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Tlingit Conversation #54
Speakers are T’aawchán, Ḵaajaakwtí, Shgóonde Walter Soboleff and Woochjix̱oo Éesh George Ramos. Recorded September 24, 2010, at the Bill Ray Center in Juneau, Alaska, by Naakil.aan Mark Hans Chester and Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff.
Tlingit transcription by X̱ʼaagi Sháawu Keri Eggleston. English translation by Shakʼsháani Margaret Dutson and Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff. Edited by X̱ʼaagi Sháawu Keri Eggleston.
Yaa kanajúx.
It's running.
Uhuh.
Sh idasá, sh idasá s'é.
Say your name, say your name first.
Yáa,
This,
ax̱ saayí áyú,
this is my name,
Woochjix̱oo Éesh yóo x̱at duwasáakw.
Woochjix̱oo Éesh is my name.
Aaa.
Yes.
Yéi áyú
This is what
a daax' yóo tux̱aatángi noojéen.
I used to think about it.
Yáa
This
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ yóo x̱'atánk ḵaa ée dultóowu áyú
that they are teaching Tlingit language
wooch teen.
together.
Yóo s x̱'al.átgi
When theyʼre speaking
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ has awsikóowu áa daa.
the Tlingit words that they know about.
Yáa adátx'i
These children
kéi s akg̱washáat.
theyʼre going to catch on to it.
Has akakg̱wa.áaḵw.
Theyʼre going to try.
Áyá daax' yóo {x̱'ax̱a} yóo tux̱atángi noojéen.
This is what I used to think about.
At kookeidí tóonáx̱ áyú
Through a parable
aa, has du ée at dultóow noojéen ch'áakw.
they used to teach them long ago.
Hél k'idéin x̱wasakú yá at kookeidí daat kalneek.
I donʼt understand very well telling about parables.
Á áyá
This is what
ax̱ tuwáa sigóo, i toowúch gé haa een kakg̱eenéek?
I want, do you think you can tell us?
Yaa.
This.
Uh, yáa x̱át um,
Well, me,
Ḵaajaakwtí yóo x̱at duwasáakw.
my name is Ḵaajaakwtí.
Aangóondáx̱ haa hídi ḵu.aa Aan X̱'aaka Hít,
From Angoon, our house though, Aan X̱'aaka Hít, [Central House]
yóo duwasáakw.
is what it's called.
Wáang̱aneens' Aan X̱'aakhittaan yóo haa dusáakw nooch.
Sometimes they always call us Aan X̱'aakitaan.
L'eeneidí ḵu.aa yáa, yáa naax̱ satí.
L'eeneidí is the clan.
Áyá dleit ḵáa x̱'éináx̱ ḵu.aa Walter Soboleff yóo x̱at duwasáakw.
In English though my name is Walter Soboleff.
Ax̱ katáagu
My age is
dei tléix' hándit ḵa déix̱ niyaadé yéi kei shuwag̱ích, ax̱ katáagu.
coming up on one hundred and two years now, my age.
Á áyá aadé x̱at x̱'eeyawóos'i yéi yáa, yáa tlaagú.
This is about what youʼre asking me about, a parable.
Yagéi.
It's big.
Yagéi.
It's big.
Yéi á dusáakw nooch
This is what they call it
ah, tlaagú.
uh, parable.
Yéil ḵutlaakw.
A Raven parable.
Yéi á duwasáakw, Yéil ḵutlaakw.
That's what it's called, Raven parable.
Yáa,
This,
yáa Yéil niyaadé kei shuwag̱ích áyá yá yaa ḵoosgé {yéi yéi} yéi x̱aatéen.
it comes up on the Ravenʼs side, this wisdom, thatʼs how I see it.
Ch'a, ch'a Lingít
Just Tlingit
ch'a Lingít tundatáani áyá uwayáa ch'a, ch'a,
just Tlingit thinking it looks like just, just,
Yéil tóox̱ wuduwatee.
they put it into Raven.
Yéil tóox̱ wuduwatee.
They put it into Raven.
Hú ágé yéi woosh kéi toowditaan?
Was it him that thought that up?
Lingít áwé.
He's Tlingit.
Yéi woosh kéi toowditaan áwé ch'a,
He thought that up,
áwé yéi duwasáakw
this is what they call
Yéil ḵutlaakw.
Raven parable.
Yéil ḵutlaakw.
Raven parable.
Yagéiyi,
A big,
yagéiyi ḵutlaakw áyá.
it's a big parable.
Ḵuwdzitee a niyaanáx̱.
It exists/came into being on that side.
Lingít tundatáani ḵu áwé ch'a, ch'a,
The Tlingit way of thinking though
at x'aakeidí kawuxeexí yáx̱ áyá wootee ch'a ch'a
was like planting seeds
??? wooch g̱unayáade
different
át a toonáx̱ kei kaawa.áak.
things sprouted up through it.
A tóonáx̱ kei kaawa.áak.
It sprouted up through it.
Á áwé ch'a ch'u tlei Yéil ḵutlaakwx̱ wusitee.
And so it became a Ravenʼs parable.
Yéi áwé daa yoo tux̱aatángi,
This is the way Iʼm thinking about it,
x̱áach,
me,
wáa yateeyi yéixʼ áwé chʼa, chʼa, ch'a ax̱ yáanáx̱ yaa ḵudzigéiyi aa ḵu.aa áwé
sometimes one who is smarter than me though
wáaneens' áwé ch'a g̱óot yéide akakg̱wanéek hóoch ḵu.aa.
sometimes he will tell it differently though.
Haa tlél x̱á wáa sá ax̱ tuwáa utí.
I really donʼt mind it.
Hél aadé
No way
shtóon x̱at gux̱datee, tléik' tlél áwé {yéi ax̱}
will my feelings be hurt, no;
yéi utí ax̱ tundatáani.
my thoughts are not that way.
Yeah.
Áyá yáa a x̱oo aa áyá
Some are
uh, ḵúnáx̱
really
daḵdlik'éi yaa
good, these
at kookeidí.
parables.
Ḵúnáx̱.
Really.
Á áyá
So
yéi s daayax̱aḵá, aa.
this is what Iʼm saying.
I káak x̱ánt iwuwaadí áyú,
When you are raised by your uncle,
áx' áyú
that is where
i ée gax̱dultóow ḵaa i léelk'u hás ch'as i ée gux̱latóow.
you are going to be taught and your grandparents will teach you.
A káax' yéi ḵukg̱eestée yóo x̱a.áx̱ji noojéen,
You will live according to it, is what I used to hear,
yáa at kookeidí.
this parable.
Aadé ishakdujeis'í áyá
Itʼs how youʼre instructed
aa, a x̱oo aa áyá ax̱ tuwáa sigóo
some of these things I want
aa, kawtooneegí has du jeeyís yáa yées ḵáax'.
us to tell for these young people.
Has ag̱a.aax̱éet.
In order for them to hear it.
Wáanáx̱ sáyú.
