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Tlingit Conversation #86
Speakers are Shakʼsháani Margaret Dutson and Kaaxwaan Éesh George Davis. Recorded January 25, 2013, at the Davis home in Juneau, Alaska by LjáaḵkʼAlice Taff. [This recording is continued on #87.]
Tlingit transcription by Shag̱aaw Éesh Devlin Anderstrom. English translation by Shakʼsháani Margaret Dutson with Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff and by Shagaaw Éesh Devlin Anderstrom. Edited by X̱ʼaagi Sháawu Keri Eggleston.
Daa sáwé kakg̱ilaneek, i toowúch?
What are you going to tell, you think?
Ah, x̱aan kawdudlineegí shkalneek áwé ax̱ tuwáa sigóo i een kax̱wlaneegí.
Uh, a story that was told to me I would like to tell you.
Ó.
Oh.
Náaḵw ḵoon daaḵ tlʼeḵwutaaní.
When the octopus coiled its tentacle with the people. [Wrapped it around them and pulled them into the water]
Ahah.
Uhuh.
Yeeyayátʼ ḵwá chʼa yéi googéinkʼ yá shkalneek, but
It is kind of long, this story, but
ah, chʼu ká shorten {a ka} gax̱tulayéix̱ ax̱ side-i.
uh, weʼll just make my side shortened.
I tuwáa sagoowú ḵwá tle ldakát áwé kg̱ee.áax̱.
If you want to, though, then youʼll hear all of it.
Ahah, kéi kg̱wakʼéi, gwá?
Uhuh, thatʼll be good, huh?
Hél wáa sá utí.
Itʼs all right.
Ah, tle yeedát,
Uh, well, right now,
kwshé?
maybe?
Sh x̱ʼadaa yoo kda.átk
To gather and put up food for themselves
áwé {a akoosh} akushitán Lingít.
that is what they are accustomed to doing, Lingít.
Daaḵw aa ḵáa sáyá oodzikaa áwé kg̱waláaxw yóo áyú ḵux̱ʼayaḵáa nuch. Ahah.
Whichever person is lazy is going to starve, thatʼs what they always say to people. Uhuh.
Yéi haa daayaduḵáayin, {shún} uháan tsú.
Thatʼs what they used to say to us, us as well.
Aaá.
Yes.
Á áwé,
Then,
táay kawduhaayí ítdáx̱ áwé,
after they would garden,
{tle a} tle a shóode ḵunalgásʼch,
then the people would move into its vicinity,
daa sáyá {has} has du jee sh wudlix̱ʼwásʼ áwé,
whatever made itself readily available to them,
at tóode has akachák nuch.
they would pack it into containers.
Sáxʼ,
Inner bark of hemlock, [cambium]
laaḵʼásk,
black seaweed,
ḵʼáachʼ,
ribbon seaweed,
tséit,
swamp potatoes,
kʼwálx̱, yéi áwé
fiddlehead ferns, that is the way
{at} at tóode kaduchák nuch, ḵa {x̱} x̱áat
they pack it inside of things (containers), and salmon
x̱áat has du jeet yawu.eig̱áa wait-x̱ has nasteech.
they always wait for when the salmon run into their hands. [Where they can get them.]
Áwé has du jeet yag̱a.éini áwé, háʼ,
Then when they run to into their hands, oh my,
atx̱'éeshi, ldakát yéide,
dry fish, all kinds,
has akachák nuch.
they store it.
A x̱oo.aa náayadi yáx̱,
Some of it is like half-dried fish,
a x̱oo.aa strips yáx̱.
some of them are like strips.
Á áwé,
So,
áwé {ḵu} át {ḵu} ḵunax̱lagásʼ,
when the people are moving around (to different camps),
ḵaa yátxʼi een áwé,
with the peopleʼs children,
kakdujélch,
they are taken up (to the camps),
ḵaa dachx̱ánxʼiyán.
peopleʼs grandchildren.
Áwé,
Well,
chʼu ká
even though
{shayadihé} X̱wasikóo shayadihéini aa kaadáx̱ x̱at sakg̱waxʼáaḵw
I know I am going to forget many of them
dei chʼáakw áwé hél x̱wa.aax̱jí.
since I havenʼt heard it for a long time now.
Daaḵw aa sáyá?
Which ones?
Yá shkalneek.
This story.
Ó, ahah.
Oh, uhuh.
Á áwé,
So then,
wé
that
Shakan Pass
Shakan Pass
{líl} Lawáak x̱án áwé,
thatʼs near Klawock,
Devil Fish Bay yéi duwasáakw.
Devil Fish Bay they call it.
Wáa sá duwasáakw wé, {wé}
What do they call that,
wé iyasayi aa?
that one you just named?
Ah, Shakan Pass.
Uh, Shakan Pass.
Áa áwé áwu á.
There is a lake there.
Devil Fish Bay yéi duwasáakw.
Itʼs called Devil Fish Bay. (the bay, not the lake)
Á áwé,
And so,
aadé áwé {ha} ḵoowligáasʼ.
that is where the people moved to.
Xʼoon family sákwshéiwé.
How many families (Iʼm not sure).
Yá
These
has du atxʼaan hítxʼi,
their smokehouses,
yá héen x̱án áwé áa has awliyéx̱.
they built them right there by the water.
Yax̱ shayawlihík.
They were all completely full.
Wáa sá duwasáakw?
What do they call it?
Yax̱ shayawlihík áwé wé has du atxʼaan hítxʼi. Oo, ahah.
They were all completely full, their smokehouses. Oh, uhuh.
Ḵa wé éinaaxʼ, tsú, yax̱ shayawlihík.
And those drying racks, too, they were all completely full.
Áwé deikéedáx̱ lig̱éi
Even from far out they are visible, [bright/pretty/shiney]
x̱ʼaan yáx̱.
like fire.
G̱aat,
Sockeye,
g̱aat héeni áwé.
that is a sockeye stream.
Áwé g̱aat áwé has akacháak.
So that is sockeye they are putting up.
Áwé kei x̱duxásh x̱'aan yáx̱ nateech. Lig̱éi.
So when they are cutting it up (the sockeye) itʼs always red. Itʼs bright.
Áwé, {ye}
That is,
has du tóoch tle yax̱ shayalahéek áwé,
when they felt that they were all filled up,
naḵoox̱ yóo kei s toowdishát,
they thought of leaving by boat,
wé ḵáaxʼw áwé, has du x̱úx̱xʼu wán.
the men, all of their (the womenʼs) husbands.
{at} At natí has gug̱aḵóox̱, yéi has yaawaḵaa.
Theyʼre going to go out hunting by boat, they said.
Lawáak yinaadé áwé has wooḵoox̱.
They went by boat over toward Klawock.
Áwé yées ḵáa yaa has awsigoot.
They brought a young man along with them.
Áwé teenage yéi yaa kdusáych dleit ḵáa x̱ʼéináx̱. Aaá.
