḵushusigéiyi aa, kíkʼ,
the ones who understand, younger brother,
ḵa k'idéin amsikóowu aa ??? ḵo̱x̱ g̱atuda.aat, k'idéin yanax̱ kanax̱toonéek. Aaa.
and the ones who know it really well, let us go back and letʼs tell about it there really well. Yes.
Áwé tlél, thatʼs why I just, ḵáa satoowúchx̱ dulyeix̱.
Not, thatʼs why I just, they donʼt use it by intuition. [through their thinking]
Tle yéi has ḵúx̱ch ???, has ḵu.á akaneek aa.
Then they always go ???, they, however, tell about it.
Tlél yéi áwé utéeyin ch'águ yá.
It never used to be that way, long ago.
Ch'agóo ḵáawu yú, k'idéin has du daa yaa ḵushusigéiyi aa.
Those old-timers back then, they understood it really well.
Áwé yee x̱o̱ox̱ has da.aadín,
When they used to come among you all,
k'idéin a daa yóo s x̱'ali.átk daa sá. Mhm.
whatever they're talking about, they explain it real well. Yes.
K'idéin yáx̱ has áa akoo.aaḵw. Mhm.
They are planning it real well. Yes.
Tlél ch'a aadóo sá yóot
Not just anybody there
a yaa wugoodi aa
the ones who went (there)
yóo áwé yatee. 19th century yéi yisanei.
that's the way it is. 19th century you caused it to happen.
Tlél yéi utí.
That's not how it is.
Tlagu yéi
Long ago
aax̱
from there
haa satóowu áyá
it is our thinking
haa léelk'u hás
our grandparents
ch'a aadé yan has awuteeyi yé haa jeeyís.
this is just how they laid it down for us.
Á yéi haa tuwáa sigóo á yáx̱ teeyí.
That's the way we want it to be, the right way. [The way our grandparents planned it for us.]
Mhm.Yeah.
Teslin
Teslin
Mhm.
Áwé yá, yoo x̱'atángi tlein, áwé 'speech' yóo duwasáakw. Like that.
This, a big speech it is, 'speech' it's called. Like that.
Itʼs barely alive. Mhm.
Itʼs barely alive. Mhm
A átx̱ dulyeix̱ nás'gináx̱ áwé haa yatee yáaxʼ.
There's three of us that use it here. [Big speeches in the Lingít language]
Yakʼéi.
Good.
Tléix' aa Sam Johnston.
One of them is Sam Johnston.
I think you heard of him. Mhm. You know him?
Mm. Iʼve heard of him. Yeah, Sam.
Thereʼs one of them speeches, speeches he made, Matthew Thom, and I, just, just three of us that make speeches, in here.
['referring to three people who still make important speeches in the Lingít language in Teslin']
Mhm.
Wé ax̱ yéet yéi s has du een aa kx̱anéek.
I tell my sons about it.
Á ch'a yeisú s du een katooneegí áwé, héide kei yóo s wooḵáaỹch.
While we're still telling them about it, they start talking about something different there.
Mhm. Héide át ugootch.
It goes there every time. ???
Tlei a kát has seix'aaḵwch.
Then they always forget it.
Aaá.
Yes.
Áwé lidzee.
It's difficult.
Yéi áwé. Áyáx̱ áwé.
Thatʼs right. Itʼs like that.
Yeah.
K'idéin
Really well
haa x̱'éit has wus.aax̱í
if they listened to us (really well)
ch'a tlágu yáx̱ a daa yoo x̱'atula.átgi
when we speak about it like in the old days,
{he} k'idéin {has} has agux̱sakóo.
then they'll know it real well.
Tlél aadé yóo ch'a koogéiyi.
It can't be just any old way.
Ch'a yeisú du een x̱'atula.átgi tsú haat aa oogóotch
While we're still talking to him/her, another one would come in front. [Itʼs like someone walked up there and interrupted.]
Goo sá daa yóo x̱'atula.átgi, ch'a g̱óot yéide yóo s x̱'ala.átgi nooch. Áaa.
Where we're still talking about something, they always talk about something else. Yes.
Tlél yóo has utéeyin wé
They weren't that way those
haa léelk'u hás.
our grandparents.
Wooch x̱o̱ox̱ has ga.ádin ỹéeyi
When they used to get together in past times
k'idéin yóo has x̱'ala.átgi nooch.
they always spoke real well.
Aax̱ áwé wooch has x̱'adawóos' nooch.
And then they asked each other questions.
«Daaḵw.aa sá, i tóog̱aa gí yateeyi yáa aadé yóo x̱'atuwatángi yé, yú?»
"The way we're speaking, do you think it's good?"
You said it. Has x̱'adawóos' neech.
You said it. They always ask each other.
Aax̱ áwé,
After that,
«Héit'aa áwé du yoo x̱'atángi ax̱ tóog̱aa yatee aadé aawateeyi yé.
