WS-The Elder and the Sea Lion
tus ’u tu’inulh nuts’a’ ... kwu s’eluhw ni’ ’u tthu tsuw’tsuw’, skwthe’s.
Getting to this one old man, out in the open water was an island.
stsul’wal’we’lh ’utl’ pun’e’luxutth’ s’eluhw mustimuhw.
On the other side of Kuper Island was an old person.
nilh xut’ustum’, xut’ust-hwus kwthu s’ul’eluhwulh nilh tswe’ ’u tthu suy’win’.
This is what our old people used to say: they held the word power.
’e.e.ey’ tthu swa.a.aw’lus q’aq’i’utus tthu xut’ustum shes.
All the young men were killing the sea lion.
q’aytum tthu shes.
They killed the sea lions.
(6) lumnum kwu shes suw’ ’aalh, ’a.a.alhs tu swaw’lus ’u tu snuhwulhs, suw’ tseeltewut kwu shes ’i’ thuq’thuq’tum ’u kwu xut’ustum’ thuyumun.
When they saw the sea lions, they got on their canoes, and went after the sea lions, and they speared them with the one called thuyumun.
kwun’el’s kwun’ xwi’lum’ ’u kwun’ thq’ustun.
[They speared them] with a rope attached to the spear.
[nilh] kwu xwum kwu snuhwulh ’u kwu swaw’lus nilh q’uynuhw tse’ kwu shes.
It’s the one with the fastest canoe that will be able to kill the sea lion.
’i.i.i tus ’u kwu skweyuls ’i’ thuytus kwey’ s’eluhw.
Then, one day, the old man started preparing something.
xut’ustum’ tswe’ ’u tthu suy’win’.
He was the one who held the word power.
kwunutus tthu xpey’ sus suw’ t’qw’atus, suw’ qw’aqwutus, tthu xpey’.
He took a cedar, and he cut it, and he hit the cedar.
thuytum tthu shes.
[He was] preparing for the sea lion.
ni.i.i.i’ theey’tus, tl’lim’ nuw’ hwu sa.a.ay’ tthuw’nilh.
He kept preparing, then what he was doing was ready.
Delores: Stem tthu s-hwunituma’lh snes tthu shes.
Delores: What is the English name of the shes?
hwu sa.a.ay’ tthuw’nilh [suw’] qw’aqwutum tthuw’nilh xpey’ sus ’uw’ thuy, hwu sthuthi’thuytum hwlhuw’utum tthu sun’iw’ suw’ kwunutun tthu smunmeent sus ’uw’ nuw’nuw’ushum ’u tthuw’nilh.
When it was ready, he hit the cedar—then it was ready to carve the inside out, and he took some rocks and put them inside it.
swe’s tthey’ s’eluhw syaaysth. xut’ustum tswe’ ’u tthu suy’win’.
This was the word of this old man who knew the word power.
tus ’u tthu skweyuls suw’ kwunutus tthey’ s’eluhw tthey’ syaaysth, xpey’ sus ’uw’ qwsutus.
Then, the day came when the old man took his work, his cedar carving, and took it out to the sea.
suw’ kwunutum tthey’xut’ustum’ kw’un’t’als smeent sus ’uw’ yu hun’wushus, yu le’lumutus yu hun’wushus.
He took the rocks called kw’un’t’als and he put them in—he looked at them and put them in.
hwun’ xut’u ’i’ ni’ wulh tl’am kwus sqwuqwis, p’up’ekw ’ul’ tthuw’nilh.
Finally, he had enough in the water to make it float.
nilh wulh ni ’u tthu xut’ustum’ yu saq’thut tthu skweyul.
This was done on the one called daybreak.
suw’ wulh qwulstuhwus ’ul’ tthuw’nilh s’eluhw tthey’, qwulstuhwus tthey’ xpey’ ni’ thuytus.
This old man started saying the word power, speaking to the cedar he had prepared.
hwun’ xut’u ’u tthey’ ’i’ ni’ wulh qwuyxthut tthuw’nilh xpey’, ni’ thuythut hulithut.
