Story of John Slocum’s Second Death

Samuel Tom (suchilum)

This was recorded at Malahat in 1962 when Samuel Tom was 102 years old.
Transcribed and translated by Arnold Guerin and Donna Gerdts 
(latest edit May 20, 2025.)

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1. hey’ kwu’elh hwi’ nilh kwu’elh kwthu ni’ sht’es kwus wulh hay.
   1. Now, then, it will now be the way it was when he finished (died).
2. ni’ wulh hwu qux tthu syaaysth ’u tthu sts’unum tthu John Slocum.
   1. There were now many, the works he did for the Shakers, that John Slocum.
3. hwi’ nilh kwu’elh kwthu sht’es kwus tl’uw’ wulh qul’et q’ay.
   1. He will change, then, to the way it was when he died again.
4. yelh kwu’elh nus ’uw’ qwul’qwul’ ’u kwthu shtuhim’s kwsus wulh q’ay,
   1. This time, then, I will really tell the way things were when he died,
5. hay ’i’mush ’i ’u tun’a tumuhw.
   1. never again to walk on this earth.
6. huy’thutstus kwthu sht’es kwthu qe’is hwu ts’e’num’.
   1. He was speaking to all the new ones that became Shakers.
7. ’uwu ch xuxunuq’tuhw.
   1. Don’t you open your eyes.
8. kw’un’s stl’i’ kwus tul’nuhw kwthu sht’es kwthu  ts’ewuthamut ’utl’ xe’xe’ tsitsulh si’em’.
   1. When you want to find out, how it is, help for you by the Sacred God.
9. kwey’xum’ ch ’us ’uw’ kwey’xum’ tthun’ sxun’u.
   1. You will be shaking, and it will be shaking your feet.
10. ’us ’uw’ tituqw’uthut.
    1. And you will be jumping up and down.
11. ’i’ nilh tse’ ’us niw’ ’amusthamut.
    1. And you will be given.
12. st’e ch ’uw’ ni’yuhw ’imush ’us ni’ tituqw’thut.
    1. It is as though you began to walk, and you will be dancing up and down.
13. ’u kw’us ni’ wulh yaays.
    1. You will have begun to work.
14. ’us ’uw’ qwaqwul’ ’utl’ tsitsulh si’em’, qwaqwul’ ’utl’ shoushoukli.
    1. And you will be speaking to God, talking to Jesus.
15. nilh tthu shoushoukli nilh st’e ’uw’ m’iis hwu’i, st’e ’u kwthu sht’esulh tthu Jesus kws ’uw’ wulh m’is hw’i ’u tun’a tumuhw.
    1. It is Jesus that seems to have come here, like the way it was, that Jesus, when he came and got to this earth.
16. ’i’ nilh kwu’elh ni’ tl’uw’ swi’wul’ st’e ’u kwu’ sqwul’qwul’ ’utl’ John Slocum, kwthu shtuhim’ulh tu Jesus kws ’uw’ wulh m’is hwu’i ’u tun’a tumuhw.
    1. And it is then also revealed, like the words of John Slocum, the way it was to Jesus when he came, got here to this earth.
17. ’i’ nilh kwu’elh ni’ tl’uw’ swi’wul’ st’e ’u kw’uw’ sqwul’qwul’ ’utl’ John Slocum,
    1. Then, that was also revealed to be similar to the talk by John Slocum,
18. kwthu shtuhim’sulh tu Jesus kws m’is ’ewu ’u tun’a tumuhw, kws ts’ewut-s kw’u t-sas mustimuhw.
    1. the way it was with Jesus when he came to this earth, that he helps the poor people.
19. nilh kwu’elh ’ush ’is ni’ kwthu …’uy’ kwthu shqwaluwuns ’u tthu t’iw’i’ulh.
    1. That is why they are there, those with good intentions toward the religion.
20. ’i’ nilh suw’ st’es ’uw’ kwoonsus hwunem’ ’utl’ Jesus.