Why is that.
Yáa, yáa ḵaa x̱oo ḵoowdziteeyi ḵaa yátx'usáani
Children born to people
tlax̱ wáa sá has wududzix̱án,
how much they loved them,
ḵaa léelk'uch.
their grandparents.
Du dachx̱ánx'iyáan {du dach} tlax̱ wáa sá {awsi} has awsix̱án.
Their grandchildren, how very much they loved them.
Ḵa yáa has du éesh tsú ḵa yáa has du tláa.
And their father too and their mother.
{ḵaa yát} Ḵaa yátx'usáani wududzix̱án.
They loved their children.
Á áwé ch'a ch'a yéi, ch'a yéi shután,
It's still that way,
yá ch'áagu
the long ago
Lingít ḵusteeyí.
Tlingit way of life.
Shaawát aa,
The females,
sháach awé,
women,
kei s gasawátjin
used to raise them
ḵa tláa
and the mother
ḵa ḵaa tláa shátx̱ ḵa tláa kéek',
and the mother's oldest sisters and the younger sisters,
hás áwé, yáa sháa ḵóo at latóowux̱ has wusitee.
it was them, these women became teachers.
Yáa ḵáax' niyaanáx̱ ḵu.aa áyá,
On the boysʼ side however,
yáa ḵaa tláa éek'
the motherʼs brother
hú áwé yan káx' ???
it was he
yan káx' ??? ḵaa káakx̱ nasteejín.
he used to be the true uncle.
Hú áwe, {yáa} yáa
He's the one,
{ḵaa ḵaa} ḵaa yádi,
the child,
du jintáa jeedunaaḵjín.
they would release him into his care.
Gwál
Maybe
jinkaat táakwx̱ sateeyí áwé neejín jinkaat táakw ḵa deix̱
when he is ten or twelve years old
du káakch áwé kei uswáatchjin.
his uncle would raise him.
Du káakch áwé, {kei uwa} tlél wáa sá {ḵaa aa}
It was his uncle, it didnʼt matter
ḵaa tuwáa utéeyin.
what people used to think.
Yáat'aanáx̱ shákdé wé
Maybe through this
wáa yateeyi yéi chʼa tlax̱ ḵúdáx̱ áwé kunageijín.
once in a while it would be too much.
Ch'a, ch'a át wulyaaḵw áyá,
Compared to it,
ḵaa yátx'i aadé dudzix̱áni yé.
the way people loved their children.
A tóox' áwé yéi yatee.
It's in there.
Yat'éex'i at koojeis'.
Teaching the difficult things.
Yat'éex'i ḵustí ḵaa yáa yéi daadunéi.
It's a difficult life doing this.
Á áyá ḵaa káakch x̱aawé
This is why the uncle
du kéilk'i waḵsheeyéex' yéi áwe.
shows his nephew.
«Yat'éex'i ḵustí tóonáx̱ á yéi yakg̱eegóot.
“Youʼre going to go through a hard life.
Ách áyá,
This is why,
ách áyá,
this is why,
a yís i ée at kuḵalatóow i toowú gax̱latseenéet.
I will teach you things for it, so that your mind will be strong.
Wooch g̱unayáade át {yáa yéi k} i yáa kei gux̱daháan
Different things will stand in your way
yáa kei inawádi ḵa {yáa}
when you're growing up and
{yáa }yáa gwál tleiḵáa táakwx̱ iwusteeyí tsu a wanáax',
maybe when youʼre twenty years old or more,
a tóonáx̱ yayigoodí áyá {aadé ishakawji}
when you go through it
aadé ishakx̱wajaayí
the way that I taught you
a kaadé {kei iga} kei ikḵwasawáat yá,
I will raise you for it,
tlei yánde ikg̱wanéi a tóox'.»
youʼll be ready to go through it.”
Yéi áyá yan kawdayáayin ch'áakw.
This is the way it happened long ago.
Áyá {a ká} a káx' chʼu ḵudushoojín.
So according to it (protocol), they used to train people by bathing in cold saltwater.
Táakw,
Winter,
éil' héeni,
salt water,
táakwx'
in winter
éil' héeni
salt water
táa yéi kg̱wanóok.
he's going to sit in it.
«I toowú galatseenít.
“So that your mind will be strong.
Tlél jaax̱ káx' áyá ikḵwashooch, tléik'.
Itʼs not for ??? that I will have you bathe in saltwater, no.
Ḵúnáx̱
Really
igux̱latseenít áyá.
itʼs to make you very strong.
I daa dleeyí gax̱latseenít.
In order for your body to be strong.
Ḵa i toowú gax̱latseenít.
And in order for your mind to be strong.
Ch'a ldakát yéide
In every way
latseen i aayíx̱ nasateech.»
strength is yours.”
Ách áyá ch'áakw yéi kduneegín yáa,
This is why long ago they used to tell this,
yáa ch'áagu {la}
this long ago
{la} latseen yahaayí,
symbol of strength,
a daat yoo x̱'atánk ḵuwdzitee.
there was talk about it.
Á áyá
That is why
latseen dei yáax' yéi woonei {yáa} yáa ḵaa kéilk'.
strength came to the personʼs nephew.
Hú áyá latseen tlein {a ka}
It was him, big strength
du kéilk'i {káa} káa yéi woonei a káax' áyá.
that showed on his nephew because of it.
Wulisaayí yáa Duktootl' yéi dusáagun
The one called Duktootl' became well-known
{yáa yáa} yáa ḵáa.
this man.
Ách áyá
This is why
ch'áakw {yáa}yáa ḵaa kéilk' kei nduswádi
long ago when they were raising their nephew
dusx̱ánich áyú,
because they loved him,
t'éex'déin du ée {at dudlitóo} at wududlitóow.
they taught him the hard way.
Yéi áyá yan kawdiyáa.
This is the way it was.
Yáax' áwé yánde shukḵwatáan yáat'aa.
This is where Iʼm going to conclude this one.
{tlé} Tléi áyú a shóot aa ḵateet.
Let me add one.
Yéi áyú x̱waa.áx̱ x̱á.
This is the way I heard it.
Aaá, ayáx̱ áyú.
Yes, that is right.
Kaxwaan du x̱ánt uwagút.
Kaxwaan came to him.
Aan du yéet yan shawlix̱út'.
His son threw him down.
Aag̱áa áyú adax̱ aawaléet yú.á.
Then he threw him from there, it is said.
Ch'a aan ḵu áyú s
Even though however
yéi s akaawaneek.
they told it that way.
Aa, yáa shkalneek áyá
This story
i een kagax̱dulneek,
theyʼre going to tell you
aa, g̱isakóot aadé
so that youʼll know how
ḵaa dushúch nooch yé.
they used to bathe them in the salt water.
Hú ḵu.aa yóo s
He however
Aan góok' áyú nateich ???
???
Ách áyú {du} Duktootl' ???
That's why Duktootl' ???
Ch'a hú sh wudishúch.
