OO`TSKAA·YI SHAA`WAT
THE LAZY WOMAN

Kalnaa^·kw x’ei ^· dax
by Emma Williams
Click to see illustration by Darlene Hoff

1 Aa` yaa·du,
haa shagunkax' katnik nuch yoo x'atank.
Yee·s shaa· jis ayaa` kutstee`,
yoo’ ax ee`n kaw`dwanee`k,

5 yaa oo`tskaa·yi aa` gukaa·x'
katnik nuch yaa yoo` x'atank.
Ch'aa’gu kwaa·ni,
tlei·l yee`dat aa`de kutwa.uwu yax
kut.oo`wun ch'aa’kw.

10 Yan shkwa hitx'i
l uldoo`k dei·n kwa daa`tnei` nuch,
yoo’ at akin ye,
tlei·l ch'ei’x’w too’ yei’ oo`kee·ch.
Yoo gan daa` l uldoo`k dei·n has ana.ei`ch.

15 Hei·l goo`haa· nuch yoo l'ei·w,
yoo gan daa` l'ei·wu yaa` nalch'ex'u,
ch'u tle aa`x woo`sh Kaa`de kant.hei·ch,
tsu gande.
Yoo nei`ldax ax anaa`.aa di yei·de

20 kat.lxei·s' nuch.
A ee`tix' ku.ayoo`s,
yee·s aa` l'ei·w tsu aa’ nei`lde duhatx'w nuch,
kaa` gushkahaa·di kat ayoo`,
ka ts'anei’,

25 daa` sa kaa jee` yei` yatee` a kat,
yoo yee·s l'ei·w yu gan daa`, (phon. yoo wee·s)
ch'u tle ldakat a daa` koo`xatch.
Aa’ yei’ akee·ch ye,
ka yoo aa’ axex'xw ye tsu,

30 a kaa`x shawtkee`yi yoo’,
ch'u tle dakde kat.lk'wat'ch,
yoo gan kei’l'i kals'ee’sxi nak,
kat.lk'wat'ch kaa x'oo·wu.
Ka yaa aa’ at kaxtxaa` ye tsu,

35 A yis gaa·ch ayoo` du.aa`gin ch'aa’kw;
yoo laa`x daa`yi gaa·chx dulyexch,
a yangaa` kwdagei`.
A yoo’ at kaxtxaa`yi,
aa’ daa`k du.axch,

40 yoo kaa’ atxaa`yi a kaa’ yei` naxt.ei`t.
A daa` woo`skee·ych,
at yatx'i
has du tlaa’, ka has du ee’sh.
Ka yoo has du s'ix'i tsu,

45 kutstee` a saa`yi yoo l'ei`wu atx dustee` nuch,
kilaa`x'w saa·ni yax;
a kax has at xaa` nuch has du s'ix'i yax.
A yoo yan at wudaa`xaa`yi ku.ayoo`, (phon. yoo wan)
ch'u tle yoo s'ix'gaa`,

50 yoo aa`s wan xaa`wu yoo’ dwasaa·gu aa` yoo s'ix'gach
dulgei·kw nuch yoo has du s'ix'i<sup>4</sup>.
Ganltaa·de dulgich nuch yoo s'ix'gaa`.
Ayoo·, u tle tsu has ayakoochakch a it at xa yis.
A yaa·t'aa` aya ax ee`n kaw`tnee`gin,

55 yoo shaa`wat, tlax waa’ sa kwshei’ oo`tskaa·.
Yee·s shaa`wat ayoo`.
Yan has at gaxei·n ayoo`,
tle woo`sh kax kagalyas'ch yoo x'aa`n goo`k.
Aa`x ayoo` du x'oo`s ashakoo`lyench,

60 du s'ix'i kwa ch'a ax' has du atxaa`yi kaa`de yaa` gaxukch.
Tlei·l oo` tle yei’ akoolgwei·ch,
tlei·l yoo’ awoo.ei`k.
Yu du dei·nx yaw`skiyi aa` shaa· kwa
ch'u tle tlaa·kw has du s'ix'i has akanalgwei·ch,

65 u tle tsu s ayana.ei`ch,
ayoo hu kwaa` tlei·k'.
Ayoo taa·kw ee`tide yaa` kukgahei·n ayoo`,
yoo’ atxa kaa` jee` yaa` kagoo`.ats'ch.
Ayaa a x'aa·x gaa`w yaa` xixch nuch, tsu has at woo`xaa`yi. (phon. gaa`w waa)

70 Ayoo tlei·x' yakyee` ayoo` kuwak'ei·,
aya gaa·nt aa`wa.aa`t.
Yoo shaa`wat kwa ch'u we nei`l x'aa`n daa` at aa·,
woo`sh kax kawtlyaa’s'.
A yaa·k'udax awei` wudutstee·n wei dei`kee·x yaa` yana.ei·n wei kee’t.

