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Charlie: | "Nesaika nanitch klemachun Nesaika nanitch kwanis Nesaika klatawa stopilo Klaska klatawa stehwa |
"Us see killer whale Us see whale Us go north Them go south |
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"Kunsih klaska wake siah Kunsih klaska yukwa Kunsih klaska swim wake siah Nesaika halo kwass |
"When them near When them here When them swim near Us not afraid |
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John: | "Charlie, yaka kloshe chanti man!" | "Charlie, him good singer!" | |
Molly: | "Nawitka, John. Charlie kwanesum tikegh chanti. Kunsih yaka tenas man, yaka kwanesum chanti, kahkwa alta. Kunsih nesaika tillikum mamook hyas potlatch pe Klukawali pe Xun-xani'te tamahnous tans, Charlie, yaka elip kloshe chanti man. Yaka kumtux hiyu ole myeena. Charlie, yaka tikegh klatawa Boston tillikum chuch kopa Naxw-kyit konaway Sunday pe chanti chuch myeena. Konaway Boston tillikum yahwa delate tikegh. Charlie, yaka halo kumtux Jesus, keschi yaka tikegh chanti." | "Right, John. Charlie always like sing. When him boy, him always sing, like now. When us people make big potlatch and Klukawali and Xun-xani'te spirit dance, Charlie, him best singer. Him know many old song. Charlie, him like go America people church at Naxw-kyit every Sunday and sing church song. All America people there very like. Charlie, him not understand Jesus, but him like sing." | |
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John: | "Naika halo kumtux 'Naxw-kyit,' Molly. Ikta okoke?" | "Me not understand 'Naxw-kyit,' Molly. What that?" | |
Molly: | "S'Klallam tillikum wawa Port Gamble 'Naxw-kyit.' Ole nem, yaka." | "S'Klallam people talk Port Gamble 'Naxw-kyit.' Old name, him." | |
Jim: | "Yaka delate, John. Ahnkuttie, elip Boston tillikum chako, nesaika tillikum mitlite yahwa. Konaway yeah hiyu salmon klatawa saghalie tenas stalo yahwa. Nesaika tillikum iskum pish Yahwa. Kloshe illahee. Boston tillikum kwanesum tikegh potlatch chee nem kopa ole illahee." | "It right, John. Past, before America people come, us people live there. Every year many salmon go up creek there. Us people get fish there. Good place. America people always like give new name to old place." | |
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Jim: | "Klonas klaska kowkwutl wawa 'Naxw-kyit!'" | "Maybe them unable talk 'Naxw-kyit!'" | |
Molly: | "Klonas, keschi naika tum-tum John klonas wawa 'Naxw-kyit' kloshe!" | "Maybe, but me believe John maybe talk 'Naxw-kyit' good!" | |
John: | "Na . . . Naxw . . . Naxw-kyit!" | "Na . . . Naxw . . . Naxw-kyit!" | |
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Jim: | "Maika iskum kumtux hyak, John. Alta wawa 'ay-sk'watch'i!'" | "You learn fast, John. Now talk 'ay-sk'watch'i!'" | |
John: | "Ay . . . sk'wa . . . tch'i. Ay-sk'watch'i!" | "Ay . . . sk'wa . . . tch'i. Ay-sk'watch'i!" | |
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John: | "Ay-sk'watch'i, ikta okoke?" | "Ay-sk'watch'i, what that?" | |
Jim: | "Yaka kahkwa 'kloshe sun.' Hey tillikum, ikta maika tum-tum, John klonas chako kloshe S'Klallam man?" | "Him same 'good day.' Hey people, what you think, John maybe become good S'Klallam man?" | |
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Jim: | "Yukwa ka Chetzamoka pe hiyu huloima tyee mamook tzum klaska nem kopa Governor Stevens pepah." | "Here where Chetzamoka and many other chief write them name on Governor Stevens paper." | |
John: | "Maika yukwa kopa okoke sun?" | "You here on that day?" | |
Jim: | "Aha, keschi naika halo mamook tzum kopa pepah. Naika halo tyee. Chetzamoka chako kopa naika canim." | "Yes, but me not write on paper. Me not chief. Chetzamoka come in me canoe." | |
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Jim: | "Konaway tillikum solleks kimtah klaska mamook tzum klaska nem kopa pepah. Tyee, klaska halo kumtux hiyu iktas Stevens wawa, keschi spose klaska halo mamook tzum nem kopa pepah Governor Stevens soljah klonas chako pe mamook hyas pight. Klonas klaska pooh musket pe mamook piah kopa house. Klonas hiyu tillikum chako memaloose." | "All people angry after them write them name on paper. Chief, them not understand many thing Stevens talk, but if them not write name on paper Governor Stevens soldier maybe come and make war. Maybe them shoot musket and burn house. Maybe many people die." | |
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Jim: | "Okay, tillikum, kloshe spose nesaika mamook skookum isick alta. Nesaika tikegh ko yahwa elip salt chuck chako stehwa." | "Okay, people, good if us do strong paddle now. Us want arrive there before tide come south." |
After an hour of strong paddling, the canoe party rounded the bluff. They beached the canoe on a sandy bar, disembarked and pulled it up clear of the water.
Molly put together a quick lunch of smoked salmon and fry bread. They stretched out on the beach and chatted as they ate. Two does came out of the woods and sauntered a little nervously down the beach. Jim stood and motioned John to do likewise. Jim pointed to the south. |
Jim: | "Nanitch, John! Nanitch smoke yahwa! Okoke moola kopa Naxw-kyit. Nesaika ko yahwa kimtah klonas mokst tin-tin!" | "Look, John! Look smoke there! That mill at Naxw-kyit. Us arrive there after maybe two hour!" | |
John: | "Aha! Naika nanitch smoke, keschi naika halo kumtux. Spose moola sick yahwa, kahta smoke mitlite yahwa?" | "Yes! Me see smoke, but me not understand. If mill sick there, why smoke be there?" | |
Jim: | "Hmmm. Naika halo kumtux." | "Hmmm. Me not know." | |
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Charlie: | "Naxw-kyit, yaka halo siah Naxw-kyit, yaka yahwa Kimtah mokst tenas tin-tin Nesaika ko yahwa |
"Naxw-kyit, it not far Naxw-kyit, it be there After two little hour Us arrive there |
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To be continued...
DUANE PASCO
(Copyright © 1993 by Duane Pasco)