He bathed himself in saltwater.
Yóo áyú ax̱ een akaawaneek ax̱ káak.
That's what my uncle told me.
Yéi áwé wootee; uh, yéi áwé wootee.
That's how it was; that's how it was.
Yéi x'wán ???
Thatʼs the way for sure ???
Du een.aach kaawashúḵ.
His friends/family laughed at him.
Tle, tle eeshandéin wuduwaxwéi.
He suffered from their teasing.
Hél ḵoon héende yoo ugútgun.
He never went into the water with the others.
Aaá.
Yes.
Hél ḵoon {héeni} héeni wugoot.
He didnʼt go into the water with people.
Ḵach'u ḵaa shukát ásíwé gé.
Probably (he went) before them.
Si.áat'i héen
Cold water
a tóox̱ dashuch noojín, tlél has awuskú.
he always bathed in it, but they didn't know.
Kaxwaan du x̱ánt uwagút.
Kaxwaan went to him.
Aaá, ch'a yéi áwé
Yes, that is the way
yá at kookeidí áyás tle ldakát
all the parables are
yaa kandunígi.
when they're telling it.
Aa.
Yes.
Yóo
That,
yan kawdulneegídáx̱ áyú,
when they have finished telling the story,
ḵaa een kanduníkch wáanáx̱ sáyú ḵaa een kadulneek.
people are told why it is they tell it.
Yéi aa.
Yáa tlaagú yéi á
This legend, itʼs that way
gag̱isakóot
so that you'll know
aadé ???
the way ???
ḵusteeyí yóo {shukagux̱} shukakg̱wa{xéet}xéexi yé.
the culture should go ???
Yéi áyú. Ách yóo i een kadulneegí, shakdujeis' áyú tsú.
Thatʼs it. Thatʼs why when they're telling you the story, theyʼre instructing also.
Yáa shkalneek yáa
The story,
at kookeidí tóonáx̱.
through parables.
Ch'a ayáx̱ ákyá yéi á?
Is that right?
Ch'a ayáx̱ áwé, x̱'adultseenín
That's right, it was valuable
x̱'adultseenín naax̱ satí.
it was valuable, clan membership.
X̱'adultseenín naax̱ satí.
Clan membership was valuable.
Ḵaa tláa, ḵaa éesh,
Peopleʼs mothers, fathers,
ḵaa léelk'u hás, ḵaa léelák'w hás, ḵaa káak hás x̱'adultseenín.
grandparents, dear grandparents, uncles were valuable.
Ách á yéi
That is why
{yéi, yéi at} yee ée x̱oo wdudli.oo.
they distributed it among you.
Sh yáa awdanéix̱ gux̱satée yáa haa kéilk'.
Our nephew is going to be a very honorable person.
Áyá hóoch áyá,
He is the one,
ḵutx̱ haa shuwuxeexí
when we are all gone
hú áyá haa eetíx' {yánde kg̱wataa} yánde kg̱waháan.
he is the one who will stand in our place.
Ách áyá yáa haa naax̱ satí
Because of our clan
ch'u tlei yáa yagiyeedé yáadu uháan
up to this day we are here
yáa has du toowú latseení tuwáadáx̱ áyá.
because of their courage.
Aadé kei wdudziwádi yé.
The way he was raised.
Yáa ḵaa kéilk'
The nephew
uwayáa,
in comparison,
uwayáa,
in comparison
has du eetí x'aakeidíx̱ áyá haa sitee uháan yáa yagiyee.
we are the seeds taking their place, us, today.
Yéi áyá a daa tux̱wditaan x̱áach.
This is how I think about it, me.
Ách áyá wa.éich tsú
This is why you too
i toowú tóox' tlax̱ wáa sá x̱'alitseen.
feel that it's so very valuable.
Ách áyá
This is why
ách áyá a daat eehán tsu yáa yagiyeedé.
this is why you are standing for it even up to today.
Aadé at nateech yé.
The way things are.
Aadé at nateech yáa toowú latseen,
The way things are, this courage,
sh yáa awudané
being honorable
yáa yagiyee tóonáx̱,
up through this day,
yáa yagiyee tóonáx̱.
up through this day.
Hmm.
Tlél tsu ch'a daa sá {chʼa} ch'a kalidéix'i át
Not any shameful thing
tóo yéi haa kg̱watee.
we aren't going to be in it.
Tsu yéi natéen yéi áwé,
If it's that way again,
ch'a ldakát haa naax̱ satí yáax' áwé yéi kg̱watée.
all of our tribes will be here.
Yáa aadé at kawdiyaayi át ch'a yá a káx̱ at tootée nooch.
What's going on, we always watch over it.
A káx̱ at tootée nooch.
We watch over it.
Wáa yateeyi yéixʼ áwé ch'a a ḵíndáx̱ haa jinaxíxch.
Sometimes we fall short of it.
Ch'a yéi ḵu at nateejín.
That is the way things used to be though.
Ch'a yéi ḵu at nateejín.
That is the way things used to be though.
Yéi áwé.
That's it.
Ahah.
Uhuh.
Yáa tléix'aa yáa
This one thing
{ax̱} hél k'idéin x̱wasakú
I donʼt know well
áyá
this
ax̱ een kadunik noojéen.
they used to tell me.
Ch'a g̱óot aa naa ḵu ch'a g̱óot yéidáx̱ aa
Another clan or someone from another place,
ḵu.oo yee x̱ánt wuḵoox̱ú yaakw yíkt,
when they come by you in a boat,
áyá
hél yanx̱ has uḵoox̱ ch'a wéidei ???
they donʼt come ashore, just over there ???
nalháshch áyú ḵu.aa wé yaakw.
theyʼd float though, that boat.
Yáa aantḵéeni has ayahéini aa, hás áyá,
The townspeople that own it, it is they that
a t'áakt has oo.áatch.
would walk down to the landward side of it (the boat).
Aag̱áa yóo s anawóos'ch yá yaakw g̱éide aa ḵu.oo,
Then they would ask the people in the boat,
«Goodáx̱ yaakw sáyá?»
“Where is this canoe from?”
Haa,
Well,
«Aadóo sá yeewháan?»
“Who are you?”
Haa,
Well,
yéi áyá s
This is how
has du kahádi yóo atán nooch,
they always ???
«Yóodáx̱ yaakw áyá.
“This is where the boat is from.
Ḵa yóodáx̱ ḵwáan áyá.»
And these are the people of that place.”
Adáx̱ áyáas
That is when
has {du} x̱ʼanduwóos'ch,
they are asked,
«Daaḵw yéis {káa} aanáx̱ sáyá haa aaní kát {ḵeet? ??} yeeyḵúx̱?"
“Through what places did you come to our land?”
Haa, aag̱áa yan kawdusnoogú aadóox̱ sá s sateeyí
Well, when they truly find out who they are
aag̱áa áyá yáa
that is when the
aan
land
s' aatx'í áyú
owners
has kéi s akooshéeych yóo shí.
would begin to sing them their song.