"I like the way that one speaks, the way s/he put their words.
A káax' áwé gax̱too.áat yáat'aa.»
These are the [words] we'll go by."
Tlél ch'a tléináx̱ ḵáa áyá satoowú wé ???, a káax' ḵutoostéeyin.
We didnʼt live by just one man's knowledge.
Woosh x̱oox̱ áwé du.aadí, Mhm. Mhm.
They get together,
woosh.een yóo x̱'adudli.átk.
they talk to each other. [converse]
Aax̱ áwé
Then
yak'éiyi aa yoo x̱'atánk áwé
good words
woosh x̱o̱odé yéi s adaané.
they put them together.
K'idéin, tlél x'úx' káa has akooshxeedín.
Real well, they didn't use to write it down on paper.
Aaá.
Yes.
Mmm.
Yes.
Áwé a káax' áwé has ḵustéeyin,
They lived by it,
yá haa shukáḵáawu, tlagu ḵáawu. Ahah. Hmh.
those that came before us, the elders, old timers. Yes. Oh.
Yeah.
Á yeedát ḵu.a yá ch'as yá x'úx' kaax̱, áwé,
Now however, it's just in the books and so,
yóo x̱'adudli.átk. Aaa.
they talk about it. Yes.
Áwé,
That is,
tlél k'idéin yax̱ kaduneek.
nobody tells it well [when itʼs just written in a book].
Ḵa sometimes,
And sometimes,
yéi haa yáx̱ yateeyi aa áwé, haa eetí yátx'i
the ones like us, that is, our kids after us,
aadé s amsikoowu yé, sometimes, ch'a héidenáx̱ áwé s akaneek neech.
the way they know it, sometimes, they always tell about it in different ways.
Yeah.
Hmh.
Yes.
Aaá.
Yes.
{ax̱ daaya} Has x̱'ax̱a.áx̱ji, yá ḵoo.áx̱ji áwé tlél tlax̱ k'idéin utí.
When I listen to them, this (my) hearing isn't too good.
Aaá.
Yes.
Mhm. Eh.
Ch'a aan áwé
Even so
has du een yax̱ kax̱anéek neech.
I always say the words to them.
Aan áwé ch'as ??? while this aku ??? has amsikoowu yé yáx̱ áwé has akooshxítch.
With it, they just always write it like the way they know it.
Aahá.
Yes.
Áwé tlél uwa.áx̱ tuwáax'.
It doesn't sound right.
Mhm. Áyá,
It is,
here
here
ḵaa sháade háni áwé yéi x̱at yateeyi, x̱át.
I'm a leader, me.
Tléixʼ,
One,
tlei tlagu yáx̱ áyú gwál, ???can you??? consider that
like the old days maybe, ??? consider that,
jinkaat táakw wunáax' áwé, daa sá kamduwanaa.
more than ten years ago, what they decided.
Aax̱ áwé
After that,
Sam
tléixʼ áwé hú ???
one of them, him.
Heʼs one of them clan leaders, and Matthew Thom, heʼs
['referring to Sam Johnston as being one of the clan leaders', ' and then Matthew Thom']
Yanyeidí.
Yanyeidí, [clan]
Sam, is uh,
How do you say it now?
Heʼs frog.
Ishkeetaan shákdé?
Ishkeetaan maybe?
Yeah. Yeah.
Ishkeetaan.
Ishkeetaan. [clan]
Matthew is Yanyeidí.
Matthew is Yanyeidí. [clan]
Doug Smarch, heʼs uh
Daḵl'aweidí. Áaa.
Daḵl'aweidí. [clan] Yes.
And, now which one is it?
Tléix' áwé aa téeyin
There was one
Deisheetaan.
Deisheetaan. [clan]
Watson Smarch used to be, ch'a aax̱ jimdináḵ. Mhm.
Used to be Watson Smarch, he quit from there. [Watson Smarch let go of his position as Deisheetaan clan leader. He retired.]
Mmm.
Oh.
And then yáat'aa tsú,
And then this one also,
{ke cough}
yéi áwé yaa ḵux̱lig̱át.
I forgot it.
That uh,
He just wanted Kó̱oḵhittaan, x̱át áwé. Mhm.
He just wanted Kó̱oḵhittaan [clan], thatʼs me.
Ách áwé
That's why
daa sá yéi Lingít yáx̱ yateeyi a daa yoo x̱'atula.átgi.
anything that concerns Tlingit is what we're talking about.
Yéi s daayax̱aḵá ch'a ldakát uháan áa yéi haa ng̱atee. Mhm.
What Iʼm telling them about, let all of us be there.
Áwé yéi s x̱'ayaḵáa neech,
They always say,
«Has agux̱sakóo has du een kaduneegí.»
"They will learn if people talk to them about it."
Hél yóo kuwaháayin, {haa} haa léelk'u hás, tlagu aayí.
