ATXA DAA`T AT
CONCERNING FOOD

Kalnaa^·kw x’ei ^· dax
by Emma Williams

1 Aa taa·kw ee`tinax gunei’ woo`xee`xch wei’ at xa,
shux'aa·nax dis dutee’w nuch,
March giyoo`,
Kuxde Dis yoo’ dusaa·gun Lin`gitch.

5 A yat awei` kunalgas'jin yan shkwaa`de
goo` sa chaa·tl aa`ni, aa’ yei` yatee`yi t'aa·k,
aa’ kunt.ei`ch.
A yaa naxw atx dustee’yin,
tlei·l yee`dadi yax

10 dlei`t kaa’ chyax awe,
tix' kulyat';
naxw, ka ee·t has a.oo` nujin
ee·t a kaa’ dunakws'in.
A goo` sa diyaa·nax a

15 ka yaa s du itnax a,
ch'a daa` sa kwei·yx has oo`lyexch;
woo`sh kagei’ kawdahaa`yi tsaa’,
ax' has ajinakx nuch yoo naxw.
Naa·kwch has awoo`snakwch.

20 Aya x'oo`n gaa`w x'aa·nax sakwshe has aw`skoo·,
ayu x'aa`kdiyei·x' ayoo`,
yei·l sat.aa`xch.
"Haa·, de aa`wax'aa`kw yoo’ a;
chaa·tl de a naa·wu."

25 Ch'u tle aa`de daa`k has ukoo`xch.
A yax sgwach, chaa·tl yande yatxaa·x'w nuch.
A ya shaa·ch ku.aa`,
ch'u tle xash nuch woo`xee`yi itx' tsaa’ yoo chaa·tl,
tlei·l tsu a too·ch yoo` txashk,

30 woo`xee`yi itx'.
Ch'as a koo`wu aa`x dulxashch shux'aa·nax,
yoo’ a hee·ni ka a shei`yi
tle a too·nax daa`k kadei·ch.
Aa`, yaa’ it aa yakyee`x' awei` tsaa’,

35 natxashch wei chaa·tl,
a yei’ yax shayattee·ych, ei’naa` kax'.
A xaa’s'i woo`xoo`gu awe tsaa’s woo’shdax kat.lx'as'x nuch.
A yuwaa`x'ee·shi kustee` nuch;
gagaa`nnax dusxoo`k nuch.

40 Yoo k'adei·n kawoo`t'ee’x'i tsaa’s
nei`lnax has yandusxoo`kch,
ch'u tle woo`sh kaa`de s akoochakch.
Tlei·l yaa yakyee` yax t'ee’x' daa`kakoo·gu koo`stee’yin;
ts'as dusxoo`k nujin at xa.

45 Aa, yaa yan shuwoo`taa`ni yaa chaa·tl,
yaa laa k’ask gaa`wut koo`wahaa^.,
a tsu kutstee`.
Tlakw aa`x yei` daa`tnei` nuch yei’,
a t'aa·de kunalgas'ch,

50 a daa` gatnakch yaa laa`kask.
Tlei·l yee`dadi yax dus'ee`gun ch'aa’kw,
ch'as kat.st'aa’t' nujin, lakt too·de.
Lakt yikgaa` yax kudagei` kat.st'aa’t' nuch.
Ayu x'oo`n dahee·n sa

55 gagaa`n too·x' yux yei` yaa` kt.snee`ch,
aa’ yax dul.atch,
tsu aa’ yax dul.atch.
Has oo`skoo·wch k'adei·n woo`xoo`gu.
Aa yaa·x' awe taa·kw niyis,

60 wei suk laa·x yei` nt.snee`ch.
A tsu k'adei·n dusxukch,
a x'aa·x' awei`s
wei· laa`k'ask kei` s akoo`chakch aa`n,
lakt too·de.

65 Ach tlei·l woo`sh yax koo`ls'ee’x'w nuch yoo’.
A kinaa· tsu,
ch'u tle yoo lakt a kinaa`haa·di aa`n has ax'ei`s.axwch,
taa·kw tu.atxaa`yi ayaa`.
A ayoo` te a kinaa’ yei` nt.ei`ch,

70 a kudaa·lix nastee`ch.
Tlei·l kwa ch'aa’kw a kinaa’ yei’ utixx'w,
aa`x yei` nt.snee`ch.
Yei’ awe, ka yaa yaa`lulei`t yoo’ twasaa·kw,
a tsu lei·ndax dakde yei daa`tnei` nuch.

