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Tlingit Conversation #68
Speakers are Ḵintóow Adeline St. Clair (left) and Deiwjee Genevieve Cook (right). Recorded July 12, 2011, in Hoonah, AK, by Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff and Naakil.aan Mark Hans Chester.
This material is based on work supported by National Science Foundation grant 0853788 to the University of Alaska Southeast with Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff as Principal Investigator, and by National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship 266286-19 to Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or National Endowment for the Humanities.
Tlingit transcription by Shaag̱aw Éesh. English translation by Shaksháani Margaret Dutson with Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff. Edited by X̱ʼaagi Sháawu Keri Eggleston.
SYMBOLS: Brackets = {false start}. [translator/transcriber's note]. (added for clarity). ??? = canʼt understand. «quotation marks for Tlingit text ». [Time-aligned text for this video was accomplished using ELAN ((Versions 6.0 (2020), 6.1 (2021), and 6.3 (2022) [Computer software]. Nijmegen: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, The Language Archive. Retrieved from https://archive.mpi.nl/tla/elan]
(Ḵintóow) duwasáakw Lingít x̱'éináx̱.
My name is (Ḵintóow) in Tlingit.
Deisheetaan áyá x̱át.
I am Deisheetaan.
Kaagwaantaan yádi.
Child of Kaagwaantaan.
Wooshkeetaan dachx̱ánkʼ.
Wooshkeetaan grandchild.
Tʼaḵdeintaan dachx̱ánkʼ.
T'aḵdeintaan grandchild.
{ax̱}
Chʼa x̱át,
Just me,
ax̱ yátxʼi een,
with my children,
Deisheetaanx̱ haa sitee yá aanxʼ.
we are Deisheetaan in this village. (My children and I are the only Deisheetaan in this village.)
Áyáa {yá sh sh}, ax̱ kéekʼ yáat áa.
Here, my younger sister is sitting here.
Du tláa áwé tóot x̱at uwatée.
Her mother took me in.
has du yádi sákw.
for their child. [their “child-to-be”. She was adopted.]
Aag̱áa
Then
{hél} hél ḵaa tóon gug̱atee.
it is not going to upset people.
Chʼa tlákw
All the time
yóo x̱at daayaduḵáa nuch,
people always say to me,
«G̱óot aandáx̱ áwé {wa} wa.é. Hél yáadáx̱ áwé {yá} yá naa.»
“You are from another land. Itʼs not from here, this clan.”
Ách áyá du tláach
Thatʼs why her mother
tóot x̱at uwatée, {d}
took me in,
{du}
du sée sákw.
as her daughter.
Hú áwé,
It was her,
ax̱ ée at wulitóow.
she taught things to me.
Eva Davis.
Edith Bean.
Ida Kadashan.
Elsie Pratt.
Mary Wilson.
Hás áyá ax̱ school teacher-x̱ has wusitee.
These are them, they became my school teachers.
X̱áat has wulitóow.
They taught it to me.
X̱ʼax̱waa.áx̱ch
I understood it (Tlingit)
yéi x̱at gushagéinkʼidáx̱.
from when I was small.
Yóo x̱ʼax̱atángin
I would speak
ax̱ léelkʼu teen áwé. Át wutooḵoox̱ún, du táayidé.
with my grandmother. We used to drive around, to her garden.
Áa yéi jitoonéi noojín.
We always used to work there.
Ḵʼasagú yaa yantusaxíx chʼa tlákw.
We are having fun all of the time.
Hél yéi x̱wají
I didn't think
yéi jinéix̱ sateeyí.
that it is work.
X̱áat daa yéi jitooneiyí,
When we worked on fish,
tléiḵw daa yéi jitooneiyí ḵa
when we worked on berries and
dleey daa yéi jitooneiyí,
when we worked on meat,
chʼa tlákw has at shée nuch.
they would sing all of the time.
A káaxʼ áwé
Because of that
uháan tsú, atoolʼéx̱ nuch, chʼa yeisú
us too, we would dance, (while) still
a daa yéi jitooneiyí.
as we are working on it.
Deiwjee yóo x̱at duwasáakw.
Deiwjee is how I am called.
Yéil naax̱ x̱at sitee.
I am Raven moiety.
Tʼaḵdeintaanx̱ x̱at sitee.
I am T'aḵdeintaan.
Kaagwaantaan Yádi áyá x̱át.
I am a Child of Kaagwaantaan.
Chookaneidí dachx̱ánkʼ.
Grandchild of the Chookaneidí.
Xúnaadáx̱ áyá x̱at yatee.
I am from Hoonah.
X̱aa.áx̱ch, Lingít x̱aa.áx̱ch,
I understand it. I understand Tlingit
a yoo x̱ʼatánk ḵu.aa,
speaking it, though,
{ax̱} ax̱ jee lidzée.
is hard for me.
Kei x̱at nawádi, ax̱ tláa,
When I was growing up, my mother,
??? Bay George yóo duwasáakw.
??? Bay George is how he is called.
Hél x̱wasakú
I don't know
du saayí,
his name,
ḵúnáx̱ du saayí ḵu.aa.
his real name, though.
Susie Pratt
yéi x̱at daayaḵá,
says to me,
«Kei inawádi áwé {i} kei kg̱ishagóok
“As youʼre growing up, you're going to learn how
daḵéisʼ,
to sew,
at sa.ee,
to cook,
yátxʼ latín,
taking care of children,
aag̱áa áwé kʼidéin gug̱atée i hídi, tsú.»
and then it is going to be nice, your house, too.”
Wáa sá ax̱ tuwáa sagóowun ḵaa een át woo.aat gáan.
How I used to want to walk around outside with the men.
Ax̱ tláach ḵwá yéi x̱at yanasḵéich,
My mother, though, sheʼd always say to me,
«G̱andé! [Or: G̱anú dé!]
“Sit down now!
Shaawát áwé wa.é.
You are a woman.
Hél át gag̱eesheex
You arenʼt going to run around
ḵáaxʼw yáx̱.»
like the men.”
Ách áwé chʼa neilxʼ yéi x̱anúkjin.
That's why I just used to sit home.
Yeedát ḵwá x̱áa kaawanák, chʼa yeisú neilxʼ yóo x̱anúkch.
Now, though, I am accustomed to it, I still sit at home.
Hél x̱wasakóo nuch daa sá yaa yanaxíx yá aanxʼ.
I never know what is going on in this town.
Yéi jix̱waneiyí ḵwá,
When I worked, though,
x̱wasakóowun
I used to know
daa sá yaa yanaxíx yá aanxʼ.
what is happening in this town.
A káaxʼ áwé yanwáatxʼ{ch}
Upon that, elders
has du een kax̱aník nooch,
I would tell it to them,
daa sá yaa yanaxíx.
what is going on.
Yeedát ḵwá, tléikʼ.
Right now though, no.
Neilxʼ áwé yéi x̱at nateech.
I am always at home.
{yáa yee} Yáa yagiyee kei nawat shaaxʼsáani,
Right now, the young girls that are growing up,
ḵúnáx̱ lidzée.
it's really difficult.
Hél has ooshgóok at sa.ee.
They don't know how to cook.
Ḵwateeyí {t wul} kawusʼéilʼi has du naa.ádi, hél has ooḵéísʼ.
Even if their clothes are torn in one place, they donʼt sew it.
Chʼa yéi wóosht has akoojeilch.
They just put it together.