Our grandparents weren't like that, the old-timers.
Ách áwé x'éig̱aa {has du tuwáa} has du toowú has du daa yaa ḵushusigéi aadé has téeyi yé.
That's why they truly understood the way they were.
Héináx̱ yoo s kaawa.adi yé. Mhm.
The way they walked there. [travelled]
Á áwé,
So
tlél aadé ch'a yéi s t ???, keijináx̱ ??? yáax' yéi haa teeyí.
not any way, just ??? there are five of us here.
A daa yéi x̱'ax̱tula.aadí yeisú, satú ḵu.a wooch jeex̱ tudatee. Mhm. Mhm.
When we talk about it now, however, we exchange thoughts.
A yís a daa yéi x̱'ax̱tula.aadí.
So let's talk about it.
Ldakát yéi téeyin yá Yukon ḵa
It was all the same in Yukon and
Atlin.
Atlin.
X'éig̱aa yaa ḵoosgé ḵu.oowú áa yéi téeyin.
Truly knowledgeable people used to live there.
Hóoch' aax̱ {has} has dax̱ jimdináḵ hás tsú. Carcross yéi wootéeyin á tsú.
They all quit (let it go) from those places, them too. Carcross used to be like that, there too.
Yeedát ḵu.a tlél,
Now however, not,
tlél yoo s x̱'ayatánk wé Lingít yáanáx̱.
s/he doesnʼt regularly speak through the Tlingit way.
Like that, anax̱ ḵukamdushaayí ḵa yóo{ḵa ḵé}ḵa ḵaa yéi daaduneiyí, Aaá.
When they bury someone and when they put it (cement and stones) on top of the person, yes,
tlél á ch'a koogéiyi áwé, ḵalk'átlgináx̱ áwé yéi s adaanéi.
not just any old way, they do it quietly.
Yéi haa yatee neilx' tsú.
Weʼre that way at home too.
Yóo ixkée, Deishú yóo duwasáakw áa ḵux̱aa.óowu yé.
There south, Deishú is the name of the place where I live.
Aaá.
Yes.
Áyá,
There,
ch'a i yáx̱ haa yatee.
we're like you are.
Mhm.
Has du een yóo x̱'atula.átgi tsú
When we talk to them too,
haa náḵ yoo s ya.átk.
they regularly walk away from us.
Aaa.
Yes.
Hél has du tuwáa ushgú has awuskoowú.
They don't want to learn.
Mhm.
Ch'as dleit ḵáa x̱'éináx̱ has yax̱ x̱'ala.átk.
They just talk like white people.
Ya.
Yeah.
Yeedát ḵu.aa, áa yax̱ yaa naxíx.
Now it's turning around.
Aaa.
Oh.
Tsaatguwéig̱aa áwé, you try, yóox̱ has da.aadín yeedát.
At long last, you try, they try to go forward.
Ahah.
Yes.
Ch'a tlágu yéidáx̱ yéi has nag̱ateeyí, used to be.
From old times, from there, let them be that way, used to be.
Has akoo.aaḵw.
They try.
Chʼa tlákw ??? áwé yéi s daayax̱aḵá, «Tlél
Always ??? I tell them, "Not
too late-x̱ ustí.»
too late."
They can do it if they want to do it.
Yeah.
Itʼs not hard to do.
Áwé a x̱oo aa, yéi haa dag̱aatée aa
Among some of them, among us there is someone,
áwé {yóo x̱'eiyatángi} yóo x̱'eiwatángi aa shaawát one yesterday,
the woman who spoke yesterday,
amsikóo, ch'as ch'a héide niyaadé áwé yadál du yoo x̱'atángi. Aaa.
she knows, her speech leans towards heavy [important] thoughts. Yes.
Yéi á. Ah.
That's it. Yes.
Áyá x̱waa.áx̱ tátgé.
I heard her yesterday.
Aaá.
Yes.
Héide ch'as hóoch amsikóo,
Towards here she's the only one who knows,
has du eetíyáx̱ áwé ??? á yéi ??? dag̱aatee ???
as much as there was before. ??? [as much as they formerly used to know there ???]
Du shátx̱i hás yádi, áwé, that Doug, that Doug Smarch.
His wifeʼs peopleʼs child, is that Doug, that Doug Smarch. [Doug Smarch was Virginia Smarchʼs (Gadzóosdaaʼs) son. Virginia was married to JIm Smarch.]
Tlél k'idéin du daa yaa ḵushoosgé.
He doesn't understand it very well. [Doug Smarch]
Itʼs the one I...
Ch'as chush daa yóo áwé s x̱'adli.átgi.
They just talk about it amongst themselves.
Thatʼs not all. Mhm. Why, you hear it.
K'idéin yóo x̱'atula.átgi áwé
When we speak well,
yéi kaawahaayi át yak'éi.
about things, it's good.
