MJJ-Seal Hunter and Dwarves

hey’ kwu’elh …aa nilh tu’i…aaa.

This is how it begins…yes, this is it here…ah.

hey’ kwu’elh, they’tum’ nem’ qequn’ tthuw’ne’ullh.

It begins, people were trying to catch them.

stl’i’s kws q’aq’i’ut-s thu shes—ten, twelve—tthu nuts’a’ shnu’a’th ’i’ tl’uw’ st’e tthu shhwua’th.

They wanted to kill seals—ten or twelve—on that side of the river and also here on this side.

’i’ ’uwu kws kwunnuhws tthuw’ne’ullh thu shes.

But they couldn’t catch any seals.

suw’ yath ’uw’ yu stl’utl’uhw yu stl’utl’uhw tthu ni’…

Every time they tried, they failed.

[Person in the room says:] Auntie Margaret. that is why you are here and you can ye’.]

Note that ye’ is an expression of encouragement for the story-teller to continue.

nilh p’e’ nush ’i’a’uta’lu tl’e’ tseep p’uw’ qwaqwul’.

“This is the reason I called you here; I want all of you to respond.”

suw’ xulh shqwaluwuns tthuw’ne’ullh kws ’uwus kwlh kwunnuhwus thu shes, wulh kw’ey, kw’ey, ’uwu te’ s’ulhtuns.

They were all very disappointed when they could not catch any seals, as they were now very hungry because they had no food.

m’i tetsul thu shes, ’i’ ni’ tl’uw’ hay ’ul’ tthu shnu’a’th ni’ kwunnuhw thu shes.

Whenever the seals came down, only the people on the other side of the river would catch them.

’uwu te’.

There were none.

suw’ sqwal, qwulmut-s tu’i s’eluhw, mens tthuw’ne’ullh, wulh s’e.e.eluhw.

So, one of the people spoke to the old man, their father, who was really old.

“’uy’ kw’us thuyt kw’us sle’t kws xwayt-s tthuw’ne’ullh.”

“You had better make tools to kill them.”

“’uy’.”

“Okay.

suw’ t’e’t tthuw’ne’ullh tun’a mu.u.ukw’ thqet — tthu t’a’hw, tthu thq’iinlhp — tthuw’ mukw’ stem thqet.

They tried all the trees—the balsam, the thqiinlhp—and all of the different trees.

stl’i’s kws thuyt-s kws m’is hulithut.

He wanted to make it come to life.

’i’ ’uwu, ’uwu’.

But no, it didn’t.

wulh nillh kwu’elh tthu xpey’, thuytus, thu.u.u.uytus.

He prepared a cedar.

suw’ t’e’tus qwsutus.

And he tried placing it in the water.

’i’ wulh kwuyxthut, wulh kwuyxthut.

And it became alive, came alive.

suw’ nemustuhws tthu kw’un’t’als hwu kidneys.

He brought a rock for its kidneys.

suw’ nemustuhws tthu p’uli’ ’u kws thunthuns.

He brought the outer cedar bark for its kidneys.

mukw’ ’uw’ yu they’tus—tthu stsulums.

He fixed everything—its liver.

ni’ wulh kwuyxthut, ni’ wulh kwuyxthut tthu xpey’.

Now, the cedar started moving.

suw’ tsset-s, “nem’ ch kwu’elh q’a’thut!

He then told it, “Go and join them!

nem’ ch q’a’thut ’u lhu shes ’uw’ m’is tse’ yu ’e’wu ’u kw’ netulh.

Go and join the seals when they arrive in the morning.

’i’ nilh tse’ ’un’ suw’ kwunnuhw tthuw’ne’ullh, ’un’ suw’ yu kwun’ut tthu sts’tishum’s.

Then, you will catch one, and you will grab ahold of the cedar rope.

’i’ nilh ’un’s ’uw’ huye’stuhw, ne.e.em’ ch, nem’ ch yu xwte’stuhw ’u tuni’.

You will be taken away, going and going, taken over there.

thi’shaasum’ ch ’i’ yelh ’un’s xwte’ ’u kwu’i tuywut.”

You’ll go a great distance toward the north.”

suw’ yu hwtetul’qun’s tthuw’nilh xpey’ ni’ wulh kway’xthut.

Cedar was answering as he was moving.

“nem’ ch lhuw’lhuw’stuhw.”

“You’ll take them away.”

“’aaa, ’uy’.

“Oh, okay.”

nan ’uw’ tusustal’hwus.”

“They have caused us much pain.”

’apun tthuw’ne’ullh ’i’ tthu yey’sul’u — twelve brothers.

There were twelve of them all together—twelve brothers.

suw’ m’is tetsul wulh nem’ q’a’thut thuw’nilh, wulh ne.e.e.em’ yu sq’uq’a’ ’u thu shes.

