Arnold Sylvester: Keeping Up Our Traditions, Part 3

(1) hwi’ nilh tse’ kwu’elh ni’ulh nu suluthut kw’un’us ’ilh ’uw’ hwun’ stl’i’tl’qulh; nilh tse’ nu shhwun’em.
I will now talk about how I grew up as a child.

(2) nanulh ’uw’ hwun’ ’uhwin – wuw’a’ ’apun ’i’ kw’ nuts’a’ sil’anum ’i’ ni’ulh tsun ni’ ’utl’ ley’qsun kwunus mukw’ stem ni’ nu sul’u’thut ts’uhwle’ ’i’ stth’oom.
When I was very young, maybe eleven years old, I resided at Ley’qsun, and I did everything—sometimes picking berries.

(3) ni’ shtse’theelt lhu nu si’lu ’uw’ nem’ ’un’ ’a’luxut.
My grandmother told me when to go picking, harvesting.

(4) ’i kw’uw’ quxulh tthey’ stth’oom.
There were plenty at that time.

    (5) ts’uhwle’ ’i’ sxwe’sum ’aluxuteen’.
    Sometimes it was soapberries.

      (6) mukw’ stem ni’ yu hakwushut
      We harvested everything.

      (7) ’i’ ni’ tst ’uw’ yu ’a’luxut tthu lhuq’us tl’e’ulh ’uw’ ’uy’ te’lutst kw’utst ’a’luxut tthu lhuq’us.
      We gathered seaweeds and sold them—it paid a lot.

        (8) ne’mulh hunum’ ’utl’ sqwxwa’mush.
        We travelled to Squamish.

          (9) ’i’yusulh kwus ni’ qux thu nu lhuq’us.
          I enjoyed harvesting the seaweed.

            (10) ’uw’ huyulh nush sti’tum kw’unus ya’yus kw’utst yu ’a’luxut tthey’ lhuq’us.
            So, I worked very hard; that was the only one I really worked hard on.

              (11) qwulqwul tsun tse’ kwu’elh kwthu nuts’ehw sle’theelt ni’ ’utl’ qullha’numutsun.
              I will now tell a story that happened to me: what Killer Whale had done to me.

                (12) hwi’ nilh tse’ kwu’elh kwthu ni’ulh nu sul’u’thut kwunus ’i’ yu tsi’tsusum nu sqwulqwal, kwthu hay ’ul’ nu shsi’si’ ’u kwthu nuts’a’ skweyul.
                Now, I’ll talk about something that happened to me when I was growing up, about how I was so frightened one day at Leyqsun.

                  (13) kw’ukw’uyukw’tst.
                  We were fishing.

                    (14) ’amusthelum ’u tthu nu si’lu ’e’uhwin suninhwulh.
                    My grandfather gave me a very small boat.

                      (15) nem’ tsun kwu’elh kw’uyukw’ ’u tthu nuts’a’ skweyul.
                      So, I went fishing this one day.

                        (16) hwun’ yu ’ishul ’i’ wulh lhel tthuw’ mukw’ lhwet.
                        As I paddled, I saw everyone heading for shore.

                          (17) tl’lim’ ’uw’ yu stitiy yaxw kws nem’s lhel.
                          They were paddling very fast to get to shore.

                            (18) ’i’ ’uwe’ulh kwunus shnu’ewun ’i’ tsun ’uw’ yu ’ishul ’ul’.
                            I never paid any attention, but just paddled on.

                              (19) tuteem’uthe’lum’ ’u kwu nu si’lu ’uw’ nem’ ’un’ lhel ’i’ ’uwu kwunus shnu’ewun ni’ stl’i’ kwun’s nu ’uw’ tsshuntsa’ ’i’ yelh nus nem’ lhel.
                              My grandfather was yelling at me to go ashore, but I did not listen because I wanted to catch a fish first before I went ashore.

                                (20) tsun ’uw’ hwun’ yu xut’e’ ’u tthey’ ’i’ wulh m’i p’ukw’ qullha’numutsun.
                                While I paddled on, suddenly some orcas emerged.

                                  (21) tl’lim’ ’uw’ stutes ni’ hwu shxwe’yusste’lum.
                                  [They were] very close to me.

