Bill Seward: Bill’s Name C’uqw’nustun

Bill’s Name | skwish ts’uqw’nustun

tus kwu ni’ skwish kwun’eteen’.
This is going to be about the name that I carry.

tul’li’ ’u kw’unu si’leelh, mens kw’unu men.
It is from my grandfather, my father’s father.

kwunus ’uw’ hwun’a’ ’ul’ kwan ’i’ wulh ’amusthelum ’u kw’unu men
When I was first born, I was given that name by my father,

’u tey’ skwish, ts’uqw’nustun.
the name Ts’uqw’nustun.

(’i’ nilh) ’i tsun wulh thi musteyuhw ’i’ ni’ nuw’ushelum ’u thu lelum’
And when I was a grown person, they brought me into the longhouse

’amusthelum ’u tey’ skwish, ts’uqw’nustun.
and they gave me that name, Ts’uqw’nustun.

hwyuthust tthu mustimuhw kwunus [ni’] hwu skwikwush.
They told the people that I would be wearing that name.

tus kwu ni’ skwish kwun’eteen’.
This is going to be about the name that I carry.

tul’li’ ’u kw’unu si’leelh, mens kw’unu men.
It is from my grandfather, my father’s father.

kwunus ’uw’ hwun’a’ ’ul’ kwan ’i’ wulh ’amusthelum ’u kw’unu men
When I was first born, I was given that name by my father,

’u tey’ skwish, ts’uqw’nustun.
the name Ts’uqw’nustun.

(’i’ nilh) ’i tsun wulh thi musteyuhw ’i’ ni’ nuw’ushelum ’u thu lelum’
And when I was a grown person, they brought me into the longhouse

’amusthelum ’u tey’ skwish, ts’uqw’nustun.
and they gave me that name, Ts’uqw’nustun.

hwyuthust tthu mustimuhw kwunus [ni’] hwu skwikwush.
They told the people that I would be wearing that name.

 

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A story in Hul’q’umi’num’ by Bill Seward, Snuneymuxw First Nations, Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Recorded by Chris Bouris.
Transcribed by Ruby Peter, typed by Sarah Kell, and edited and translated by Donna Gerdts.
Thanks to Chris Bouris, Sean Milliken, and Zoey Peterson for video and post-production.