Welcome shí, welcome.
Welcome song, welcome.
Adáx̱ áyáas yá yaakw g̱ei aayí.
From there, those on the boat, it's their turn.
Tsú has kei akooshéeych.
They also begin to sing.
Aag̱áa yáa tsá yan has aḵóox̱.
Only then thatʼs when the boat goes ashore.
Á áyá
So
yax̱ ḵujéeyin
they thought it was
ah,
{sh yu} woosh yáa ayooduné
respect for each other
tóonáx̱ áyú
through this.
Dleit ḵáach ḵu.aas "protocol" yóo s ayasáakw.
The white man calls it “protocol”.
Hél gé aadé
Isnʼt that how
ah,
uh,
hél sakú aa sateení shákdé,
maybe because they don't know them,
wé yaakw,
the boat,
ch'a g̱oot ḵáa áyá aanídáx̱ haa x̱ánt wuḵoox̱ú.
when it comes to us from different peopleʼs lands.
Aadé yáa at g̱aneech yéi áyá.
This is how things would happen, thatʼs it.
Ayáx̱ áwé yóot iyatée.
You have put it the right way.
{Ch'a} chʼa ch'áagudáx̱
From a long time ago
wooch yáa ayadunéiyin.
they used to show each other respect.
Ch'a ch'áagudáx̱.
From long ago.
Wooch yáa ayadunéiyin.
They respected each other.
Duskóowch {a na}
It is known,
wooch yáa ayax̱dunéit yéi áwé
so that they respected each other, thatʼs it
at woowóos' ḵug̱asteejín, ách áwé
there were questions, that's why,
ách áwé yóo x̱'atánk has du jeet wuduwatée wé
that is why they gave them a speech,
wé {yées}
the
yées {ga} yei gax̱dugáḵ ḵu.oo, ách áwé has x̱'anduwóos'ch.
new people theyʼre going to meet, that is why they would ask them questions.
Ayáx̱ has du yáa ayagax̱dunéit,
In order that they would be honored,
yéi áwé nateejín ch'áagu ḵusteeyí.
that used to be the way of life long ago.
Aak'é yeedát x̱áng̱aa yáa dleit ḵáa haa x̱oo kawdayaayí,
Just recently when the white people came among us,
{tlél} tlél yéi áwé at wootee chʼa
thatʼs not the way things were,
ch'u tlei haa aaní kát áyá {has} has jeewaháa.
they just came to our land (without the above protocols).
{tlel} tlél tsu ch'a wáa sá {has a yee} has du yayeet awu.aat.
People werenʼt waiting for them to come in any way.
Ḵa tlél has x̱'awduwóos',
And they were never asked,
«Aadóo sáwe yeewháan?» ch'u tlei áwé
“Who are you?”, it was just
haa tlei kʼé kát has kawdiyaayí.
they just appeared before us.
Yéi áyá,
This is the way,
yéi áyá kawdiyaa {yá yee} yées aa,
this is the way it happened, new ones,
yées aa.
new ones.
Ch'a g̱oot yéide át kawdayaa yá ách áyá
Things are happening differently, that is why
ách áyá ch'a shákdé a {ka} kát x̱'ayditán yá gaaw.
maybe that is why you spoke of it at this time.
Ch'áagu
The long ago
ḵusteeyí aadé
way of life, the way
aadé yan uwajág̱u yé.
the way it was killed.
Á ḵu.aa yá yées ḵustí,
This however, this new way of life,
dleit ḵáa haa x̱oot kát áyá uwayáa
when the white man came among us, itʼs like
ch'a át kawdix̱'éili át yáx̱ wootee.
things just kind of broke apart.
Yáa ch'áagu aadé woosh teen {yéi} yéi jitoonéiyi yé
The way we used to work together long ago
á áyá a daa x̱'ayditaan.
it was this that you spoke about.
Mhm. ??? Gunalchéesh. Aaá.
Thank you. Yes.
Tlákw yéi áyá s daayax̱aḵá yáa ax̱ een.aa hás,
This is what I always tell my own people,
«Yaakw haa x̱ánde kg̱waḵóox̱.
“A boat will come to us.
Hél x'wán ch'a koogéiyi déin.
Hopefully not just any old way.
Aan káx̱
On the land
woosh géit wudu.aadí
when they meet
ch'a g̱óot'aa naa
another clan
yaa na.ádi
when theyʼre walking
yee x̱ánde
toward you all,
á tsús yéi x̱waa.áx̱.
this is what I heard.
Chʼu wooshdáx̱ ??? áwé wooch géit wudu.aadí,
Apart ??? when they meet each other,
«Lingít ákwé?»
“Are you Tlingit?”
yóo áwé s x̱'anduwóos'ch.
thatʼs what they ask.
Tlei aag̱áa áwés wé yaakw aayí yáx̱,
And then, just like with the boat,
«Goodáx̱ sá yeewháan?»
“Where are you from?”
Aa.
Yes.
Ḵaa túg̱aa wuteeyí áwés,
If they approve,
has du x̱oodé
over to them
ḵukanduḵéich.
they send someone.
«Yóot'aa hídi yeedé áyá gax̱yee.áat
“You will go inside this house
yáa aanx',» yóo áyú.
in this village,” they say.
Aag̱áa áyáas
That is when
yéi s dusḵéeych yáanax̱.á.
they seat them on this side.
Yá aan has {i} ayahéini ḵu.oo ḵu.aas yáanax̱.á.
The people that own the land though, on this side.
Aag̱áa áwé
That is when
yáa aan has ayahéini aa s ḵu.oo has du l'eix̱í áwé neilú naaḵch.
those that claim this land come in with their dance.
Aag̱áa áyá yáa g̱úḵlʼi daa
That is when these swan (down feathers come out of the top of the headdress)
l'eix̱
dance
peace dance
yéi shákdé duwasáakw.
is maybe what it is called.
Ch'as has du x̱'áak yéi nateech.
It was always right in the middle of them.
Tléix'dahéen yáa peace dance,
One time, this peace dance,
yan awul'eix̱í áyá
when they're finished dancing,
yá x̱'wáal'
the down feathers
has du x̱'áak yéi nateech.
would be in between them.
«Ch'a wáa sá yeekoowáat' yá haa aaní káx' yéi ikg̱wateeyí á,
“However long you will stay on our land,
hél wáa sá hél kaxéel' yee kaadé kg̱wagóot.»
no trouble will come upon you.”
Ch'a ayáx̱ ákyá?
Is that right?
Yéi x̱waajée
I think
peace dance i x̱'éide x̱waa.áx̱. G̱uwakaan.
I heard you say peace dance. Deer. [Deer is a symbol of peace.]
Tlél ákyá a káa yéi wutee yáat'aa.
Maybe this was not on it.
Ch'a yáa- yáa toowú k'é ḵu.aa áyá
These good thoughts however,
ḵaa tóo yéi wootee.
were in people's minds.