While he was doing this, the cedar started to move and came to life.
t’it’utsum’ ts’u tthuw’nilh suw’ qwulstuhws tthuw’nilh s’eluhw, “nem’ ch kwu’elh, nilh tse’ suw’ kwulushthamut ’u kwu xut’ustum thuyumuthun, thq’ustun, kwulshthaam tse’ ’u kwthey’, thuq’thuq’thaam tse’, nilh tse’ ’un’snem’ ’uw’ huye’stuhw, nem’ ch nemustuhw ’u kwu’i tuywut kwu mustimuhw nilh ni’ sqwulstaam ’uw’ st’e.e.estuhw ch kwu’elh.”
It started to swim around, so the old man spoke to it, “Now you go, and you will be speared at by the one called thuyum spear—you will be shot at by that spear, you will be speared many times, and you will take him away, you will take them to the northern people—this is what is said to you[1], and this is what you will follow.”
suw’ pkw’uthut tthuw’nilh sus ’uw’ huye’.
So the thing splashed around and took off.
hi.i.i.i, hwun’ st’e.e.e kw’i’ hwulmuhw ’i’ ni’ wulh tus tthu shes yu puhwul’s.
The people living by the beach noticed the sea lion blowing water.
suw’ tiy’a’xw tthu swaw’lus, suw’ temutus tthu ts’lhswaw’lusth, “se.e.e.es kw’un’a yu te’yul ’u kw’un’a sqtheq ni’ ts’u tu’i sqtheq, ’i m’i yu tiy’wutasum’ kw’un’a shes.”
The young men started rushing around and called the other young men, “There is a sea lion going north through the narrows, over here at the narrows—the sea lion is facing to the north.”
suw’ xwulunchenum tthey’ tuw’ sht’ut’es tthu swaw’lus kwunut-s kwthun’ thq’astun ’un’s ’uw’ ’ulh xwchenum ’aalh ’u kwthu snuhwulh.
So all the young men ran around, taking all their spears, and ran to get on their canoes.
xuthiinu, nilh ts’u tthu xuthiinu ’u tthu ’ul’a’ulh ’u tthu snuhwulh ’i’ ni’ tthu t’xum.
Some canoes had four men on them, and some had six.
taal na’usum tseeltum, suw taals tthuw’nilh shes ni’ ’u tthey’ sqtheq.
[They were] going to the open sea, following, and the sea lion went to the open sea close to the narrows.
si.i.iw’ xwte ’u tu’i nem’ q’tathun ’u kw’u’i yu s’utl’qathun’ ’u kwu’i skwthe’s.
Then it came this way, close along the shore, on the outer side of the island.
thuq’thuq’tum tthuw’nilh kwun’el’s tthu xwul’xwi’lum’.
Then it was speared many times, with ropes attached to the spears.
lhq’etsus ts’u tthuw’nilh snuhwulh, ’uwu ts’u ’ul’ kws ’unuhws tthuw’nilh shes n’uw’ yu ’e.e.ey’ ’ul’, ’uwu kws ni’s q’ay.
Five canoes were following, and that sea lion kept on going—he wouldn’t die.
nuqum ’i’ ni’ yu puhw’ul’s, wulh huya’stum.
[It was] blowing as it dove.
ni.i.i.i’ wulh nem’ hwu tsakw ’u tnanulh, wulh nem xwte’stum ’u tu’i hwtuywul.
They were getting further out to sea, and then they were going northward.
wulh si’si’ tthuw’ne’lulh.
The young men became scared.
[suw’] teems, “’uy’us kws nem’tst kwu’els!”
They hollered, “We had better let go!”
suw’ lhits’utus tthu xwi’lum’s, sus ’uw’ thw nets’uhwulh ’ul’ tthu snuhwulh nilh huya’stum.
So they cut the rope, and only one canoe was left on that was being taken away.
’uwu ’al’ kwni’s ’unuhw n’uw’ yu ’eey’ ’ul’ tthu [shes], ’uwu ’ul’ niis q’ay.
The sea lion wouldn’t stop; it just kept on going, and it wouldn’t die.
syaaysth tthu s’eluhw hulitum tthu xpey’.
This was the work of the old person, who brought the cedar to life.
suw’ hu.u.uye.e.e.e’ ni’ xwte’ ’u kw’u’i tuywut.
Then, that thing kept on going north.
[suw’] qwa.a.als tthuw’ne’lulh, “tstamuttst tse’ kwu’elh?
