This material is based on work supported by National Science Foundation grants BCS-0651787 and BCS-0853788 to the University of Alaska Southeast with Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff as Principal Investigator and by National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship 266286-19 to Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Symobls used in the transcription

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

Software Used

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

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

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

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Usage notes from Alice Taff
Using a Macbook Air M4, Sequoia 15.5, the record-self works fine:
  1. with Firefox 140.0.2
  2. with Safari 18.5
  3. with Chrome 138.0.7204.158
Video Size
Tlingit Conversation #8

Speakers are Ḵaajisti Martha VanHeel, G̱uneiwtí Marsha Hotch, La.óos Tláa Ida Calmegane, and Kóox̱ʼ David Strong. Recorded August 20, 2009, at Ed and Janice Hotch’s house in Klukwan, Alaska, by Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff.
Your dadʼs cousin.
Tlingit transcription by G̱uneiwtí Marsha Hotch. English translation by G̱uneiwtí Marsha Hotch and by Shakʼsháani Margaret Dutson with Ljáaḵkʼ Alice Taff. Edited by X̱’aagi Sháawu Keri Eggleston with Ḵaachkoo.aaḵw Helen Sarabia and by Yeiltʼóochʼ Tláa Collyne Bunn.
Your momʼs cousin.
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ wáa sá duwasáakw?
What is her name in Lingít?
Yisikóo gé?
Do you know it?
Shakʼsháani.
Shakʼsháani [Tlingit name of Margaret Hubbard Dutson. Ishkeetaan clan. Also spelled as Shaksháani.]
Aaa. Shákʼ
Yes.
-sháani. Hah!
Has shayadihéinin hás tsú.
There used to be a lot of them, also.
Mhm.
Wéit Leiyitikwdul.átk áwé.
That person, Leiyitikwdul.átk. [Tlingit name of Mary Hubbard Peters/Peterson, Ishkeetaan clan. Spelling of this name was found in "Interior Tlingit Personal Names,from Teslin, Atlin, Tagish and Carcross", Jeff Leer and Julie Cruikshank, Yukon Native Language Centre.]
Mary,
Mary Stevens.
She was the oldest daughter of
méit, Yeididultín.
that Yeididultín. [Spelled Yeididultín in Leer documents.]
Du Lingít saayí tsu.
Her Tlingit name again.
Hmmm?
Du Lingít saayí?
Her Tlingit name.
Mary.
Leiyitikwdul.átk
['Tlingit name of Mary Hubbard Peters. The third sister was Ḵajeesaak Dorothy Hubbard who died when she was 21.']
Huh, Leiyitikwdul.átk.
Wéi {has} has du éek'
Their brothers
tle
just
Edward yóo duwasáagu aa áwé,
the one that was named Edward,
Shaanḵuyís yóo dusáagun.
his name used to be Shaanḵuyís. [Shaanḵuyís is a noted Ishkeetaan name, found in Jeff Leerʼs Interior Tlingit Names document.]
Ooow.
Wé tléix' aa, the youngest one.
That first one, the youngest one.
They used to own a hotel, in um, just out of Juneau. {Twenty mile twen} twenty five minutes airplane lands there.
That was those people.
Tʼaaḵú?
Tʼaaḵú?
Yeah?
Tʼaaḵú?
Tʼaaḵú?
No.
Oh.
Wé x'áat' ká aaní áwu.
Itʼs in the town on the island.
Hotel áa a.óowun.
He owned a hotel there. [A Bed and Breakfast in Hoonah.]
Hmm.
Hú ḵú áwés,
As for him,
umm,
Ḵaal.aaní.
['his name was Ḵaal.aaní.']
Ḵaal.aaní.
Ḵaal.aaní yéi duwasáakw.
His name is Kaal.áani.
Dleit ḵáanáx̱ ḵu.a áwé Edward.
In English it's Edward.
Mhm.
Is that making it, helping any how weʼre related?
Aaá.
Yes.
Yak'éi.
It is good.
Gunalchéesh ax̱ een {ka} kayineeg̱í.
Thank you for telling me.
Haa léelk'w
Our grandparent
ax̱ tuwáa sigóo tsu du saayí x̱wa.aax̱ú.
I would like to hear her name again.
Mmm.
Deikakʼax̱du.oo.
Deikakʼax̱du.oo. [There is a similar Ishkeetaan name listed in Leerʼs Inland Tlingit names for Annie Morris: Dax̱ʼeikax̱du.oo, but this may not be relevant.]
Aáa.
Yes.
Can I say it in English for you?
Mhm.
S'eetʼḵweidí.
['S\'eetʼḵweidí is the name for "People of Humpback Cove" of the wolf/eagle moiety.']
Tlél x̱wasakú S'eetʼḵweidí.
I don't know about S'eetʼḵweidí.
Hél x̱wasakú xát tsú.
I don't know either.
Wa.é tle ???
You now ???
Shóogunáx̱ i een sh kax̱alneegí x̱áawé.
I told you at the beginning you see.
Goodéi sáwé airplane kaadéi kg̱eegóot?
Where are you going when you get on the airplane?
I was here and, you postpone your plane til the next, next flight you go on it.
Umm.
Yes.
Gee, I was just sad, me. [Laughs]
I hear, «Dei wudaḵéeni á.»
I heard, "She flew".
{oh you, you would} you were going to
Sitka, I think. Mhm.
We, we start, thatʼs the way we was doing.
Yeah, that.
Yeah, that.
You remember that?
Aáa, ayáx̱ áwé.
Yes, that is right.
Katoo.aaḵw. Yáa yeedát áwé
We are trying. Now,
ax̱ x̱ooní, ah wé, recorder yaa kanajúx, yáa yeedát.
my friend, uh, the recorder is running now.
Mmm.
Aag̱áa áwé tsu a x̱'éit {kakḵwal},
And then again I'm going to,
Yeah,
latín ḵa tsu kakḵwa.áax̱.
watch it and I'm going to listen to it again.