75 Awe shaa· ka at yatx'i,
de ee·kt walaa·, ikde has loo`wagoo`k.
Awe u tle has oo`lxei·s',
wei dei`kee·x yaa` yana.ei·n kee’tde,
yei’ has x'ayaka,

80 "Haa x'ei·t aywoo·,
haa x'ei·t aywoo·.
Haa ee·t yaa`n wahaa·,
haa yatx'i has du ee·t yaa`n wahaa·."
A ch'oo’ at has nagi awei`,

85 has du yakaa`nax kei yaa`wagoo· yoo kee’t. (phon. du wa-)
Awe tlei·l wut.stee·n,
waa’ sa at wutsnee· yoo lakt.
Yoo ee·k soo`gu, laa`gak yoo’ twasaa·kw,
s'oo`w yax nastee`ch,

90 a ayoo` yoo lakt yax wudutlyex.
Wei’ aa`de at kaw`dwa.at,
we shaa· ka at yatx'i,
awei·, a kat has awoo`lgee`ni awei`,
has aw`stee·n daa` sawei` ee`x.

95 Ch'u tle at kaw`dwa.at wei shaa· nei`lde.
Daa` sa has aa`washaa’t s'ix',
ee`x yinaa`de at kaw`dwa.at,
A yoo shaa`wat awei` tsaa`t wei·ga awe wut.ak.
Wutgoo`t. (phon. wutgii`t)

100 Aa`x aa`wasaa’t yoo du s'ix'i,
a wei s'ix'gaa` hei·l kei’ oo`t'ee`ch
ach akugaa`xlgoo`wu at.
Awe ch'a du koo·n awe aa`x aa`washaa’t.
Aa`n ee`k nagut

105 yoo a kax has at waxayi s du s'ix'i.
Yoo’ atxa a kat wusxuk.
Hei·l a kaa`x yei’ oo`lgwei·ch.
At kaw`dwa.at wei shaa·,
ch'a wei kaa’;

110 wei` ee`x taa·x has al.aa`di.
Awe ch'u yaa` nagudi a wei shaa`wat, (phon. ch'u waa`)
ch'u kaa` jee`gaa· yakaa`wagei`,
wei shaa`wat kwa ch'oo` ee`k nagut,
awe tsu kei` yaa`wagoo· wei kee’t.

115 A yax has sat.axch,
yoo ax ee`n katnee·gi yoo kee’t,
dakde kei yaa`wagoo·,
"Xxxxxw," has wudwa.ax.
Ch'u tle yoo ee`x tsu a ee`tix has ayaw`tlgin,

120 awe ch'u tlei·l a xant ugoo`tji,
yoo oo`tskaa·yi shaa`wat,
yoo’ ee`x ku.a tle hoo·ch'.
Aa`x awe wei· shaa·ch kaa`washuk,
"Cha daa’ agee`skaa·."

125 Ach ayoo` ch'u tle ch'a tlakw at yatyekch,
ldakat yakyee` too·x',
kaa dei·n adi l uldoo`k dei·n daa`tnei` nuch.
Tlei·l tsu du x'ei·x aa` wttee` yoo’ ee`x.
Ayoo`, ach awe du dei·n aa` shaa·

130 ldakat has ayaa`wadlaa`k,
yoo ee`x has du x'ei·t wudwawoo<sup>·</sup>
yoo kee’tch.
Ayoo` yaa sh kalnee`k
yaa yee·s shaa· jis ayoo`, aa`x wudwatee`,

135 ch'u tle ach has yat.ljee` nuch yoo yee·s shaa·. (phon. yoo wee·s)
L uldoo`k dei·n at ee.aa` ye,
ch'u tle l uldoo`k dei·n.
Ka ch'a tlakw at yatyekch,
ch'a daa`t yis sa yax kunee`.

140 Yoo’ yoo` x'atank ayaa` wudutlyex,
yaa yee·s shaa·x sitee`yi aa` jis ayoo`,
tlaa`gu yax ayoo` woo`tee`.
Ach yat.ljee`yi yax,
du jee`x dutee` nuch yaa yoo` x'atank.

145 "A tlakw at yanayekx,
a tlakw at yanayekx.
Yaa i dei·n adi, ka yaa’ i x'ayei`di,
l uldoo`k dei·n."
X'aa`kdiyei·x' ayoo`,

150 tsu ch'a kwnayei·dax aa`ndax,
kaa ee`gayaa·x yakw koo`x nujin.
A yis ayoo` tsu, yax kunee` nujin.
Tlei·l yoo’ a, ch'a ax' has oo`ltinx noo`jin,
kaa aa`ni ee`gayaa·t yakw gakux,

155 ch'u tle ch'a aa`doo· sa
ch'u tle nagutch has du t'aa·de,
"Haa·t yee’.a.
Nei`lx' haa·t yee’.a.
X'aa`nak'w goo`kx' daa`k yee’.a."