{tle tlél} Tlél ḵulagaaw ḵuwustee.
There was no fighting.
Yá peace aa ḵu ch'u,
This peace thing however,
g̱óot yéide át áyá.
is a different thing.
Ách áyá yéi x̱waajée yéi x̱waa.áx̱ ḵu.aa g̱uwakaan
Thatʼs why I believe I heard though, this deer
Dleit ḵáa aa yóo x̱'atánk wé ???.
That is an English word ???.
Ách áwé yéi ḵuyaawaḵaa,
That is why people said,
«Yak'éi haa x̱oo yéi yee wuteeyí. Yakʼéi haa x̱oo yéi yee wuteeyí.»
“It is good that you are among us. It is good that you are among us.”
Ch'u ch'áagudáx̱ áyá,
Itʼs from long ago,
tsú a kát x̱'ayditán yáa wooch yáa ayadané.
you also spoke of this mutual respect.
{tle} Tle ch'a tlákw áwé yaa kduteejín.
They always used to abide by it.
Ch'a tlákw áwé yaa kduteejín.
They always used to abide by it.
Yá, yá peace ḵu.aa áyá
About this peace though
ch'a g̱oot yéide át Hél kaxéelʼ ch'a g̱óot yéi át ḵu.aa yáatʼaa chʼa yáaxʼ yánde gax̱tootée áyá ḵu yáat'át.
a different thing No trouble a different thing, this one, we are going to leave it right here though, this one.
Yá yées ḵunateení ḵu.aa wé,
These new travelers however,
uwayáa {has du yayíxʼ}
it was like
has du yeexʼ wuduwashee.
they were welcomed.
«A yak'éi, yak'éi,
“It's good, it's good,
yan yiḵúx̱.»
come ashore.”
Aag̱áa áwé
That's when
aadóo sá daaḵw aa naax̱ sá sitee,
whatever clan the people are of,
wududzikóo goox' sá yéi kg̱wateeyí.
they know where they will stay.
Ách áwé k'idéin yax̱ kadusnoogún
That's why they used to verify it,
a káax' áwé du een,
it was according to that with them,
du een
with them
{yéi yáx̱ }yéi jiduné a káax'.
they worked accordingly.
Tlél aadé chʼa, ch'a koogéiyi.
It wasnʼt just any old way.
Chʼa, ch'a dei ya.áak yáadu á.
There is space (for them) here.
Yáat'át tsú dei ya.áak yáadu.
This one too, there is space here,
Yyáat'át tsú, dei ya.áak áyá, yáat'aa.
This one too, there is space, this one.
Yéi áwé.
That's it.
Ch'a ldakát áwé ḵaa ya.áakx̱ wustéeyin.
There was always room for everyone.
{te te} Tlél ch'a koogéiyi.
Not just any old way.
Aadé wooch yaa ayadunéiyi yé áyú ch'áakw.
This is how they used to honor each other long ago.
Aadé wooch yaa ayadunéiyi yé.
How they honored each other.
Yeedát ḵu.aa wé ch'a,
These days though,
{yáa} yáa yées ḵustí yéi duwasáagu át,
what they call this new generation,
á áyá ch'a uwayáa a kaadé yaa ḵusanax'áḵw.
it seems as though they are forgetting this.
A náḵ, a náḵ yaa ḵukandayéin.
Behind, they are leaving it behind.
Yáa, yáa ch'áagu yak'éiyi,
This long ago good,
yak'éiyi Lingít aa ḵusteeyí,
good Tlingit way of life.
tlax̱ wáa sá k'éiyin.
how very good it used to be.
Áwé a náḵ yaa haa kundayéin, ách áwé {yéi} yéi ḵuwanaḵéich,
And we are leaving it behind, that's why people say,
«Tlél x'wán a kát yee sawux'aagúḵ
“Be sure not to forget it,
yáa yak'éiyi át yáa Lingít a káa ḵoowdziteeyi át,
this wonderful thing, this thing that Tlingits live by,
ḵa a káax' has wooneix̱í át. Tél x'wán,
and what they were saved by. Don't ever,
tlél x'wán
don't ever
yee jeedáx̱ wooxeexíḵ.
let it fall from you.
Gaylasháat.
Hold onto it.
Á áyá,
It is that
a káax' has ḵoowdzitee,
that they live by,
yáa haa shagóonx'i.»
these ancestors of ours.”
Yéi áyá, yéi áyá aadé kḵwatée.
Thatʼs it, thatʼs how Iʼll put it.
Aadé kḵwatée yáa gaaw.
Iʼll put it there at this time.
Yá yées ḵu.ooch ga.aax̱t.
So that the young people can hear it.
Yées ḵu.ooch ga.aax̱t.
So that the young people can hear it.
{hél hel} Hél aadé ch'u tlei dleit ḵáa haa unax̱siteeyi yé.
Thereʼs no way we can be white people.
Lingít áyá uháan.
We are Tlingit people.
Yak'éiyi at tsú a tóo yéi wootee á ḵu.aa.
It's a good thing too, it was included in it.
Á ḵu x'wán yaa gax̱tootée.
We will be sure to carry it though.
{tle tlél} Tle tlél kalidéix'i át áyá.
It's nothing shameful.
Ligéiyi át áyá yaa gax̱tootée.
It's a big thing we're going to carry.
Yáa haa shagóonx'i a káax' has woo.aat.
Our ancestors walked according to it.
A káax' has ḵoowdzitee.
They lived according to it.
A káax' has wooneix̱.
They were saved according to it.
Ách áyá yáadu uháan
That is why we're here
yáa yagiyee.
today.
{xʼóoch} Xʼoon wooch ít da.wáat sá? Yéi áwé x̱á.
How many generations? Thatʼs it, see.
Yéi áwé, yéi áwé.
That's right, that's right.
Many generations.
Wooch eetí ḵáax'w.
Generations.
Wooch eetí ḵáax'w.
Generations.
Yéi áwé, yéi áwé wooch eetí ḵáax'w.
That's it, that's it, generations.
Ch'a ayáx̱ áyá.
This is right.
K'é yeedát,
Look at now,
k'é yeedát,
now,
dleit ḵáa áwé yéi x̱'ayaḵá,
the white man says,
«Wáanáx̱ sáyá tlax̱ yéi koogéi
“Why is there so much
yá Alaska
this Alaska
Alaska káx',
in Alaska,
yáa yáa
this, this
yéi duwasáakw
what they call
ch'a ḵáakwt áwé wdzigít?
accidental loss? ???
«Ch'a hú áwé sh wudijáḵ wé ḵáa.»
“He killed himself, that man.”
Tlél haa tuwáa ushgú yéi yawtooḵaayí yéi ḵu áwé ḵunaḵéich.
We really don't want to say it but people say it.
«Ḵáakwt, ḵáakwde yan yéi jeewanéi.
“An accident, he made a mistake.
Ch'a húsh wudijáḵ.»
He killed himself.”
Wáanáx̱ sá {yéi atk} yéi at yatee yáa yagiyee?