A teenager, they name it in white man's language. Yes.
Áwé has du ín.
He was with them.
Násʼgináx̱ áwé {wé yaa} has yatee.
There are three of them.
Wé teenage ḵa wé dáx̱náx̱ ḵáaxʼw.
The teenager and two men.
Has du saaxʼú tsú,
Their names, too,
yee een kakḵwanéek aadé s duwasáagu yé.
Iʼm going to tell you the way that they are named.
Ḵooskáani
Ḵooskáani
ḵa Náaḵkʼ.
and Náaḵkʼ.
Kasiyéi,
Itʼs strange,
wé teenage,
that teenager,
ḵwá áwé, hél du saayí wudusá.
though, his name was not named.
{hél} Tlél x̱wasakú wáa sá duwasáakw.
I donʼt know how he was called.
Wé yées aa gé? {ḵúnáx̱ hóo} Ḵúnáx̱ hóoch
That young one? It was really him though
ḵu.áa áwé akawlineek,
that told the story,
wé teenage-ch. Ahah.
that teenager. Uhuh.
Wé yées ḵáa.
That young man.
Aaá, yées ḵáach.
Yes, the young man does it.
Ah, dáx̱.aa yakyee has na{.éi}yéix̱ áwé,
Uh, when the second day they lacked, [When they were gone 2 days???]
Lawáak yinaadé,
over toward Klawock,
tle sh tóog̱aa has wuditee.
they became satisfied.
Tle ḵúx̱de has ayawdiḵúx̱.
They turned their canoe back to return.
Wé áa áwé á,
Then at that place,
has du, {at}
their,
x̱áatxʼ áa kei s aawaxashi yéide,
to the place where they had cut up fish,
aadé yaa has gaḵóox̱ áwé, yaa kagooséi áwé,
when they were going toward there, when it was getting close,
wáa sá kaawahayi át áwé has du géide yaa anasgúḵ.
various things that something has happened to were all being pushed along (by the water) toward them.
Tlél has awootínx̱.
They didnʼt recognize it.
{ha has du} Chʼa has du toowú ḵwá yéi yatee
They just felt inside that
{g̱unayéi} chʼa g̱unayéide á at woonei.
that something different had happened.
Tlél ḵwá a daa yoo has x̱ʼeil.átk.
They donʼt talk about it, though.
Tle chʼas yaa has naḵúx̱ áwé.
Then they just keep on paddling.
Á áwé
Thatʼs when
«Héent Yadatin Yé» yóo duwasáagu yéide.
to the place called “Where It is Recognized in the Water.”
Wáa sá duwasáakw?
What do you it call it?
Héent Yadatin Yé.
Where Itʼs Recognized in the Water.
Héent Yag̱atin Yé.
Where Itʼs Seen Toward the Water. [Slightly misheard.]
Aaá.
Yes.
Mmm.
Oh.
Aadé yaa has gaḵóox̱ áwé,
As they were paddling toward that place,
ah, tle kʼidéin has du géide yaa anasgúḵ
uh, it (water) is pushing it along right at them
yeisú s déi tsu {a} has du at la.átxʼi ásíwé.
still, now again it seems it was their belongings.
Has ayaawatín.
They recognized it.
Tle {tléixʼ} tléixʼ yateeyi át ḵwá áwé has ayaawatín.
Then there was this one thing, though, they recognized it.
Wé {áyá áwé} láḵt.
That bentwood box.
Cedar chest yéi dleit ḵáach sáakw nuch.
Cedar chest is what the white folks always call it.
Wáa sá duwasáakw?
What is it called?
Láḵt.
Bentwood box.
Láḵt, ó.
Bentwood box, oh.
Haaw,
Well,
Daa sáwé yéi duwasáakw láḵt?
What is it that is called láḵt?
Cedar chest.
Ó, ahah.
Oh, uhuh.
And, (aa)g̱áa áwé,
And then,
aax̱ yaax̱ has ag̱atáan áwé tle áwé tsá a káa ḵux̱ has sh wudiníx̱.
only when they turned it over did they slow themselves down because of it. [They became cautious.]
Aax̱ yaax̱ has aawataan.
They turned it over.
Tle has ayaawatín.
Then they recognized it.
G̱uneikadeit yahaayí áwé a yáa kawdujixít.
The image of a sea monster was painted on the face of it.
Wé láḵt yá.
The face of that bentwood box.
Á áwé
That is
tle has awsikóo {aadóo sáyá} aadóo sáwé {yéi woo}
then they know who it was,
wé náaḵw.
that octopus.
Has du een {daaḵ tlʼe} daaḵ tlʼeḵuwatán.
It coiled itʼs tentacle with them. [It wrapped its tentacle around them and curled it into the water.]
Á áwé,
So then,
{wáa néi} wáa nanée sáwé át has uwaḵúx̱ wé
at some point they arrived there, that
a káx̱ has ḵoowashee át ḵustin yé áwé át shoowdziwáadi náaḵw.
they found it, where it used to live, that octopus that stretched out its limbs.
Tle yá héen,
Then this stream,
G̱aat Héeni,
Sockeye Stream,
yandachóon ásíwé kaawaháa.
it seems that it just goes straight up from the water.
Ách áwé awsiteen x̱áawé, wé
That is why it (octipus) saw it, you see, that
wé
that
náaḵwch.
octopus.
{át} Wé
That
a kát has ḵóox̱ áwé,
when they came upon it,
wáa sáwé has du atxʼaan hídi tsú tle héil á?
how was it that their smokehouse wasnʼt there either?
Ḵa wé éinaa,
And the drying racks,
wé x̱áat yax̱ shayawlihígi yé, atx̱ʼéeshi.
where it was full of fish, the dry fish.
Á tsú hél á.
That too isnʼt there.
Tle wduwa.óosʼi yáx̱ yatee.
Then itʼs just as if it was washed.
Ldakát át, hél daa sá á.
Everything, there is nothing there.
Has du in daaḵ tlʼeḵuwatán.
It coiled up its tentacle with them.
Wáa sáwé a káx̱ has ḵoowashee wé át át ḵustin yé.
Somehow they found it, the place where that thing dwells.
{yee has} Xʼáan yáx̱ has du toowú woonei.
They became angry.
Yánde yan has uwaḵúx̱.
They landed on the beach.
Wé yánxʼ áwé
On the shore there
la(a)x̱ yátxʼi áwé has awlig̱ích.
they cut down red cedar saplings.
{yá} Eight feet yéi {kwdiyáatʼ} kudayátʼi aa has awlig̱ích.
Ones that are eight feet long they cut down.
Daa sáwé yéi duwasáakw, wé
What is that that you call that, that
iyasáyi át wé llll
the thing that you named, that łłłł
La(a)x̱ yátxʼi.
Red cedar saplings.
Laax̱.
Red cedar.
Red Cedar.
Oh.
Áwé tsaag̱álʼ yáx̱ áwé has alukax̱útʼx̱.