Then, they said, “What are we going to do?
’uwu kwus ’unuhw tun’a ’i yu xut’ustal’hw ’u tthey’.
This thing that is doing this to us won’t stop.
’iihw ’a’lu[2] stsekwul?” wulh qwal ts’u tthuw’ne’lulh.
What’s going on?” they asked each other.
’uw’ t-hway ’al’ tthu nets’uhwulh snuhwulh.
There was only one canoe left attached to it.
lhq’utsse’lu ts’u tthuw’ne’lulh.
[There were] five people aboard.
mukw’ tthu swe’s s’unums n’uw’ kwun’el’s’u tthey’ [shes].
All their spears were speared into the sea lion.
’i’ ha’ lhits’utus tthu xwi’lum’s ’i’ hwi’ ’uwu kws qtl’ums, [t’uqw’]
When they tried cutting the rope, it wouldn’t break.
suw’ huya’stum, ni.i.i.i.i xwte’stum ’u tnanulh.
So, they were taken away, and they were brought that way.
nem’ tus ’u tna.a.anulh, sne.e.em’ ’uw’ tslhaqwthut ’u kw’u ’iinulh.
When they got there, they went through a pass, way, way over there.
sus ne.e.em ’uw’ xwte’ ’u tna.a.anulh, suw’ n’emustum ’u kwu ’inulh ’uw’ tsakw.
Then, they turned in another direction, bringing them very far away.
’uw’ thw’uwu ts’u ’ul’ kws tl’e’s qwuyxthut tthuw’ne’lulh.
The men wouldn’t make any movements.
’uw’ thwsq’eq’upst-hwus ’ul’ tthey’wulh huya’stum ’u tthey’.
They were just tied to that thing that was taking them away to sea.
thi.i.i.i snuhwulh ’i’ ni st’e ’ukw’ ’e’uhwin’ kwsus yu huy’ustum’ ’u tthey’ shes.
It was a big, big war canoe, but it was dragged by the sea lion like it was tiny.
ne.e.e.em’ hwtskwilumustum, tl’lim’ nem’ ’uw’ tus ’u kwu’inulh xut’ust-hwus tthu hwulmuhw, tuywut, hwtuywut.
They were taken very far away, going to what our native people call Tuywut, or Hwtuywut, the North.
se.e.e.e’ ni’ ts’u hwi’ ’uw’ yu ’e.e.ey’ ’ul’ tthuw’ne’lulh ’i’ ni’ hwi ’uw’ qtl’um ’ul’.
ni’ wulh nem’ ’uw’ ’ulh tus ’u kw’nanulh ’uw’ ’ulh tsakw.
Then, they got to a place which was far away.
ni’ tl’lim’ n’uw’ ’ulh hwu tsakw ’u tthu lelum’s ’ulh.
They were very, very far away from their home.
t-hw’uwte’ ’ul’ shtatul’stuhws ’uw’ niis hwu ’untsu.
They didn’t even know where they were.
’i’ ni’ hwi’ kwe’tum.
Then, they were let go.
suw’ hwi’ m’i huye’ tthuw’ne’lulh thway ni’ huya’stum ’u tthey’ niilh thway q’aytus ’eelhtun shes.
Then, they left, the ones that were going to kill the sea lion.
hwu’alum’ ’ushul, niis kwin lhqel’ts’ kwus m’i t’akw’t’ukw’ tthuw’ne’lulh, shni’s ’i’ ni’ hwi’ yu le’lumuhwus kwuw’ mukw’’ul’ stsekwul mustimuhw.
They started to paddle towards home for many months, and this is where they saw many different nations.
’i.i.i ts’u yu ’e’wu tthuw’ne’lulh yu t’at’ukw’ ’i’ wulh hun’lhelt ’u tthu hulelum’.
As they were travelling home, they went ashore where there were houses.
ni’ ts’u mumun’lh tthu hulelum’.
The houses were very tiny.
[suw’] qwals tthu na’nuts’a, “’ilhe nem’ tuw’ lemut ’i’ wawu’ ’uw’ hwulmuhw kw’u ’i ’u tun’u, ’e’ut ’i tun’u tuw’ s’iiltuhw’ew’thw hwulmuhw.”
So, one of them spoke, “Let’s kind of go and look; maybe they are native people that live here, [since] the buildings are native lean-tos.”