Yaa x̱at nawádi áwé x̱áa awlitóow ax̱ éesh ḵa ax̱ tláa,
As I was growing up, they taught it to me, my father and my mother,
sakwnéin sa.ee,
to cook bread,
ḵa chʼa yéi at sa.ee.
and regular cooking.
Jinkaat ḵa déix̱ ḵa násʼk áwé yéi kaawagei {ax̱}
(When my years) Were 12 and 13,
haa een.aa hás yá ax̱ x̱ánxʼ yéi s wootee, á.
our relatives stayed by me there.
Ax̱ éesh
My father
ax̱ shátx̱i hás ḵa ax̱ éekʼ hás,
my older sisters and my brothers,
tléixʼ neil yéi áwé haa kaawagei.
one household, thatʼs how many we were.
Áwé x̱át,
As for me,
ax̱ tláach yéi x̱at (ya)nasḵéich,
my mother would say to me,
«Wa.é áwé at gag̱isa.ée.»
“It is you, you are going to cook.”
«Ha wáa sáwé? Wáa sáwé ax̱ een.aa,
“Well how is that? How is that, my sibliings
hél has at us.ée {n}
they donʼt cook,
hás ḵu.aa?»
them, though?”
«Haa yátxʼi daaxʼ x̱áawé yéi s jiné, ách áwé.»
“They're working with our children, see, that is why.”
«Háʼ.»
“Oh.”
Shaax̱danookch five oʼclock tsʼootaat.
I would wake up at five oʼclock in the morning.
Sakwnéin koox̱achúxch
I would kneed dough
chʼu l school-de {yoo gútk} nax̱agútji,
before I went to school,
yan x̱was.ee neech.
I would cook.
X̱wasa.éech tle gáande nx̱agútch.
I would cook, then go out.
Naa.át tsú x̱wa.úsʼch {yéi k}
I would wash clothes too
ḵaa jeeyís
for people
school-de x̱wagoodí.
when I was going to school.
Ḵux̱ x̱adag̱óot áwé,
When I returned,
{yáa} yáa yagiyee yáx̱,
like today,
awdigaan,
it was sunny,
ldakát uwaxúk tle wóosht kax̱waajél.
it has all dried, then I put it together.
Kax̱waachák.
I put it away.
Neilt x̱agóot ax̱ éesh yéi yaawaḵaa,
When I got home, my father said,
«{á} Ḵúnáx̱ wookʼéi sakwnéin.
“It was really good, the bread.
Hóochʼ, {tle} tle wtuwakʼít.
Itʼs gone, we ate it all up.
Tsóokʼ aa kachúx.»
Make some more.”
Ax̱ toowóoch ḵwá gáande kḵwagóot, át kuḵagóot, chʼa wé
I thought I would go outside, though, I will take a walk, just
hít dáaknax̱.á.
outside the house.
Tléikʼ.
No.
Hél ḵaa tuwáa wushgú.
People didnʼt want it.
Ḵʼawsigóo.
It was fun.
Ldakát át
Everything
kei x̱at nawádi.
when I was growing up.
Wulidzée ḵu.aa.
It was difficult, though.
Wáang̱aneens áwé {ax̱ tuwáa}
Sometimes,
ax̱ tuwáa sigóo,
I wanted
x̱at wudu.éexʼi
to be invited
ḵaa yagiyee káxʼ.
on holidays.
Ax̱ tláach ḵwá yéi yanaḵéich, «Tléikʼ.
My mother though would say, “No.
Hél ax̱ tuwáa ushgú gáande yigoodí.
I don't want you to go outside.
Shaawát áwé wa.é; shaawátxʼ áwé neilxʼ yéi núkch.»
You're a lady; ladies always sit at home.”
Ḵwateeyí
Even though
chʼa yá haa x̱án
just right next to us
áwé yéi yatee wé show hall, chʼa aan áwé hél ḵaa tuwáa ushgóo nuch aadé x̱wagoodí.
was the show hall, even so, the people never wanted me to go there.
Aadé wootee yé
That is the way it was
kéi x̱at nawádi.
when I was growing up.
Yeedát ḵwá shaatxʼsáani át na.átch gáanxʼ.
Now, though, the little girls always walk around outside.
Hél ḵaa daat (tooshtí).
They don't (care) about people.
Hél tsú {has} neilxʼ daa sá yéi s adaa.uné.
They donʼt do anything at home, either.
Chʼas {du} has du tláa.
Just their mothers.
Hél has du ée at wudultóow.
They were not taught anything.
Ldakát ax̱ yátxʼi s ashigóok
All my children know how
at sa.ee.
to cook.
Has du éexʼ x̱walitóow.
I taught it to them.
Yeedát yáx̱,
Like now,
Fourth of July, Juneau-dé ḵux̱wateení,
Fourth of July, when I traveled to Juneau,
ḵúnáx̱ kíkʼi aa ax̱ yéet,
the very youngest one, my son,
Lx̱ooda.aanyádi yóo duwasáakw.
Lx̱ooda.aanyádi is how he is called.
Du ée x̱wlitóow,
I taught it to him,
atx̱ʼéeshi yéi daané.
to make dry fish.
Hél ooshgóok, ashigóok
He doesnʼt know how, he knows how
awuxaashí ḵwá {hé}
to cut it, but
a déinde ḵwá hél awuskú.
beyond that though, he didnʼt know.
Áwé du ée x̱wlitóow, yeedát ḵwá,
I taught him how to do it right now though,
atx̱ʼéeshi yéi adaané.
he makes dry fish.
Áwé yéi daayax̱aḵá,
So I say to him,
«Yeedát ḵwá át ḵoowaháa, x̱át,
“Right now, though, the time has come for it, me,
i jeedé x̱ʼakḵwadatáan.
I'm going to call you on the phone.
‹Ax̱ jeedé ách aa sawú i atx̱ʼéeshi.
Send me some of your dry fish.
A yáanáx̱ áwé yéi jiné a daa yéi jix̱aneiyí.›
That is too much work for me to work on it.ʼ
Haa, yeedát áwé ysikóo, haax̱ x̱ʼeedataanín,
Well, now you know it, you used to call here,
ax̱ jeet.
to me.
‹Mom!
ʼMom!
Atx̱ʼéeshi ax̱ tuwáa sigóo!›
I want dryfish!ʼ
Yeedát ḵwá yisikóo.»
Now, though, you know.”
Iʼm used to, uh, [Recording break]
Your turn.
Wáa sá s yatee i x̱án.aa?
How is your spouse?
Ax̱ sweetheart-í.
My sweetheart.
Um, tlél wáa sá utí.
Um, heʼs alright
Du náakw,
His medicine,
du náakw áwé
his medicine is,
{doc} doctor, uh,
Hél ayáx̱ utí chʼa yeisú du náagu, ách ákwé?
It still isnʼt right, his medicine, is that why?
Aaá.
Yes.
Áa dulshátx̱.
They're keeping him there.
Aaá.
Yes.
Yéi áwé yatee, ax̱ éekʼ.
That's the way he is, my brother.
Jake Jr.
Áawé,
So,
yéi yanx̱asaḵéich, «A yáanáx̱ áwé ilinúkts, ách áwé chʼa tlákw
I always say to him, “You're just too sweet, that's why all the time
dikée yéi yatee i sugar diabetes.
itʼs always high, your sugar diabetes.
A yáanáx̱ áwé at eex̱áa nuch.»
You always eat too much.”
«Tléikʼ.»
“No.”