    1. And it is that way, if they take hold toward Jesus.
21. ’amustum ’u kw’ shhw’uy’s.
    1. They will be given what’s good for them.
22. nilh kwu’elh sqwaqwul’ ’utl’ Slocum, ’uw’ ’uy’us kws st’es tthu hwulmuhw ’u kwthey’.
    1. That is the reason, then, for the talk by John Slocum, that it would be well for the First Nations people to be that way, like that.
23. tthu st’iw’i’ulh ’i’ ’uwu t-hw tuwetus shhw’uy’.
    1. This religion is for nobody else’s good.
24. ’uw’ ’un’ swe’ ’un’ shhw’uy’ ’uw’ ’aanlhuhw kw’un’s tsusutha’mut ’uw’ ’imushuhw ’u kwthu sht’es kwthu John Slocumulh.
    1. It is for your own good, if you go along with it when you are told to travel, like the ways of that John Slocum, that used to be.
25. q’awuthut ch kw’us ’i’mush ’i ’u tun’a tumuhw.
    1. You will pay for it (AG: in difficulties and pain) when you are travelling along this land.
26. skw’ukw’ish kwthun’ sil’anum kw’us ’i’mush ’i ’u tun’a sulew’e tumuhw.
    1. It is counted, your years, to be walking on this pitiful earth.
27. ni’ kwthu ’uwu niis hwu tsakw kwthu sil’anums, ’i’ ni’ wulh hay.
    1. There are some that don’t get very far with their years, and they are finished.
28. nilh kwthuw’ swe’s ’ul’ ’iqeens st’e ’u kw’u niw’ luq’alhthut.
    1. It is their own mistakes that seem to have got in their way.
29. nilh kwu’elh ’ush xut’us tthu John Slocum, kw’am’kw’um’s tseep tthun’ shqwaluwun[ulup] kw’us yaay’us ’u tthu st’iw’i’ulh.
    1. That is what was being said by John Slocum, “Keep your minds strong when you are working for the religion.”
30. ’uwu kwu’elh ’iis hith kwus ’i’mush tthu John Slocum ’u tun’a tumuhw ’i’ ni’ hay.
    1. It was not long, then, that John Slocum was walking this earth, and he was finished.
31. ’i’ yelhs ’uwu m’is tl’e’ hwu’alum’.
    1. And this time, he didn’t come back again. 
32. ni’ nem’ tsmekw’e’ tthuw’nilh John Slocum, skwthe’ tthu shhwunum’ustuhw tthu q’ay mustimuhw.
    1. John Slocum went to a funeral on an island where he brought a dead person.
33. ni’ kwu’elh ’uw’ ’e’muqtus ’ul’, ’i’ m’i hwu’alum’, ’i’ wulh nilh suw’ yu kwun’et-s q’aq’i’s. 
    1. He, then, only brought it there and came back, and right away he had that illness of his.
34. ’i’ nilh sis ’uw’ wulh hwu q’aq’i’ ’i’ wulh nilh sis ’uw’ hay.
    1. And right then he got ill, that was the end.
35. ni’ ’uw’kw’ tthu slhekw’ums.
    1. He breathed his last breath.
36. ’i’ ni’ wulh qux tthu ni’ shnem’s tthey’ sis ’uw’ wulh ’ewu ’u tu’i James Town tthu sht’es tthu ni’ wulh kwey’xum’.
    1. And it was now from many places that it went right away, and they now came to James Town, as many as now were shaking.
37. nilh kwu’elh ’ush ’is ’uw’ qux tthu ’i shni’s kws ’is kwey’xum tthu mustimuhw, ’i’ ni’ q’ay kwthu John Slocum kws ’uwus m’is hwu’alum’.
    1. That, then, is why there are many Shakers at that place, when he died, that John Slocum, to never come back.
38. tl’lim’ niw’ hay.
    1. He really finished.
39. ’i’ ’e’ut kwu’elh ’uw’ sthuthi’ kwis wulh ’imush tthu Alec Tiyu, Johnny Johnson ’i’ Joe Little.