                                    (22) lemut tsun ’i’ tahw ’uw’ xu’a’thun.
                                    There were four of them.

                                      (23) yuse’lu tu’i ’u tu’i ’i’ yuse’lu tu’inulh.
                                      [There were] two on one side and two on my other side.

                                        (24) p’ukw’ ni’ tl’pil.
                                        They would surface and go down again.

                                          (25) tssuthe’lum’ ’uw’ lheelun’, tulu’teem’ tthuw’ mukw’ lhwet.
                                          Everyone was yelling at me to go ashore.

                                            (26) tu ni’ ’u tthu shlhq’ath ley’qsun. tsusuthe’lum’ ’uw’ nem’ ’un’ lheel.
                                            People from across Ley’qsun [were] calling me to come ashore.

                                              (27) ’i’ kw’ ni’ tsun ’uw’ si’si’.
                                              I froze, I was so frightened.

                                                (28) ni’ tsun ’uw’ t-hw kwun nesul ’u tthu nu snuhwulh.
                                                All I could do was hang onto the canoe.

                                                  (29) p’ukw’ thuw’ nilh qullha’numutsun ’i’ ’uw’ ni’ul tl’lim’ ’uw’ yu stutesste’lum’.
                                                  When they surfaced, they were very close.

                                                    (30) si’si’ kwunus lemut.
                                                    I could not look at them because I was so frightened.

                                                      (31) ni’ wulh qtl’um tthu nu sq’umul’.
                                                      My paddle fell in the water.

                                                        (32) t-hw nits’a’ tthu nu sq’umul’ ’i’ si’si’ tsun kwunus kwunut ’uw’ ni’us lhuyxtum tthu nu tselush.
                                                        I had another paddle, but I was too scared to grab it in case an orca might bite my hands off.

                                                          (33) wul’u nush si’si’.
                                                          I was afraid.

                                                            (34) ni’us kwu’nelh kwus xut’e’ ’u tthey’ tthuw’ne’ulh. susuw’ tl’pil ’i’ wuw’a’ ni’ xuthunelh

                                                              They did this many times—I think four times.

                                                              (35) ’i’ ni’ tl’pil ni’ hith – ni’ wulh ts’i’mul ’utl’ pun’e’luxutth’ ’i’ yelh sus tl’e’ p’ukw’.
                                                              They went down—they were close to Kuper Island before they surfaced.

                                                                (36) yelh sus m’i ti’yaxw tthu nu siiye’yu m’i tl’umasthe’lum.
                                                                Then, my relatives came to my rescue.

                                                                  (37) ni’ kwthu nem’ suwq’t kwthu nu sq’umul’
                                                                  They went to look for my paddle.

                                                                    (38) ’i’ xut’u kwu’elh lhu nu sts’a’muqwulh ’uw’ ’un’ ts’uwtun tse’ tthey’.
                                                                    My great-grandmother told me that experience will be my power.

                                                                      (39) ’i’ ni’ tsun ’uw’ q’e’q’ul ’u kwthey’.
                                                                      I believe her about that.

                                                                        (40) st’e’ ’uw’ nilhus hwu nu ts’uwtun thu qullha’numutsun.
                                                                        The orca has been my power.

                                                                          (41) ni’ tsun kwu’elh tus ’u tthu milhu ’i’ nilh ni’ ’uw’ lumnuhween’, kwunus ni’ wulh milhu ’i’ ha’ tsun ni’ yu ’um’mush ’u kwunus ni’ ’a’luxut tthuw’ stem ’i’ ni’ tsun hul’iqnuhw.
                                                                          At the winter dances, I see it all over again when I dance, and when I go hunting or harvesting anything, it all comes very easy.

                                                                            (42) nilh tthey’ ni’ ts’e’ts’uw’uthamsh.
                                                                            I do believe my strength comes from my experience.

                                                                              (43) huythusta’lum p’e’, huy ’ul’ stsuw’et ’a’luxut-s tthuw’ mukw’ stem.
                                                                              Our ancestors told us that the orca harvested many things.