’u.u.uwu te’ ts’u kwlh wil’ ’ushul tthuw’nu’ullh lhel.
They couldn’t see anything as they went to shore.
hun’lhelt ’i’ ’uw’ huy ts’u ’ul’ tu’inulh mu.u.ukw’ stem.
Reaching shore, they came to many things.
’es-hw ts’u tu’inulh ’uw’ slheq’lhuq ’u tu’i ni’ wulh shaya’tum tthu ’es-hw ni’ wulh qul’qulul’ul’.
A seal was lying over here that had maggots on it, indicating that the seal was old.
mukw’ ’untsu shhwhunum’s tthu shuya’ kwus ’i’mush.
The maggots were crawling all over the place.
[hwun’] xut’u ’u tthey’ ’i’ wulh mi’ we’ul[3] tthuw’ne’lulh.
Just then someone [some people?] came out into the open.
’i’ ’uwu ts’u niis thithu tthuw’nilh mul’em’sti’muhw ni’ st’uli’t’e ’u tu’inulh.
And those little people were not big, about this high.
kwunkwun’eem’ [??] ’u tthu thq’ustuns, m’i t’uhwnusum tthuw’ne’lulh.
They were holding their spears as they came down to the beach.
suw’ xut’us ts’u tthuw’ne’lulh, “’uwu tseep qway’xthutuhw, stl’utl’e’luqum’ tun’a ’un’sh tetsul.”
Then, they [the arrivals] said, “Don’t make any moves—the people where we’ve arrived at are fierce.”
nilh xut’ust-hwus tthu hwulmuhw qwuliqwi’stey’muhw. [??]
These are the ones our people call elves.
ni’ tsuw’ shul’i’shul’akw’ ’ul’ tthun’ thuthan, shahwupus ’ul’ ’ukws qwul’a’qwul’s tthuw’nun’ulh.
Their lips were completely round, and when they spoke, they just whistled.
“’o.o.osha!” xut’u ts’u ’u tthey’ tthu na’nuts’a’, “tl’lim’ ’uw’ nets’ ’ul’ sla’thuttst.”
“My gosh!” said one of them, “This is strange, what’s happening to us.”
“’uwu tseep ’ul’ p’e’ siisi’ulup.
“Don’t you be afraid.
skw’ey kws tsustalt ’uw’wehw tsekwusthwuhw,” thut tthu na’nuts’a’.
They won’t harm us if we don’t do anything,” said the other one.
suw’ qw’elums ts’u tthuw’ne’lulh, ’i’ yu le’lum’utum’ ’u tthey’ m’umun’lh mul’em’sti’muhw.
So, they got off their canoe, and those little people were watching them.
mem’ tthuw’ne’lulh ’u tthu ’es-hw, ’i’ qe’is yuhw ts’u xew’s tthu ’es-hw.
They were given gifts of seal, and the seal must have been freshly caught.
suw’ tsshuptuns tthuw’ne’lulh suw’ lhits’utus tthuw’ne’lulh, tthey’ kwuy’tst suw’ kw’esutum tthu ’es-hw.
They got their knives and started cutting the seal, and then they barbecued the seal.
ni’ ts’u tthey’ m’a.a.amun’lh mul’um’sti’muhw xi’xlhem’, le’lum’utum’ tthuw’ne’lulh kwus lhilhuts’utus tthey’.
Those little people were there watching them, watching them as they were cutting it.
hwkwa’qutum tthu ’es-hw sus ’uw’ qw’ulutus s’ulhtuns, ’ulhtunamut tse’.
[They watched them] cutting it open and barbecuing it for food, so they would be able to eat.
suw’ qw’a.a.alutum tthey’ qux ’es-hw.
They barbecued the whole seal.
ni qw’ul suw ’aalhstuhws ’u tthu snuhwulhs tthuw’ne’lulh.
When it was cooked, they put it in their canoe.
suw’ xut’us tthu na’nuts’a’, “’uwu tseep tsekwustuhw’ulup.”
One of them was saying, “Don’t do anything to them.”
nilh ts’u kws tsulels ’i’ [huye’] ni’ tl’e’ wulh xwuluncheenumutum ’eelhtun ’u tthey’m’umun’lh mul’um’sti’muhw.