Ax̱ dachx̱anx'i yán
My grandchildren
ḵa ax̱ sée tsú, {aa}
and my daughter,
has agug̱a.áax̱.
they will listen to it. [they will hear it.]
Mhm.
Ax̱ éek' een áwé, wé,
It was with my brother, that,
shkalneek tsú a tóode sh katoolník neech.
we also always told stories into it (the recorder).
Mhm.
Áwé
That there
du jee shayadihéin.
he has a lot. [He has a lot of tapes of our conversations.]
Wáang̱aneens áwé wé phone tóonáx̱.
Sometimes through the phone.
Phone tóonáx̱ yóo x̱'atuli.átgi
When we talk on the phone
áwé tape
the tape
x̱'éidáx̱ áyå kootéeỹch.
he would always turn it on.
Aaho. Then {we}
Oh.
we tape each other {on} on the phone. Heh heh.
Aáa.
Yes.
Yak'éi áwéi.
That is good.
Yeah. Gwál,
Maybe,
a káa daak x̱at seiwuhaayí, ax̱ jeet {x̱ʼay} x̱'aydataaní,
if I remember, when you call me by phone,
gwál, ax̱ recorder-i tsú.
maybe, (I will turn on) my recorder too.
Mmm. [At shooḵ]
Yes. [Laughter]
Phone tóonáx̱ sh katoolník neech. Aaha.
We always talk on the phone. Yes.
Ax̱ éek' du jeet shayadahéinin.
My brother used to have a lot. [A lot of tapes.]
Mhm.
Áwé yéi x̱át daayaḵá,
He tells me,
«I tuwáa sagoowú,
"Are you wanting
wé tape machine gé i jeewú een aa yidát?»
the tape machine thatʼs with you here now?"
Haam.
Well.
«Ítnáx̱ haat x̱wagoodí, i jeet
"The next time I come here,
haandé kḵwala.aadí.»
I will bring them to you."
Mhm.
Áwé akamshixít tsú.
And he wrote it too.
Áwé, a tóodei atóow̃; á tsú tle wé tape a kaadé aawatóow. Mhm.
He reads into it (recorder); then he also read it onto the tapes. Mhm.
{a tóode} A tóode yoo x̱'ayatánk áwé; he's reading like the wéitʼaa.
Into, into it (recorder) he would talk; he's reading like that thing.
Aáa.
Yes.
Sh katoolneegí tsú. Mhm.
Also when we tell stories.
Ḵa wé shí.
And the songs.
Lingít x̱'éináx̱ shí tsú a tóode tooshéenin. Mmm.
We used to sing Tlingit songs into it too.
Á ḵwá dei a kát dáx̱ x̱at seiwax'áḵw.
Now however I have forgotten them.
Áwé haa náḵ wugoodí,
When he left us,
ax̱ jee yat'éex', yeedát. Mhm.
it's still hard on me now.
Dei tléix' táakw a yaa shunaxíx áyá October yáat.
It is coming on one year now here since (he died) in October.
Aadáx̱ áwé ax̱ séek', March yáat áwé haa náḵ woogoot. Mmm.
After that, my daughter left us in the month of March.
Áwé,
That is,
tle tsu ax̱ toowú nóogu tle at kát x̱at seiwax'áḵw.
through my grief then I forgot.
Áwé ax̱ kéek', yei x̱át daayaḵá,
My little sister says to me,
«Eesháan x̱át, Shátx̱, eesháan.
"Poor me, older sister, poor.
Tlél dei ḵúdáx̱ i toowú eetéeḵ.»
Don't let yourself become overwhelmed."
Mhm.
Áwé tlei
When that
yéi sh tux̱danoogú áwé tle
when I feel like that
has du x̱'akáa daak tux̱dataanch.
I remember what they said.
Aadáx̱ áwé a eetí aa,
From that time, the one after that,
{yáa} yá táakw,
this winter,
eetí aa,
after that,
táakw eetí áwé,
it's spring,
has du kináa
on the top of them (the graves)
áwé {ha} has du shaayí téi, Mhm. yéi gax̱tusanée.
we are going to put their headstones on their graves.
Yáa,
This,
tlél yáa,
not this,
Eetí aa táakw eetí. Okay. Okay.
In the spring.
Áwé yá yeis áwé yéi gax̱tusanéinin wé ax̱ sée haa náḵ woogoot.
We were going to work on it in the fall, when my daughter left us.
Tle ldakát wé Teslin aa Yanyeidí.
All the Yanyeidi in Teslin.
Mhm.
Yes.
Has haa ayaawanéi, áyú.
They showed respect to us. [Or, they held us up respectfully.]
Ch'a yéi, tlél aadé du kanax̱ yéi jinax̱tuwanei{ax̱}yú áwé ax̱ séek'.
Even then, we could not work on his headstone (because of) my daughter.
Ḵaashamdahaa yóo dusáagun. Mhm.
Her name was Ḵaashamdahaa. [Marthaʼs daughter Verna]
Ách áwé ch'a yan shukamtuwatee.
That is why we postponed it.
Mhm.
Tliyéi eetí aa táakw eetí de áwé yóo {s x̱at} x̱at has daayaḵá.
They are telling me stop (to postpone it until) after this year.
I gu.aa yáx̱ x'wán.
Be strong.
Mm.
Ax̱ toowú litseen, wéit'aa ax̱ káani áwé tlax̱, ax̱ ée litseen.
I am strengthened, itʼs my sister-in-law, that one there, (Ida Calmegane) she strengthens me.
Aáa, gunalchéesh ch'a tlákw {du} du x̱ánt yigoodí. Áaa.
Yes, thank you (Ida) for being with her all the time. Yes.
Du jeet-
Her-
Máang̱aneens áwé tlél ax̱ x̱ánx̱ wugoodí ch'a phone tóonáx̱ áwé yóo x̱'atula.átgi néi.
Sometimes when she doesn't come over, we just talk through the phone.
Aax̱ áwé ax̱ toowú galatseench.