                                                                                (44) ni’ ts’u nem’ lhel ’i’ ni’ hwmustimuhw ’u kwus nem’ ’a’luxutus tthu ni’ stl’i’s.
                                                                                He can transform to human form to go and harvest whatever he desires.

                                                                                  (45) nem’ tl’uw’ qwsu’thut ’ul’ ’i’ ni’ hwi’ hwu qullha’numutsun.
                                                                                  Later, he returns and becomes an orca again.

                                                                                    (46) nilh yath ’uw’ sshuythustal’t they’.
                                                                                    That is what they told us.

                                                                                      (47) nilh wa’lu kwu’elh nush ni’ulh hul’iqnuhw kwunus yu ’um’mush tsun ’i’ ’uwu kwunus nem’ ’uw’ hun’umut ’i’ ’uwu te’ nu shun’tsu.
                                                                                      I guess that is why I found it very easy whenever I go hunting—I never go home without bringing or catching something.

                                                                                        (48) ma-a-akw nus nem’ ’i’mush ’i’ ’uw’ tsshun’tsu tsun.
                                                                                        Every time I go hunting, I always catch something.

                                                                                          (49) nilh nu sqwa’qwulmut kwthu nu me’mun’u.
                                                                                          This is what I tell my children.

                                                                                            (50) shhwiwtsusthamshs kw’u nu sil’eelh.
                                                                                            [This is] how my grandfather taught me.

                                                                                              (51) halh nu stl’i’ kw’ nuts’a’ smuyuth, ’i’ nuts’usal thun’ shet s’amusthamut.  
                                                                                              If I went hunting, he gave me only one shell.

                                                                                                (52) ni’ ch kwu’elh nem’ ’i’ tl’lim’ ’uw’ saay’ ’i’ yelh ’uns kwullusht, nus ni’ ’uw’ kwunnuhw ’i’ ha’ yuse’lu kwun’s ni’… ’i’ yusa’lus thu nu shet ta’lut.
                                                                                                He’d say, “Be very sure before you shoot,” and I would get something—if I wanted two, he gave me two shells.

                                                                                                  (53) nilh kwu’elh xut’ustuhwun kwu nu me’mun’u.
                                                                                                  This is what I tell my children.

                                                                                                    (54) hay tthu lhwulup nuts’uqun xthum tthu ni’ hay ye’st-hwulup ’i’ ’uwu te’ m’i hunumutnuhwuhw.
                                                                                                    “You all take a whole box, but you come home with nothing.

                                                                                                      (55) ni’ tsun ’uw’ ’ulmutsun ’ul’ ’i’ ’uwu te’ nu skwookw.
                                                                                                      Here I am, waiting, and then there’s nothing to cook.”

                                                                                                        (56) xut’ustuhw tsun ’eelhtun – kw’uw’ hwi’yaqupum tsun ’ul’.
                                                                                                        Of course, I’m just teasing them.

                                                                                                          (57) nii tse’ kwu’elh tus ’u thuy’ hwi’ nilh thu stth’oom ni’ ’a’luxut.
                                                                                                          Then, we would harvest berries.

                                                                                                            (58) kwuw’ quxulh they’ ni’ ’utl’… shhwunnumtst kws ’a’luxut thu stth’oom.
                                                                                                            There were a lot of berries where we went picking.

                                                                                                              (59) mukw’ stem ’uw’ luts’utut.
                                                                                                              We filled all our containers.

                                                                                                                (60) kws wulh stiti’yaxw lhu nu si’lu qw’uqw’ul’utu thu ni’ t’ut’uqwum.
                                                                                                                My grandmother was very busy at this time; she made jam, and some were canned.

                                                                                                                  (61) ni’ tl’uw’ qux thu sts’iyu kwus mum’un’us ni’ tl’uw’ ’a’luxutut, tultuluw’ sts’iyu.
                                                                                                                  There were plenty of little strawberries to pick, wild strawberries.

                                                                                                                    (62) mukw’ ’ul’ stem stth’oom, ’apul, pes, mukw’ stem ni’ ’uw’ ’a’luxtut.
                                                                                                                    Everything—berries, apples, pears—we picked them all.

                                                                                                                      (63) ni’ tse’ ha’kwushut ’uw’ ni’us tum’xuy’tl’.
                                                                                                                      This was our food for the winter.