Just when they were ready to leave, the little people would run to them.
i’ ni’ tl’e’ wulh qw’umqw’imutum tthey’ [ni’ ’ul’a’ulhst-hwus] s’ulhtuns.
[They would] take out all the food [that they had stored on the canoe].
’uwu stl’i’sus tthuw’nun’ulh kws nem’s huye’ tthuw’ne’lulh, kw’uy’utum’.
The little people didn’t want them to leave, so they kept stopping them.
ni’ st’e ’uw’ niis hwu skw’uyuth ’u tthey’ m’umun’lh mustimuhw.
It was like they became slaves of the little people.
suw’ qwaqwul’s tthey’ na’nuts’a’, “’a.a.asha, tl’lim’ qul sla’thuttst, tstamut yuhw tst ’a’lu ’i’ huyen’amut tst.”
So, one of them said, “My gosh! What happened to us is bad; what are we going to do to be able to get away?”
ni.i.i’ hith ’i’ ni’ tl’uw’ hith tse’ kwus ni’ tthuw’ne’lulh ’u tthey’ ni’ hwu skw’uyuth ’u tthey’ m’umun’lh mul’em’sti’muhw.
They were there for a long time—they were enslaved there by the little people.
suw’ qwaqwul’s tthuw’nilh, st’e ’u kw’ [nilh] ni’ le’lumut tthuw’ne’lulh xut’u tthuw’nilh, “’uw’ thuthi’ tseep ’ul’ ’uwu tseep nanuhw ’uw’ qeel’t kwun’ shqwaluwunulup.
Then, the one that had always been leading them said, “You all keep strong and don’t let your spirit down.
’uw’ xtsut tst tse’ kw’ sla’thuttst ’i’ nem’ tst t’ukw’namut.
We will figure out what to do to be able to go home.
’uw’ xuli’xsul’ tun’a mul’em’sti’muhw ’i hwkwunnaam.”
These little people that have enslaved us are fierce.”
hi.i.i st’e ’u tthey’ ’i’ wulh qwal tu na’nuts’a’, “qux tun’a ma’uqw ’uwu’ ’e tst nem’ut hul’kwulusht kw’ ma’uqw.”
Then, suddenly, one of them said, “There are a lot of ducks here; shall we shoot some ducks?”
suw’ xwulunchenum tu swaw’lus suw’ he’kwul’ushtum’ tu ma’uqw ’u tu tuxwa’ts.
So, the young men ran and started shooting the ducks with bows-and-arrows.
nilh kwu’elh ni’ shni’s ’i’ ni’ huyen’amut tthuw’ne’lulh kwus wulh kwunnuhwus tu ma’uqw.
This is when they managed to get away, when they caught the ducks.
kwunutus tthuw’ne’lulh tu ma’uqw, qux ts’u tu ma’uqw suw’ qw’umuwstum.
Getting all the ducks—there were a lot of ducks—they started plucking them.
suw’ we’wun’shum’ ’ul’ tu stl’pel’qun’ ’i’ ha’ ts’a ni’ wu qup’ ’u tu thathuns tthuw’nun’ulh sus ’uw’ mutl’eel.
[They were] just tossing the feathers everywhere, and when the feathers landed on the mouths of the little people, they fainted.
ni’ ts’a huli’huw’tl’uts’ tthuw’ne’lulh ’u kwus qp’aythun ’u tu sthpeel’qen’.
They were all falling all over the place when the feathers landed on their mouths.
lumnuhwus tthuw’ne’lulh yelhs ch kwu’elhs nans ’uw’ qw’umu[ws]tum tu ma’uqw suw’ pkw’utum tthey’ stl’peel’qen’.
Seeing this, they started plucking the ducks faster and scattering the feathers more.
sus ’uw’ tl’shathut tthuw’nun’ullh nem’ lhew’.
The little people all ran away.
qw’a.a.amu[ws]ti.i.i.i.im tu stl’peel’qun.
They kept on plucking the feathers.
suw’ qwals tthuw’ne’lulh, “heeye’ lhe thuythute’ q’put tthun’ s’ulhtun ’i’ ’aalh tseep ’u tu snuhwulh.
Then, they said to each other, “Let’s get prepared! Get some food together, and we’ll all get on the canoe.
ni’ wulh huliye’ kwthu ’iilh hwkwunnal’hw.”