Hú tsú,
Him too,
doctor yéi yaawaḵaa,
the doctor said,
«Du atx̱aayí dultínni kʼidéin,
“When his food is watched carefully,
aag̱áa áwé yínde yóo kg̱wanée {du} du diabetes-í.»
then it will go down, his diabetes. (blood sugar)”
Hél, a,
No, uh,
hél aadóo sá du éet wudashí.
nobody helped him.
Du yéet,
His son,
daa sá du éet uwaháa du yéet,
whatever he is hungry for, his son,
tle ana.eich.
he would buy it.
Wé linúkts áwé chʼa {du}
The sweets,
sakwnéin áwé chʼa tlákw du éet uwaháa, wé pastry.
baked goods, heʼs always hungry for them, those pastries.
Yéi daayax̱aḵá, «Hél áwé kg̱eex̱áa.
I say to him, “You shouldnʼt eat that.
Ldakát át, wé kʼúntsʼ, hél gag̱eex̱áa, kʼé,
All of it, those potatoes, you shouldnʼt eat them, well
aatlein. Chʼas yéi googéinkʼi aa áwé kg̱eex̱áa.
a lot of them. You should just eat a little bit of it.
Ḵa wé noodles.
And those noodles.
Spaghetti, yéi gusgéi g̱áa.
Spaghetti, just a small amount.
Ḵushtuyáx̱ wáa sá {koo} yakoogéi áwé, tléiḵw.
It doesnʼt matter how many (you eat), fruits.
Daaḵw aa tléiḵw sá i tuwáa sigóo kg̱eex̱áa.»
Whichever fruit you want, you should eat.”
Ó, hél du tuwáa ushgú.
Oh, he doesnʼt like it.
Chʼas aadé du tuwáa sigóowu yáx̱ áwé du tuwáa sigóo {at ax̱} at wux̱aayí.
He just wants to eat how he wants.
Ax̱ x̱úx̱ ḵu.aa,
My husband, though,
Parkinsonʼs.
Ḵa du téix̱ʼ
And his heart
tlél ulcheen.
is weak.
Hél yisakú?
You don't know? (a suggestion)
Tlél x̱wasakú.
I don't know.
Du tłáa ḵwá yéi wuteeyín x̱á.
His mother, though, was that way, you see.
Alice.
Du téix̱ʼ néegun.
Her heart was sick.
Um, how do you say the {oldest} oldest brother? Du húnx̱?
His (maleʼs) older brother?
His older brother.
Du húnx̱.
Du húnx̱ tsú down yéi téeyin.
His older brother, too, was down.
Du téix̱ʼ.
His heart.
Áwé x̱á, {haa}haa yan yinaanáx̱,
You see, on our side,
chʼas wé arthritis áwé ḵaa x̱oo yagéi.
just that arthritis it is prevalent among the people.
{áx̱} Ax̱ tláa ḵa ax̱ aat hás, ax̱ léelkʼu,
My mother and my paternal aunts, my grandparent,
ax̱ x̱án.aa niyaanáx̱ ḵwá téix̱ʼ néekw
on my spouseʼs side, though, heart disease
ḵa sugar diabetes.
and sugar diabetes.
Yá, daaxʼoon wootee {yá x̱} yá ax̱ yátxʼi.
Here, they were four, my children.
{has du téx̱ʼ}
Has tax̱ʼwookʼoots.
Their hearts failed.
Tléixʼ yateeyi aa six months old tax̱ʼwookʼoots.
One of them had heart failure at six months old.
Two and a half years Earl tax̱ʼwookʼoots.
At two and a half years, Earlʼs heart failed.
Thirty-nine-year-old tax̱ʼwookʼoots.
A 39-year-oldʼs heart failed.
Ḵa wé fifty-four-year-old one.
And the 54-year-old one.
Du téix̱ʼ.
His heart.
Ḵaa x̱oot jiwdigút wé
It came on a warpath among the people, that
cancer tsú, yá aan.
cancer, too, in this village.
Aadóo sá yéi x̱waajée s du jee yéi yatee
Whoever I think has it
ḵaa x̱oo wjitóok.
it blew up among people.
Shuxʼáa ḵwá TB áwé ḵaa jee yéi téeyin yáaxʼ.
At first, though, it was TB the people had here.
A ítde áwé ḵaa téix̱ʼ néegu.
After that, heart failure.
Yeedát ḵwá cancer áwé (yaa) ḵuyanadláḵ.
Right now, though, cancer is defeating the people.
Ḵa wé kasiyéiyi náakw dunútʼxʼ, wé
And that strange medicine is swallowed, those
shaaxʼsáani ḵa ḵáaxʼw,
little girls and boys,
ḵa kasiyéiyi sʼeiḵ.
and that strange smoke.
A káaxʼ áwé át has woo.aat.
That is what theyʼre walking around on.
Uh, arthritis,
x̱át ḵu.aa, and, ḵa,
as for me, and, and,
cancer,
ax̱ jee yéi téeyin.
I used to have it.
Um, wé náakw, há!
Um, that medicine (sound of frustration).
Iwlix̱éitl, wa.é ḵu.aa.
You are lucky, you, though.
Kíkʼi aa ax̱ kéekʼ,
The younger of my younger sisters,
du sʼaaḵ tóoxʼ áwé aawatʼei, du díx̱ʼ
inside of her bones she found it, her spine
tóoxʼ,
inside of it,
wé cancer.
that cancer.
Hítkinaawtí yóo dusáagun.
Hítkinaawtí is how she was called.
Naa dushéeych ḵwá du,
Although they helped ??? her
du ḵáashxʼ áwé aawasháat wé cancer.
in her hip she caught it, that cancer.
Tléixʼnáx̱ hél uxwáchk du x̱ʼoos.
On one side she was paralyzed, her leg.
Yáatʼaa yáx̱ áwé,
It was like this one,
{du x̱ʼus}.
Táakw {ch}
In winter,
du téeli tóo
in her shoes,
{sh} tóo sh kawulyádi,
when she played in them,
kʼidéin ḵwá át woogoot.
she walked around well, though.
Dáx̱.aa táakw áwé du daa yawdus.aayí, hél wáa sá utí.
The second year, when she was examined, she was ok.
Násʼgi aa táakw ákwé i aayí, daaxʼoon aa?
The third year was it (for) yours, the fourth one?
Jinkaat.
10.
Jinkaat ḵa tléixʼ.
11.
Eleven years.
Yakʼéi áwé.
That's good.
Hél aadóo sá át wugoot Friday káx̱.
Nobody arrived on Friday.
Larry ḵa x̱át áwé át tooḵéen.
Larry and I are sitting there.
Át x̱ʼawtuditaan.
We called around.
Tléikʼ, hél aadóo sá haa x̱ánt wugoot.
No, nobody came by us.
Haaw.
Well.
Tléináx̱ uháan áwé {sh}
Just us it was,
áa wdihaan, he said,
he stood up there, he said,
«Yóo x̱ʼakḵwatáan.»
“I'm going to speak.”
«Háʼ, i gu.aa yáx̱ xʼwán,» yóo daayax̱aḵá.
“Well, have courage,” I say to him.
«Wáa sá yóox̱ x̱ʼadutaan,
“How do they speak out,
ḵuwdu.éexʼi, aatlein ḵuwdu.éexʼi?»
when the people are invited, when many people are invited?” [This is how you say “When there is a big potlatch.”]