                                                                                                                        (64) nii sulits’ tthey’ shnis tthu nu sul’si’lu.
                                                                                                                        My grandmother stocked up.

                                                                                                                          (65) ’i’ wulh nats’thut tthu skweyul s’nem’tst ’uw’ t’akw’ nem’ ’utl’ xulelt-hw.
                                                                                                                          When the weather changed, we went home to Westholme.

                                                                                                                            (66) hwi’ ’alheletsum nii tuyqt tthuw’ mukw’ stem nem’ ’utl’ xulelt-hw.
                                                                                                                            Next, we moved everything to Westholme.

                                                                                                                              (67) ni’ tst kwu’elh hunumut ’i’ xwi’ ’eyalhtst.
                                                                                                                              We prepared for the winter weather.

                                                                                                                                (68) syalhtst tse’ ’uw’ ni’us tum’xuy’tl’.
                                                                                                                                We cut firewood.

                                                                                                                                  (69) nilh xut’ustuhween’ ’uw’eylhte’ machine tst ’uw’ hayulh kwsuw’ lhilhuts’nutsuls ’u tthu syalh.
                                                                                                                                  Of course, we had no power saw, so we cut the wood by hand.

                                                                                                                                    (70) ’alhstuhw ’u thu wilpe’lu nem’ tsumstuhw.
                                                                                                                                    We would load it on wheelbarrows to bring it up from the beach.

                                                                                                                                      (71) kw’in skweyul kwutst yuse’lu suxulhnet ’i’ wuw’a’ ts’uhwle’ ’i’ lhihw suxulhnet kws ’a’luxuttst tthu syalh.
                                                                                                                                      We did this for two or three weeks.

                                                                                                                                        (72) ni’ sht’e’wun kwus tl’am.
                                                                                                                                        [We collected] until we thought we had enough.

                                                                                                                                          (73) ni’ tse’ tum’xuy’tl’ ni’ tst ’uw’ hul’iqnuhw ’ul’ tthu syalh.
                                                                                                                                          When winter came, the wood was there.

                                                                                                                                            (74) ni’ tst ’uw’ t-hw kwunut ’ul’.
                                                                                                                                            We would just get stuff.

                                                                                                                                              (75) nilh shte’sulh thu s’ul’eluhw, ’a’luxutus tthuw’ mukw’ stem.
                                                                                                                                              That was how our Elders did it—they harvested everything.

                                                                                                                                                (76) nii kwu’elh wulh saay’ ’i’ m’i tum’xuy’tl’.
                                                                                                                                                So, when winter came, we were ready.

                                                                                                                                                  (77) wulh sul’e’ tthu sq’i’lus.
                                                                                                                                                  Dried salmon was stored away.

                                                                                                                                                    (78) tus ’u thu hwkwa’luhwum ’i’ ni’ wulh ’a’luxutum thu kwa’luhw, the’wun, mukw’ stem ni’ ’uw’ thuytus ’eelhtun.
                                                                                                                                                    When the dog salmon arrived, we fished for them and coho—they made all kinds of things.

                                                                                                                                                      (79) wulh saay’ thu sxwe’sum.
                                                                                                                                                      One was Indian ice cream.

                                                                                                                                                        (80) ni’ hwu hun’um thu sxwe’sum, ’i’ tl’uw’ shhwiyusulh tthu sul’si’lutst kwus wulh hwu ne’unt.
                                                                                                                                                        Our grandparents really liked to have Indian ice cream in the evening.

                                                                                                                                                          (81) ’i’ xt’e’um’ ’u thu sxwe’sum. mukw’ lhwet ni’ ’uw’ t’enhw thu sxwe’sum.
                                                                                                                                                          They would make Indian ice cream, and everyone had some.

                                                                                                                                                            (82) ts’uhwle’ ’i’ nilh thu tshem m’i ’utl’qtum.
                                                                                                                                                            Sometimes, they would bring out the jam.

                                                                                                                                                              (83) kwus hwu ne’unt ’i’ ni’ ’uw’ sq’uq’ipul tthu siiye’yutst ni’ ’uw’ shhwissul.
                                                                                                                                                              In the evening, our relatives would get together and have fun.