When they arrived, it joined them, and it went and joined the seals.

suw’ ’ulh nem’s tthuw’ne’ullh ’uw’ yath hwkw’uysiwun ’uw’ q’aq’i’ullh, suw’ mat’ute.e.ewut thuw’nilh sus ’uw’ ’ulh skw’ey kws ’unuhws.

Then, they proceeded with their plan to kill them, but she was propped up and could not stop.

sus ’uw’ huye.e.e.e xwte’ ’u tnanu xwte’ ’u tthu sqelukwshun.

And they departed far, far away, toward Sqelukwshun.

suw’ thut-s tthu sa’suqwt, “’uy’ kws t’qw’at tst tthu sts’tishum’.”

Then, the younger brother said, “We’d better cut the cedar rope.”

’i’ ’uwu, ’uwu tthu sun’tl’e’, ’uwu.

But no, the older brother said no, no.

hey’ suw’ qwals, “hey’ ch kwu’elh ’imunutst lhu shuyulh, ’imunutst kws ’uwu tst xwayut ’u kwthu yu shhwhunum’s tse’.

Then, he said “We had better sing a song to your older sister, sing her a song so we will not die before we reach our destination.

’i’ mukw’ tseep kwu’elh yu t’it’ulum’.”

I want all of you to sing.”

[singing:] haaa huyeee huyeee ’aaayu huyeee haayu huyeee huyeee.

nilh teem tthunu s’a’luqw’a’, “nilh sqelukwshun yu kwuy’e’stuhw ch.

The brothers were yelling out, “Sqelukwshun is your destination.

[singing:] hahuye huye ’ayu huye huye huye’a huye ’a’uyu huye.

nilh stems nu s’a’luqw’a’ nilh smaaqw’uts yu kwuy’e’stuhw ch

That belongs to her forehead.

stl’eluqum ’u kws tun’tsa’luqws.

That is a very fierce southwest wind.

[singing:] hahuye huye ’ayu huye huye huye’a huye ’a’uyu huye.

nilh stems tthu nu s’a’luqw’a’?

What part is it my siblings?

’i ch wulh yul’ew ’ul’ wulh nilh lhu ts’its’sum.

You have gone past where she is growing.

’i ch wulh yu kwuy’e’stuhw ch.

You are at a distance from her.

[singing:] hahuye huye ’ayu huye huye huye’a huye ’a’uyu huye.

’i tst wulh hwu ’untsu?

Where are we now?

’i ch wulh taal.

You are out into ocean.

’i ch thulh yu shtl’hwa’luqw tthuw’nilh ’uwu kws lemut-s.

She apparently had her head covered.

’i tst wulh taal.”

We are away out into the ocean.”

tl’e’ wulh wusit’.

She started to sing again.

[singing:] “hahuye huye ’ayu huye huye huye’a huye ’a’uyu huye.

[singing:] hahuye huye ’ayu huye huye huye’a huye ’a’uyu huye.”

“’i tst wulh hwu ’i ’u tun’a smulshen.

“We are now at her tracks.

tstamut ch tse’ kwu’elh?”

What are you going to do?”

“’uwee tst t’qw’atut thu sts’tishum’?”

“Don’t you think we should cut the cedar rope?”

“’uwu, ’uwu kw’uw’ ’ulh nem’ p’uw’ kwunuthaam ’uw’ nem’ tst tse’.”

“No, don’t, they have already taken you; we will go.”

suw’ ’unuhw tthuw’ne’ullh tus ’u tthu smulshen suw’ m’is wunwenshum tthuw’nilh xwi’lum’ wenshum.

Then, they stopped right on her track and tossed the rope over to them.

suw’ t’ilutstewut, “’uwu tsun shes ’un, ’uw’ xpey’ tsun ’ul’.”

She began to sing, “I am not a seal; I am just a cedar plank.”

suw’ kwunut-s tthuw’ne’ullh.

Then, they grabbed it.

sus ’uw’ hay hwu’alum’ sis ’uw’ ’ushul.

After all of this, they turned and paddled back.

’uwu te’ tl’e’ stsla’thut-s.

They could not do anything else.

sis ’uw’ ’unuhw lheel kws q’ulum’ tse’, ’i’ nilh yuhw ts’a’lu thulh shhw’e’wus tthu qwi’stey’muhw.

They stopped at the shore to camp, and it happened to be the place where the dwarves resided.

suw’ hwu ’un’nun’nehws lhtsiws.

And they rested as they were tired.

wulh tetsul tthu qwi’stey’muhw suw’ qw’imust thq’utus thu stsa’tx, stsa’tx.

The dwarves arrived, and they were spearing the halibut underwater.

suw’ thut-s tthu sun’tl’e’, “’uy’, ni’ hith ’u kws tl’itl’ups.

The older brother said, “Okay, they are down a long time.

’uy’ kwus taal ’i’ m’i ch qe’unt ’u kw’ yuse’lu?

Why don’t you go out over there and steal two of them?

nan ch ’uw’ ’ulh xway ’u kw’un’ qunuhw.”