They chop the end of it to a point like a spear.
Á áwé {aan a} aan has ḵugux̱lagaawu át áwé.
That is what it is that they are going to fight with.
{wé wé a yí}
Wé náaḵw yís áwé {has}
It was for that octopus
shayadihéini aa yáx̱ {á has} has awlig̱ích.
they cut down a lot of them.
Eight feet yéi kwdiyátʼi aa.
The ones that are eight feet long.
Ḵa tsu a ḵín kudiyátʼi aa.
And also ones that were not as long as that.
Yáaxʼ áwé,
And now,
gwálaa yáx̱,
like daggers,
gwálaa yáx̱ yateeyi aa yax̱ has ayawliyéx̱,
they made the ones that are like daggers.
hinkax̱tóo kei wushḵaag̱i yís
for when it comes lurking up through the water,
a kát has kawdukʼéini yís áwé
they are for when they jump onto it
áwé gwálaa yáx̱ yax̱ has ayawliyéx̱.
they made them all like daggers.
Ḵa chʼálʼtʼáa tsú has du daawú.
They had willow slats, also, on their bodies. [For armour]
Lítaa.
Knives.
Ó, ahah.
Oh, uhuh.
Á áwé,
And so,
{a ka} a kanáat has uwaḵúx̱.
they paddled directly above it.
«Ḵáa dachx̱án,» yóo áwé a yáx̱ x̱ʼadulyoo.
“Grandson,” that is how they called it by a kinship term.
Yá náaḵw,
That octopus,
lingít dachx̱án áwé.
it is a grandchild of the humans.
Wé náaḵw gé? Aaá, ha wáa sáwé yoo at kaawanéi.
That octopus, huh? Yes, (because of) the way that things had happened.
Ḵútx̱ has ashuwlixeex.
It wiped them all out.
Áwé {a kát} a kanáat has ḵóox̱ áwé,
When they had arrived directly above it,
sh tudajáaḵw yáx̱ áwé aan yoo has x̱ʼali.átk.
they were speaking to it like they are keeping their composure.
Xʼáan has du tóo yéi yatee chʼa aan ḵwá kʼidéin aan yoo has x̱ʼali.átk.
There is anger inside of them, but even so, they are speaking to it nicely.
Chʼas kúḵdlaa aanáx̱ dag̱átch.
There are just bubbles coming through there.
Héil aanáx̱ daak ushḵáḵch.
It doesnʼt come lurking out of there. [Lit. 'squatting out of there', the verb used to describe how octopi move.]
Wáa nanéi sáwé yánde yan has uwaḵúx̱.
At some point they paddle over to the shore.
Téixʼ yaakwt has akaawajél.
They brought rocks to the boat.
Wé téixʼ yaakwt has akajéil áwé {a ká} a káa daak has uwaḵúx̱ tsu,
When they had brought the rocks to the boat, they paddled out again over the top of it,
{wé} wé náaḵw ḵoowú.
the den of the octopus.
{áxʼ áxʼ a} Héende has akaawagúḵ wé téixʼ.
They pushed those rocks into the water.
Chʼas kúḵdlaa aanáx̱ dag̱átch.
Only bubbles were coming through there.
Hél aanáx̱ daak ushḵáḵch.
It doesnʼt come out yet.
Áwé,
So,
«Kʼé áwé wutuwa.úni tsaa a x̱'áak g̱aax̱tulaxaash,» tle yéi yaawaḵaa wé tléixʼaa.
“Letʼs cut open that seal that we shot,” that one said then.
Áwé,
So,
a x̱ʼayée has akawlixaash wé tsaa.
they cut up that seal where it could (come up and) eat it.
Tlél ḵu.aa áwé shé a tóo x̱á.
But there is no blood inside of it you see.
Hél aanáx̱ daak wushḵaaḵ.
It didnʼt come squatting out.
Áwé,
So,
tléixʼaa
one of the
ḵáa áwé tle yéi yaawaḵaa,
men it was, he said then,
«Kʼe wé diginaa daak g̱atooḵoox̱.
“Letʼs go out to toward the open ocean side.
Chéech g̱atoojaaḵ.
Letʼs kill a porpoise.
Chéech {a} a x̱ʼayéexʼ yei kagax̱tulaxáash.
Weʼll cut up the porpoise where it can eat it.
Lishé.
Itʼs bloody.
A sheiyí yagéi, yéi áwé.
It has a lot of blood.
Daaḵw aa sáwé a sheiyí yagéi?
Which one is it that has a lot of blood?
Chéech.
Porpoise.
Porpoise.
Ó. Ahah.
Oh. Uhuh.
Áwé,
So,
áa daak has uwaḵúx̱.
they went out there.
Át has wooḵoox̱.
They paddled around.
Tle yáat áwé s du jeet aawdzigít.
Finally one ended up in their possession.
Has du jeet isgéet á tle {yéi} aksadóoxʼ tle aax̱ has aawax̱óotʼ.
When it came into their possesion, they tie it (probably around the tail so they can grab it) and they pulled it out of the water.
Hél has akawulxaash.
They didnʼt cut it open.
Tle wé náaḵw ḵoowú x̱ʼéit has ayaawax̱áa.
Then they paddled it to the mouth of that octopus den.
Tle wé náaḵw ḵoowú x̱ʼéixʼ áwé tsá,
It was only then, at the mouth of the den of the octopus,
héen táade has ajeewanáḵ.
they dropped it into the water.
Chʼa át wulihaash.
It just floated there.
Tle {hin} hin {x̱oo} x̱ookáxʼ áwé s akawlixaash.
Then they cut it open on the surface of the water.
Tle ldakát wé a x̱ʼayík áwé {yaa kanda} yaa kandawúchʼsʼ a sheiyí. ???
Then all around in the mouth of it (den) the water is becoming cloudy (with) its blood. ???Its blood in the water?
Aaá.
Yes.
Aagáa áwé s awsiteen aanáx̱ daak nashḵág̱i.
And then they saw it as it was coming out of itʼs den.
Du ḵoowú tóonáx̱ daak nashḵáḵ wé náaḵw tlen.
Itʼs coming out of itʼs den, that big octopus.
Tle tláakw yánde {yan} has ayaawax̱áa, {wé yi} wé
then they paddled him swiftly to shore, that
yées ḵáa.
the young man.
Tle has ashukaawajáa,
Then they instructed him,
«Yóo dikée kei eeltlʼéit!
“Climb way up high there!
Tle kawdliyáashi yáx̱ yateeyi yé áa yei kg̱eenóok.
Then the place where itʼs like it has been platformed, youʼre going to sit down there.
Aax̱ haa kg̱ilatéen.
You will watch us from there.
Yéi sakoogei yoo x̱ʼagax̱tula.áat,
We are going to speak this loudly,
haa sang̱ee.áx̱jit.
so that you can hear us.
Aag̱áa chʼa wáa sá haa naneiní, ḵoon kakg̱ilaneek.»