75 A tsu, too’tl'akwx dulyex nuch,
yan wus.ee`yi itx' ayoo`.
Yoo laa`x, laa`x ayoo` atx dustee`.
Yei’ kulsaa` kat.syexch,
ka ch'u kat.lkas'ch,

80 ayu woo`sh yaa’ kawdutlk'wat'i yax daa`tnei` nuch yoo yaa`lulei`t.
A too·nax dultsuwch yoo laa`x kawdutsyexi at.
Dusxoo`k yax kudagei·,
yei’ gusgei·nk'.
A tsu at x'ee·shi yax dusxukch,

85 tle k'adei·n uxukch.
A tsu, has aya.ei`t' nuch,
a ku.aa` kutaa`n tu.atxaa`yi sakw ayoo`.
Kuw`daxee’l'i t'ei·nax
has axaa` nuch.

90 A yaa·x' awei` kutaa`nt koo`haa·ych,
tsu kunalgas'ch hee·n watde.
Kaa` hee·nx'i kustee’yin naa`,
ch'a wei kaa’i hee·ni kustee’yin,
ax kulagaa’s'.

95 A watx' at x'aan hitx'i aa’ yax has awoo`lyei`xin.
Woo`sh dakadin kukandak'it'ch,
kaa` hee·nx'i watde.
Xaa’t hee·n yikt gahin,
a ayoo’s aa` duk'ix't nuch,

100 aya dusxoo`kch.
Aa’ a xoo`x yaa kugalagas'ch,
yaa’ ax xan aa` du tlaa’ch ax ee`n kalanik nuch.
Goo` sa yei’ kugei`
ax' wudutsxuk.

105 Ch'a ax', chilk yoo’ ayasaa·kw,
chilk dulyexch aa`s tlenx'.
Aax awe a shee`yi kax' dakee·x',
tle ch'a ax', hitx' saa·ni yei’ dwasaa·kw chilk,
ch'a ax' has ajinakx,

110 tsu ch'a goo·t aa` hee·n wat,
yaa woo`sh itx yaa` gadahinch yaa xaa’t,
ax' ayoo`, a xoo`x yaa` gakuxch,
yaa` has galagas'ch.
Yaa·x' awei` yei`st koo`haa·ych,

115 aa, tsu has nalgas'ch,
yaa guwakaa·n ax' has ungaa`.ee`ni yei·de.
Haa a tsu, kaa’x'w las'aa`gin tlagu kwaa·nx'i,
a tsu ikde katxut'x'w nuch yoo guwakaa·n.
Aa shaa·ch awei`s woo’shdax has akalak'etl'x nuch,

120 yoo’ a gatsdaa`dlee`yi
ka a xikdaa`dlee`yi.
A s'oo·gu,
ch'oo shux'aa·dax tle yax yat.ls'uwch.
A tsu ch'u tle gan kaa`nax,

125 ch'u tle tlaa·kw,
tlei·l daa`gei·nax ux akat.ls'ekx yoo’ at,
ch'u tle tlaa·kw, x'aa`n kinaa·,
ch'u tle t'oo`ch' yax naganee`n
ch'a yoo’k', yoo’,

130 du ee’shch xaa`n kanik nuch yaa’ ax xan aa`,
yoo dlee`y, tlei·l daa`gei·nax dusxoo`kch,
uls'ixch daa`gei·nax yaa` kananei`ni.
Ch'u tle ayoo’ a shoo`wu u.ee·ych,
yoo dlee`y kaxt.sxoo`gu,

135 yei`sx' yei` daa`tne a.
Yoo taa·y k'oo`das'i yoo’ dwasaa·kw,
yoo tlax yataa·yi aa` guwakaa·n,
a daa`dax yoo` dwats'et'k yoo taa·y.
Tsu ch'a goo·t dusxukch.