After that I am strengthened. [Notice the hand motions that accompany Tlingit speaking.]
Daat yís sáyú,
What for,
{máa s} máa sáyá ax̱ éede gux̱dashée?
how is it going to help me?
Tle ch'ás yan k'idéin yan {wu} wtusaneiyi, dei ax̱ tóodei yéi yatee.
Then when we're all done and we've done it well, I'll feel good about it.
Mhm.
A yís áyá yáat'át tsu yéi daax̱anéi.
I am still doing this for it (daughterʼs memorial party) too. [Martha taps a pair of moccasins.]
Uhuh.
Yes.
Áwé {wáang̱a}
So,
wáang̱aneens aa nx̱ahúnch.
sometimes I do sell some.
Mhm.
Áwéi
That
wWéit gather
there gather
Teslin áyá, yá August de, no. July yú áwé du áwé yaawaxeex.
in Teslin it was in August, no. In July was when it happened.
Hú ax̱ eenx̱ sitee.
She (Ida) was with me.
Ax̱ nadáagu,
My table,
{déix̱ a} déix̱ aa mtuwahoon yá téel.
{two} we sold two of them, these moccasins. [two pairs of them]
Aaa.
Yes.
Áwé a tóodei daax̱ané, áwé, Mhm,
I put it away,
woosh kaadé.
[all] together.
Áwé,
That there,
ḵa yisikóo aadéi tée (té) yéi daaduneiyí, ḵa yú néix̱'.
and you know how they do (work on) stones and that marble.
Néix̱ʼ? Hm.
Marble?
Headstone. Oh.
Yisikóo gé?
Do you kow it?
Uhuh.
Yes.
Aaa.
Yes.
Ayáx̱ áwé.
That is right.
Ax̱ kéek' tsú, yei x̱át daayaḵá,
My younger sister too, tells me,
«Ch'as á kaadéi a káa yán tutánni, Mhm,
"Just stay focused on that now, [When you are having faith, trusting, in it,]
i tóo yéi inatí,
just remember that,
áwé, k'idéin du kináak aadé tusaneiyí.» Mhm.
we will do the headstone very nice." [«du kináak» means literally "his/her above"]
Ax̱ éek'
My brother
chʼa yú du g̱aa taa tle ??? haa léelk'w
just over there for him then ??? our grandparent,
áwé, Jack Morris.
that is Jack Morris. [He was also called Jake Morris.]
Hintux̱xát yóo dusáagun.
his name was Hintux̱xát. [Yanyeidí Clan, spelled as Hintux̱xát in Jeff Leerʼs Ingterior Names document when working with speakers.]
Hintuxwát.
Hintuxwát.
Aáa. Hm.
Yes.
Ḵa Go̱ox̱k'u Sáani yóo tsú dusáagun.
And they also used to call him Go̱ox̱k'u Sáani.
Aaa.
Yes
Hú áwé ax̱ léelk'w.
He was my grandfather.
Dax̱'eikax̱du.oo du x̱áni yéi téeyin.
His wife was Dax̱'eikax̱du.oo. [Ishkeetaan Clan]
Ahah.
Yes.
Nas'gadooshúnáx̱ áwé has wootee.
There were eight of them (children).
Daax'oonináx̱ sháa,
Four girls, (women)
Ahah.
ḵa daax'oonináx̱ ḵáax'w.
and four boys. (men)
Ooh.
Ahah.
Hás áwé.
That is them.
Ax̱ éesh áwé shóogunáx̱ ḵuwdzitee.
My father was the first born.
Aadáx̱ áwé du niyaadéi aa áwé, ax̱ aat, Aantsíx̱t.
After him is my aunt, Aantsíx̱t. [Maggie, Marthaʼs aunt on her fatherʼs side.]
Mhm.
Aadáx̱ áwé,
After that,
Deiyík Tláa.
['Deiyík Tláa', ' the Tlingit name of Rosie Morris Johnston', ' who married David Johnston.']
Uhuh.
Rosie.
['Rosie Johnston.']
Mhm.
Maggie du kéek'.
Maggie's younger sister.
Aadáx̱ áwé, yáadáx̱ áwé, ax̱ sáni, {George} George Morris.
After that, from here my paternal uncle, George Morris. [Georgeʼs Tlingit name was Shaanḵuyís.]
Ḵa Charlie.
And Charlie. [Charlieʼs Tligit name was Ḵaajeewaa.]
Mhm.
Áwé yáadu ax̱ aat,
And here is my paternal aunt,
Mary.
Mary.
Á áwé
That
Mary Schoppert.
['Mary Morris Schoppert']
Uhuh.
Yakdus.aan Tláa.
['Maryʼs Tlingit name']
Yakdus.aan Tláa.
['name']
Mary Schoppert.
Mhm.
Yáadu hú Lily.
Here is Lily.
Lily
Fox.
Eedé á, {m} máa sá yóo dusáagun?
To you, what was her name?
Ltléix'.
[Lily's name].
Ltléix'. Ltléix'.
[Lily's name].
Yáadu áyú {a} aach,
Here is him, who [pointing to fingers]
kík' aa, ax̱ éesh du kéek',
the younger one, my father's younger brother,
Ḵaatooné.
Ḵaatooné.
Aadáx̱, dleit ḵáanáx̱ ḵwa áwé, Dick.
And then his English name is Dick.
Yáa, wé Juneaux' yéi has téeyin. Mhm.
Here, they lived in Juneau.
X'oon táakw sáwé áa yéi has wootee?
How many years did they live there?
Á áwé du yéetk' áwé, ax̱ sáni,
And his son, my paternal uncle,
Charlie.
Charlie. [Dick's older brother's name.]
Has yisikóo shákdé?
Maybe you know them?
Has x̱wasakóowun, aaá.
Yes, I knew them.
Has du een áwé kei x̱at uwawát.
I grew up with them.
Aaá. Aaá.
Yes. Yes.
John, John Morris?
Ah, tléik', tléikʼ.
Oh, no, no.