«Ha wa.éich áwé kakg̱eenéek, i x̱ʼéit x̱wasi.áx̱,» yóo daayax̱aḵá.
“Well, itʼs you, youʼre going to tell it, I am listening to you,” I say to him.
«Áwé hél x̱wasakú, ách áwé ix̱ʼax̱awóosʼ,» he says.
“Well I donʼt know, thatʼs why I am asking you,” he says.
I thought, «Dáa!»
I thought, “Dáa!” [An expression of slight surprise.]
«Shuxʼáanáx̱ áwé, ‹Gunalchéesh,› yéi yakg̱eeḵáa.
“At the beginning, you should say, ʼThank you.ʼ
‹Gunalchéesh,
ʼThank you,
sh yáa awudanéixʼi, sháa ḵa ḵáaxʼw,
noble people, women and men,
haat yeey.aadí haa x̱ʼayáx̱
as you all came here at our request
yáa iwtoo.éexʼi.
when we invited you all here.
Wóoshdáx̱ gax̱tulawáalʼ sakwnéin.
We're going to break bread.
Wóoshdáx̱.
Apart. (the bread)
Wóosh teen gax̱toox̱áa,›
Together we will eat it,
yéi yakg̱eeḵáa.
you'll say that.
Ḵa kakg̱eenéek aadóo sá {i}x̱ {s} isitee.
And you will tell them who you are.
I saayí
Your name
ḵa daaḵw naax̱ sá isitee.»
and which clan you are.”
«Chʼa yéi ákwé?»
“Just like that?”
«Haa, chʼa yéi x̱áawé.
“Well, thatʼs just the way, you see.
Hél x̱wasakú a daat át,» yóo daayax̱aḵá.
I don't know anything about that,” I say to him.
«Ax̱ éekʼ hás áwé yóo s x̱ʼatángi nuch shuxʼáanáx̱.
“My brothers would always speak at the beginning. [Implicit that this is still Adeline speaking because she uses the female term for ʼolder brothersʼ.]
A ítdáx̱ tsá,
Only after that,
áa x̱wdahaaní áwé yéi,
when I would stand up there, this is the way,
yéi yan{a}x̱aḵéich, ‹Gunalchéesh.
I would always say, ʼThank you.
Yan has (awsinée), ax̱ éekʼ hás, ách áyá chʼa gunalchéesh een áwé yáaxʼ x̱ahán.› »
They have completed it, my brothers, this is why I just stand here with thankfulness.ʼ “
«Hél ayáx̱ áwe.
“That's not right.
Hél ayáx̱ áwé.
That's not right.
Shaawát tsú yóox̱ x̱ʼadataan wáang̱aneens x̱á.»
Women also speak out sometimes, you see.”
«Ḵa yéi iyawdusḵaayí áwé tsá,» yóo daayax̱aḵá.
“And only when you are told (to do so),” I say to him.
Áx̱ ḵuhaa.
The time for it comes.
Hél chʼa koogéiyi áwé áx̱ x̱ʼeetaan.
You don't just speak out any old way.
A x̱oo aa Lingít,
Some people,
ḵáaḵt has yanaḵéich
they always say something mistakenly
yéi s ḵunoogú, ách áwé.
when they do that, thatʼs why.
Tle yéi iyawdusḵaayí áwé tsá.
Then only when you are told.
Ách áwé yá
That's why these
ḵaa sháadehánxʼi {s},
the leaders,
woosh káanáx̱ has wuda.aadí,
when they would get together,
x̱at nadux̱oox̱ch.
I am always invited.
Yá tléináx̱ ax̱ {na}
The only one of my
naa yáa téeyi
clan that is here
yá Deisheetaan.
the Deisheetaan.
Ax̱ yátxʼi hél yáat, ách áwé x̱at nadux̱oox̱ch, áa daak x̱agútch.
My children aren't here, that is why they always invite me, I go out there.
Ldakát ḵux̱wasáaych, yá
I always name all of the people, these
naa, Chʼáakʼ niyaa naa.
clans, the clans on the Eagle side.
A ítdáx̱ áwé ‹Gunalchéesh,› yóo yanx̱aḵéich.
After that, ʼThank you,ʼ I would say.
«Há, yisikóo haa yáanáx̱. Ách áwé ix̱ʼatoowóosʼ nuch.
“Well, you know more than we do. That is why we always ask you.
Iwtushikín a daat.»
We bother you about it.”
I said, «Chʼa yéi ḵu.aa áwé i ée gax̱dultóow.
I said, “But that is just the way it is going to be taught to you.
Ḵeewóosʼi
When you ask people
daa sá.
whatever.
‹Wáa sá kg̱watée?›
ʼHow should it be?ʼ
{yáa yéi} yéi yeeyaḵaayí, yéi gax̱tusanée yóo.
when you say this, that is the way we are going to do it, that way.
Kei kg̱wakʼéi shákdé.
It will probably be good.
Wáang̱aneens
Sometimes
ḵaa {tóot} tóon gug̱atée, aag̱áa yéi
people are going to be upset by it, and thatʼs when thus
yéi yakg̱waḵáa wé ḵáa,
that person is going to say,
‹Tléikʼ.
ʼNo.
Hél ayáx̱ áwé.›
Thatʼs not right.ʼ
Ách áwé
That's why
déix̱ yeekaadé
in 2 ways
chʼa wa.éich
you yourself
kg̱isakóo daa sá a daa yóo x̱ʼakg̱eetaaní.»
youʼre going to know what you are going to speak about.”
Yéi áwé.
That is the way.
Shuxʼáa yéi jiné ax̱ jeet wuduwatée,
When I was first given a job,
ice cream parlor,
áxʼ á yéi jix̱waanei
it is there that I worked
déix̱ táakw.
two years.
A ít áwé wé
It was after that
Gáaxw Xʼaayíxʼ yéi jix̱waanei
I worked at Icy Straits Point
x̱áat cannery.
fish cannery.
Tle duskóowch
It was always known
hél chʼa yóokʼ át x̱wagoodí.
when I don't get there on time.
Uháan tsú yéi daatooné.
Us as well, we work on it.
Gúxʼaa kaadé {dus}
Into cans
yéi daaduné {k} x̱áat.
it is put, the fish.
A ít áwé,
After that,
crab cannery, sʼáaw,
crab cannery, crab,
hítxʼ yéi jix̱waanei.
at the (crab) building I worked.
Tleiḵáa ḵa násʼk táakw áa yéi jix̱waanei.
For 23 years I worked there.
X̱ʼéit shuwushx̱eení
When it closed
atyátxʼi, yéi kwdzigeiyi atyátxʼi x̱walitín
children, I cared for small children
ḵaa jeeyís, school-xʼ yóo gútgi ḵaa tláa.
for people, when mothers were going to school.
School teacher.
School teacher.
A ítde áwé, Tlingit & Haida,
After that, Tlingit & Haida,
tóot x̱at uwatée.
they took me in. [picked me up]
Yeedádi yáx̱,
Like now,
haat aa ḵootéench,
some would always travel here, (tourists)
dleit ḵáa áwé s,
they are (usually) white people,
wé hítde s na.átch.
they go to that building.
Ldakát áa yéi yatee,
Theyʼre all there,
Lingít ádi,
the Lingít things,
has du at.óowu áwé kax̱anéek,
I tell about their clan property,
daaḵw aa sá áa yéi teeyí wé at.óow.
whichever one was there, that clan property.
X̱wasakoowú a daat shkalneek has du een kax̱aník nuch.