Why is it that way today?
Tlél du tóo yei wutee.
It wasn't in him.
Yáa ch'áagu lingít sh yáa awudanéiyi.
The people long ago respected themselves.
{Awan} ch'a wáaneexʼ sáwé {a naaná}
Sometimes
awunaanáx̱ kei uwawát áwé ch'u tlei
when a person wasn't raised with it
{ch'a} ch'a uwayáa
it's like
ḵut wugoodí.
the person is lost.
Lingít yáx̱ wootee, ách áyá
He was like a Tlingit, that is why
ḵáakwt {yéi} yan yéi jeewanéi.
he made a mistake.
Du gaawúx̱ wusitee.
It was his time.
L awuskoowúch
Because he didn't know it,
du gaawúx̱ wusitee.
it was his time.
Ch'a, chʼa yéi yax̱ at kudayaa, x̱á.
That's just the way things go, see.
Ch'a yéi yax̱ at kudayaa.
That's the way things go.
Wáaneexʼ sáwé
Sometimes
Chʼa, chʼa, ch'a tlél yáat'aa kagéi kooheix̱
it doesn't coincide with
yáa yeedádi aa.
that of today.
Yáa lingítaaní tlein ḵulagáaw tlein yawuxeexí,
In this big world when war broke out,
uháan tsú {a tóo} a tóo yéi haa wootee.
we too were included in it.
A tóo yéi haa wootee.
We were in it.
Jaaḵ a tóowu á.
Killing was part of it.
Áwé a x̱oo aa
Some of them
a tóodáx̱ has jidunáaḵ yáa ḵulagaaw tlein,
when they were discharged from the war,
áwé chʼa, ch'a has du tundatáani tóox' áwé.
it was still in their thoughts.
Néekwdéin has woonei.
They became sickly.
Ách áyá a x̱oo aa yáa uháan Lingítx̱ haa sateeyí ḵulagaaw tóox' yéi haa wootee wáa yatéexʼ
That is why some of us, those of us Tlingits that were in the war, sometimes
tlél ayáx̱ utíx̱ haa tundataaní.
our thinking isnʼt right.
Hél ayáx̱ utíx̱. Wáa yatéexʼ
It's not right. Once in a while
{ch'a} chʼu uháan tsú a tóo toonág̱i
even we who are standing in it
ch'a wáa sá haa géide wuduteeyí chʼa,
however we are wronged,
ch'a uháan tsú sh tudajáḵx̱, a x̱oo aa yéi wootee.
we too kill ourselves, some were that way.
Ahah.
Uhuh.
Aadé kwlix̱éitl'sháni yé
How terrifying
ḵulagaaw tóo yéi ḵuwuteeyí.
being in a war.
Kulix̱éitl'shán.
It's very terrifying.
A x̱oo aa a tóodáx̱ has jiwdunaag̱í,
Some who were discharged
hél ayáx̱ has utí.
arenʼt O.K.
Tlél ayáx̱ x̱á.
Arenʼt O.K. indeed.
Ax̱ yéet a tóo yéi wootee.
My son was in it.
Dáx̱dahéen.
Two times.
Áwé ch'a, chʼa, chʼa dleey kát ux̱latínch.
Sometimes I watch out for him.
Wáaneexʼ sáwé ch'a hú tsú yéi kg̱wasgéet ách áwé áa akx̱walx̱éidli.
Sometimes Iʼm afraid heʼs going to do it too.
Ch'a tlákw du daa ax̱ tootée nooch ax̱ yéet.
I always worry about my son.
Ax̱ yéet dáx̱dahéen a tóo yéi wootee.
My son was in it two times.
Ách áwé tlákw du daa ax̱ tootée y.á.
That's why I always worry about him.
{du du} Ya du húnx̱, ḵa du kéek', ḵa du dlaak',
His older brother and his younger brother and his sister,
tlákw du daa haa tootée nooch.
we always worry about him.
Yéi unasgéet ḵáa, x̱á.
A person who might do that, see.
K'e aadé yateeyi yé.
That's the way it is.
X̱át tsú, x̱aan wootee, x̱á.
Me too, it was with me too, see.
Ch'a ax̱ yéet áwé kx̱anéek i een, x̱á.
Itʼs just my son that Iʼm telling you about, see.
K'e aadé nateech yá ḵulagaaw.
This is how war is.
A x̱oo aa
Some of them
a tóot has woo.átch ch'u tlei náaw tóox' ḵut has gagútch.
went through it and really get lost in drinking.
Has du tuwáa sigóo a kát has sawux'aaḵw a tóonáx̱ has yaawu.ádi.
They want to forget what they went through.
Yat'éex', {ách} ách kʼe áwé ch'u
It's difficult, that's why
{yei yei} yéi s tuwatéech ch'a náaw tóonáx̱,
they think that through drinking,
ch'a náaw tóonáx̱ a kaadé haa s akg̱wax'áaḵw.
through drinking they will forget it.
Ch'a yee een áwé kx̱anéek yáa woosh g̱unayáade át.
I'm just telling you about different things.
Aadé {haa eenx̱ na}
The way
{haa een na}
haa eenx̱ sateeyi yé.
it is with us.
{yáa} Yáa lingítaaní tlein kaxéel'i áwé uháan ch'a, ch'a,
The troubles of the world
ch'u tlei haa kaxéel'ix̱ wusitee, ch'a yáa naax̱ satí, x̱á.
became our troubles, our tribe, see.
Gwál wa.éich tsú aa ysikóo.
Maybe you know some of them yourself.
Aa ysikóo yá soldiers yéi duwasáakw.
You know some, what they call soldiers.
Ḵa Navy, ḵa Marine.
And Navy, and Marines.
Airforce, daaḵw.aa sá. Wáa yateeyi
Airforce and others. Sometimes
ch'a g̱óot yéide has nateech.
they are different.
Uwayáa has du ḵusteeyí áa yax̱ wujix̱eeni yáx̱
It's as though their lives were turned upside down
yoo wooneik a x̱oo aa, tlél ch'a ldakát hás.
this happens to some of them, not all of them.
A x̱oo aa ḵu.aa yéi woonei x̱á.
It happened to some of them though, see.
Yak'éi yáat'aa át
It's good, this thing
yáat'aa a tóodei yoo x̱'atootángi a daat.
that we're talking about it into this (camera).
Yáa yées ḵu.ooch gux̱sakóo.
The young people will know.
Wutusikóo, x̱á.
We already know, see.
Wutusikóo ḵu.aa.
We already know however.
Tóo tuwanóok
We felt it
a tóonáx̱ yeey.ádi
when you all went through
yáa ḵulagaaw tlein.
this big war.
«Tléináx̱ x̱ateix̱,» soldier áwé x̱aan sh kada-
“I sleep alone,” a soldier (told) me-
Tlél ch'a ldakát soldier áwé ḵoon sh koodaneek, tléikʼ.
Not every soldier talks about it, no.