Tléik', Lingítnáx̱ hú áwés, hmmm.
No, his Tlingit name was, hmmm.
Dei a kát x̱at seiwax'áḵw, Jimmy.
Now, I forgot it, Jimmy.
Uhuh.
Ḵa Jack, Jackie.
And Jack, Jackie.
Jake. Yeah.
Jake, yáat'aa áwé,
Jake, and this one,
wéi has du dlaak',
their sister,
Charlotte. Charlotte.
Yeah.
Du Lingít sáayi gé yisikóo?
Do you know her Tlingit name?
Aáa.
Yes.
Daax̱láa.
Daax̱láa. [Yanyeidí Clan]
Daax̱láa.
['name']
Charlotte du saayí.
Charlotte's name.
Aaá. Áaa.
Yes. Yes.
Yisikóo gí daat kaax̱ sáwé duwasáakw?
Do you know where that name comes from?
Tléik'.
No.
Máa sá duwasáakw that whale?
What do they call that whale?
Yáay?
Whale?
Á a kaax̱ áwé.
That's where it comes from.
Hah!
Áwé,
That there,
Daax̱l-
{du} Sometime áwé wé x̱áat x̱á yán,
Sometimes the fish get close to the shore,
Mhm.
they come up on bays where the fish are.
Áwé héen wát,
the mouth of the river,
á áwé wáang̱aneens, wé léin du daax̱ yei léich,
sometimes when the tide goes out from under it,
áwé,
that there,
á áwéi yéi duwasáakw «daax̱ woolaa.»
That is what they call "the tide went out."
Ooh.
Áwé, you say it quick though, «Daax̱láa».
Áwé, you say it quick though, "Daax̱láa". [Charlotte's name].
Uhuh.
Daax̱láa, Mhm. aaa.
Daax̱láa, Mhm. yes.
Yak'éi, gunalchéesh.
Good, thank you.
Kéet gíwé?
Is it Killerwhale?
Aáa, Kéet.
Yes, Killerwhale.
Yáay, daaḵw.aa sáwé, tlél...
Which whale is that, not... [She does not remember.]
Kéet áwé wé Daḵl'aweidí yáx̱ yatee. Áwé,
The Killerwhale is like the Daḵl'aweidí.
Yeah.
{ha a} Ha yéi át áwé yéi hás yatee yú,
Well, that is what they are, over there,
yóo Atlin-dáx̱. Mhm.
from Atlin.
Has du léelk'w
Their grandparent
á áwé X̱'agóok' yóo dusáagun. Mhm.
they used to call him X̱'agóok. [An Ishkeetaan clan name. Perhaps referring to Dr. Jackson.]
Ax̱ léelk'w.
My grandparent.
Áwé ách ???
And so ???
She call him uncle.
Mhm.
Gushé, máanáx̱ ḵwa s áwé tlél,
I don't know why they didn't,
tlél tlax̱
not very
k'idéin ax̱ een has akawuneek. Mm.
well, tell me about it.
Á hú áwé, haa een naa yádi áwé, X̱'agóok' du séek' áwé. Mhm. Á áwé,
It is her that is with us as same clan, that is X̱'agóok's daughter. That is,
du dachx̱ánk' áwé.
his grandchild that is.
I donʼt know if you used to know Florence, Auntie Florence?
Am, yéi x̱at oosgeink'í, ah,
Um, when I was small, uh, [ḴHS would say: «shaatk'átsk'ux̱ x̱at satéeyin», "when I was a little girl".]
ch'a yéi googéink' áa yéi yatee ax̱ shantóox'. [ḴHS would say: tlél tlax̱ k'idéin x̱wasakú.]
I can remember a little bit.
Mmm.
Ax̱ sánich woosháayin.
My uncle (Charlie) married her.
Aadáx̱,
After that,
yóot du dachx̱ánk' áwé,
that his/her grandchild that is,
wéit'aa,
that one
Ḵaashamdahaa.
his name was Ḵaashamdahaa. [Yanyeidí Clan]
Du éesh áwé,
Her father that is,
X̱'agóok', íx̱t'i tleinx̱ satéeyin, yú.á.
X̱'agóokʼ, he was a big shaman, they say. [Ishkeetaan Clan]
Áwé, dleit ḵáanáx̱, Doctor Jackson yóo dusáagun. Oh. X̱'agóok'.
In English X̱'agóok' was called Doctor Jackson. Oh. X̱'agóok'.
Mhm. {ax̱} Ax̱ tláach has amsikóo, ax̱ éesh. Áwé,
My mother and father knew him. So
du x̱'akáax',
according to him/her,
ḵoon a sh kalneek neech áwé du waḵshiyee,
when he tells the story with people, that before his eyes,
áwé
that
aadóo waḵshiyeexʼ káax' áwé yéi jidunei, ḵa wéi
before everyoneʼs eyes, it is worked on (demonstrated), and the
yá néegu ḵáa tsú asnéx̱tin.
people who are sick, he also healed them.
Hm. Íx̱t' áwé yéi téeyin. Hm.
That's the way a shaman was.
Á hú áwé du dachx̱ánk' áwé,
He's the one, his grandchild,
{Aa tíl ???}
Auntie Florence.
Lingítnáx̱, mm,
In Tlingit,
S'iyeeltín yóo dusáagun.
S'eeyiltín was her name. [Daklʼaweidí Clan, Killerwhale house.]
Haaw.
Oh.
Sʼiyeeltín.
Sʼiyeeltín.
Auntie Florence, Uncle Charlieʼs wife. Mhm.
['Florence married Charlie Morris', ' whose name was Ḵaajeewaa', ' Ishkeetaan Clan.']
Wéi John, am, Choog̱éik' yóo duwasáakw. Mhm.
That John, um, Choog̱éik' was his name. [John was one of the sons of Florence and Charlie Morris. He was Daḵlʼaweidí, Killerwhale Clan.]
Wé déix̱ aa ḵwa tlél kát has x̱at seiwax'áḵw.