The stories that I know about it I would tell to them.
A ítdáx̱ áwé
After that
dáanaa shoowaxeex áwé
the money ran out,
chʼa x̱at jiwduwanáḵ.
I was just let go.
Áwé daa,
So,
hél x̱wasakú daa sá yéi kḵwasanée.
I didn't know what I was going to do.
Wé dleit shaawát haat ḵoowatín.
That white woman traveled here.
«Yanwáatxʼ áwé gax̱dultéen.
“Elders are going to be looked after.
Yee éet gax̱tulatóow yee tuwáa sagoowú.»
We'll teach you if you would like.”
«Ha góok,» yéi yax̱waaḵaa.
“Go ahead,” I said.
Chʼa yeisú yéi jix̱aneiyí áwé,
While I was still working,
wé haa sháadeháni, Alaska sháadeháni yéi yaawaḵaa,
that leader of ours, the leader of Alaska (the governor?) said,
«Yanwáatxʼi kg̱illatéeni,
“If youʼre going to take care of elders,
school-de áyá kg̱eeg̱óot.
youʼre going to go to school.
Yee ée at gax̱dultóow,
Things are going to be taught to you folks,
nurse kayaa yáx̱.»
Somewhat like a nurse.”
Áwé x̱áat wududlitóow.
So it was taught to me.
Ax̱ tuwáa sagoowú {kx̱}
As I wanted,
{háy}
héixʼ
just over here
áa wdudliyéx̱.
it was built there.
Aadóo sá yanéekw {áa dei}
Whoever was sick
áa yoo yagútk
goes there
wé clinic.
the clinic.
«I tuwáa sagoowú áa yéi jikg̱eenéi. Ayáx̱ koogéi {i}
“If you would like, you can work there. It is enough,
{aach sá} daa sá i ée wdultóowu.»
whatever was taught to you.”
«Tléikʼ.
“No.
{yan yá ax̱} Yá yanwáatxʼi teen yéi jikḵwanéi.
I will work with these elders.
{has tu} Has du tuwáadáx̱ áyá
It is because of them
yáa yéi x̱at yatee.
I am here.
Has du éenáx̱ áwé x̱wasikóo daa sá, {yee}
It's through them I know whatever,
daa sá yéi kḵwasanée
whatever I was going to do
ax̱ ḵusteeyí een.»
with my life.”
Ax̱ ée s awlitóow,
They taught it to me,
wáa sá yéi daaduneiyí tléiḵw g̱óot yéide.
how to work on berries in different ways.
Kanéegwálʼ.
Berries with salmon eggs. [”Indian pudding”]
Chʼa yéi aa,
All of them,
chʼa yéi,
all,
x̱áa s awlitóow, ách áwé school-t,
they taught it to me, thatʼs why arriving at school,
school-t ḵux̱atéen áwé,
when I traveled to school,
yéi x̱at yawdudziḵaa,
this was said to me,
{s} Keijín gaawxʼ shax̱dano̓ok.
I get up at five oʼclock.
At x̱wax̱áa nuch.
I would eat.
{schóolt yoo} School-de wutoo.aadí ḵwá,
But when we went to school,
dax̱adooshú gaaw.
7:00.
Atx̱á yís wutoo.aadí tle, {s}
When we would go for food then,
a shóo yéi x̱anúkch áwé xʼúxʼ.
I would sit there at the edge of a book. (I would sit down and read.)
Násʼk táakw áwé yéi wtusinee
We did three years
násʼk dís tóonáx̱.
in three months.
Jinkaat ḵa déix̱.
Twelve.
Tléixʼ yagiyee, chʼa
One day, just
tootóowu ldakát
when we read all
yá náakw daat át ḵa wé yanwáatxʼ aadé gax̱tulatín yé.
about this medicine and the way that we are going to care for those elders.
A x̱oo aa
Some of them
hél kéi udahánch.
couldn't stand.
Aadé du éede gax̱tudasheeyí
They way that we are going to help them
haa ée wdudlitóow.
was taught to us.
Ḵa yee.át kát sataaní,
And when they are lying in bed,
aadé {kéel} kée kg̱wagoodí
the way that they are going to get up,
wunoogú,
when they sit,
ḵa yóo áa yax̱ wutusanoogú,
and when we turn them around,
wutusahaaní,
when we stand them up,
káayaḵijeit kaadé,
onto a chair,
{áwé yéi}
ax̱ yéi jineiyíx̱ wusitee.
it became my work.
Chʼa yéi jix̱waneiyí, ldakát yanwáatxʼ
While I was still working, all of the elders
tle xʼoon sáwé has woonáatʼ dei.
how many of them have died one after the other, now.
Chʼáakw
Long ago
keijín
five
chʼa tlákw yagiyee keijín
every day five
ḵu.oo
people
shaawát, ḵáaxʼw,
women, men,
atkʼátskʼu,
children,
x̱alatín nuch has du neilíxʼ.
I would take care of them at their homes.
Áa yéi jix̱waanei.
I worked there.
Dax̱adooshú gaaw
(At) 7:00,
yéi jinéide x̱(w)aagút.
I went to work.
Keijín gaaw neil x̱waagoot
I got home at 5:00
yéi jinéidáx̱.
from work.
Yáatʼaa, du tláa tsú x̱wlitín
This one, her mother, also, I cared for
chʼa yéi goowáatlʼ.
just a short while.
Du káanáx̱ yaa natéeni áwé {du du}
When it was starting to overcome her,
du sée x̱ánt wudlitsúw.
she moved in by her daughter.
Áwé yéi x̱at yawdudziḵaa, «Tléikʼ.»
So it was said to me, “No.”
Chʼa du séech gux̱latéen.
Just her daughter will care for her.
So,
aax̱ x̱at wududzinook.
they laid me off. [literally, ʼI was removed.ʼ]
Hél yiwuyáatʼixʼ tle g̱óot aa ax̱ jeex̱ kasóos aan yéi jix̱wanei aa ḵu.oo.
It wasnʼt too long when I lost the others of the people that I worked with.
Shuxʼáa,
First,
x̱áa dultóow,
it is taught to me,
aadé gax̱dushuch yé
the way that they will be bathed,
lingít.
people.
Tléixʼ yateeyi aa shaawát,
This one woman,
du x̱án.aa áwé kḵwashóoch,
Iʼm going to bathe her husband,
tle át hán,
then sheʼs standing there,
«Hél wáa sá utí, hél wáa sá utí.
“It's all right, it's all right. (The wife said to her husband.)
Hél wáa sá utí.
It's all right.
Du yéi jineiyí áwé, du yéi jineiyí.
It's her job, her job.
I gu.áa yax̱ xʼwán.»
Be brave.”
Ax̱ tóox̱ yaa ḵunatéen.
I was getting terrified.
Chʼa aan
Even so
x̱waashúch.
I bathed him.
Áa kéi uwag̱áx̱ wé ḵáa,
He cried out there, that man,
«Hél ayáx̱ áyá!
“This isnʼt right!
X̱át ḵu.aa áwé ikḵwalatéen, ax̱ káak shátx̱ isateeyí.
Itʼs me, though that should care for you, as you are my uncleʼs wife.
Chʼa ḵux̱daxʼóolʼin áyá yeedát.
Itʼs just backward right now.
{hél ax̱} Ax̱ latseení hél á.
My strength is not there.
Wa.éich ḵwá yaa x̱at ya{ni}nidláḵ, aadé {yaa} x̱at yilatin yé.»