                                                                                                                                                                (84) kwuw’ ’uweelh te’ TV ’u kwun’a wulh hith.
                                                                                                                                                                Of course, there was no TV long ago.

                                                                                                                                                                  (85) ni’ tst ’uw’ hun’a’num ’ul’ hwi’yaqupum.
                                                                                                                                                                  We just enjoyed each other’s company.

                                                                                                                                                                    (86) ’uy’ huy ’ul’ sul’ul’u’thut-s tthu nu sul’sil’eelh.
                                                                                                                                                                    That’s how our grandparents were.

                                                                                                                                                                      (87) ’i’ tun’a kweyul ’i’ ni’ wulh mukw’ stem ni’ hwu siiw’a’lums tthu stl’ul’iqulh.
                                                                                                                                                                      Today, children have all sorts of games.

                                                                                                                                                                        (88) ’uwu kwunus ni’ tulnuhw thu lhthul’uq ni’ siiw’a’lums.
                                                                                                                                                                        I do not understand most of the games they have.

                                                                                                                                                                          (89) ’i’ we’ lhu nu ’e’uhwin nu ’imuth ni’ wulh hwiwtsusthamsh ’u thu ni’ siiw’a’lums.
                                                                                                                                                                          Even my youngest granddaughter was showing me how to play games.

                                                                                                                                                                            (90) ’i’ hay tu nu qul s’e’luhw ’uwu kwunus ta’ulthun.
                                                                                                                                                                            I’m just a poor Elder and can’t understand.

                                                                                                                                                                              (91) nilh wa’lu ni’ n’an ’uw’ wulh hwu shnets’s tthu stl’ul’iqulh.
                                                                                                                                                                              I think this is how the children have changed.

                                                                                                                                                                                (92) ni’ ’uwu kwus tl’e’ st’e ’u kw’ ta’ult tus tthu ni’ shsay’tst.
                                                                                                                                                                                They do not want to learn how we did it before.

                                                                                                                                                                                  (93) n’an ni’ ’uw’ hwu hul’iqnuhwus tthuw’ mukw’ stem.
                                                                                                                                                                                  Everything is so easy to get.

                                                                                                                                                                                    (94) ni’ t’iim ’u thu te’lu ’i’ ni’ ch wulh ’a’must.
                                                                                                                                                                                    When they ask for money, you give it to them.

                                                                                                                                                                                      (95) tun’a lhnimulh kwutst lhnimulh yu ts’its’usum ’uw’ huy ’u kw’utst yays ’i’ yelh sutst kwunnuhw thu telu.
                                                                                                                                                                                      When we were growing up, we had to work to get money.

                                                                                                                                                                                        (96) ’uwu kws ’ahwustalt ’u kw stem.
                                                                                                                                                                                        They did not give us anything.

                                                                                                                                                                                          (97) mukw’ stem ni’ yu kw’anuhween’ ’i’ ni’ tsun ’uw’ ’i’ ’a’luw’u’thut ’i’ yelh nus ni’ kwunnuhw.
                                                                                                                                                                                          Everything that I own, I went and worked to get it.

                                                                                                                                                                                            (98) nilh kwu’elh ni’ shnets’s ’u tun’a kweyul thu stl’ul’iqulh.
                                                                                                                                                                                            That is how it’s different for children today.

                                                                                                                                                                                              (99) n’an ni’ ’uw’… ni’ xut’usste’lum n’an ch ni’ ’uw’ yu qel’qulelt thu nu ’imuth.
                                                                                                                                                                                              They say that I am spoiling my grandchildren.

                                                                                                                                                                                                (100) mukw’ stem ’uw’ st’iims ’i’ ’uw’ ’a’must ch.
                                                                                                                                                                                                Whenever they ask for something, I give it to them.