Máa yateeyi yéix' yóo s x̱'ala.átgi áwé
Sometimes when they talk
hél k'idéin has du daa yaa ḵushoosgé áwé.
they don't understand it well.
Now nobody understand. Áaa. They donʼt understand. Thereʼs just, thereʼs word.
Yes.
Uháan haa aayí,
Us, ours
ax̱ éesh áwé Yanyeidíx̱ satéeyin. Mhm.
my father was Yanyeidí. Yes.
Hú áwé, haa een yoo x̱'ala.átgi neech.
He used to always talk to us.
Ḵa ax̱ sáni, áwé, du,
And my uncle [fatherʼs brother], his,
museum du yáx̱ wuduwasáa wé George Johnston Museum. Ahah.
they named a museum after him, the George Johnston Museum. Yes.
Ḵa tléix' aa,
And another one,
David, just Sam and, Sam Johnstonʼs dad used to be ??? ti aa gaan ???)
Hás áwé, hú ax̱ káak hás
Them, my uncles [motherʼs brothers]
has tsú de haa aax̱ has uwa.aat.
they also now have left us.
Aa yóo has x̱'ala.átgi noojeen.
They always used to speak about it with each other,
Mhm.
Yes.
Yú at gutú át wutoo.aadí s'igeidí x̱o̱o
When we walk in the forest among the beavers [go into the bush to try to get beavers]
máa yateeyi yéix' yagiyee áwé
sometimes during the day
ldakát yéi nay.at ???
everywhere you go ???
yan jimtula.aadí áwé g̱atooḵéech aax̱ áwé haa een yóo s x̱'ala.átgi neejín. Aaá.
when we finished with what we were doing, we'd sit, then they always used to talk to us. Yes.
Mm, yeah.
Á áwé ch'a k'át haa shantóot aa uwaxíx.
That's when some of it sticks in our minds.
Aaá.
Yes.
Mhm.
Yes.
Héi yéi áwé,
That's,
???
???
??? That
Át ax̱wdishée
I'm hoping
yáaxʼ, dikée kei ntooteeyí yá haa ḵusteeyí.
here, we lift up our way of living.
Aaá.
Yes.
Kei haa kg̱wak'éi. Aaá.
We'll be fine. Yes.
X̱át,
Me,
ax̱ éesh yéi x̱'ayaḵáayin,
my father used to say,
«Yan awuné. Yan wutusiné, áx̱ yaa gax̱yee.aat yá,
"It's ready. We've prepared the path for all of you, for where you will be walking,
Aaa
Yes
Lingítx̱ yee sateeyi yé.» Yeah.
those of you who are Tlingit."
Yéi haa daayaduḵáayin.
They used to tell us this.
Mhm.
Yes.
X̱át tsú x̱'eiwawóos',
He asked me too,
«Haa een gé kg̱eeḵóox̱ daaḵkaadé?» Mhm.
"Will you drive with us inland?" Yes.
Uh, hél,
Not,
hél áyáx̱ sh tux̱danook x̱á.
well, I didnʼt feel good, you see.
Hmh.
Oh.
X'úx'xʼ káa yéi s a.óo nooch.
They always put it on paper.
Hmh.
Oh.
Ch'a wáa sá yóo x̱'ayatánk.
Whatever they say.
Yeah.
Yes.
Áyá yáat'aa yaa kanajúx yeedát
This thing that's recording now
Yeah
yóo x̱'atula.átgi, daa sá at.
as we're talking, what is it?
Uhuh.
Yes.
A káx̱ x̱á haadé ḵux̱waatéen, x̱át,
I traveled here for this, me,
Mhm.
Yes.
yee x̱'anḵa.áx̱ji.
to listen to you all.
Mhm.
Yes.
Haa léelk'u hás anáx̱ haax̱ has aadín yáat,
Our grandparents used to come through here,
Mmm.
Oh.
wooch Yeah. daséix'án yaa s at Yeah. akanajáli.
trading goods with each other, when they're packing things.
Hm.
Oh.
Áyá,
This,
ax̱ tuwáa sigóo x̱wasakóowu x̱áach.
I want to know, me.
Uhuh.
Yes.
Tle yá
Then next
Yeah.
yées ḵáa tin {ka} kakḵwanéek neil x̱wagoodí.
I'm going to tell the young people about it when I get home.
Aaa.
Yes.
Hél haa shawoodahéin yáa Jilḵáatdáx̱,
There aren't many of us from the Chilkat,
Yeah.
Lingít ax̱'aya.áx̱ji aa. Aaa.
that understand Tlingit. Yes.
Gwál keijínináx̱ haa yatee de.
There are maybe five of us now.
Á yéi áwé haa yéi yatee. Aahá.
That's how we are. Yes.
Tlél aadé áa yan g̱atuwateeyi yé haa ḵusteeyí.