And then, if anything happens to us, you will tell the people.”
Tle yéi áwé shukawduwajáa.
Thatʼs how he was instructed.
«Haaw, yeedát ḵwá yóo kínde aneelg̱een.
“Well, right now, though, look up there.
Yú shaa shakée.
That mountain top.
Chʼa wáa sá haa naneiní, aadé yadax̱ gag̱eegóot.
If anything happens to us, you will go that way.
Á tle yóo a shakée kei yigoodí tliyaanax̱.aadé aneelg̱een.
And then if you do go up to the top of it, look across to the other side.
G̱eey, sʼeeḵ aanáx̱ gug̱washóo.
A bay, smoke will be coming up off of it.
Aadé áwé yadax̱ gag̱eegóot.
Thatʼs where youʼll be going.
I een.aaxʼw hás áwé.
They are your family.
Chʼa haa yáx̱ áwé atx̱á daa {yéi} yéi s jinéiyi.»
Just like us they are putting up food.”
Shukawduwajáa áwé wé yées ḵáa.
That young man was instructed.
Tle, chʼa ḵaa x̱ʼayáx̱ áwé tle áa kei wdlitlʼét wé dikée.
Then, according to their instructions, he just climbed way up there.
Aax̱ áwé s ash latín.
They were watching him from where they were.
«Ha dei wáa sá a káa héen kg̱waadláan!»
“Well how deep the water is now over it!”
{has aya} Has ayatéen ḵwá chʼa aan á woosh has x̱ʼadawóosʼ.
They can see it (and make out itʼs image), but even so they are asking each other.
Chʼa wé yées ḵáach has sang̱a.áx̱jit áwé.
It is just so that that young man can hear their voices.
Á áwé, «Dei ayáx̱ áwé!
Then, “It is right now!
Héen kg̱waadláan, «Góok!
The water has become deep, “Go ahead!
Góok déi!»
Go now!”
Tle wé eight feet yéi kwdiyátʼi tsaag̱álʼ áwé,
Then those spears that are eight feet long,
a xʼisʼtóode {hél} tlél ḵulagaaw yáx̱ ḵuwaneekw wé náaḵw.
into the center of its tangle (of limbs), it didnʼt come right out and fight into the tangle of them, that octopus.
A x̱ʼéi dikéenax̱.áa kaawahayi yé kei nashḵáḵ.
Where the mouth of it (the den) comes up is where itʼs coming out.
Has du jeet sh wuditée.
It gave itself to them.
Áwé,
So,
a tóode has aksagóo.
they were prodding it.
Tlákw ḵwá kei nashḵáḵ.
But itʼs just always coming up.
Tle wé hinkax̱tóoxʼ kei ishḵáaḵ áwé {a kát a} a kát aa wjikʼén wé gwálaa tín.
Then when it is coming up through the surface of the water, one of them jumped on it with those daggers.
A xʼisʼtóode áwé aksagóo.
Heʼs jabbing them into the center of itʼs tangle (of limbs).
{yá a x̱ʼé x̱á} A x̱ʼéix̱ á.
Along the outside of itʼs mouth.
Du tlʼeiḵ, a tlʼeiḵ.
His finger, its finger. [Does she misunderstand Georgeʼs gesture?]
Aaá. Á áwé,
Yes. So then,
wé tléixʼaa tsú tle a kát wujikʼén.
that (other) one also jumped on it.
Chʼu dáx̱náx̱ hás.
Both of them.
{dei hóo} Dei hóochʼ áwé tle,
That was the end of it, then,
tle du x̱ʼé wóoshdáx̱ yóo wdinei wé náaḵw.
then itʼs mouth came apart like this, that octopus.
Dei hóochʼ áwé.
Itʼs gone now.
S aawajáḵ.
They killed it.
Has du daax̱ áwé yax̱ kawdlixʼéesʼ x̱áayá {a} a tlʼeeg̱í.
It was tangled around them, you see, its tentacles.
Áwé sh daadáx̱ has adaxáash.
They were cutting it off of themselves.
Tle diyínde g̱unéi uwatáx̱ʼw has du in.
Then it started to sink down with them.
Tle aadé s jiyasátgi yé ḵwá hél daadáx̱ has wudaxaash.
How fast they worked, but they did not cut themselves free.
Tlél has ayawudlaaḵ tle has du in yínde wootáax̱ʼw.
They did not succeed, it sank down with them.
Tle chʼa aadé shukawduwajáyi yé yáx̱ áwé,
Then just like the way he was instructed,
wé yées ḵáa, tle {yú},
that young man then
yú shaa shakéede g̱unéi uwagút.
he started walking toward the peak of the mountain.
Shaa shakée kei góot áwé,
When he walked up to the mountain top,
shaa shakée kei góot áwé,
when he walked up to the mountain top,
tliyaanax̱.aadé awdlig̱een.
he looked across to the other side.
Chʼa ayáx̱ áwé sʼeeḵ aanáx̱ naashóo.
Just like that (as he was instructed) smoke was coming up from there.
Tle aadé áwé yadax̱ uwagút.
Then he started off toward it.
Tlax̱ wáaaa yoo koogóot sáwé éeḵ ayaawadlaaḵ.
After sooo much walking, he made it to the shore.
Áwé wé,
And then those,
{wé át wé}
áa ḵuwa.óowu ḵu.oo,
the people that are living there,
niyaadé áwé {éeḵx̱} éeḵx̱ yaawagút.
he is walking along the beach in their direction.
Yaa kagooséi {w} kei uwa.íxʼ,
When he was getting close he called out,
wududziteen.
he was seen.
Dáx̱náx̱ ḵáaxʼw áwé {du x̱ánt uwaḵ} du {een} niyaadé wooḵoox̱
Two men paddled toward him
yaakw yíkt.
in a canoe.
Aax̱ yaax̱ wududzigoot.
He was brought along away from there.
«Wáa sá yee woonei?» x̱ʼaduwóosʼ.
“What happened to you folks?” he is asked.
«Tliyaadé áwé, ldakát wé yee een.aaxʼw x̱ánde yan x̱at yayx̱á.
“To the other side, bring me to shore by all of your relatives.
Áxʼ tsá yee een kakḵwalaneek ldakát.»
Only there I will tell you everything.”
Tle chʼa yá aadé yee een kax̱lanik yé yáx̱ áwé yaa akanalník.
Then just like the way that I am telling it to you folks he is telling it.
Húch áwé akawlineek.
It was him that told the story.
He was the only survivor.
Ah, {ḵoon} ḵoon yan aklanéek áwé tle xʼóolʼ yáx̱ ḵoowanei.
Well when he was done telling it to the people, they became like a whirlpool (moving around frantically).
Yaakwdé at wuduwasʼélʼ,
They just threw their belongings in the boat haphazardly, (Lit. 'things were torn/ripped into the boat')
ldakát has du átxʼi.
all of their things.
