Bill Seward: Blackfish Warning

Kw’aan’t’ | Blackfish Warning

tthu kw’aan’t’
About the blackfish (dophin, porposie).

xut’ustam’shus’ulh kw’unu s’ul’eluhw,
I was told by the Elders,

’uwu ch tum’temuhw ’i’ he’kwul’usht tey’ kw’aan’t’.
“Don’t ever be shooting those blackfish.

nilh sul’e ’utl’ lhnimulh, tu qwunus, q’ullhanumutsun.
They belong with us, the whales, and the orcas.

’uwu ch tum’temuhw ’i’ he’kwul’usht
Don’t ever be shooting them

tul’li’ ’utl’ lhnimulh tey’ shus ni’ ’u tey’.
as those things are one of us.

la’lum’uthut ch kwu’elh ’i’ le’lum’ut ch tu …nilh tey’.
You are taking care to watch after our own.

ha’ ni’ tuqulta’mush ’i’ wulh nem’ yuthusthamu.
When they approached me and they will speak to you.

nilh shtatul’stuhw tey’.
They guided me.

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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.