You are really hungry.”

[suw’] taals tthuw’ne’ullh yey’sul’u

Two of them went over to the shore.

suw’ qe’untum tthuw’nilh qwi’stey’muhw ’u tthu yuse’lu.

And they stole two from the dwarves.

sus ’uw’ tsumst-hwus tl’e’ tthu snuhwulh kwelshus.

They brought their canoe back up to the beach and hid it.

nilh sis ’uw’ shem tthu qwi’stey’muhw, ’i’ ni’ wulh haqwutum tthu ni’ shnuni’.

The dwarves started drying the fish, and they caught the scent of the ones who were there.

sis ’uw’ m’i qw’im m’uw’ xwte ’ul’ ’u tu’i tthuw’nilh.

They came right toward them.

suw’ ’ulh m’insum tthuw’ne’ullh sus ’uw’ xwaaytum.

And they came to them and killed them.

ni’ wulh ’ikw’ tu’i lhhwelu ’uw’ t-hwtth’a’kwus.

At least three of them were killed, leaving seven.

sis ’uw’ huya’stum n’amustum ’u tthu lelum’s tthu qwi’stey’muhw sus ’uw’ hwu ni’ hwu skw’uyuth.

They were all taken to the dwarves’ house to become their slaves.

nilh sis ’uw’ hwu ni.i.i’.

They stayed there for days, months, years.

’uw’ hay tthu shayu s’i’lhtuns tthu qwi’stey’muhw, ’uwu te’, ’uhwin’ tthu thathuns.

The only food the dwarves ate were maggots, nothing else, for they had small mouths.

sus ’uw’ lhuyxtus tthuw’ne’ulh tthu ’es-hw, ’i’ nilh ts’a’lu thulh sqwumey’s tthu qwi’stey’muhw, yelh sus kwe’tum tthuw’ne’ullh.

They ate the seal, but as it turned out, it was the dwarves’ dog, and after a while, they were released.

’i’ ni’ wulh hay yu lhilhuts’utus tthu thathuns tthu qwi’stey’muhw yelh niis huli, yelh sus hum’i.

The dwarves had just finished cutting their mouths, and then they were saved when they were coming…

“wulh nem’ ’u kwu’elh ’u kwthu tth’amuqw’us.”

I will now tell you the story of the giant.

’ou wulh nem’ tsun kwu’elh staat ’uw’ ’ulh tus ’ul’ ’u kwthu tth’amuqw’us.

“wulh nilh kwthu tth’amuqw’us.”

“wulh tus kwu’elh ’u kwthu tth’amuqw’us. suw’ hwu ni’s ’u tthu tth’amuqw’us

’u kw’uw’ yath ’uw’ ’a’luxutus tthu tth’amuqw’us tthu sts’tishum’s.

The giant was always gathering food [cedar rope?],

tsakwum tsakwum ’uw’ yath mukw’ skweyul.

going up the mountain every day.

’i’ ha’ stl’i’s tthuw’ne’ullh kws tl’iw’s.

Whenever they tried to escape,

’i’ hwuw’e ni’us hwu shnu’a’th ’u tu’inu kws hum’is tl’iw’

they could not get across.

’i’ tl’e’ wulh kwunnum. tl’e’ wulh hwu’alum’tum

They were always caught and brought back.

’uw’ xut’u ’aal’ ’u tthey’ mukw’ skweyul kws tl’itl’uw’s ’i’ skw’ey.

It was impossible to escape.

’i wulh qwal tthuw’nilh sun’tl’e’ “’uwee yuhw nilhus tun’a shhwuy’tun ’i qwaqwul’.

The older brother said, “Who is talking? Is it the toilet bowl?

’ilhe q’u yakw’ute’.” suw’ tth’a.a.asutewut thu shhwuy’tun,

Let us break it.” So they demolished it.

’i’ nilh ’a’lu thulh wulh kwe.e.etsum, ni’ kwetsum

It started to scream continually

suw’ tul’nuhws tthuw’ne’ullh kws nilhs

when they discovered that in fact it was the one they ______??

sus ’uw’ yuqwtus. tl’lim’ nuw’ tth’ux ’i’ ni’ yu kwukwtsem’.

It burnt to a crisp, but it was still screaming.

sus ’uw’ ’ushul tthuw’ne’ullh lhe.e.el’ shaqwul.

They paddled away and finally escaped across.

ni’ wulh tsulel ’i’ hwu tus ’u tthu yu shhwhunum’s ’i’ tetsul tthu tth’amuqw’us.

They had already reached their destination before the giant found out.

’i’ yelh sus ’uw’ lhuw’namut. yelh kwu’elh sus m’i ‘uw’ t’ukw’namut tthuw’ne’ullh.

They all made it home at last.

nilh ’uw’ sht’es ’ul’ ni’ hay kwthey’.

That is how it goes.

ni’ hay.

The end.