We can't just lay down our way of living.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ch'a haa yáx̱ goot aadé sá aadé yaa ntoo.át,
Just like us, where are we going from here,
haa jee yéi ng̱atee.
so we can keep it.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ách áwé school yóo .átgi aa
That's why those that go to school
tlél aadé aax̱ has g̱aax̱dudzikeeyi yé.
they can't deny them (their education).
Aaá.
Yes.
Ch'a áyáx̱ yá Lingít yáx̱ aadé s amsikoowu yé.
They know it just like they know the Tlingit way.
{yá á} Kíkʼ, has ax̱sakóowu dleit ḵaa yáx̱.
Little brother, just let them learn like white people.
Áwé, yaa yanaxíx átxʼ áwé s een áa, yeah, át
The things happening with them,
has ax̱sakóowu daa sá.
let them learn it, whatever.
Áwé yéi s daayax̱aḵá neech,
That's why I always tell them,
«Gu.aa yáx̱. Take a hand always.»
"Have strength. Take a hand, always."
Caterpillars aan yéi s jiné. Aaá.
They work with the Caterpillars. Yes.
Áwé chʼa át has ḵo̱ox̱.
They drive them around.
Áwé mechanics,
The mechanic,
has dag̱aak'éi.
they're good with them there.
Ách áwe yéi s daayax̱aḵáa nooch,
That's why I always say,
haa léelk'u hás áyá,
our grandparents,
yá haa shuká,
those that came before us,
áx̱ yaa gax̱too.aadí, yé áyá has ḵuyaawas'óow̃.
where we walked through, they already chopped the trail.
Mmm.
Yes
Has du x̱'us.eetí áyá áx̱ yaa ntoo.át.
We're walking in their footprints.
Hél aadé has du kát haa seig̱aaxʼaag̱u yé.
Thereʼs no way we can forget them.
Aaá.
Yes.
Hásch áyá, haa jeeyís kei s aawatee yá haa ḵusteeyí.
It was them who brought out our way of life for us.
Ayáx̱ áwé.
Thatʼs how it is.
Ayáx̱ áwé. Yeah.
Thatʼs how it is.
Yeah. Ch'a yeisú sh tóow x̱altóow, x̱át tsú, Lingít x̱'éináx̱ yoo x̱'atánk x̱á. Yeah.
Well, I'm still teaching myself (learning), me too, the Tlingit language.
{yeedát} Máa yateeyi yéix'
Sometimes
ch'a shóogunáx̱ áyá, a x̱aatéen, tlíl daa sáwé Lingít yáx̱ x̱wasikóo.
just in the beginning, I see it, there is nothing like Lingít I know.
That
Tlákw yóo x̱'atootángi, like yesterday, héh? Mhm.
We always talk, like yesterday, right? Yeah.
Áwé, máa yateeyi yéix' a káx̱ ḵaa seiwax'áaḵw,
Sometimes people forget,
Aaá.
Yes.
amdudzikoowu át.
what they know.
Áwé a daa yóo x̱'atula.átgi áwé {as you see} ch'a yóot'aa yoo x̱'atángi.
What we're talking about, it is that one, the language.
Ḵaa tóot ooxeexch, Mmm. aadé yatéeyi yé.
It comes to them, Yes. the way it is.
Yak'éi x̱á.
Well, thatʼs good.
Yeah.
Yak'éi x̱á x̱aan shkeelneegí. Mhm.
Well, it's good, what you're telling me. Yes.
Yeah.
Wóosh teen yéi jitudaneiyí, yagax̱toodláaḵ.
If we work together, we'll get there.
Uhuh.
Yeah.
Aaá.
Yes.
Yéi s daayax̱aḵáa, shux'wáa,
I'm telling them this, first,
haa x̱ándei tsu aadé yáat'aa,
when they come to us again,
Hmm.
Yes.
{hél x'úx'} «Hél x'úx' káa yéi du.oo Lingít yoo x̱'atángi.
"It's not put on paper, the Tlingit language.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ḵaa sháan tóowu á.
It's in the elders' minds.
Yéi áyá s awliyéx̱ haa léelk'u hás.»
Thaatʼs the way our grandparents did it."
Mhm.
Yes.
They never wrote book. They donʼt have, they donʼt write,{no tli}, no Tlingit language can be written.
No.
And theyʼre, theyʼre writing it.
Yeah.
Áyá,
This,
hél ax̱ túg̱aa utí nooch x̱á.
well, I don't approve, you know.
Mhm.
Yes.
Ch'a wáa sá s du tuwáa sigóo áx' {áxʼ sa} has akashaxeet.
They write it down any way they want to.
Yeah.
Áyá,
So it is,
Yeah.
haa yátx'i káx̱ áyá {s} yéi jitooné, ḵa haa dachx̱ánk'i sáani
we're working with our children and grandchildren
has ax̱sakóowut.
so they can learn it.