140 A ayu a tsu,
taa·kw niyis, yan has oo`sxukch.
Yoo taa·y k'oo`das'ku.ayoo`
yoo at x'ee·shi tee·yi yoo’ toosaa·kw nuch,
a t'aa`gix has oo`lyexch.

145 A t'aa`gi dus.ee·ych,
aa`n has axaa` nujin.
Ayoo yei’ awei` atxa yan dusnee·yjin taa·kw niyis.
Yaa guwakaa·n shayadahei·nin ch'aa’kw,
ch'oo` l dlei`t kaa’ kugoo`stee`ji.

155 Ch'a goo`x' sa a ee`tinax kuwatee` yaa’ atxa,
yei` daa`tnei’yin ch'aa’kw.
Yaa yee`dat ku.ayaa` tlei·k'.
Ayoo shayat.hei·ni ku.oo` de tlei·l yan shkwa akooshtan,
yaa kaa` jee`de yaa` duchgeyi yax yatee`

155 ldakat yaa’ atxa.
A yei’ awei`.
Tsu a tsu,
yan gaxuk yaa guwakaa·n dlee`yi,
tsu yax yakat.st'ax'ch, (phon. tsu wax)

160 aa`de gadwaxaa`yi yax kwdagei`.
K'adei·n yan wus.ee`yi ayaa` tsaa’,
yaa guwakaa·n dlee`yi,
a tsu dusxukch.
K'adei·n woo`xoo`gu ayoo`,

165 yoo x'akaw`dutls'igu tsaa` taa·yi,
a ee`xi kaa`de yei` nt.snee`ch.
A tsu taa·kw niyis has algei·w nuch,
tsaa` ee`xi kaa`dei·.
Aya s agwaxaa`yi,

170 ch'a waa’k'w sa koo`gei·,
aa`de kaxtxaa`yi yax,
a kaa`x kei has atee`ch nuch.
Yoo lakt kax' ayoo`, a tsu yei` nt.ei`jin.
Yoo haa shkwaa`de kawtk'ee’t'i aa` ku'oo`,

175 yei’ awei` sh x'adaa` yan has udanaa`kjin ch'aa’kw.
Tlei·l hundaa`kahididax atxa duxaa’yin,
yaa haa tlagu kwaa·nx'i.
Sh x'adaa`x yoo` kda.atk nujin,
atxa yei’ kugei` woo`sh gunayaa·de.

180 Yaa kutaa`n tutlei·gu tsu,'
kanee·gwal'x has alyex nujin.
Yoo woo`sh gunaa·de,
yaa tlei`katank,
ka kant'a,

185 kanee·gwal' sakwx has oo`lyexch.
A tsu, ya lakt kaa`de yei` daa`tnei` nuch.
X'aa·l' tin has akoo`chakch.
A ayoo` a tsu,
yaa yee`dat tlei·kw tooxaa`yi yax kwshei’,

190 yoo dlee`y ka ch'u yoo’ at x'ee·shi yan has awoo` xaa`yi itx',
a awei` has axaa` nujin wei kanee·gwal' a itde.
Has du atxaa`yi ee`ti aa`yix has aw`lyex.
Yei’ awei` xwaskoo·,
i jee`t xwaa`tee· ya sh kalnee`k.

195 Haa yaa de tsu xat x'akaa`wakaa’ ayaa`,
yaa haa xant wagudi yee·s kaa’.
Aya du twaa’ sgoo^·
yaa gaa·l’ daa`t at ch'a yei’ gugei·nk' kaxwanee`gi.
Yaa yee·s taa·kwdax,

200 Nas'k aa` dis yat,
March yoo’ dwasaa·kw,
agiyaa` Kuxde Dis yoo’ twasaa·kw.
A yee`ni yawoo`xee`yidax ayoo`,
yoo gaa·l' yoo Lin`gitch ch'u tle tleeyei’ yoo` nasnee`ch;

205 tlei·l duxaa` nuch.
Yoo a tu.adi s'oo`w yax yaa` ganee`ch yu.
Ayaa ax xan aa` du tlaa’ch
ax ee`n kalanee`k nuch,
"Tlei·l kaxyeexaa` gaa·l'