                                                                                                                                                                                                  (101) ni’ p’e’ nu stl’i’ thu nu ’imuth nush ni’ st’e’ ’u tthey’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  I love my grandchildren; that is why I am doing that.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    (102) tus kwthu na’nuts’a’ nu ’um’i’muth ’u kwus tus. hwu na’ul st’eems ’i’ wulh telu, telu.
                                                                                                                                                                                                    One grandchild arrives, and the first thing he does is ask for money.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      (103) tl’e’ wulh shutqt tsun thu nu shluqwu’elu.
                                                                                                                                                                                                      I dig into my pocket right away.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        (104) ’utl’qt thu nu telu ’a’must tthu nu ’um’i’muth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                        I take some money out and give it to him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          (105) yuhwya’numus tse’ kwu’elh kwus ’e’utl’qul.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          He’s smiling when he goes back out.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            (106) ’i’ ni’ p’e’ ni’ wa’lu nu squlqe’lumus.
                                                                                                                                                                                                            That is where I am wrong.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              (107) mukw’s nem’s tus ’i’ hwu na’ul st’ilums ’i’ wulh telu, telu!
                                                                                                                                                                                                              Every time he comes it is always money, money!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                (108) nu ’um’i’muth ni’ ’utl’ sanutsh, ni’ ’utl’ quwutsun.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                My grandchildren are from Saanich, Cowichan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (109) mukw’ ’untsu ni’ shnis tthu nu ’um’i’muth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  My grandchildren are everywhere.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (110) ni’ wulh sq’utsselu tthu nu sts’alumuqw, tskw’ush ’i’ kw’ xu’athun tthu nu ’um’i’muth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I have five great-grandchildren and twenty-four grandchildren.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (111) ’upeenu ’i’ kw’ toohw tthu nu me’mun’u. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      I have nineteen children.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (112) ni’ kwu’elh qxe’luts thu nu ts’muneem—nu sp’eluq’um.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        So, I have a lot of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—my flowers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (113) nilh kwu’elh xut’usstuhwus tthu sul’e’luhw si’em’ ch tse’ ’u tthu stl’ul’iqulh.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Elders said, “You will be rich because of your children.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (114) huy tsu kwu’elh ni’ tuw’ himtth’ent kwthey’!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I do not believe this!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (115) huy ni’ nu sht-sas tthu stl’ul’iqulh ’u kws ’uw’ mukw’s ’uw’ t’iim ’u thu nu telu.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I feel that they keep me poor, especially when they all ask for money.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (116) ’uwu te’ kwu’elh n’an tl’e’ tshwateen’ ’uw’ hay they’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I cannot add any more to this.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (117) ni’ulh suluthut-s thu s’ul’eluhw kwus ’a’luxu’tus tthuw’ mukw’ stem.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  That is what our Elders did, how they harvested everything.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (118) se’wuns tse’ ’uw’ m’i’us tum’xuy’tl’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    That was their food for the winter.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (119) tl’e’ulh ’uw’ st’e kwus hunum’ ’utl’ pestun.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Same thing when they went to the States.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (120) kwus hwu hunum’ ’utl’ pestun. nii ’a’luxutus thu s’axwa’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        When they used to go to the States, they’d harvest butter clams.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (121) ’uyulh telus ’u kws tus ’u tthu yekwumuw’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          That was good money down at Yakima, Washington.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (122) ’a’yuqtul ’u thu luxwtun, lushan, s’uy’uqtuls ’u thu s’axwa’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            We’d trade blankets and shawls in exchange for the clams.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (123) nanulh ’uw’ stl’i’s thu lhu’qu’te’ thu s’axwa’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The clams were very valuable to the Lhu’qu’te’ Nation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (124) ni’ kwshe’tum thu ni’ shhwulqelhs thu nuts’a’ lushan, kwshe’tum thu shluq’elhs thu nuts’a’ luxwtun.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                They counted the clams and divided [them] amongst each family and exchanged for blankets or shawls.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (125) nilh ni’ ’uw’ sht’es.