Áaa.
Yes.
Haa yéi áwé yatee.
That's the way we are.
Haa toowú kei gux̱sagóowu ???. Aaá
We're going to be happy ???. Yes.
Has tsú. Hél ch'a ldakát has awuskoowú.
Them too. They don't know all of it.
{k} K'idéin yak'éiyi aa, aax̱ has awuskoowú,
The really good ones, after they are knowing it,
yáadáx̱,
from right here,
has akakg̱wa.áaḵw has du daadé kei yaa ḵushugux̱sagéi.
they will try it, they will understand.
Yéi haa ḵusteeyí tlél ch'a yáadu haax̱ ??? kei has akg̱watée. Aaá.
Our way of life, just around here ??? they're not going to pick it up. Yes.
Yáa has du shantóode ḵu.a yéi akakg̱wanóok.
But their minds will absorb it.
X'oon sá déi
Now, how many
yoo x̱'atánk
words
aadé kugux̱dayáa k'idéin.
are going to come back well.
Goo sáwé toowú {s} has awuskóowu aa, has du daa kei yaa ḵushugux̱sagéi. Mhm.
Where are the ones who knew inside (themselves), they will understand. Yes.
Iʼm going to tell you a joke about my sister, two of them. Oh, just little kids about that high.
Yóot nánde, about 26 miles from here,
Over there upstream, about 26 miles from here,
Morley River áyá yéi haa yatee springtime.
Morley River, it is, where we are in the springtime.
Chashhídi áwé s du jeeyís wududliyéx̱ wé haa éeshch.
Our father built a brush house for them.
Aaá.
Yes.
Has kus.ook' neech.
They always played.
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Áxʼ áwé, sis, wooch.een has datláakw.
There they (his sisters) gossip together.
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Has du x̱'éit x̱wasi.áx̱.
I listened to them.
Aha.
Yeah.
Has amsikóo tléix' yateeyi aa.
They knew one (story).
Wé shaawát áwé,
That woman,
yées shaawát,
young woman,
do éesh áwé keitl tlein a.oowún.
her father owned a big dog.
Mhm.
Yeah.
Hmh.
So.
Sawáak, a St. Bernard.
Sawáak, a St. Bernard. [Sawáak is a word for a big dog with pointed ears, a guard dog. A word borrowed from Russian.]
Aaá.
Yes.
Yá ḵu.oo a x̱oowú áa ỹan oostáaỹch.
He used to lie among the people.
Yaa nashíx áwé shaawát yéi yanaḵéich,
When the woman is leaving, she says,
«Goodáx̱ át tlein sáyá, áa ỹan oostáaỹch?» yoo daayaḵaa neech. [At shooḵ]
"Where is that big thing from, that lies there all the time?" she always asks. [Laughter]
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Yéi áwé s atláakw. Aaá. And,
That's how they tell the story. Yes. And,
chʼa máa ḵúx̱de áwé shákw shé
just how reverting back perhaps,
has du yís áwé sh wudliyéx̱,
he accompanied them,
Aahá.
Yes.
wé keitl.
the dog.
Ch'a yáakʼw át áwé ts'ootaat áwé
All of a sudden there in the morning
tléináx̱ wé kei amdzigít.
one of them woke up.
Goodáx̱ ḵáa tlein sáwé has du gunéi tóot tá?
Who is this big man who is starting to sleep between them?
No. [At shooḵ]
No. [Laughter]
Hmm.
Aag̱áa áwé tlei has shamdiḵée.
Then they got up.
Kát has aawa.ák.
They built a fire.
Tlei kóox áwé x̱'eiyís{ams} has amsi.ée. [At shooḵ] Ḵateeyí tsú x̱'eiyís has amsit'áa.
Then they cooked some rice to eat. [Laughter] Itʼs a wonder they warmed it up to eat.
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
I just listen to them, they
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Ax̱ éesh yéi x̱at daayaḵáayin, «Sh kanida.áaḵw!»
My father used to tell me, "Try it out!
Áaa.
Yes.
«Lingít x̱'éináx̱ sh kanida.áaḵw.»
Try speaking Tlingit.
Yeah.
«Yáa ḵu.éex yaa yanaxíxi,
When there's a party [potlatch/community feast/invitational] going on,
Ahah.
Yeah.
ch'a k'ikát, gunalchéesh tin gidahaan.»
at least, stand up and say thank you."
Áaa.
Yes.
«Aag̱áa iyak'éiyi á.»
"Then you are good there."
Mhm. Aaá.
Yes. Yes.
Aaá, kax̱wa.aaḵw nooch.
Yes, I always try.
Yeedát ḵu.aa {yées} yées k'isáani,
Now however, the young, young boys,
Mmm.
Yeah.
has du een yéi jix̱ané has ax̱sakóowut.
I work with them so they will learn.
Yeah.