Ch'a uwayáa alig̱aas'i yáx̱.
It's like they refrain from doing it.
{hél hél}
Tléináx̱ yateeyi aa x̱aan sh kawdineek.
One of them told me his story.
Yóo Africa-x' áwé
It was in Africa
át has ḵoowligaaw,
they were fighting there,
aatlein ḵulagaaw.
a big fight.
Aa daa óonaa
Certain rifles
yóo áa has awdlisíni yéix' áwé,
right where they were hiding,
wudihaan ch'a ch'a
he stood up
chʼu tle yóo áa at woonei yéidáx̱ áwé a yinaadéi kei wjixíx.
from the place where things were happening he ran toward it.
Du toowú g̱óot,
Without thinking,
du toowú g̱óot áwé wjixíx.
without thinking he ran.
Áwé du déin aa soldiers áwé woosháat.
The soldiers near him caught him.
Wududzineix̱.
They saved his life.
Hospital-x' áwé kei wdzigít.
He woke up in the hospital.
Uwayáa du toowú g̱óot.
It was like his mind was missing.
Hospital-x' áwé wdudzineix̱.
They saved his life in the hospital.
Ch'a hú áwé x̱aan sh kadaneek.
He tells me this himself.
K'é aadé at yateeyí yáx̱.
How things are.
Tlei true story áwé yee een kax̱aneek.
I'm telling you a true story.
K'é aadé at yateeyí.
The way things are.
{wáanée ḵwás}
Gwál yáax' yánde shugax̱tootáan shákdé.
Maybe we will end this right here.
Ch'a wa.éich yánde shukg̱eetáan.
You should end this yourself.
Haa, idaayax̱aḵá gunalchéesh, aa.
Well, I say thank you, yes.
{há ax̱}
Yáa at kookeidí
These parables
káx' daa x̱'awtuditán.
we spoke about.
Ách áyá
That is why
yáa yées aa kei kana.éin a daax' yéi has jiné.
these young people that are growing up, they are working on it.
Has ag̱a.aax̱éet.
Let them hear it.
Áyú ḵúnáx̱
That's really
hásch áyá átx̱ has agux̱layéix̱.
they are the ones who are going to use it.
Aáa.
Yes.
Ch'áagu yáx̱,
Like long ago,
wooch kaanáx̱ kei du.átji noojéen,
when people gathered together,
yan at wudux̱aayídáx̱,
after they got through eating,
aag̱áa áyús has du ée sh kadulnik nooch.
that's when they would tell them stories.
Ldakát yáa
All of these
at kookeidí Yéil daat shkalneek,
parables, stories about Raven,
goot sá toohéini,
where we own,
goox' sá haa aaní,
where our land is,
a káa yéi yateeyi yé,
where it's on it,
wáa sá a káx' yéi kagax̱toosteeyí.
how we are going to live on it.
Yóo áyú,
That is how,
ách áyá,
that is why,
has ag̱a.aax̱éet.
so that they can hear it.
Ḵa yáa Lingít x̱'éináx̱ wooch teen yóo x̱'atool.átgi
And when we speak this Tlingit language together
aadé duwa.áx̱ji yé.
how it sounds.
Á áyá kax̱waa.aaḵw.
It is this that I try.
Áyá {ax̱}
So
ḵúnáx̱
very much
gunalchéesh yéi idaayax̱aḵá.
I am thanking you.
Yak'éi, yak'éi.
Good, good.
Ch'áakw
Long ago
ax̱ daat ḵáa shoowaxíx.
people around me passed on.
Ax̱ aaní.
My land.
Ch'áakw atwuskú s'aatx'í yeeysikóo,
Long ago knowledgeable people you know,
a x̱oox̱ yaa geesáaych.
you start naming some of them.
Wa.éich tsú.
You too.
Hóoch'.
No more.
Hél aadóo sá á
There's nobody there
x̱'anḵwaawóos'it yé.
for me to ask.
Wáa sá yaa kdayéin yáat'át ḵa chʼu yáatʼát?
How is it looking, this one or this one?
Á áyá
So itʼs this
ḵúx̱ daak keeyaník tsú ???
you bring back out and tell ???
Yáa k'e tlei yáat'aa át ḵatí.
Let me add this.
Wé haa jeedé wdudli.ádi gwéil,
The bags that were handed to us,
yá x'úx',
these books/papers,
tlax̱ yéi ksikaak a tóot teen, a tóot teen.
they're real thick inside it, inside it.
Áwé tleidahéen x̱at x̱'eeyawóos',
At one time you asked me,
«X̱aan kananeek, wáa sá
“Tell me, how
wáa sá yagax̱tusaxéex yá ḵu.éex'?»
how we are going to run this party?”
A káwu á.
It's in it.
Yá x'úx' káwu á yóot'aach kaawaneek, Lily White.
It's in this book, that one told about it, Lily White.
Xunaadáx̱.
She's from Hoonah.
Du x̱'éix̱ kawdujixít.
They wrote it from her words.
Wáa sá yagax̱yisaxéex,
How you should run it,
yá ch'áagu ḵu.éex'.
the long-ago potlatch.
{yáa yáa} Yáa ḵáa naawú eetíx'.
This party after death.
Wáa sá yei kagax̱yee.éex' ḵa wáa sá yánde yéi jigax̱yeenéi a x̱oox'.
How you should invite people and how you should work it out among them.
Yáa a káx
In it
yáa a káwu á
itʼs in it.
áwé i een kax̱waaneek gwál iyatóow.
I told you about it, maybe you read it.
A káwu á, ch'a,
Itʼs in it,
chʼa, chʼa, chʼa déinde aa kashxéet tsú a káwu áyá.
different ways are written there, itʼs in it.
A kát ax̱wdlig̱ín nisdaat.
I looked at it last night.
Ch'a, ch'a
Just
Lingít {x̱ʼéidá} x̱'éidáx̱ áwé kawdujixít.
it was written from a Tlingitʼs words.
Ḵa tsú, ḵa Deikeenaa x̱'éidáx̱ tsú kawdujixít.
And also it was written from a Haida personʼs words.
Yá x'úx' {chʼa} chʼa k'éi x'úx' áwé.
This book, it's a good book.
Ch'a tlei aak'éi x'úx' áwé.
It's a good book.
{tlél} Hél ayáx̱ aa kawdushxeet.
Some of it wasn't written right.
Haa x̱'éidáx̱ áwé. {kaw}
From our own words.
Á áwé yee een áwé kax̱lashíx̱' yeedát.
Right now I'm praising it to you all.
Yee een áwé kax̱lashíx̱'.
I'm praising it to you all.
A kát ayeelg̱én.
Look at it.
{tsu tsu} Tsu natóow.
Read it again.
Tsu natóow. {aa} Aak'éi yoo x̱'atánk áwé.
Read it again. That is a good speech.
A káa kawdujixít haa x̱'éidáx̱.