210 yaa dis yee`n too·dax;
ch'u tle x'akaxyeenaa·k."
ch'u tle tsoo· yei`su disi yat tsaa’, October,
aa` a yee`n tu yawuxee`yidax tsaa’ (phon. tu wawu …)
tsu gunei’ duxaa·ych yoo gaa·l',

215 Yaa koo·x' kudagei’k nuch yoo’ ayoo`,
kutaa`n too·x' duxaa`yi.
Ach ayoo` x'atnaa`kjin yoo gaa·l',
tlei·l has ooxaa` nuch.
A yaa yaa`lulei`t yoo’ twasaa·gu aa` ku.aa`s,

220 a tsu tleeyei’ yoo has anasnee`jin aa` duxaa`yi.
A yaa May, yoo’ twasaa·kw,
Taa·kw Ee`ti Disi,
a yaa`dax tsaa’
tsu gunei’ duxaa·ych yoo yaa`lulei`t. (phon. yoo<sup>.</sup> waa` …)

225 A yei’ x'ayakaa` nuch,
yaa ax xan aa` du tlaa’,
"Dei yak'ei·, de a gaa`wu ayaa`
yaa yaa`lulei`t tsu tooxaa`yi.
Kutaa`n xaa’di de a kax yaa`wax'ak yu a,

230 dei woo`k'ei· duxaa`yi."
Aa`gaa· yu gaa`wx' tsaa’
tsu gunei’ tooxaa·ych yoo yaa`lulei`t.
A yei’ ayaa` haa` ee`n katnik noo`jin.
Ach ayaa` shayathei·ni gaa`w

235 yaa dlei`t kaa’
has du ee’ kaw`tgei’k;
kutaa`n, ka ch'u taa·kw ee`tix',
ch'oo` has axaa` nuch,
aya Lin`gitch kwas tlei·k'.

240 Ch'u tle ayoo tleeyei’ yoo nt.snee`ch,
has aw`skoo· a daa`t at ach ayoo`.
Ka yaa·t'aa` tsu,
a kaa’ daa`k xat sei`wahaa·,
yaa ax xan aa` du tlaa’

245 yei’ haa daa`yakaa` nujin,
"Hee·n taa·k aa`si daa`dax lil yaa`k yeexaa·k.
Koo·x' kutgei’k
yoo hee·n taa·k aa`si daa`dax yoo yaa`k yei` wsnee`yi." (phon. yoo waa`k)
Has awstaa· yoo woosh dashaa·yi --

250 ayu a daa`t tsu ax ee`n sh kalnee`k --
a yoo hee·n taa·k aa`si daa`dax ayoo`
yoo yaa`k yei` has aw`snee`, (phon. yoo waa`k)
taa·kw ee`ti.
A yu has du ee’ kaw`tgei’k;

255 ch'oo daxnax has has woo`naa`,
yoo yaa`k has awoo`xaa`yi. (phon. yoo waa`k)
Ach ayoo` axaa`x' x'akaw`dutlgei’k nujin.
Yaa ax chaa`nch ax ee`n kanik,
"Lil hee·n taa·k aa`si daa`dax yaa`k yei` daa`ynei·k;

260 koo’ kutgei’k."
A ayaa` ach xwaskoo<sup>·</sup>
yaa Lin`git atxaa`yi;
ach ax yatx'i tin kaxanik noo`ch,
goo`t'a gaa`wx' sa tsaa’

265 tsu gunei’ duxei·x,
yaa hee·n taa·k atxaa`yi.
Shayathei·ni gaa`w,
de yaa dlei`t kaa’ a jee`t woo`tee`.
Yaa taa·kw ee`tex'ka yaa kutaa`n yee`nx'

270 ch'oo` has axaa` nuch.
Ach ayoo` yaa haa shkwaa`de woo.aa`di aa`ch,
haa ee`n has akalanee`k ach ayaa`,
yaa haa xant wagudi yaa yee·s kaa’,
haa` yoo x'atangi akashexee`t,

275 ayaa yei’ ayaa` du jee`t xwaa`tee<sup>·</sup>
yaa hintaa·k atxaa`yi daa`t at,
yei’ kaa`wagei`.