    1. But here, then, all is well, now that they travelled, Alec Tiyo, Johnny Johnson, and Joe Little.
40. ’i’ nilh ’i hwu ’i’mushstuhw tthu sqwal ’utl’ John Slocum, Johnny Johnson.
    1. It was them that spread the word of John Slocum, it was Johnny Johnson
41. suw’ ’ewu ’utl’ Jamestown suw’ nilh tthu Billy Hall ’i’mushstuhw tthu sqwal ’utl’ John Slocum.
    1. Billy Hall who came to Jamestown that spread the words of John Slocum.
42. Jacob Hall nilh ’i’mushstuhw tthu sqwal ’utl’ John Slocum.
    1. Jacob Hall, it was he who spread the word of John Slocum.
43. Sam Elmu nilh ’i’mushstuhw tthu sqwal ni’ ’u tthey’ muq’e’u.
    1. Sam Elmer, it was he that spread the word over there at Makah.
44. sis ’uw’ nem’ ’utl’ skwits sis ’uw’ nilh kwthey’ ….inaudible  kwunus  smel’q kwthu snes.
    1. And it went to Skwits , and it was him whose name I have forgotten.
45. ni’ ’utl’ skwits.
    1. It was at Skwits.
46. ni’ ’utl’ La Push.
    1. It was at La Push.
47. nilh ni’ shni’s kwis st’e ’u kw’uw’ hwu sthuthi’ tthu sts’unum.
    1. It is there that the Shakers seemed to get going properly.
48. qulyoot nilh ni’ shni’s kwis hwu ’uy’.
    1. Quileute, it is there that it got good.
49. ’e’ut kwu’elh tl’uw’ st’e ’i ’u tun’a skwthe’.
    1. Here then too it is also the same on this island.
50. ni’ ’utl’ kwaymalt ni’ sthuthi’.
    1. At Esquimalt, it is alright. 
51. ni’ ’utl’ shsenuts ni’ ’uy’.
    1. At Saanich, it is good.
52. ni’ ’utl’ Duncan nilh ni’ tl’lim’ ’uw’ st’e ’uw’ nilhus niw’ sxuy’us tun’a ts’e’num’ mustimuhw tthu ni’ ’utl’ Duncan.
    1. At Duncan, it is the one that seems to be the very head of the Shaker groups, those people at Duncan.
53. ’i’ hay kws ’uwus lhni’ shuqnehwus tthu t’iw’i’ulhew’t-hws.
    1. But they have not completed the work on their church.
54. ’uwu kws ’is hay tthu t’iw’i’ulhew’t-hws tthu Duncan.
    1. It has not been finished, the church belonging to Duncan.
55. Chemainus Bay nilh ni’ tl’lim’ ’uy’ ts’e’num’ mustimuhw.
    1. At Chemainus Bay, they are very good Shaker people.
56. Shell Beach ’uy’ ts’e’num’ mustimuhw.
    1. Shell Beach, good Shaker people.
57. ni’ ’uw’ kwu’elh hunum’ kw’unus ts’ets’uw’ut, tun’a ’unthu.
    1. I do go, then, to help them out, myself.
58. Sam Tom kw’unu sne tun’a ’unthu.
    1. Sam Tom is my name.
59. ni’ tsu[n] hunum’ kw’unus ts’ets’uw’ut tthuw’ mukw’ qe’is hwu ts’e’num’,
    1. I do keep going to be helping them, all those new ones that become Shakers, 
60. hiy’aat ’uw’ ’uy’us kws st’es ’u kw’uw’ kwun’utus tthu sqwals tthu tsitsulh si’em’.
    1. cautioning them that it’s right to kind of take the word of God.
61. ’i’ nilh tse’ ’uw’ shsi’em’s kws ’i’mushs ’u tun’a tumuhw, ’i’ ni’ tse’ ’uw’ shhw’uy’s.