It was written from our words. (transcribed from a speech)
Yéi áwé
That is
yánde shukḵwatáan, x̱áach, gunalchéesh.
the way I will end it, me, thank you.
Gunalchéesh. Yáa daax' yóo x̱'eeyatángit xʼúxʼ,
Thank you. The book you are talking about,
ch'a ldakát yee een kei nawát aa jeet tí.
give it to all of those that are growing up with you.
Yá i een ??? ch'a ldakát has du x̱oo
These with you ??? among every one of them,
aadóo sá ??? aadéi tutáni,
whoever ???
aadóo sá i een yéi jineiyí,
whoever works with you,
has du jintáak aa natí wé x'úx'.
put the book into the palm of their hand.
Sealaska ḵaa jeedé yéi adaané.
Sealaska is giving it out.
Yaa
This
ch'áakw yéi yoo ḵaa káaxʼ yóo x̱'atángi
long ago speaking for the people
du dachx̱án yóo g̱akéeych.
the grandchildren would sit there.
Aan áyú yóo x̱'ala.átgi nooch.
He would talk to them.
Aag̱áa áyú a x̱oot analg̱énch.
That is when he looks among them.
Aadóo sá
Whoever
du x̱'éit wus.aax̱í,
is listening to him,
aadóoch sá
whoever
kei nashádi aadé {x̱ʼa} yóo x̱'ayeetángi yé.
is grasping the words youʼre speaking.
Aaá, ooltínch.
Yes, heʼd see it.
Yéi áyú
That is the way
x̱wa.áx̱ji noojéen.
I used to hear it.
Aag̱áa áyáas
That is when
a x̱oo aa áyú ch'a yeisú
some of them while he's still
sh kalneegí áyú
telling the story
gadahánch.
would stand up.
«Ho ho,
“Oh boy,
ḵúnáx̱ áyá x̱at wulisáḵ.
I'm really tired.
tayeedé kḵwagóot.»
I'm going to go to bed.”
Tayeedé, eet kaadé nagút.
To sleep, heʼs going to the bedroom.
Yáa aadáx̱ áyá
Itʼs from there
next day
{yéi} aag̱áa yáa tsu woosh kaanáx̱ kei du.átch,
then theyʼd get together again,
ldakát du dachx̱án hás.
all of his grandchildren.
Aag̱áa áyú ax̱'anawóos'ch,
And that is when he asks,
«Tatgé áyá
“It was yesterday
at kookeidí yee een kax̱anéek.
I told you a parable.
Aaa,
Yes,
yóo kéidladi ḵa yóo láx̱',
That seagull and that heron,
a daat shkalneek.
a story about them.
Aadóo sá ax̱ een kakg̱wanéek goox' sá x̱'ax̱wdanaag̱í?»
Who is going to tell me where I left off?”
"Where did I quit?"
Aag̱áa áyáas agux̱sakóo aadóo sá ḵú du x̱'éit wus.aax̱í.
That is when he is going to know who really listened to him.
Aag̱áa áyús tlei ḵúnáx̱ du ée at latóow nooch.
That's when he really starts training him.
Du ée at latóowudáx̱ áyús,
After teaching him,
aag̱áa áyú yéi yakg̱waḵáa,
itʼs then he will say,
«Yóo kéidladi
“That seagull
ḵa láx̱'
and heron
shkalneek
story
yee een kax̱laneek,
I'm telling you all,
haa góok' ax̱ een kanalneek,»
well go ahead, tell it to me,”
du káakch yéi yanasḵéich.
his uncle tells him.
Ayáx̱ akawulneegí, «Aaa,
If he tells the story right, “Yes,
ayáx̱ áwé.»
that is the way.”
Aag̱áa áyús tlei ldakát
That is when all
du naa yóo ḵu.oo een akanalneek,
of his clan people, he tells about him,
«Yáat'aa áyá
“This is the one
ḵúnáx̱ yaa at nalkwéin.
heʼs really learning things.
Hú áyá
It is him
haa sháadeháni yís
for our leader
du ée at gax̱tulatóow.»
we are going to teach him.”
Aag̱áa áyás tlei ldakát wé du naa
That is when all the clan
sateeyí
members
yáa
these
yées ḵáa ḵa kei nawát aa, du ée at dultóow nooch.
young people and those growing up, they teach them things.
Du ée ???. Yéi áyá,
??? That's how
haa sháadeháni
our leader
kei gawátch chʼáakw.
would grow up long ago.
Nalkweit ákwé?
Is that “nalkweit”?
Nalkweit ákwé?
Is that “nalkweit”
A daa yoo x̱ʼayeetánk.
What youʼre talking about.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ḵúnáx̱
Truly
aadé kei gawátji yé.
that is the way he grows up.
Atwuskú s'aatíx̱ gux̱satée,
He is going to be a knowledgeable person,
ḵa ḵaa sháadeháni.
and a leader.
Yéi áyá kakg̱wagéi, aaa,
This is going to be all, yes,
ḵúnáx̱
really
sh tóog̱aa x̱at ditee
I am grateful
haa een yáa kei yi.aadí.
that you all came up here with us.
Ax̱ een keeyaneegí a x̱oo aa
You told me some of them
has asag̱a.aax̱éet.
so they can hear it.
Has agux̱sakóo. [agux̱likóo ???]
They will know it.
Has agux̱lakweit.
They are going to know.
Has agux̱lakweit.
They are going to know.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Yéi ákwé?
Is that it?
Góok, (at) yix̱á!
Go ahead and eat!
Gunalchéesh tlein. Aatlein gunalchéesh.
Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
Aatlein. Ḵúnáx̱.
Very much. Really.
Aaá, yéi kg̱watée.
Yes, it will be so.
Yéi á, Yaakwdaatdáx̱ Achkwéi yóo duwasáakw, Lena.
Thatʼs it, from Yakutat Achkwéi sheʼs called, Lena.
Yáa Nellie, Nellie áwé du dlaakʼ. [du kéekʼ. Nellie Lordʼs younger sister is Lena Farkas.]
Nellie, Nellie, her sister.
Hú du een yóo x̱'ax̱la.átgi yáa shux'wáanáx̱ kawtuwa.aaḵw.
When I spoke to her the first time, we tried it.
Yáa aadé yóo x̱'awtula.átgi yé, hóoch tsú s akawshixít tsú.
The way we talked, she recorded that too.
Mhm. Mhm.
Kát x̱at seiwax'áḵw wé tsaa eix̱í.
I forgot the seal oil.
Tsaa eix̱í a kát x̱at seiwax'áḵw.
I forgot the seal oil.
Hóoch' wé
That's all the
hóochʼ, no more.
Thatʼs all .
[At shooḵ]
[Laughter]
I taught at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for three years. And the students, the students asked the administration for a Native Studies department in 1970. And the university okayed it, administration. And I saw it in an ad in the paper and I answered it. And then they sent two students down to interview me. And then I was asked to come up there to be looked at by their faculty too. And then I got the job to head the Native Studies department. I think I had the biggest class forty and fifty.