The ones that imprisoned us have left.”
suw’ qul’et-s qw’umuwstum tu ma’uqw, suw’ pkw’utewut pkw’utum tu stl’pelqun’ mukw’ ’untsu shn’emustewut kws yu pekw’te’wut.
They plucked some more ducks, spreading and scattering the feathers all over the place.
hay kwus xut’xut’e’ ’u tthey’sus ’uw’ ’aalh ’u tu snuhwulh.
After doing this, they all got on the canoe.
thw’uwute’ stem ’u kwey’ mulum’sti’muhw, ni’ kwulkweel.
There were no little people in sight—they all went into hiding.
lhew’ ’u tu stl’pel’qun’.
They had fled from the feathers.
ni’ ts’u tu slhul’e’lhuq’ ’u tu tsetsuw’.
Some of the little people were still lying down on the beach.
qp’aythun ’u tu stl’pel’qun’ sus ’uw’ yu huli’hum’tl’ul’.
The feathers had landed on their mouths and they fainted.
suw’ huye’namut tthuw’ne’lulh, m’i.i.i [t’akw’].
They managed to get away, and they headed for home.
ni.i.is kw’iin lhqel’ts’ kwus m’i t’at’ukw’ tthuw’ne’lulh.
For many months, they travelled home.
suw’ sht’eewun’s tu ts’lhhwulmuhws, ni.i.i ’uw’ ’ulh ’e’lukw’ kwu stl’ul’iqulhtst’ulh.
Their relatives thought that their children all got lost.
ni’ wulh ’e’lukw’, wulh ’uwu te’ tl’e ’unstsle’t.
[They thought] that they died and that they [the relatives] couldn’t do anything for them [the lost ones].
m’i.i.i.i wulh tetsul ’u tnanulh wulh putnuhwus, “’a’ nilh p’e’ kwu ’iilh, yu shlun’e tst tun’a,” suw’ ’ulh timuthut ’ul’ ’ushul tthuw’ne’lulh wulh mi’ t’akw’.
As they reached a certain area, they recognized it [and said], “Ah, this is where we came from,” and they started paddling faster, heading for home.
hwun’ stu’e tu ts’lhhwulmuhws ’i ’u tthey’ sqtheq ’i’ wulh hun’lhelt tthuw’ne’lulh.
Their relatives were still there at the same place, at the narrows, when they came to shore.
’uwu te’ shun’tsus ni’ huya’stum ’u kwey’.
They had no catch; they were just taken away.
niilh syaaysth kwu s’eluhw.
[They were taken] by the doings of the old man.
’uwu niis tul’num ’uw’ niis tun’untsu kwthey’.
They didn’t find out how that came about.
ni’ wulh hi.i.i.ith yulh sus st’e ’u kw’u tul’num kwu tswe’ tsyays ’u kwthey’.
It was much, much later before they found out who did the witchcraft on them.
’uw’ tun’ni’ kwu’elh ’u tthey’ sqtheq mustimuhw kwu tswe’ulh ’u kwthey’ suy’win’ ’u kwey’ xpey’, niilh huye’stuhw kwu mustimuhw.
He was one of the narrows people who owned the word power of the cedar, which took them away.
’uw’ thu’it sqwul’qwul’ kwthey’.
This is a true story about this.
’i’ kwsus wulh m’i hun’umut kwthey’ swaw’lus, wulh hi.i.ith kwsus ’a’mut ’i yelh sus st’e ’uw’ niis qwulul’qwul’ kwu tswe’ulh.
When those young men got home, they were at home for a long, long time before they started telling (of their adventure).
wulh hith ’ulh niis huye’ kwu tswe’ ’ulh kwthey’ tsyaays ’i’ yelh sus ’uw’ st’e’ ’ukw’ ’uw’ wil’ kwthey’ sqwul’qwul’.
The one who did that work had been gone for many years before the story was brought out.
’uw’ hay’ ’ul’ ni’ shtatul’sthwun’ kwthey’.
This is the only thing I know about this.
nilh kwu’elh ’uw’ sht’es ’ul’ kwey’ nu sqwul’qwul’.
This is as far as my story goes.
ni’ kwelh hay.
This is the end.