Itʼs you, though, you are getting the best of me, the way that you are taking care of me.”
«Haa, chʼa yéi jiné áyá,» yóo daayax̱aḵá.
“Well, this is just work,” I say to him.
Wáang̱aneens áwé sh ḵʼool.úshch.
Sometimes he pouts.
Hél du tuwáa ushgóowu tléixʼaa shaawát du x̱ánxʼ yéi jineiyí.
As he didnʼt want another woman to be working by him.
Hél at oox̱áa nuch, áwé du
He wouldn't eat, his
du kéilkʼ,
his maternal niece/nephew,
ax̱ jeex̱ x̱ʼadataan,
she calls me on the phone,
«Haat xʼwán eeshíx!
“Run over here please!
Hél du tuwáa ushgú at wux̱aayí, yá ḵáa.
He doesnʼt want to eat anything, this man.
I x̱ʼéidáx̱ ḵwá at gug̱ax̱áa.»
He'll eat for you though.”
«Okay.
“Okay.
Wéi yéi x̱at gug̱atée.»
I'll be there.”
Aadé nx̱agútch.
I would go over there.
Du x̱ʼéix̱ at x̱wateeyéedáx̱ áwé,
After I fed him something,
yéi daayax̱aḵáa nuch,
I would tell him,
«Wé tléixʼaa shaawát áwé yáa yéi jiné.
“That other woman works here.
I shátch
Your wife
du tuwáa sigóo yáa yéi jineiyí, ách áwé yáadu hú.
she likes her to work here, that is why sheʼs here.
Du x̱ʼayáx̱ ḵineestí,» yóo daayax̱aḵá.
Live as she says,” I say to him.
Chʼa aan áwé haa ax̱ jeex̱ x̱ʼadataan nuch.
Even so, she would always call me.
Woogéi ax̱ yéi jineiyí.
I had a lot of work.
A x̱oo aa,
Some of them,
has du een.aaxʼw hás, tláakw x̱at daayaḵáa nuch.
their relatives, would chew me out.
Áwé daayax̱aḵá, {i}
So I say (to them),
«I x̱ooní áwé wa.éich ilatín.
“Itʼs your relative, you are taking care of him.
{hél} Hél kux̱a.aaḵw, {hél}
I donʼt try to do it,
hél aax̱ ix̱ashéetʼ.
I donʼt push you away.
Chʼa yéi jiné áyá ax̱ jeet wuduwatée; ách áyá yáa yéi x̱at yatee.»
I was just given work; this is why I am here.”
Áwé {xʼ}
So,
tle yeedát x̱áng̱aa áwé tsá,
it was only recently,
jix̱waanáḵ yá yéi jiné.
I gave it up, this job.
Ax̱ x̱ʼoos áwé,
It was my leg,
ax̱ keey áwé wduwaxaash.
my knee was cut. (Surgery)
Chʼa yeisú,
Even still,
kéi nx̱ashagóok yaa nagút.
I am learning how to walk.
Hél x̱washagóok kʼidéin chʼa yeisú.
I havenʼt mastered it well yet.
Dzeit káxʼ kei nagút áwé hél x̱washagóok.
Walking up the stairs I am not good at.
A déinde ḵwá x̱ashigóok.
Things like that, though, I can do.
Ḵa
And
g̱ooch yáx̱ yaa nagút,
walking on the side of a hill,
dikínde ḵa yínde lidzée x̱áaxʼ.
going up and going down is hard for me. [Gustures to pause the recording.]
Ḵʼasigóo [Recording break]
It is fun
Lingít yoo x̱ʼatángi.
the Lingít language.
Haa ée altóow yá {sh} ax̱ kéekʼ.
She teaches it to us, my younger sister.
Wáang̱aneens áwé hél x̱washagóok.
Sometimes I donʼt know how.
A saa,
Some words (names for things),
kḵwasaa nóok áwé hél x̱washagóok nuch.
when I am going to name (things) I donʼt know how.
Yóo x̱ʼatánk x̱wasikóo.
Speaking it I know.
Datóow ḵu.aa áwé x̱áa lidzée.
Reading, though, it is hard to me.
{lingi} Kux̱a.aaḵw nuch kʼidéin.
I always try it well.
Kux̱a.áḵw nuch,
I always try it,
wáang̱aneens áwé yanx̱adláḵch.
sometimes I make it.
Ḵux̱ x̱wagútch tsú.
I go back again.
Kux̱a.áḵw nuch tsú.
I try it again.
Yax̱wadlaag̱í áwé,
When I have succeded,
yéi yanax̱saḵéich,
I would say to it,
«Yax̱waadlaaḵ.
“I succeded.
Aakʼé áwé.»
Thatʼs a good one.”
«Daa sá iyatóow?»
“What did you read?”
Du een kax̱anéek.
I tell it to them.
Áwé wé
So
haa een school-xʼ yóo yagútk,
he goes to school with us,
Larry Sanders,
Larry Sanders,
{hél kéilʼ yaa na}
xʼúxʼ dutóowu school-xʼ,
when books were being read at school,
«Spot
“Spot
nasheex.»
run.”
«Haaw.
“Well.
Goodáx̱ sáwé kéi uwaxíx wé yóo x̱ʼatánk, dleit ḵáa yóo x̱ʼatángi?» I told him.
Where did it come up from, that language, the white manʼs language?” I told him.
Haa ée dultóow
It is taught to us
chʼa tlákw.
all the time.
Lily White haa ée at latóow nuch wáang̱aneens.
Lily White would teach things to us sometimes.
Kʼidéin
Carefully
yóo x̱ʼatánk,
speaking,
yisakoowú wáa sá yakg̱eeḵaayí, hél uldzée,
when you know what you're going to say, it is easy,
i yóo x̱ʼatángi.
your speech.
Áwé kux̱a.áḵw nuch, chʼa tlákw.
So I am always trying it, all the time.
Wáang̱aneens áwé át x̱agóotch
Sometimes I would go there
wé áa at gax̱dux̱aa yé,
that place where something is going to be eaten,
«Wáa sá yaa at naneen yáa aanxʼ?»
“How are things happening in this village?”
«Hél daa sá yaa yanaxíx.»
“Nothing is happening.”
«Ha likoodzí.
“Well that's amazing.
Wáa sáwé chʼa tlákw yéi jix̱waneiyí á ḵwá ldakát át yaa yanaxíx?»
How is it that always when I am working, though, all kinds of things are happening?”
yóo daayax̱aḵá.
I say to him.
«Ha hél ax̱,
“Well not my,
hél ax̱ daat áwé á ḵu.aa,» yóo yaawaḵaa.
that is none of my business,” he said.
Haaw.
Well.
Ax̱ sée
My daughter
chʼa yeisú hél yeenayátʼch wunaawú.
it still has not been a long time yet, when she died.
Ḵúnáx̱ {ax̱}
Really
x̱at wulidlékw.
it shook me.
Chʼa yeisú du een yóo x̱ʼax̱wli.átk,
I had just conversed with her,
Keijín Yagiyee ká.
on Friday. [Fifth Day (from Sunday)]
Tléixʼ Yagiyee kát,
On Monday, [First Day (from Sunday)]
{áwé du} du x̱án.aa ax̱ jeet x̱ʼawditán,
her husband called me on the phone,
«Woonaa, há.
“She has died! [Há is an expression of disbelief.]
I sée woonaa.»
Your daughter died.