{aadé d dus} Aadé yawduwax̱aa.
He was taken there by boat.
Yaa kagooséi áwé,
When they got close to it,
has du káa yaa kanashg̱ít.
it was beginning to get dark on them.
Tléixʼ xʼaa áwé uyéx̱ át has wuḵoox̱ú.
There is only one point left as they were paddling.
Tle, hél héide has du tuwáa ushgú tle a x̱ánt has wuḵoox̱ú,
Then they didnʼt want to paddle over that way by it,
yaa kanashg̱ídich.
because it was getting dark.
Áwé, chʼa áxʼ, xʼaa káx̱,
And then, just there, on the point,
sooḵ,
peat moss,
aas jiseiyí áwé {wé}
in the shelter of the trees
aanáx̱ {yan has ldakát yan has uwa}
through there
yánde s ayawsiḵúx̱ {has du yátxʼ-} has du yátxʼi ḵa has du shátxʼ.
they took them all to shore, their children and their wives.
Tsʼootaat áwé,
In the morning,
yaa akaxdagáan.
as the sun was rising.
Wáa sá kaawahayi héen áwé,
There was some kind of stream,
xʼáas has aya.áx̱ch.
they hear a waterfall.
Héen yóot kaawa.áa, wulixʼáas.
The water was flowing forth, it was cascading.
Ḵachgu tle yá áa,
But here at this place,
yá eey tóot ásíwé uwanúk
it was sitting inside of the rapids
wé náaḵw.
that octopus.
Áxʼ áwé woonaa.
It died there at that place.
Du shá ḵwá wé náaḵw shá ḵwá wé dáaḵxʼ,
His head, though, that octopusʼ head, though, in the interior,
dáaḵnax̱.áa kaawaháa.
it ended up in the interior part of it.
Áwé {s aka} has akawlixásh.
They cut it up.
S aklaxáash áwé s awsiteen,
When they cut it up they saw them,
chʼas ḵaa naaxʼú ásíwé a tú.
it seems it was just dead people inside of it.
Ldakát á wé
All of those
wé áa ḵuwa.óowu ḵu.oo naaxʼú áwé {du yí} a yée yéi yatee.
the dead of the people that live there are inside of it.
Wé áx̱ ḵuyawsi.oowu ḵu.oo.
Those people that were living there.
Aaá.
Yes.
{áwé ḵúx̱de}
Tle ḵúx̱de kei yawduwax̱áa
Then they paddled them back up
Lawáakde.
to Klawock.
{tle yá}
Ah, shayadihéini aa á chʼu ká aax̱ kei ḵux̱li.óo.
Uh, a lot of them, regardless, just went back up from there to where they were living.
Yéi ḵwá áwé kaawagei
But that is all of it,
yá yées ḵáach áwé {sh} kawlineegí shkalneek áwé.
the story that this young man told.
Chʼas hú áwé wooneix̱. Hmh.
He was the only one that survived. Hmh.
Hél x̱wasakóowun wáanáx̱ sáwé
I didnʼt know the reason why
Lingít lʼeix̱í yaa yakg̱axíx,
whenever the Lingít dancing is happening,
Xʼaakʼw,
(Aaron Beanʼs Lingít name)
wé Aaron Bean
that Aaron Bean
du regalia-í chʼas náaḵw.
his regalia (is) just octopus.
Náaḵw yahaayí, hél ax̱ daa yaa ḵushoosgé wáanáx̱ sáwé,
The image of an octopus, I donʼt understand why that is,
ḵachgu á, á ásíwé.
but here, it seems thatʼs what it is.
{aaw} Atée nuch
They imitate it
adulʼeix̱í.
when they dance.
Daaḵw naa sáwé?
Which clan is that?
Hél x̱wasakú daag̱u naa sáwé.
I donʼt know which of the clans that is.
Du shát ḵwá áwé Naasdeidí.
His wife, though, is Naasdeidí.
Naasdeidí tribe áwé. Mhm.
Sheʼs the Naasdeidí tribe. Yes,
Yá shóogunáx̱ g̱unéi sh kagax̱toolneegí ḵu.a introduce-x̱ hóoch áwé sh dulyéix̱.
At the beginning, though, when we are going to tell stories, the one thatʼs going to do it makes themselves introduced.
Kaaxwaan Éesh
Kaaxwaan Éesh
yéi áwé x̱at wuduwasáa Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱.
that is how I am called in the Tlingit language.
George Davis
George Davis
dleit ḵáa x̱ʼéináx̱.
in white man language. (English)
Ah, ax̱ tláa
Uh, my mother
Xéetlʼi yéi duwasáakw.
Xéetlʼi is how she is called.
Lucy Kake.
Lucy Kake.
Ḵa {ax̱} ax̱ léelkʼw,
And my grandfather,
Charlie Kake.
Charlie Kake.
Ḵa du x̱án.aa Jennie Kake.
And his wife, Jennie Kake.
Ah,
Uh,
Ax̱ éesh ḵwá áwé Aangóondáx̱ áwé wsidaaḵ.
My father, though, he came from Angoon.
Uh, Tsaagweidí tribe áwé.
Uh, he was Tsaagweidí tribe.
Yéi áwé i een ax̱waatlaakw á.
That is the way I have recounted to you.
Wé
That
Xéetlʼi,
Xéetli,
Xúnaadáx̱ áwé x̱waa.áx̱ wé saa.
I heard that name from Hoonah.
Xúnaadáx̱ áwé, {Char} ah, du tláa.
She is from Hoonah, her mother.
Jennie Kake yéi duwasáakw á.
Jennie Kake is how she is called.
Someplace, they
hél x̱wasakú goodé sá yax̱waa.oo áwé.
I donʼt know where I put it.
I had it on a shelf.
Has du yahaayí.
Pictures of them.
Am, ax̱ tláakʼwch
Um, my maternal aunt
a yát x̱ʼawdliyóo Xéetlʼi yóo duwasáagu aa.
she referred to her with a kinship term, the one called Xéetlʼi.
Xúnaaxʼ.
In Hoonah.
Gwál {yee x̱oon} i tláa x̱ooní shákdé wé. Yeah.
Maybe thatʼs your motherʼs relative, probably.
{Ax̱ ni} Ah, ax̱ in.aaxʼw jeewú wé picture.
Uh, my relatives have that picture.
Áwé tlákw has du éex̱ x̱ax̱oox̱ nuch
And I am always asking them for
ah, has du saaxʼú.
uh, their names.
Like wé shaawát aa ax̱ léelkʼw.
Like the woman one of my grandparents. [grandmother]
Jennie Kake.
Jennie Kake.
{hél} Hél x̱wasakú wáanáx̱ sáwé tle awlisín.
I donʼt know why they hid it.
Chʼa yéi áwé nateejín chʼáakw.
Thatʼs the way it used to be long ago.
{wé l}
Chʼa yeedát áwé ḵux̱ʼaksiyáayi.