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  That is how it was.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (126) ’uwe’ulh kws ’ukw’isum ’u thu ni’ ’a’luxutus, ni’ ’uw’ ’iy’aqtul ’ul’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    They never used money, only exchanged gifts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (127) nilh kwu’elh sh n’an tst ’uw’ qux kws ’a’luxut they’ s’axwa’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      That is the reason we’d harvest a lot of butter clams.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (128) ni’ kw’ukw’inuqun xuxithum kwutst wulh huye’ nem’ tst tl’ yekwumuw’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        We’d have so many boxes of them when we’d go over to Yakima.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (129) siil’ukw kwu nu si’lu.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          My grandfather would be very excited.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (130) ’aa, tl’im tse’ qux huytst ’u tun’a sil’anum.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            He’d say, “We will make a lot this year.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (131) ’i’ ’uw’ thu’it, m’i qux t’ukw’stuhwut tthey’ lushan.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              It was true that we came home with a lot of shawls.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (132) ni’ tl’uw’ ’uy’stuhwus tun’a hwul’muhw ’i’ ni’ ’uw’ hwun’ st’e’ ’u tun’a kweyul.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Those Natives like those, and it’s still the same today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (133) ’uw’ lushan, luxwtun ni’ ’uw’ hwun’ ’a’luxutum.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The shawls and blankets are still gathered up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (134) huy tthey’ ’uwu kwlh ni’ ’uy’eq wa’lu mukw’ lhwet ni’ ’uw’ yu ’a’luxut thu luxwtun.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nobody has changed; everyone still gathers up blankets.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (135) ni’ ’uw’ yu ’a’luxut thu luxwtun ’u kwus ha’kwushut ’u thu stl’eshun’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Everyone still gathers blankets to use for potlatches.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (136) ’i’ hay thu sweens hay tl’e’ ’uwu ni’ lumnuhween’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Throwing down the blankets, I don’t see that anymore.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (137) ni’ulh st’e’ ’u tthey’ skweyul ’i’ wiil thu sweens ts’its’ulhsulh.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          They did this during the day, throwing them down from above.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (138) nem’ sts’ushin tthu s’uleluhw ’ikw’utum tthu sweens.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Elders would be up on a platform and toss down the giveaway.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (139) ’uw’ huyulh thu swuwqw’a’lh ha’kwushum.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              They used goat’s wool blankets.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (140) tl’im ’uw’ swuwqw’a’lh thu nem’ ’ikw’u’tum.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Real goat’s wool blankets were thrown down.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (141) ’i’ ha’ ni’ xetl’tul thu s’ul’eluhw ’i’ wulh saay’ tthu shuptun wulh lhits’utum.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  If more than one person caught one, then they had a knife ready to cut it up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (142) nilh p’e’ ni’ nu swe’ tu’inulh suw’ lhits’utum, hwtqw’utstum thu swuwqw’a’lh.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Yes, they cut them, when they scrambled for those blankets.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (143) ’i’ ’uw’ shhwi’yus ’ul’, ’u kws hwi’ yun’ye’num’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      They enjoyed that, and they would be laughing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (144) hwu st’ul’ut’iqw thu swuwqw’a’lh nilh thuw’ yentus ’eelhtun.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        They would scramble for the blankets, laughing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (145) nilh xut’ustuhween’ nanulh ’uw’ ’iyus thu s’ul’eluhw ’u kw st’es ’u tthey’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As I was saying, the Elders really enjoyed this.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (146) yath ’uw’ tuw’ hiw’a’lumtul’ ’u kws tus ’u they’ ’uw’ thi stl’eshun’ ’i’ nilh ni’ ’uw’ sht’es tthu shqwaluwuns ’uw’ ’iyus ’ul’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            This was like a game at these big potlatches—this is how happy the feelings they had were.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (147) ’i’ ha’ qi’lus thu shnem’s ’i’ tl’uw’ yu ste’tul tthu shqwaluwuns.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              If it was a sad occasion, then they would also be sad.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (148) tun’a kweyul ni’ ch hun’nuw’ ’u thu thi lelum’ ni’ tst hwi’ yu q’upumul, ’uwu te’ul ni’ shni’stuhw tthu qiq’ul’us shqwaluwun.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Now, today, if the family is doing pictures, which is a sad occasion, there is no sympathy for the family.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (149) ni’ shhwnem’tst.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  People have changed in this respect.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (150) nilh xut’ustuhween’ ni’ qux ni’ hwu shhwiqtst ’u tun’a kweyul.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This is why I say that things have gone wrong today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (151) wa’lu kwu’elh ni’ ’un’ tse’ tl’am. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Maybe this will be enough for you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (152) ni’ kwu’elh hay.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        That is all.