As for the two men (siblings) I just forgot their names.
Jimmy ḵa Jake. Mhm.
Jimmy and Jake.
I know their name, but I just, can't place it.
['Jakeʼs name was Shaatóokʼ', ' and Jimmyʼs was Ḵaatgweix̱', ' both Daḵlʼaweidí', ' Killerwhale Clan. Information on these names is from Jeff Leerʼs Inland Tlingit Names Document.']
Mmm. Itʼs OK.
Ch'a aadé.
Thatʼs all right.
Áwés k'é ch'á tlákw i x̱áni, i een.
It's always good to be with you.
I een sh kanḵalneek. Yeah. Aaa. Sh kalneek yáx̱ a yéi yatee áwé.
Let me tell you a story. Yeah. Yes. [Martha chuckles.] It's just like a story.
Máa sá haa kaawahaayi i een déi kax̱waneegí.
I'm telling you about how we're now related. [About how it happened.]
Mhm.
Gwál wéi, ah,
Maybe that, uh,
isikóo gé wé Ishká Hít ch'u át la.áa?
did you know that Ishká Hít is still standing?
Aaa.
Yes.
Yáax' yei yatee.
It is here.
Áwéi,
That is,
ah, Ishkeetaan, ax̱ éesh hás áwé. Ahah.
uh, the Ishkeetaan are my father's people.
Á áwé hás áwé has ayahéin Ishká Hít. Mhm.
It is them, they are the ones that claim (own) Ishká Hít.
Salmon Hole House, Yeah? dleit ḵáa x̱ʼéináx̱ yéi duwasáakw tsú.
In English it is called Salmon Hole house too.
Salmon Hole House.
Á áwé, x̱áat has uwahéin. Mhm.
They claim the salmon. [They are claiming the salmon.]
Ḵa wé xíxch', ḵa tl'úk'x̱.
And the frog, and worm. [woodworm]
Mhm. Ax̱ éesh hás at.óowu áwé, Ishkitaan.
That is my father's people's possessions, the Ishkeetaan. [At.óow are sacred clan-owned possessions. as per X̱ʼunéi Lance Twitchellʼs Tlingit Dictionary.]
Mhm.
Yáax' áwé, ah
It is here uh,
G̱aanax̱teidí,
the G̱aanax̱teidí,
tóonáx̱ áwé Ishkeetaan.
through them came the Ishkeetaan.
Yáa, Oh. yáaxʼ yéi yatee.
Here, Oh. itʼs here.
{haa} Has du léelkʼu hás áwé?
That is their grandparents?
Unhuh.
Yes.
Tlél, tlei,
Not even,
áwéi...
that is...
Máa sáyá?
How is this?
Tlél yan káx' áwé tle,
It's not just any old thing,
ch'a has du éesh hás áwé, ha x̱át x̱á,
it is their father's people, as for me, you see,
ax̱ éesh hás áwé,
they are my father's people,
Ishkeetaan.
The Ishkitaan.
Mhm.
[At shooḵ] Daa sáwé?
What is going on?
Uh, wéi,
Uh, that,
tickets ahóon,
she (Ida) is selling tickets
i kaaní. [At shooḵ]
your sister-in-law. [Laughter]
Awéi,
That there,
Du jeedáx̱ tsú {a aa} ax̱ tuwáa sigóo.
I want some from her too.
X̱át tsú, aax̱ aa kḵwa.óo.
Me too, I will buy some of them.
Aaá.
Yes.
Ch'u ch'aakw, Mhm.
Long time ago, Mhm.
Dei chʼas
Now just [from a long time ago]
ax̱ toowú shayadihéin máa sá haa kaawahaa.
I know there are a lot of ways we are related.
Uhuh.
Wéi,
The,
Deisheetaan.
Deisheetaan.
Keijínináx̱ áwé, áa yateeyi naa, Teslin.
There are five clans in Teslin.
Yáat'aa Ishkeetaan.
This one is Ishkeetaan. [Counting on her fingers.]
Tle ldakát wé daax'oonináx̱ aa, naa,
Now all the other four clans,
haa léelk'u hás áwé.
they are our grandparents.
Haa léelk'u hás áwé
They are our grandparents, the
Deisheetaan.
Deisheetaan.
Ax̱ tláa,
My mother,
du,
her,
du tláa éesh hás áwé,
her mother's father's people,
Deisheetaan.
were Deisheetaan.
Mhm.
Ḵa wé Teslin ḵwa yá nás'gi aa,
And as for the third one in Teslin,
has du éesh hásx̱ dax̱ sitee.
they are her father's people.
Áyá daax'oonináx̱ aa naa,
As for the fourth clan,
ldakát
all of them
haa léelk'w áwé yéi yatee.
are our grandparents.
Ldakát
All of them
haa léelk'w áwé {hásh} has,
our grandparents
has du tóodáx̱ áyá haa shakamdinook.
it is through them that we stemmed from.
Haa léelk'ux̱ si(tee).
He/she is our grandparent.
Ḵunáaw, wa.é tsú i léelk'ux̱ sitee.
Ḵunáaw is your grandparent too.
Mm. Áwé
That
ax̱ aatch,
my paternal aunt,
Aantséx̱t,
Aantséx̱t,
Mhm.
shóogu du x̱áni yéi téeyi aa
the same person that used to be with her
du, du éesh,
her, her father,
du kéek' áwé, du x̱áni yéi téeyin.
his younger brother lived with him.
{wé ax̱ aa} Wé du tláa, [pointing to Ida?]
Her mother,
á áwé,
that,
máa sáyá... has du
what is it... [holds her head as if she is trying to remember] their
has du yádi áwé, ax̱ x̱áni yéi téeyin.
their child used to live with me.
Ko̱oḵhittaan. Hm.
Ko̱oḵhittaan.
Áwé, hú, wé ax̱ x̱áni yéi téeyi aa, am,
The one who used to live with me, um,
Ḵaateenas.aax̱ hú dusáagun.