Itʼs just right now that people speak foolishly.
Chʼáakw ḵwá a daa yoo tudatángin wáa sá ḵuyakg̱waḵaayí.
Long ago, though, somebody would think about what s/he is going to say to people.
Yeedádi ḵáawu ḵwá tle has ashanaljúx̱ʼch áwé has du yoo x̱ʼatángi.
The people of right now, though, they just fling their words around.
Ách gíwé hél tlax̱ kʼidéin wutusakú haa daat át, kʼé.
Maybe thatʼs why we donʼt know too much about our business, you see.
{gax̱}
Chʼu {at kʼáts} at kʼátskʼux̱ x̱at sateeyí áwé,
When I was still a small child,
woonaa, ax̱ éeshch.
he died, my dad.
Mmm.
Oh.
Ah, tléixʼaa ax̱ húnx̱w hás ḵwá,
Uh, one of my older brothers, though,
ah, the oldest one, Kanaash yéi duwasáakw.
uh, the oldest one, Kanaash is how he was called.
Ḵa second oldest one ḵwá s Keihéenákʼw.
And the second oldest one, though, is Keihéenákʼw.
John Martin saayí áwé. Ó, hah.
That is John Martinʼs name. Oh, huh.
Ḵa Chʼáankʼi.
And Chʼáankʼi.
Yéi áwé, four-náx̱ áwé haa wootee. Iʼm the last one.
That is the way, there were four of us. Iʼm the last one.
Am, uháan ḵu.aa,
Um, us though,
am, tle a kát x̱at seixʼaaḵwch.
um, then I always forget,
Shakʼsháani yóo x̱at duwasáakw, Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱.
Shakʼsháani is how I am called, in the Lingít language.
Máa sá?
What is that?
Shakʼsháani.
Shakʼsháani.
Shakʼsháani. Ahah.
Shakʼsháani. Uhuh.
Wé {x̱} X̱wa.aax̱ín
That I used to hear it
chʼa ḵaa x̱'éide.
just when folks were speaking.
Am,
Um,
tle Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱ a kát x̱at seixʼaaḵwch.
everytime I forget it in Lingít language.
Tlákw Aan.
Klukwan.
Áwé {áa yéi} haa x̱oonxʼi, {aa}
My relatives,
áa yéi wootee.
they lived there.
Tle ldakát yéide
Many different things
gwál x̱wasakóowun.
I might have known.
Chʼa yá Catholic Church
The Catholic Church
a jee haa jiwduwanáḵ.
we were left in its care.
A kaadé yá
That is why
{iya}
yá iyasháyi shaatkʼátskʼu
this little girl that you married
hél tlax̱ daa sá awuskú, hú tsú.
doesnʼt know that much, her either.
{hél}
Hél akoo.aaḵw Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱ x̱ʼawdataaní tsú.
She doesnʼt try to speak in Lingít, either.
Ahah.
Uhuh.
Haa jeedáx̱ kawduwajeil haa ḵusteeyí.
Our way of life was all taken away from us.
Chʼa átx̱ sitee yá Lingít chʼa yéi googéinkʼ x̱ʼax̱aa.áx̱ch.
Itʼs a wonder that I can even understand a little bit of this Tlingit.
Yá
This
«Hél keetaanáx̱ haa daat.» {yaa wi du}
“Donʼt (speak it) out loud around us.”
Wáang̱aneens áwé x̱at shaduxʼóolʼch.
Sometimes they (teachers) would pull my hair.
Wáang̱aneens áwé x̱at yadutʼáchdi nuch
Sometimes they would slap me in the face
yá
Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱ yóot x̱ʼax̱wdataaní.
when I would start to speak in Lingít.
Am, a kaadé hél tlax̱ kʼidéin x̱wasakú. Am,
Um, that is the reason that I donʼt know it so well. Um,
G̱aanax̱teidí
G̱aanax̱teidí
áyá uháan,
is who we are,
uh, Tlákw Aandáx̱.
uh, from Klukwan.
Shuxʼwáanáx̱,
At first,
wáa yoo at koonée sáwé ax̱ tláach {yéi, ax̱} ax̱ een kawlineek,
at some point, my mother told it to me,
Aangóonde {haa wu haa} haa wligáasʼ.
we migrated to Angoon.
{dax̱yéid dax̱} Chʼu dax̱yéide,
In two ways,
{dax̱ kaa g̱áach} kawdudlineek.
it is told.
Shúxʼwaa á Beaver House-dáx̱ áyá uháan yóo kdunéek.
At the start, we are from the Beaver House, so it is told.
Áwé Marsha-ch áwé yéide ax̱ een kaawaneek tatgé.
Marsha is the one that told it to me that way yesterday.
Hél x̱wasakú
I donʼt know
ha wáa yoo at koonée sáwé tsu aax̱ haa wligáasʼ.
at some point, we migrated off again.
Cháanwaan kóoxu yáx̱.
Like Chinese rice.
Mhm.
Yes.
Tʼaaḵú, Tʼaaḵú wátde haa wligáasʼ.
Taku River, we migrated to the mouth of Taku River.
Áxʼ áwé tsá Tʼaaḵú Ḵwáanx̱ haa wsitee.
That is the place where we became The People of Taku.
Haa x̱oonxʼí ḵu.aa,
Our family (clan), though,
{shawtud} áa shayawdiháa.
became numerous there.
Áwé
So then
Helen Sarabia,
Helen Sarabia,
X̱wasikóo.
I know her.
ax̱ x̱ooní áwé.
that is my relative (same clan relative).
Yan káxʼ haa x̱ooní áwé, wé hú.
She is our true relative, her.
Am,
Um,
yá
these
haa daat shkalneek ḵu.aa hél kʼidéin x̱wasakú.
stories about us, though, I donʼt know them well.
Ax̱ shátx̱ich chʼa yéi googéinkʼ
My older sister, just a little bit
uh, gwál aawasháat, hél x̱wasakú.
she might have caught, I donʼt know.
Yá hél du yátxʼi een akawuneek.
She never told them to her children.
Yá ax̱ séekʼ, ixkée yéi yateeyi aa,
My little daughter, the one that lives down south,
ax̱ tláa áwé du een sh kawdlineek.
my mother told her the history.
Áwé
So
chʼa yéi googéinkʼ ax̱ yáanáx̱ awsikóo, húch.
she knows a little bit more than me, her.
{wé} tlax̱ tlél ḵaa tuwáa wushgú yá haa Lingít shkalneegí.
People did not like our Tlingit stories too much.
Kʼidéin áwé x̱ʼakla.aax̱chʼánin,
She was fascinating to listen to,
i tláa,
your mother,
yá Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱ yoo x̱ʼatánk.
speaking in this Tlingit language.
Há hél ax̱ daa yaa ḵushusgé kʼidéin.
Well I donʼt understand it too well.
Jawbreakers átx̱ alyéix̱.
She uses jawbreakers. [difficult phrases]
Ahah.