160 Ch'u tle aa’ nei`l has oo’.aa`tch
yoo’ aa`de has wudwa.ee’x'i aa` hit yee`de.
Ch'a a yax sgwach,
ch'u tle yoo shaa`wat tle aa’ yax unoo`kch.
Du atxaa`yi a too’ yei’ aya.uwu lakt akookel'ch.

165 Ayoo’ a yis yan at unee·ych,
yei’ at woo`tee`yi.
Ch'u tle daa`k yei’ oo`snee·ych du x'ayei`di, l uldoo`k,
ka yoo gaa·ch yax akagayei·ch.
A kax' a x'ei·x has at natee`ch,

170 yoo nei`lde has aa`waxoo`xu ku.oo`.
Yei’ ayoo` has shukatjei`s’ nujin yee·s kuna.oo·,
ya yee·s shaa·,
yan kaa`wawadi aa` shaa·ch has du ee`n yoo` x'ala.atk nuch.
He yei’ ayaa` at yatee` yee`dat.

175 Yoo’ ayoo` ax ee`n akaa`wanee’k,
yaa’ ax xan aa` du tlaa’ch.
Hei gwal oo`tee·n nujin,
gwal tlei·l tlax a yax daa` sa yaa nei`lx' yei` jee`xane.
Ach giyoo`

180 woo`sh itde ax ee`n akaa`wanee`k yaa sh kalnee`k.
Yaa yei’ xat daa`yaka,
"Yee`dat ku.aa` dlei`t kaa’ kustee`yi ayaa`,
katoo`kayaa` a yax kutoo.oo`wu,
ch'oo` tlei·l kwshei’ tlax a shoo`wu yax.

185 He ch'a aa`n ku.aa` kunaykayaa`,"
yoo’ haa` yaw’skaa`,
ka ch'oo` tle ax xan aa` tsu a too·t aa`watee·,
"Kunaykayaa`.
Yaa yee`dat aa`n too·x' yei` kutixx'u,

190 ch'a gunayei· kwaa·n yee`ysatee·ni,
lil hee x'awoo`l yaa’nax yaa’ ugutjik,
ch'oo` tsu l yee`ysakoo·wu,
ch'oo` tle nei`lx naytee`.
Hee ku.oo`wu has agaa`xsatee·n.

195 Lil has du ee·t yaa`n woo`haa·k,"
yoo’ ayoo` ax ee`n yoo has x'ala.atk noo`jin,
yaa ax xan aa` du tlaa’ ka du ee’sh.
Has du x'ayee` kanukch,
x'oo`n gaa`w sa shuxwalxee`x

200 has du x'ei·t woo`s.aa`x.
Ch'a xat sh daa` yoo tuxattank.
Yei’ ax too·wu yatee`, (phon., too·wu watee`)
ch'u yee·s shaa`tk'xat satee`yi ayoo`, (phon., ch'u wee·s)
jinkaa`t ka daa`x'oo`n ax kataa·gu,

205 ayoo` ax tlaa’ ax nak woo`goo`t.
Aya ax shatx has, has wudwashaa·,
hei tlei·l kwa utlsee`n has du kustee`yi.
U tle ch'a xat ayoo` sh xwatltin,
tlei·l xat shukangaa`jei`s'i aa` koo`sti.

210 Ayoo` ax too’ yei` woo`tee`
yaa yoo` x'atank ax jee`x has atee`yi,
has xat shukoojei`s' ayoo` yoo’ xat too`watee`.
Ax tlaa’ ax nak woo`naa`
ch'u at k'atsk'ux xat satee`yi.

215 Ch'a xat ayoo`,
ch'u tle sh yaa’ yan xwathan.
Ach ayoo`,
ax ee`n yoo` has x'ala.at ganikw,
has du x'ayee` kanukch.

220 Ach yaa yakyee`, de yee`dat,
aa`de kkwatee· yaa·t'a.
De xat wutshan,
hei ch'oo` has saxaa`.axch ku.aa`,
yaa yak'eyi yoo` x'atank,

225 yan has xat shukaa`wajaa·.
X'oo`n gaa`w sa shuxwalxee`x,
has du x'ayee` kanukch.
Ach yee x'ayxaka, yaa· yakyee`,
gunalchee·sh.