Aadé haa wdudlitóowu yé, x̱át,
The way they they taught us, me,
Yeah.
I
kax̱wa.aaḵw has du een
I try with them,
Yeah.
yéi jix̱aneiyí.
to work with them.
Yeah.
Wáang̱aneens ḵúnáx̱ has du toowú k'éi nooch
Sometimes they are really happy
Mhm.
Yeah.
yóo s x̱'ala.átgi.
when they talk.
Mmm.
Yeah.
Ch'u has du jee yat'éex'i ch'a yeisú.
It's still hard for them.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
{kas} Has ayakg̱wadláaḵ ḵu.aa.
They'll get there however.
Áwé has ayakg̱wadláaḵw.
They'll get there.
Aaá.
Yes.
Tlél aadé yéi s a yáanáx̱ tuwaḵaayí tlél has awuskú,
We can't tell them too much they don't know,
Yeah.
ḵa tóonáx̱ ayáx̱ toowú has ayakg̱wadláaḵ; ch'as a haa tóo yéi ng̱atee. Aaá.
and thatʼs how (the right way) inside their minds, they will succeed; let us remember it. Yes.
Yáat'aa á tsú, yéi x̱at daayaduḵáayin,
This thing, also, they used to tell me,
ḵateeyí keitl, ḵushtuyáx̱ tlél máa sá yéi kooyáat'i,
itʼs a wonder how a dog, it doesn't matter how long,
a x̱o̱o aa ch'a koogéiyi áwé yóo s x̱'ala.átgin {a} á een.
some of them speak any old way [carelessly] with it (the dog).
Yeah.
Has [tóot / tsú???] géit wusgeedí,
If it did something wrong,
tléikʼ. Tlél áx̱ wus.aax̱.
no. It doesn't listen.
Ch'a aan áwé, ch'a g̱unaa ḵáa
Even so, some other person
aan yóo x̱'ala.átgi neech,
always speaks to it,
wé keitl, yeah,
the dog,
dei k'idéin,
then, well
aax̱ áwé du toowú yéi nateech.
after that, it always feels (well).
Mhm.
Yes.
K'idéin,
Really,
máa sá s akoo.aaḵw, áwé,
how they (really) try,
ayáx̱ nateech.
it is always correct].
Anáx kg̱wagoodí, tlél,
When he goes along,
tlél daa sá yéi daa.eené,
you don't do anything,
ḵunas.áx̱ch yéi na.oo.
he always listens.
Hé yéi áwé yatee,
That's the way it is,
yeah,
aadé haa yateeyi yé.
the way we are.
Aaá.
Yes.
Wéit'aa déi wé haa akaawaxíl', wé át naaw̃.
That's what's troubling us, the alcohol.
Daa sá?
What?
Naaw̃.
Alcohol.
Aaá.
Yes.
Áwé haa akaawaxíl'. Ḵa wé dus'áḵsi aa.
That's troubling us. And the thing they smoke (marijuana).
Aaá.
Yes.
Yéi haa yatee neil tsú.
We're that way at home too.
Mmm.
Yes.
Aaá.
Yes.
Á yéi haa kanax̱,
There along through us
wé yées naawáat hás.
the young people.
Yées adátx'i, áwé, has nanáach, tle,
Young children they always die, then,
Ahah.
{he} ḵut kei yaa shunaxíx.
there's not too many of them left.
Yeah.
Ax̱ toowú yak'éi haat ḵux̱wateení,
I'm happy I traveled here,
Mhm.
Yeah.
yee x̱'éit x̱asa.aax̱í.
to listen to you all.
Yeah.
See that, Sam, ax̱ yáx̱ yoo x̱'ayatánk k'idéin.
See that, Sam (Aanyaalahaash, Sam Johnston) speaks well like me.
Mhm.
Yes.
But heʼs not here, eh.
Mmm.
Oh.
Gushé goo s aa hás ??? áwé i yé ???
I donʼt know where they are. ???
Aaá.
Yes.
Aadé yóode {itʼs stopped, this} has ḵux̱ tliyéi. Gushé máa sé de.
Towards there, itʼs stopped this (watch) itʼs stopped backwards. I donʼt know how now.
X̱at yóo,
I,
same time as you or hour behind, Alaska?
Weʼre, weʼre an hour behind you guys.
Hmh.
Oh.
Yeah.
Youʼre going 10:00 oʼclock, Iʼm just going to 9.
Oh yeah. [At shooḵ]
['Laughter']
Áwu áx̱, ax̱ x̱án,
Here, with me,
Gwál keijinináx̱ haa yatee Lingít x̱'éináx̱ yoo x̱'ala.átgi.
there's maybe five of us that speak Tlingit.
Aaá.
Yes.
Has du ée dultóow yá adátx'i school-x' yeedát.
They're teaching the kids at school now.
Áaa.
Oh.
Yaa has anaskwéin.
They're learning.