Uhuh.
{hé, yá keijí j} Keijín jinkaatx̱ x̱at sateeyí áyá,
When I was fifty,
ḵu.éexʼde x̱at wuduwa.éexʼ.
I was invited to a potlatch.
Hél tsú áa neilx̱ x̱wagoot yá ḵu.éexʼ.
I never used to attend the potlatches, either.
Gwál tléixʼdahéen {tle} tle tlél ax̱ tuwáa wushgú.
Maybe one time, and then I didnʼt like it.
Áwé, daatg̱áa sákwshéwé ḵuwtuwateen ax̱ séekʼ een, hél ulgéikʼ,
So then, for some reason we traveled with my little daughter, sheʼs not very big,
Xúnaadé.
to Hoonah.
Áxʼ áwé x̱at wuduwa.éexʼ tle tlél x̱wasakú a daat át.
That is where I was invited, and at that time I didnʼt know anything about it.
Chʼa aan áwé wtuwa.aat ax̱ séekʼ een aadé.
Even so, we went to it with my little daughter.
Ḵúnáx̱ x̱at kaawatísʼ.
She really stared at me.
Yá
These
haa daat {Lingítx̱}
around us
Lingít shkalneegí, ḵa
Tlingit stories and
wé has du lʼeix̱í,
those dances of theirs,
ax̱ yáa ḵút woonei.
I was astonished.
Wé yagéiyi át {ḵu} ḵwá {tl} tlél ḵut x̱wag̱éexʼ, hél x̱wasakú a daat át.
There are many things, though, that I havenʼt forgotten, I (just) donʼt know anything about it.
{wé} Kʼé wé chʼáagu shkalneegí hél x̱wasakú.
Like those stories of long ago, I donʼt know them.
{wé}
Ḵaa x̱ʼéit x̱wasa.aax̱ch, kʼidéin
I always listen to what people say, very well
{kʼé} kʼé {chʼa} chʼa yéi googéinkʼ {a} ax̱ daa yaa ḵushugux̱sagéit.
so that I will understand even just a little bit of it.
Yagéiyi ḵu.oo x̱'éit x̱wasa.aax̱ch.
I always listen to a lot of people.
Wé
That
ax̱ x̱án.aa x̱at x̱ʼeiwawóosʼ, ah, dleit ḵáa x̱at uwasháy,
my husband asked me, uh, I am married to a white man,
«Wáanáx̱ sáyá hél a daat át yisakú {i} yee ḵusteeyí?»
“Why donʼt you know anything about your culture?”
«Ha eeshandéin yoo haa kawdudlishóo a daat.
“Well we were made to suffer pitifully about it.
A kaadé áyá hél daa sá wtusakú.»
This is the reason we donʼt know anything.”
Tléixʼdahéen ax̱ éesh aadé jiwdigoot, wé teacher x̱án.
One time, my father stormed over there by that teacher.
Áa yoo ayakawsináḵ.
He chased her all over there.
«Wáa sá chʼu tléixʼ yoo x̱ʼatánk hél aadé yóot has oog̱aateeyi yé Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱?»
“How is it that they canʼt even put one word out there in the Tlingit language?”
Tle yéi áwé ax̱ tláa ḵa ax̱ éesh, {has sh} has sh kalneegí,
That is the way my mother and father, when they were telling the history,
tle yóode {haa}, chʼa g̱óot yéide haa kandunáach.
they would send us away to somewhere else.
Am, chʼa aan ḵwá ax̱ tláa, {gwál} gwál ḵúnáx̱ x̱at yaawajée.
Um, but even so my mother, maybe she really reprimanded me.
{hél}
«Hél chʼa koogéiyi yóo sheelax̱óotʼiḵ yoo x̱ʼatánk,» yóo x̱at daayaḵáa neejín.
“Donʼt just fling your words around any old way,” she always used to say to me.
{a daa yát} A daa yoo tután wáa sá yakg̱eeḵáayi.
Think about what youʼre going to say.
Sh tugéit ḵuyag̱idziḵaa.»
You could offend people.”
Ha wáa sá áwu x̱waasháat, á ḵu.aa.
And how I caught that there, that though. [«Ha wáa sá» emphasizes her catching those words.]
Wáa sá ax̱ tuwáa sagóowun wé Lingít lʼeix̱í.
How much I used to like the Tlingit dancing.
Tlél ḵaa tuwáa wushgú.
People really didnʼt like that.
Wa.é, i jeedáx̱ gé yóo wdudzinee, wa.é tsú?
You, did they take it from you, you as well?
{hél tsu} Hél tsu tléixʼ daa sá ax̱ ée wdultéew.
I was not taught even a single thing.
Chʼa yá ḵaa x̱ʼéix̱ x̱wasa.aax̱í áwé,
It was just by listening to what people had to say,
{ah ah} aa x̱shigóok.
that I know some of it.
Ah, chʼu ká
Uh, but regardless,
ax̱ jee wulidzée.
it was difficult for me.
Ḵu.éexʼde x̱at wuduwax̱oox̱, tle du in.
I was invited to a potlatch, with her.
Wé ANB Hall-xʼ.
At the ANB Hall.
Diyeekát haa dusḵéen.
We are seated at the back.
{geetʼa}
yaa ḵux̱wlig̱át, Jack du last name-íx̱ sitee.
I forgot, his last name is Jack.
Hú áwé ḵujinli.áat.
He is the one that is leading the people by the hand. [the usher]
Sí stage kaadé x̱át tsú {x̱} ḵaa x̱oot x̱at dus.áa.
Onto the stage, me too, I am seated among people. [With clan leaders and house masters at the head table.]
Ḵashgu yéi {yaa} yaa at gug̱aneiyí ásíwé,
It seems that things were going to proceed this way,
tle áwé,
and then,
há, ḵujiduḵéi néekw áwé,
well, when the people where being paid,
ax̱ éede yaa ḵunahéin.
my turn was coming.
Jéi, sh tóog̱aa datí tlen yoo x̱ʼatánk.
Gee, big speeches of gratitude.
Hél tsu yéi aa x̱wa.aax̱ch yoo x̱ʼadul.átgi.
I had never even heard one like that before, the way theyʼre speaking.
«Tláp!» yóo x̱at toowatee.
“Uh-oh!” I thought to myself.
Dláa,
Cripes,
wáa sá, Harold,
how, Harold,
Herman Davis,
Herman Davis,
yáanax̱.át áa, ax̱ tʼaḵká.
heʼs sitting on this side, right next to me.
Hú áwé, {du}
It was him,
du éet x̱ʼax̱waatán, «Héʼ, Herman,
I spoke to him, “Hey, Herman,
Hél gé aadé {haa} ax̱ káx̱ {x̱ʼeen} x̱ʼang̱iditaani yé?
Is there no way that you can speak for me?
Hél haa ée wdultéew yáa át.»
We were not taught this business.”