Hél yei x̱wsatínch, ách áyá du x̱ánt x̱waagút.
I hadnʼt seen her yet, this is why I went by her.
Atx̱áade gax̱too.aadín áwé hél haat wugoot.»
When we were going to go out to food, she didnʼt come.”
Áwé du neilít
So to her house
kax̱waagút.
I walked over.
Chʼa yeisú
Still
yatʼaa du daa dleeyí.
her body was warm.
Chʼa yeisú, yeedát áwé shoowaxeex.
It was right then she had died.
Áwé Juneau-dé ḵux̱waateen.
So I traveled to Juneau.
Chʼu yeisú {át x̱}
While still
át x̱a.aayí ax̱ yéet x̱án,
sitting by my son (at his house),
yáatʼaa ax̱ jeet x̱ʼawditán, wé ldakát wéi
this one (Genevieve) called me on the phone, all of those
{du} áa at latóowu aa,
ones that she is teaching things to,
ax̱ jeet has x̱ʼawditán.
they called me on the phone.
Wáa sá ax̱ toowú wsigóo hél tléináx̱.
How happy I was not to be alone.
Lidzée nooch, yisikóo,
It's always difficult, you know it,
hél i x̱ooní x̱ánxʼ aa wunaawú i yátxʼi.
when one of your children dies not near your relatives.
G̱óot aanxʼ yéi s teeyí.
When they live in another community.
Yéi áwé
That is the way
yeedát kéi nawát aa,
the ones now growing up,
yanwáatxʼ áwé {has}
the elders
has x̱at wusikóo.
they know me.
Áwé,
So,
x̱áax̱ has x̱ʼataan.
they speak to me.
Yáatʼaa tuwáatx̱ ḵwá ldakát ḵáach wusikóo ax̱ sée wunaawú.
Because of this oneʼs (Genevieveʼs) thoughts (that she wanted it to be so), everybody knew that my daughter had died.
Ḵaa jeet x̱ʼawditán.
She called people on the phone.
{ḵaa wu} Wududzikóo.
It became known.
Hél wuldzée.
It wasn't difficult.
Ldakát át yan uwanée
Everything was prepared
haat ḵux̱waatéen.
when I arrived here.
Ldakát wóosh teen yáa school-xʼ yóo haa ya.átgi aa,
All of the ones that we went to school with together,
Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱ yóo x̱ʼatánk haa ée dultóowu, hás áyá,
when weʼre being taught Tlingit, itʼs they
x̱áat has wudishée.
that helped me.
Tléixʼ yateeyi aa xʼúxʼ akawshixít aadóo sá daa sá haat has aawatée ax̱ x̱ánxʼ.
One of them wrote a paper whoever had brought what by me.
Tléixʼaa ḵwá,
Another one, though,
yóo x̱ʼatánk kawshixít, yóotʼaa áwé {haat}
s/he wrote a speech, that one then
yóo x̱ʼatángi teen haat uwagút, akawshixít.
with a speech came over here, s/he wrote it.
Aadóo sá at wusi.ée ax̱ x̱ʼeis,
Whoever cooked something for me,
á tsú akawshixít.
she also wrote that.
Hél wuldzée;
It wasn't difficult;
{xʼúxʼ}
xʼúxʼ tóowu yáx̱ áwé yatee.
itʼs like reading a book.
Tléixʼ dís shuwuxeexí ítdáx̱,
After one month had passed,
héide shunx̱atáan wé xʼúxʼ,
when I opened that book,
át ax̱alg̱éen daa sá {yan yéi wdudz}
Iʼm looking at what
yan yéi wududzinée ax̱ jeeyís.
was done for me.
Aadóo sá woonaa,
Whoever died,
áx̱ x̱agoot.
I go there.
Tóo x̱wanoogún,
I have felt it,
ḵút at wug̱éexʼ.
loss.
Dudzix̱ani át,
Something that is loved,
áa x̱datóow nuch,
I would read there,
yóo x̱ʼatánk,
a speech,
ḵaa jeeyís.
for a person. [Perhaps she is talking about a personʼs favorite poem or bible verse.]
Hél kʼát x̱washagóok
I havenʼt fully mastered
Lingít tóonáx̱ yóo x̱ʼatánk
to make a speech through Tlingit
ḵaa éet wudashée yáx̱.
like to help a person.
Dleit ḵáa x̱ʼéináx̱ ḵwá x̱atóow nuch.
In English though I always read it.
Has du éet wudashée yáx̱.
As if to help them.
Yá ax̱ dachx̱ánxʼiyán
All of my grandchildren
chʼa tlákw aadé ḵux̱wateení áwé s du ée x̱latóow yóo x̱ʼatánk.
every time I travel there, I teach it to them, the language.
Yaa s yanadláḵ kʼidéin.
They are acquiring it well.
Has ashigóok at shí.
They know how to sing.
X̱át ḵwá tléikʼ.
Me, though, no.
Hél x̱washagóok at shí.
I donʼt know how to sing. (Iʼm not good at singing.)
Sidéin yóo du.áx̱ch
It sounds strange
ax̱ leitóox̱xʼ.
in my throat.
Yées kʼisáani yaa nawádi yáx̱ áwé ax̱ leitóox̱ g̱óot yéide naneech.
Like the little boys when theyʼre growing up, my throat always changes (breaks).
Jinkaat ḵa násʼkx̱ has wusteeyí áwé g̱óot yéide nateech has du satú.
When they are thirteen, their voices always change.
Ayáx̱ áwé yatee yeedát yaa x̱at nadasháni, ax̱
That is what it is like as I am getting old, my
satú
voice
sidéin yatee. At shí tsú,
is strange. Singing, too,
ax̱ gúk wuduxaashín,
when my ear was cut, (operated on)
cancer áa yéi wootee.
there was cancer there.
Áwé,
So,
wuduxaashí ítdáx̱ áwé hél daa sá kʼát x̱wa.áx̱ch, ax̱ gúk.
after it was operated on, I donʼt hear anything completely, my ear.
Kawsiyéi.
It was strange.
Kʼidéin ḵux̱a.áx̱ji áwé tle
While I could hear well
wuduwaxaash, áwé yéi kaaxát.
it was operated on, so itʼs like that.
Yáanax̱.áa ḵwá gíwé
On this side (left) though maybe
dul.úngu átch wé
because of the things that are shot (fireworks?)
Fourth of July kát gíwé,
on the 4th of July maybe,
áa wjitóok yáaxʼ áwé, ax̱ gúk.
it burst in that place, here, my ear.
Ḵwáaḵwt uwanée.
An accident happened to it.
Áwé hél ḵux̱wla.áx̱ch kʼidéin.
So I donʼt hear well.
A x̱oo aa lingít hél x̱wa.áx̱ji nuch du yóo x̱ʼatángi.
Some people, I never hear their words.
Chʼa koogéiyi áwé
Any old way
ḵaa x̱ʼanx̱awóosʼch.
I would ask people.
X̱aan kawduneegídáx̱ áwé tsá,
Only after Iʼve been told,
áx̱ x̱ʼax̱ataan.
I speak there.
Ayáx̱ yóo koowa.áa,
It has straightened out,
ax̱ yóo x̱ʼatángi, has du jeet.
my language, at their hands. (because of their work)
Wáa sá kʼéiyin, chʼáagu aayí, Lingít,
How good they were, the ones of old, the Tlingit,
has du yóo x̱ʼatángi.
their words.
Kée has haa lashátch.
They would hold us up.