230 Ax yaa’ daa`k ixixch has du yoo` x'atangi.
Yaa’ ax xan aa` du tlaa’ch yei’ xat daa`yakaa` nuch,
"Yei kgwayaa·t’, a kaa’ daa`k isahei·ji ax yoo` x'atangi.
Gunalchee·sh," yoo’ xat daa`yakaa` nuch --
ax ee’sh a yat x'awoo`lyoo’wun --

235 "ax ee·k' yadi,"
yei’ ayaa` ax ee·x x'ataa`n nujin, "ax ee·k' yadi,
gunalchee·sh ax x'ayee`t ee.aa`yi.
Aa`x awei`, hee nak haa` kandayei<sup>.</sup>ni,
i yaa’ daa`k gwaxixch

240 daa` sa i ee`n katoo`nee`gin."
Aa’ ayaa` aa`de sh tugaa` xat ditee` ch'a xat.
Tlei·l has du x'ayee`dax wuxdahaa`n,
yan has x'awoo`data`ni yee`gaa·,
kanukch has du x'ayee`x'.

245 Ach yaa· yakyee`,
daa` sa ax too’ daa`k waxix,
yaa daxnax yatee`yi ax shaa· yatx'i,
yax has kagagei`yin,
tleeyei’ has gaa`ganugu,

250 yei’ tuwasaa·kw,
has du jee`x xatee` nujin
has du aa·li yoo` x'atangi.
Aa`x yei’ sh daa` yaxakaa` nuch,
"Hee yatx'i tin` kanaynee·k,

255 daa` sa hee` jee`x xatee`yin,
hee aa·li yoo` x'atangi ayaa`.
Yei’ haa` daa`yakaa` nuch,
dlei`t kaa’ xoo` yei haa` yatee` yee`dat.
Hei ch'u ku.a Lin`gitx haa` stee`

260 has du yax', yaa dlei`t kaa’. (phon., du wax')
Ach yak'ei· yee’ysakoo·wu hee shagoo·n.
Líl a nak ayaydakee·xik,
yaa` gayti."
Yei’ xat daa`yakaa` nujin,

265 "I dachxanx' yei` kugwastee·,
has du jee`x x'wan natee`
yaa i ee`n kaxanik at.
Has shukanajei`s'."
Ayaa ach daa` kgwaa`tee·

270 yaa shaa`wat du daa`t sh kalnee`k.
Lil oo`skaa·, li.
K'anashgudei·x kunastee`ch yoo’ oo`skaa·.
Sh x'adaa` yoo kudagutkw aa’ jee`tskaa· nuch,
oo`tskaa·yi kaa’.

275 Aa`gaa· ayoo` as at yaa`n uhaa·ych
oo`skaa· t'ei·x'
sh x'adaa` yoo` kwdagutkw.
Ayaa lis'aa`gi aa` ku.aa`, ku.oo`,
tlei·l has du ee·x yaa`n uhaa`.

280 Yei’ ayaa` yatee` yeedat,
yaa dlei`t kaa’ xoo` yei` haa` tee`yi,
a yis sh doo’ at dultee’w,
a yaa school a too·nax yaa’ agutch,
kaa` kustee`yi gagak'ei·t,

285 ach sh doo’ at dultee’w nuch.
Yei’ ayaa` kusti haa` jee` yatee` yee`dat.
Ach haa` ee’ dultee’w nuch,
dlei`t kaa’ too·nax,
l uldoo`k,

290 a yaa· at tookin ye,
ldakat yakyee` l uldoo`k dei·n daa`naxtoonei`
yoo’ haa` daa` yatkaa` nuch.
Ach yaa yoo` x'atank,
yan xwatee·ych ya yee`dat.

295 Ax shaa· dachxanx',
has du ee`n yoo` x'axla.atk nuch,
yoo’, ka yoo’ kee`stee`yi,
kei’ ikgwak'ei·.
Yei’ has daa`yaxaka ax dachxanx',

300 ch'oo` kunaa’ dlei`t kaa’ shoo`wux hee` stee`,
hei kwa ch'a tlakw haa` yaa’ dulshat, Lin`git.
Ach ax twaa’ sgoo<sup>·</sup>
yei’ s daa`yaxaka yaa’ ax dachxanx’,
ax twaa’ sgoo·

305 yaa haa shei`yi too·nax kiyee`ystee`yi
tl'ei`takw kaa’, a yax yinagi,
sh yaa’ ayagaydanei·.
Lil hee` kaw`tshoo`guk.
Ax x'ashee`yix sitee` yaa yoo` x'atank,

310 ax dachxan.
Ya shaa· ax dachxanx'
tlei·l haa yoo` x'atangi atx has oo`sti.
Ach dlei`t kaa’nax,
ch'u waa· sa ax jee`gaa·yatee` a yax,

315 has du ee`n yax yakkwanee`gan nuch,
yaa haa kustee`yi.