Ḵaateenas.aax̱ he was called. [His English name was Billy Fox, Ko̱oḵhittaan clan.]
Áwé, {du du} that's her cousin áwé yéi téeyin.
That, that's her cousin, he was.
Anax̱ áwé {that ???}
With that
gwál iya.áx̱,
maybe you heard it,
«Ax̱ káani,» yóo x̱at yasáakw. Mhm. Mhm.
she calls me "My sister-in-law".
That cause I was married to her cousin.
Mhm.
Ch'u yáa {de}, ch'u yáa, {ka}
Which was, which was,
máa sá haa kawuháayin a yáx̱ áwé,
how we were related, that's right,
tóo yaa ???, yóo x̱at yéi áwé.
itʼs inside me. ???
Mhm.
Shayadihéin aadé x̱wasikóowu yé
There are many, the ways I know it,
át.
(many) things.
Á wéit ch'a aan too kei x̱at uwawát.
I grew up with it.
Aáa.
Yes.
Áwé {áx̱} ax̱ tláa du éek' áwé
My mother's brother
George {yóo d}
há ax̱ tláa du éek', daax'oonináx̱ has yatee.
My mother's brothers, there were four of them.
Nas'gináx̱ sháa.
Three girls.
Á áwé {wé tú} x̱á, wé school,
That is, you see, the school,
á áwé ax̱ éesh, aadáx̱ x̱at has,
it is my father, from [after] me,
aadóo sé (sá)
whoever
«Ch'a wa.é i jeeyís áyá, g̱isakóo,»
"This is for you, so you will know,"
yóo x̱at daayaḵa, «Ḵu.a aan
he tells me, "Perhaps with it
kei kg̱wak'éi áyá.
it will be good.
{i} i aayí ḵustí tsú, {i}
It's your, your culture too,
a kígi yaa nay.át.
itʼs half you are going along.
Áwé dleit ḵáa aayí.
That is the white man's way.
Shayagux̱daháa dleit ḵáa yáat yei gax̱yisatéen.» Mmm.
There's going to be a lot of white people here (that) you'll see."
«A tsú,
"That too,
a yís áwé sgóoni yaa iyagútk.
that's why you go to school.
Tlél áyá x̱át ax̱ jeeyís áwé. [At shooḵ]
This isn't for me. [Chuckles]
Ch'a wa.é »
Just you."
Mhm. Áwé yeedát {i} yi een kax̱waanéek áwé,
Now I told you that,
Gamint yís fifty years yéi x̱wsinei. Mhm.
I worked for the government for fifty years.
Áwé
That is
wáang̱aneens áwé
sometimes
káxʼ.
there.
Ḵa ch'u yéi áyá x̱at daayaḵáayin, Uncle George. [At shooḵ] Hmh.
And this is what he used to tell me, Uncle George. [Laughter.] Hmh. [Georgeʼs Tlingit name was Shaanḵuyís, Ishkeetaan clan.]
Áyá haa aayí ḵustí tsú tlél ḵut x̱wag̱éex',
I did not lose our way of life, our history,
{áwe}áyá dleit ḵáa {x̱at} x̱o̱ox̱ x̱at kaawaháa.
when I'm among the white people.
Wé shóogu aayí áwé du
The first one, her,
her cousin Ḵaateenas.aax̱.
her cousin, Ḵaateenas.aax̱. [Ḵaateenas.aax̱ was Billy Foxʼs name. He was Ko̱okhittaan clan.]
Wáachwaan áwé yéi téeyin, Mhm.
He used to be a policeman,
Lingít.
Tlingit.
Ohh.
Constable Bill yóo duwasáakw.
Constable Bill he was called.
Ooh.
He was swearing in from Dawson City.
Hmh.
Anáx̱ áyá
From there on
tsu wé dleit ḵáa aayí
the white man's
áyá dleit ḵáa aayí law.
the white manʼs law.
Haa aayí, Lingít aayí law,
Ours, the Tlingit law,
dleit ḵáa aayí yáanáx̱ litseen.
is stronger than white manʼs.
Mhm.
Máa sá has yaawaḵaa, tlél tsu a kaax̱ yéi uwanee.
Whatever they said (in Tlingit law) was never called off. [never repealed]
Wé dleit ḵáa aayí ḵu.á,
The white manʼs though,
sometime, like when they
áwé, documents x̱á,
the documents, you see,
every seven years áwé.
['They would change every seven years.']
You burned them.
Yéi haa aayí ḵu.a, tléil tsu a kaax̱ yéi ooheik.
As for ours, it does not change or go away.
Tle ch'a tléix̱.
Itʼs set for good.
Máa sá haa,
How our,
haa jee yéi yatee {haa} haa aayí law. Haa aayí.
that's how it is for us, our law. Our own.
Tle yáx̱
Then itʼs like
áwé aadéi i een yoo x̱'awli.átgi yé. Mhm.
the way theyʼre talking with you.
{chʼa yei, tle}
Tlél x̱wasakú,
I donʼt know,
yoo wulxáji áyá. [At shooḵ]
it hasnʼt been given up on. [Laughter]
Áwé sh ḵoon sh kadulneegí,
When people are telling stories [to someone],
yéi áwé, áx̱ yéi áwé x̱at daayaḵáayin,
that is, that is what he used to say to me there,
ax̱ léelk'u.
my grandparent.
Wé,
Then,
ax̱ éesh,
my dad,
du éesh,
his dad,
Jack Morris, Mhm. du kéek' áwé,
Jack Morris, his younger brother,
Frank yóo dusáagun,
Frank, he was called,
Mhm.
dleit ḵáanáx̱.
in English.
Lingítnáx̱ ḵú.á áwéis Daawux'aak.
In Tlingit however, it was Daawux'aak.
Á hú áyá
It is him
du x̱'éidáx̱ has du een, has,
his words, with them, them,
aan kei x̱at uwawát.
I grew up with.
Ḵa ax̱ tláa du shátx̱,
And my motherʼs oldest sister,
ḵa du x̱án.aa. Ax̱ léelk'w
and her husband. My grandmother
du tláa
her mother
Ḵaajees.aak.