Yínde unaxéexg̱aa haa {ḵ}
Lest it fall down, our
waḵx̱ʼahéeni, {has}
tears,
haa g̱aax̱í.
our cries.
Tusix̱án át yís
For the one that we love
aadé wulidzéeyi yé.
how hard it was.
Yeedát ḵwá,
Right now though,
a x̱oo aa lingít, {hél}
some people,
hél ḵaa daat (tooshtí).
they donʼt (care) about people.
Shuxʼwáa haat yax̱waax̱áa, ax̱ sée du
First, when I brought it here, my daughter, her
du nanaawú,
her dead body,
hél aadóo sá {aax̱} haa x̱án.
there is nobody by us.
Áwé aawa.áx̱, héitʼaach.
Then she heard it, this one.
Haat ḵux̱wateení, tláakw áwé
When I arrived here, quickly
át x̱ʼeiwatán, ldakát
she called around, all of
haa x̱oonxʼí át aawa.át haa x̱án.
our relatives went there by us.
Hél yeewuyáatʼ,
The time wasnʼt long,
hél tsu yéi tux̱wdasháat.
I no longer thought that way.
Wáa sáwé hél du éet x̱ʼax̱wataan, ax̱
How was it that I didnʼt speak to her, my
kéekʼ?
younger sister?
Du een kanḵaneegít,
So that I could tell it to her,
«Aadé yaa yanx̱ax̱éin dei ax̱ sée.»
“I am bringing her there now, my daughter.”
Chʼa koogéiyi áwé át x̱waagoot, hél x̱wasakú.
I just walked around any old way, I didnʼt know (what to do).
Yá ldakát yá school-xʼ yóo yagútgu aa haa een, yá Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱,
All of the ones that go to that school with us, in this Tlingit language,
has du tuwáatx̱ áwé hél wáa sá x̱at wutee.
it was because of them that I was ok.
Has du yóo x̱ʼatángi,
Their words,
aadé kée {x̱at wut} has (x̱at) wu{d}lisháadi yé, ax̱ yóo x̱ʼatángi,
the way that they held me up, my words,
«Gunalchéesh,» yóo {yax̱ s haa yax̱} ḵuyax̱wsaḵaayí.
“Thank you,” I said that to the people.
Ldakát
All of
ax̱ een.aaxʼw hás
my relatives
has du x̱úx̱
their husbands
ḵudzitee.
exist. (they have husbands)
Genevieve
du x̱úx̱
her husband
«Sweetheart» yóo x̱aasáakw.
“Sweetheart” is how I call him.
Alice Haldane ḵwá «Hánee»
Alice Haldane, though, “Honey”
du x̱úx̱.
her husband.
«Ax̱ Hánee, wáa sás yatee ax̱ Hánee?»
“My Honey, how might my Honey be?”
Áwé x̱at ugwáalch.
So she would playfully sock me.
«I Hánee ḵwá hél ushkʼé!
“Your Honey is no good!
Yóotʼát áwé kát seiwaxʼáḵw.»
He forgot that thing.” [He would always forget something.]
«Eesháan.
“Poor thing.
Ách áwé ax̱ Háneex̱ sitee,»
That's why he's my Honey,”
yóo daayax̱aḵá.
I say to her.
Lillian tsú, yáatʼaa een.aa,
Lillian, too, this oneʼs (Genevieveʼs) relative,
yéi yanx̱asaḵéich,
I say to her,
«Wáa sá s yatee ax̱ Hánee?»
“How is my Honey?”
«Haa hél x̱wasakú.
“Well I don't know.
Hél x̱áax̱ x̱ʼeitaan,
Heʼs not talking to me,
tuwdi.úsh yáa yakyee.»
heʼs pouting today.”
Sagóo {yáx̱}
Playfulness
yáx̱ ax̱ jee yéi nateech has,
is always in my hand (I aways have playfulness) they,
Chʼa yéi áwé
That is just the way
(s) daaya{s}x̱aḵáa nuch.
I always say to them.
Has x̱asix̱án ldakát ax̱ een.aaxʼw hás.
I love them, all of my family members.
Has du tuwáatx̱ áyá,
This is because of them,
Lingít tleinx̱ x̱at sitee.
I am a big person. (An important person in society)
Aadé yáa at wuné ax̱ jeet has aawateeyi yé.
The way that they have given me respect.
Ldakát hás.
All of them.
Wáang̱aneens hél ax̱ tuwáa ushgú yóo x̱ʼa{ḵa}x̱atángi ldakát wé sháadehánxʼi een x̱á.
Sometimes, I donʼt want to speak with all of those leaders, you see.
Yáatʼaa een.aa, {du} Lillianch áwé x̱at ???, «Haakwdé!
This oneʼs (Genevieveʼs) relative, Lillian ??? me, “Come here now! [Itʼs common to refer to people spatially, ʼthis one,ʼ rather than using a pronoun.]
Wa.é, i éet ḵoowaháa.
You, it is your turn.
Yá!»
Right now!”
«L ax̱ tuwáa ushgú!»
“I donʼt want to!”
Chʼa aan áwé aadé nx̱agútch.
Even so, I always go there.
Yóo x̱ʼax̱atángi noojín.
I would always speak.
Ldakát x̱wasaayí yá naa,
When I had named everybody from this clan,
Chʼáakʼx̱ siteeyi aa,
the ones that are Eagles,
ḵa {du sh} has du
and their
shaawátx̱ siteeyi aa Chʼáakʼ, ldakát x̱wasaayí,
women who are Eagles, when I had named them all,
a ítdáx̱ áwé, «Gunalchéesh,» yóo yanx̱aḵéich.
after that,”Thank you,” I say.
Wáa sá yakʼéi,
How good it is,
haa ée wdultóowu chʼa yéi {gw} haa gusagéinkʼi.
that they taught us when we were little.
Ax̱ léelkʼw, du táayi,
My grandmother, her garden,
ldakát át áwé
all kinds of things
áa yéi nateech.
were always there.
Kʼúntsʼ akooháaych, sʼín,
She would grow potatoes, carrots,
wáang̱aneens áwé yéi yanaḵéich, «Yáa yagiyee ḵwá tléiḵw
sometimes she would say, “Today though, berries,
tléiḵw gax̱too.éen,» wáa sá ax̱ tuwáa sagóo nuch.
we are going to pick berries,” how I would enjoy that.
Hél x̱wasakú {wáa d} wáa sá duwasáakw,
I don't know how it is called,
{kawji} a kaadé ḵutookʼítʼ nuch.
we would pick berries into it. [kadádzaa yeit]
Daaxʼoon áwé yatee ax̱ lílkʼw aayí yéi koogéi {at li deks}
There are four, my grandmotherʼs, this big
tle yéi kusgeidé.
until the small one.
«X̱ʼaan yáx̱ yateeyi aa áwé kg̱ee.éen.
“The red ones you are going to pick.
Haaw,
Well,
wa.é ḵwá ḵúnáx̱ tʼoochʼ yáx̱ yateeyi aa.»
you though, you pick the really black ones.”
Blueberries.»
X̱át ḵwá huckleberries, wé tléixʼaa hás ḵwá wé light blueberries {has a}
Me, though, huckleberries, that one group, though, those light blueberries
has akg̱wa.éen.
they are going to pick.
A kát x̱at seiwaxʼáḵw wé, kadádzaa!
I forgot that, berry pan! [A pan that blueberries, huckleberries and cranberries are shaken onto.]