Jéi, yá yeedát,
Gee, right now,
{aan} aan wuduwanaaḵ.
somebody stood up with him.
Áwé, «Sure.
Then, “Sure.
I káx̱ x̱ʼakḵwadatáan,» tle yéi x̱at yawsiḵaa.
Iʼll speak for you,” he said to me then.
Yáanax̱.á ḵwá s, atkʼátskʼu áwé ax̱ tʼaḵkát áa.
Here on this side, though, a child is sitting next to me.
Teenage kid, gwál about
Teenage kid, maybe about
14 or 15 years old.
Áwé, hél wáa sá ax̱ toowú utí, atkʼátskʼux̱.
Well, I didnʼt think much, as heʼs just a child.
Kei gux̱daháan.
Heʼs going to stand up.
Gadaháan,
When he stands up,
Ax̱ x̱'é chʼa yéi áx̱ g̱alishóo.
My mouth is just hanging open like this.
Aadé ḵaa shagóon awsikóowu yé, yá atkʼátskʼu.
How well he knows peopleʼs origins, history and culture, this child.
Kʼidéin áwé du ée wdudlitéew.
It was really taught to him well.
Wáa sáwé duwasáakw? Yaa ḵux̱wlig̱át {du} du léelkʼw.
How is he called? I forgot, his grandparent.
Ah, {bi} itʼs a big name.
Well known, you see, x̱wasikóo.in,
Well known, you see, I used to know it,
yisikóo.
you know it.
Du saayí hél a káx̱ yoo tux̱datánk.
I canʼt seem to think of his name.
Jéi wís x̱at lixʼwásʼḵ.
Gee whiz, I was stunned.
Du x̱ʼéit x̱wasi.áx̱ wé atkʼátskʼu.
I listened to that young boy.
{yaa} Yaa x̱ʼandatán.
He keeps speaking.
Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱?
In Tlingit?
Lingít x̱ʼéináx̱.
In Tlingit.
Oh my goodness.
A káa shawduwax̱íshk. Hú kwshé {yéi yana} yéi yanaḵéich.
They really pounded it into his head. That is what he says.
{á áwé ax̱ daa}
Aax̱ áwé tle yéi yax̱wsiḵaa,
After that I said,
«Hél tsu yéi yateeyi átde kḵwagoot.
“Iʼll never go to a thing like that again.”
Never again."
Kadéixʼ jeet áwé.
At the hand of shame. [Because of embarrassment]
X̱át tsú yéi x̱at nateech.
Me too, thatʼs how I always am.
Kadéixʼ tlein ax̱ yáa yéi naneech.
A big embarrassment always happens in my face.
Ldakát ḵáa áwé
Everybody
ax̱ yáanáx̱ {aw} wududzikóo
knows it more than I do,
haa shagóon.
our history and culture.
Yeah, Marsha
hóoch áwé tsá
she is the only one that
ḵúnáx̱ awsikóo.
she really knows it.
Tʼaaḵúdáx̱ áwé kwshé yee wsidaaḵ?
Perhaps from Taku you folks migrated?
Wáa sá?
What?
Tʼaaḵú.
Taku.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ahah. Aax̱ áwé yee wsi- Tʼaaḵú Ḵwáanx̱ haa wsitee.
Uh-huh. From there you mo We became People of Taku.
Ax̱ éesh ḵwá ḵúnáx̱ Tʼaaḵú Ḵwáan áwé.
My father, though, is really of the People of Taku.
Uháan ḵwá Aangóondáx̱ áwé át haa wsidáḵ.
Us, though, we migrated there from Angoon.
{tʼaa} Tʼaaḵóoxʼ.
At Taku.
{wé}
Wé ax̱ tláach ax̱ een kalaneek yá
My mother tells (told) me these
a x̱oo.aa ḵúnáx̱
some of them really
ḵúnáx̱, ah,
really, uh,
chʼáagu shkalneegí ḵwá hél x̱wasakú.
old stories, though, I donʼt know them.
Aan x̱at yadujee át áwé tsá x̱wsikóo.
I only knew that it was something I am disciplined for.
Wé
So
wóoshdáx̱ wudzi???daaḵ.
they migrated apart from each other (separated).
Am,
Um,
{ax̱ jee} Lingít shkalaneekxʼí ax̱ jeewú.
I have Tlingit stories.
Wáa sákwshé chʼas x̱át ax̱ jeedé ách adulwéisʼ Ḵéex̱ʼdáx̱.
For some reason, only me, they send them one after the other to me from Kake.
Ah,
Organized Village of Kake.
Ax̱ jeedé ách has alwéisʼ wé tape.
They send me those tapes.
Lingít shkalneekxʼí.
Tlingit stories.
Oh my.
Ḵútx̱ shuwaxeexi ḵu.oo.
The people that have passed.
Recordx̱ x̱waliyéx̱.
I made them into recordings.
G̱ooch Éesh,
Johnny C. Jackson, [Ḵaach.ádi clan]
Xʼaakʼw,
Aaron Bean, [Teeyaneidí clan]
ḵa
and
jé, shayadihéin.
sheesh, there are a lot of them.
Áwé a x̱oo.aa,
Some of them (stories),
chʼu {ká} ká kulix̱éetlʼsháni yáx̱.
are even scary-like.
Duwa.áx̱ch Kóoshdaa Ḵáach Wusneix̱í Atkʼátskʼu.
The Child Taken By The Land Otter Person is heard (itʼs recorded).
Wé
That
a daat át x̱a.áx̱jin wé
I used to hear about it, that
kóoshdaa ḵáa.
land otter man.
Ax̱ éesch tsú awsiteen.
My father also saw it.
Tle yéi ash yáa kéi wdihán.
It stood up in front of him then (on two legs).
Há.
(Expression of mild surprise).
You know, uh,
Taakw Aani Noow yéi duwasáagu yé. [He seems to intentionally pronounce that place name without tone.]
the place called Winter Village Fort
Áwé áa yéi has nateejín ax̱ tláa hás.
They used to live there, my motherʼs people.
{a a} A x̱án {aa} á áwé {an} has du {n x̱} déin áwé {ḵuya} áa ḵuya.oo, wé,
By it, that is where, in their vicinity they lived, that,
wé couple.
that couple.
Has du
Their
xʼoon táakw sákwshéwé has du baby-yí.
I wonder how old their baby was.
Aadé {l} sh daa yoo tuduwatángi yé áwé,
The way that people think in regards to their own actions,
few minutes áwé a náḵ has gug̱wa.áat.
theyʼre going to leave him for a few minutes.
Tle tléináx̱ hú áwu atxʼaan hídi yee.
Then heʼs alone there, inside of the smokehouse. [A temporary summer house where they put up fish.]
Tá {wé} wé baby ḵu.aa.
He is sleeping, that baby, though.
Ḵux̱ has da.áat áwé tlél át ḵoostí wé
When they returned, he wasnʼt there, that
has du yádi. [This recording is continued on #87.]
their baby.