Ḵaajees.aak. [Ishkeetaan clan name]
Du éek' áwé
Her brother [Ishkeetaan]
Yeilg̱éi kwá yóo dusáagun.
Yéilg̱éi however was his name.
Dleit ḵáanáx̱ hú áwé,
In white however, him,
John, John Jackson. Ahah.
Uhuh.
Á áwé
That is
áyá aan x̱át,
this is with me
ch'a ldakát {tl} tlágu ḵáawu,
all of the old timers,
haaw á, chʼa aadóo sá, «G̱anú!»
well, whoever, "Sit down!"
«Át sa.áx̱!»
"Listen to it!"
I have to listen!
Mhm.
Gwátgeen sáwé haa,
When [in the future]
yéi jikḵwanéi?
am I going to do?
Gaawt á yeedát.
This time now,
áwé tleinli
it is almost
ax̱ katáagu aadéi koogéiyi.
how many years old I am. [My years are getting towards a large amount.]
Aag̱áa tsá tsu i een kax̱wlineek.
I am now finally telling you.
Hhm.
Áyú aan áwé kei x̱at uwawát. Mhm.
I grew up with it.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Áaa.
Yes.
Ch'a ldakát tlágoo ḵáawu áyá,
All the old timers,
has du x̱o̱odáx̱ x̱a kei x̱at uwawát.
I grew up among them, you see.
Mhm.
Yáax' áwé
Here
wé ax̱ x̱án.aa
my husband
á áwé {di} wáachyaanx̱ satéeyee yoo daayaḵá.
was a policeman he said.
Mhm.
Billy.
Mhm.
Á hú,
Him,
du éesh,
his father,
Ḵaasx'áan yóo dusáagun.
Ḵaasx'áan was his name. [Daḵlʼaweidí Clan.]
Dleit ḵáanáx̱ ḵu.a áwéis,
In English however,
Jim Fox.
Jim Fox.
Á hú tsú,
Him too,
hú tsú,
him too,
ḵa du shát.
and his wife.
Áwé, tléil tsú x̱wasakú.
I also donʼt know.
{they} They watch me.
Mhm.
Áwé,
So,
tléil ch'a koogéiyi daa sá yéi daaxw̱ané.
I donʼt do anything just any old way.
I got to finish it good.
Áwé,
So,
tsu daa sá,
still whatever it was,
g̱án. ???
watch. ???
Áwé ax̱ x̱án.aa {yéi}
My husband
yéi jinéiyin wáachwaan x̱o̱ode.
he used to work among the policemen.
Dleit ḵáax̱. Mhm.
White men.
Aag̱áa áwé,
That is when,
ch'a tléináx̱ g̱atooḵéech áwé
when we are sitting alone
shóogu aayí ax̱ yéetk'i een tlákw,
with my first born son, always
áx̱ áwé yéi jix̱anéiyin daa sá.
I used to work on whatever there.
Tlél tsú daa sá eetéenáx̱ x̱oo een,
We didnʼt lack for anything,
yáat'át.
(because of) this thing [moccasin-making].
Tléil k'idéin dulgeys'ín ch'a aan áwé,
They didn't pay much for it, however,
á yéi dútlʼ ???, ax̱ jee yá, wé áx̱
itʼs rolled up there ???, I have it there
woosh kaadé yá, yaa nax̱sanéin.
I am gathering them all together.
Tlél {k}
Not,
tlél x̱at koowál'x̱. [At shooḵ]
I was never broke. [Laughs]
Áaa.
Yes.
Ch'a tlákw hú áwé {jee} ax̱ dakéis'i yéide ax̱ jee yéi anateech. Mhm.
All the time I make money from my sewing.
Á áwé,
That is,
ax̱,
my,
ax̱ x̱o̱x̱ cháan ḵa ax̱ wóo,
my mother-in-law and my father-in-law,
á áwé has du yáa wuliḵ'éi.
they admired it.
«Tléil x̱aawé tsú,
"Thereʼs no way,
tléil x̱aawé,
there is no way, [you see],
ḵ'anashgidéix̱ gux̱satée haa yéetk'.»
that our dear son will ever be poor (broke)."
«Wé du x̱án.aa aadéi du {di}
"His wife, the way she,
ch'a g̱unáa du náḵ ooyéx̱i áwé
whenever he's away from her,
ch'a tlákw aadé né niyaa ??? yaa anasnéen áwé.»
always in the area upriver ???, sheʼs always doing it."
Wé ax̱ daḵéis',
My sewing,
wé hoon daakhídi,
that store
first boat kei wooḵo̱ox̱u áwé
when the first boat came up,
wéi
the
store keeper,
T&D,
T&D [Taylor and Druryʼs store. There was a chain of Taylor and Drury Stores in the Yukon after the gold rush.]
wéi
the
daḵéis'
sewn stuff
ana.eich.
he would buy it [every time].
Áwé
That is
wé a yeidí
the price [amount]
{tlél}
tlél daa sá eetéenáx̱ haa utí neech.
we were never lacking for anything.
A yéi aadé ch'u yeedát yéi daax̱anéi Mhm. wé daḵéis'i. Hmh..
I am still sewing even now. [I am still now working on sewing.]
Yak'éi.
Good.
Wudu.óowut,
When they buy it,
g̱altú dáanayix̱ sitee.
it is my pocket money.
Mhm. Mhm. Mhm.
Yéi áwé, ah, ax̱ tláa ḵa ax̱ léelk'w,
That is the way, uh, my mother and grandmother,
haa léelk'w, hás tsú ch'a tlákw
our grandmother, they too always
has adaḵéis' noojín.
they always used to sew.
Mmm.
Haa atx̱aayí haa táakw gwál, wéi, ah,
Our food our winter maybe, that, uh,
haa coffee yís ḵa, sMm. ah,
for coffee and uh,
ch'a daa sá eetéenáx̱ haa yateeyi.
whatever we needed.