Yeah.
Yéi áwé.
And so it is.
Mmm.
Oh.
{ts tsʼas} Tsʼas á áyá a káx̱ aadé ḵux̱waateen.
I traveled here just for that.
Áaa.
Yes.
Neil ḵukḵwatéeni,
When I travel home,
has du een kakḵwanéek,
I will tell them about
Yeah.
aadé yoo x̱'eeyatángi yé.
the way you speak.
Mhm.
Yes.
Yeah.
Hmm.
Oh.
Ayáx̱ {ayáx̱} duwa.áx̱ch.
It sounds familiar. [It can be heard correctly.]
Uháan tsú yéi haa daayaduḵáayin,
They used to tell us this too,
Mhm.
Yes.
«Woosh x̱án neeyda.á.»
"Get together."
Áaa.
Yes.
«Yak'éiyi aa yóo x̱'atánk aag̱áa
"Good language, and then
{a k}a káx̱ yaa{gax̱} gax̱yee.áat.»
you will follow that."
Mm.
Oh.
Aaa.
Yes.
Yeah.
Ḵushtuyáx̱ goox' sá yéi haa yateeyí, tléix' haa yatee Lingít.
No matter where we're from, we're one people.
Aaa.
Tléix' haa yatee.
We are one.
Yeah.
I aaní ax̱ tuwáa sigóo ḵúnáx̱.
I really like your land.
Shaklig̱éi ax̱ tuwáx'.
It looks beautiful to me.
Áaa.
Yes.
Aaá.
Yes.
Mhm.
Kei ntooḵóox̱u, tatgé,
When we were driving up, yesterday,
Yeah.
xóots tlein áwé, déix̱ aa yaa nagút has atx̱á
two big brown bears were walking along, eating [referred to inland as ʼgrizzliesʼ]
Mhm.
Yes.
yáa, du yátx'i tin. [At shooḵ]
there, with their cubs.
Uhuh.
Gwál yá
Maybe this
three miles wutooḵoox̱ú áwé {jan náx} jánwu anax̱ kei wjixíx.
when we drove three miles, a mountain goat ran up along there.
Yeah.
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Yeah.
Yeah.
Tléik'. X̱át tsú. Xʼoondahéen sá aadé deis ḵoomtuwatéen Juneaudé?
No. Me too. How many times now did we travel to Juneau?
Uhuh?
Yeah?
Áwé, tsú i yáx̱,
Also, like you,
tlagu ḵáawux̱ siteeyi aa, has du een yoo x̱'ali.átk, Aaá.
the old timers, talking with them, Yes.
k'idéin has du toowú yak'éi, hás.
They feel good, them.
Oh yeah, yeah.
Áwé, yéi s amshigóok aa, has du een yaa [ux̱saa ???] hás tsu.
Those that know it, they [pronounce???] it with them, them also.
Tlél ch'a k'idéin, yéi has {oo}oosáa, see what Iʼm saying, ch'a aan áwé, has akoo.áaḵw.
They don't pronounce it just right, even so, they are trying.
Aaá.
Yes.
K'idéin, has du een yax̱ katooneegí, has du daax̱ gux̱satée.
If we tell them well, it will stay with them.
Mhm.
Yes.
Yá uháan tsú, á yées ḵáa yéi haa teeyí,
Us too, when we were young men,
ch'a aan wutusikóo,
even so we knew,
tlél ch'a ldakát át wutusakú {tle} tleidahéen. Mhm.
we didn't learn everything all at once.
Ch'a ayáx̱ yaa haa kundayein, yá haa ḵusteeyí.
We're turning out that way too, our way of life. [Weʼre being fulfilled, this our way of life.]
Aax̱ áwé woosh tóode yéi daatoonéi.
From there we are internalizing it.
Yá aadáx̱ haa téeyi yé, haa shagóon hás,
Where we are from, our ancestors,
has du tuwáadáx̱ áyá haa léelk'u hás
it's because of our grandparents
yéi yáat woosh x̱o̱ox̱ tuda.aat.
that we come together at this place here.
Mhm.
Yes.
Aadé ḵustéeyi yé
The way people lived
tlél daa sá ch'a ldakát has du jeeyís yan woonéiyin.
nothing was prepared for them.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ts'ootaat has shax̱daḵéen,
In the mornings when they get up,
tlél ch'as wé electrical s'eenáa áx̱ akdulgaan.
they don't turn on electrical lights.
Daa sáwé stoox káax̱ gax̱dust'áa?
What are they going to heat on the stove?
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
A eetíx̱ yakdutéeỹch.
They turn the knob on.
Aaá.
Yes.
Tléikʼ, tlél yéi utéeyin.
No, it didn't used to be that way.
Ch'a aan áwé,
Even so,
tlél woosh tóo has oolháchjin wooch has sayaheich.
they never gave up hope in themselves, they agreed on what they wanted.