    1. And He will be their boss as they travel over this land, and it will be good for them.
62. ’i’ ’uwu t-hw tuwet’us shhw’uy’, ’uw’ swe’s ’uw’ shhw’uy’s.
    1. And it is not for anyone else’s good; it is for your own good.
63. nilh tse’ ste’ ’uw’ ’aamustewut ’u kwthu s’ulhtuns, tthu s’itth’ums.
    1. It will be kind of the one that will be giving them their food, their clothing.
64. ’uw’ n’an ’uw’ quxmat tthun’ stl’i’, tun’ni’ ’u tthun’ sxun’u.
    1. There are so many things that are your needs, from your feet.
65. ’un’ stekun, ’un’ qwlhuyshun, ’un’ suqiws, ’un’ kupou, ’un’ swetu.
    1. Your stockings, your shoes, your pants, your coat, your sweater.
66. tl’e’ kwu’elh ’uw’ st’e ’ul’ tthu slheni’ mustimuhw.
    1. It is also the same with the lady people.
67. ha’ ’uwu t’iw’i’ulhus ’i’ ’uwu te’ ’u kwthey’, s’itth’ums.
    1. If they don’t pray, there will be none of that clothing.
68. ’uwu te’ stem hakwushus.
    1. They will have nothing to use.
69. tthu st’iw’i’ulh ’i nan ’uw’ ’uy’ ’u kw’uw’ mukw’ stem ’i ’u tun’a tumuhw.
    1. The religion is very good for everything on this earth.
70. tthey’ kwu’elh ’i’mush st’e ’u kw’uw’ q’ept tthu sqwal, ’i nan ’uw’ ’uy’.
    1. That person, then, that is traveling around and is gathering the word is very good.
71. kws st’es tse’ ’u kw’u niw’ sul’e’, ni’ ch le’sh kwthu sniw’s tthu sts’unum.
    1. It will be like it was put away for safekeeping; you put away the advice given by the Shakers.  [referring to Wayne Suttles recording him.]
72. nilh kwu’elh ’ush ’uy’s nu shqwaluwun kw’unus ’uwu niin kw’uy’ut kw’unus pte’muthus tthuw’nilh ’uw’ tsukwul’im’us kwthu sts’unum.
    1. It is, then, good in my mind that I’m not refusing to give it out when he asks me what’s it all about, the Shaker religion.
73. nus ’iw yu huy’thust.
    1. I am telling him about it.
74. ’i stl’i’s kwu’elh thuw’nilh kws ts’elhum’ut-s kw sht’es tthu st’ilums tthu sts’unum.
    1. He wants, then, to hear how it goes, the songs of the Shakers.
75. nus ’uw’ huy’thus.
    1. I am telling him.
76. ’uw’ nan ’uw’ qux tthu st’ilum.
    1. There are so many of these songs.
77. skw’ey kw’unus ….. kw’uw’ sht’es ’ul’ p’e’ kw’us ’amusthuhw.
    1. I can’t  …. it’s indeed what you give me.
78. wa’lu kwu’elh ’uw’ ’amusthun’ ’u kw’uw’ kw’in ’ul’.
    1. I guess then I’ll give you a few of them.
79. ’uw’ ’amust tsu[n]  kwu’elh ’u kw’uw’ kw’in ’ul’ st’ilum.
    1. I will give you, then, a few of these songs.
80. ’i’ wa’wu yuse’lu, ’i’ wa’wu lhihw.
    1. Maybe two, maybe three.
81. ’i’ tl’e’ tse’ qul’et, ’i’ qul’et tsu[n] tl’uw’ ’amust.
    1. And will again, and again, I will give you some.
82. ’uw’ n’an thulh ’uw’ qux tthu st’ilum.
    1. There are, though, too many of those songs.
83. xut’ustuhw tsu tthuw’nilh, “shthi’equn tsu[n] tse’ kw’unus t’ilum.
    1. I said to him, “I will have a big voice when I sing.”

Samuel Tom then records the song “ t’iw’i’ulh tsun tse’. ”