Mhm.
Ch'a tláḵw ax̱ tláa,
My mother always,
a yís, ah, wé at xáshdi téel.
for it, uh, the slippers.
Mmm.
Aadéi
The way
dei áwé, yéi áwé {has}
that's the way them,
has shukx̱ajeis áx̱ Mhm. ax̱ {t}
I teach them there, my
ḵunáa, ch'a ḵunáa aadóo sá, kʼéi á kunaaliyé aadé,
No matter, no matter who it is, [no matter how far ???]
haat x̱waagút aag̱áa tsá aadé daatoonéiyi i.een.
I came here and then we work on it with you.
Mhm. Shkalnéek, Mhm.
Story telling,
a tóodáx̱ áwéi,
through it [from it]
yéi at gadushgóokch áwé
so they learn
sh kadulneegí. Mhm.
when stories are told.
Áwés ḵóo at dultóowu yáx̱ áyá yéi yatee sh kalneek. Mhm.
Stories are like teaching. [Stories are like teachers.]
Áwé x'úx' x̱á, áwé,
Books, you see, [are]
true story.
Mhm.
Magazines.
[At shooḵ] Áwé,
[Chuckles] That is
áwé adétx'i ch'a daaḵw.aa sá hés (hás),
the children, whichever one they,
«Máa sáyá yáat?»
"What is this here?"
Wé adétx'i,
The children,
adétx'i aayí x'úx'
the childrenʼs books
á tsú has du een x̱atóow neejin, adétx'i.
that too, I always used to read to the children.
Áwé yeedát ḵu.a ax̱ ḵutéeni áyá,
Now though, my eyesight,
ḵa yáa ax̱ ḵu.áx̱ji,
and my hearing,
Mhm.
yeedát kʼidéin yaaxʼ
now here I'm beginning to
kei ḵunx̱a.áx̱ch.
hear better.
Á áwé
That
áwé káa yeedáx̱ áwé
from inside the car
you know the noise?
Uhuh.
Káa áwé,
Car,
itʼs drafty.
{it was} Oh my, I can see better today.
Yeedát,
Now,
wind got into my, under my glasses.
Mhm. Á áwéi, yeedát yá,
And this, now,
itʼs getting better; I can see a little better.
I yat'aayi héen.
Your coffee.
Hmm?
I yat'aayi héen. Mhm.
Your coffee.
Kát x̱at seiwax'áḵw áwé tlax̱. Áaa.
I forgot. Yes.
Ch'a sh kax̱alnéek.
I was just talking.
Ax̱ léek'w áwé yéi haa daayaḵáayin,
My grandmother used to say to us,
«Sh kadulneegít yéi áwé ḵuyadujee áwé.» Áyá.
"When people tell stories, it's like they're lecturing them." It is so.
Uhuh.
Ḵu ya {du du du} du jee. Mmm. You made it.
['Marsha is sounding out the word just used by Martha; ʼḵuyadujeeʼ.']
Ch'a adátx'i, áyáx̱?
Just the kids, right?
Ch'a daa sáwé
Whatever
yisikóo. [At shooḵ]
you know. [Laughter]
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Wa.é ḵu.a. Á áwé. Oh! Ax̱ toowú yak'éi aadé yeeḵoox̱ú, x̱á.
You. Yes. Oh! I'm happy you went there, you see.
He said 6 am.
X̱á. That word ishikaa gé? Is that what she said?
Ishikaa gé?
I canʼt remember now.
Itʼs a word you, sheʼs not sure of it or something.
Ishikoo gé, I think she said?
Anyway heʼs going to ask us.
Almost sounds like the word she just used.
Thatʼs what it sounds like "gí áwéʼ.
That one was for teaching.
Yeah.
Sheʼs teaching.
Yakʼéi á.
Thatʼs good.
Gunalchéesh.
Thank you.
Mmm.
Aatlein gunalchéesh.
A big thank you.
Aáa.
Yes.
Ch'a uwayáa
Itʼs just like
x̱'alitseeni át áwé ax̱ jeet
a very valuable thing
iyatee yá xáanaa.
you gave me this evening.
Mmm.
Yéi áwé ax̱
That's how
ax̱ tundatáani yéi yatee, ách áwé aatlein gunalchéesh.
I feel, so thank you very much.
Mmm.
Big. Ha yéi áyá x̱at wudujéeyin, x̱á.
Big. This is the way they used to teach me, you see. [This is the way they used to give me advice, you see.]
Á áwé,
That is,
tlél ch'a koogéiyi
not carelessly
yoo x̱'eidutánk
people donʼt speak
Hmhmh.
tle dei yan uwajág̱u aa, aa yéi á.
of [their] accomplishments.
Áwé ax̱ léelk'w hás du x̱'éidáx̱ áyá,
It was from my grandparentsʼ words,
s x̱ʼax̱waa.áx̱.
I understood them.
Aadé x̱at yamduwajeeyi yé, ch'u yeedát ax̱ tóowu.
The way I was taught, I still have it in me.
Mhm.
Áwé ax̱ léelk'w yéi x̱at daayaḵá, «Át sa.áx̱.
My grandmother used to say to me, "Listen to it.
I tóo yéi inatí.»
Put it inside you."
Gwátgeen sá aadóo een sá kakḵwanéek?
When will I tell somebody this?
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Haa á,
Well
áyá xáanaa kát
itʼs evening
áwé wa.és, yaax̱. Mhm.
that is, you, here.
Mmm.
Á áwé tsú áa áx' i.een sh kax̱alneek.
That too, Iʼm telling that there with you.
['At shooḵ']
['Laughter']
Aáa.
Yes.
I tuwáa sigóo isateení gé? [ḴHS would say: yisateení.]
Do you want to see them?
Du tuwáa sigóo i,
He wants your,
i átx'i awsiteení. [ḴHS would say: awusteení.]
to see your things. [Marthaʼs sewing.]
Oh.
Át eelg̱ín, áa shayadihéin.
Look at them, there are lots there.