Section 6.6 Squamish - ETSÍM SKW'SHIM̓ IY TA HIYÍ STSEK̲
Written by: Veselin Jungic and Mark MacLean Illustrated by: Simon Roy and Jess Pollard Squamish translation by: Setálten, Norman Guerrero Jr. of the Squamish Nation
Na há7lhstas kwis em̓ím̓ash ays ta lam̓s kwi ses mékw’ems k̲ex̲ nach’ es7átetem. Na kw’áchnexwas ta kw’ewkw’ín̓ sitn. “Na ha7lhs ta sitn” na tsut ta Etsím Skw’shim̓ kwis lha7n ta sitn.
Small number likes to wander around grandma’s house because whenever he visits he discovers something new and exciting. This time he finds an old woven basket. “Look how beautiful these patterns are,” says Small Number while touching the smooth surface of the basket.
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“Na wa tahím̓ ta sitn lhen si7l” na tsut lha si7ls. “Nu chexw tél̓nexwas kwi ses tahím̓stas ti sitn tl’a t’kw’ámyexw?” na tsut lha si7ls.
“It was made by my great aunt.” Small numbers hears grandma’s gentle voice. “Do you know that this basket was made from cedar roots?”
Na wa kw’áchtas ta shíshich’us lha si7ls. Na tsut, “Ta new iy Nach’ím̓ Skw’shim̓ esk̲’éw̓ ta ents kwis nam̓ chet ek̲’ k̲éxwen ta t’kw’ámyexw kwáyles. Wi7ski na̓ chet ílhen kwis sen hánstumiyap, k̲’es tim̓á wa wanáxws chet ta x̲pay̓ ta stélmexw chet.”
Grandma looks at Small Number’s puzzled face. And says, “You, Perfect Number will go with me tomorrow to help me gather cedar roots. Now let us eat and I’ll tell you why cedar is a sacred plant for our people and how it can be used in many ways.”
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Na wa sum̓nálhen kwi ha7lháy̓ak̲ep ta stsék̲tsek̲ na ti slhém̓lhem natlh kwa Etsím Skw’shim̓ Na wa tkwayá7nminswit ta slúlum tl’a k̲w’ín̓exw chílhiw̓ilh na7 ta stsék̲tsek̲. “Stam melh táychiwilh ta hiyí slhék̲’wilh?” wa ta7áw̓n ta Etsím Skw’shim̓ kwis í7imesh na7 ta státax̲ay̓s.
It is a misty morning and Small Number can smell the sweet scent of the forest. He hears the birds singing to each other somewhere high in the trees. “What is behind those big trunks?” thinks Small Number and starts walking over the course woody debris on the forest floor.
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Ses men kw’awch ta stak̲w. Na m̓i hiyí ta k̲él̓k̲elum̓s na m̓i aw̓íts tl’a skweníwsems ímen kwis kw’áchnexwas ta achcháwam sts’úk̲wi7 na7 ta stak̲w. “an k̲ex̲ sts’úk̲wi7 i tti!”
Then he looks down at the water. Small Numbers Eyes widen and the beating of his heart fastens when he realizes the creek is full of spawning salmon. “There must be thousands of fish here!”
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“Etsím Skw’shim̓! Chen tsun chexw kwis ch’ích’its ta ents!” Na wa tkwayá7nmins ta nekwéltns lha si7ls m̓i táychiwilhs. Na wa sheych’ántsuts ses men k̲’áts’usen lha si7ls. “An chen tem stl’i7 ta new lhen si7l” na tsuntm. “An chen tem stl’i7 ta new ímen, welh haw k̲w’exw ip’áak̲w’ulhmints!” na tsun lha si7ls.
“I told you to stay with me all the time Small Number!” Small Number hears his grandma’s quiet voice coming just from behind him. He turns around and hugs his grandma very tightly. “I love you so much grandma!” “]“I love you very much too, but please don’t scare me like this again!” replies grandma.
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Swelk̲w’áls: kw’in kwi síiya(s kwi ses sheych’ántem ta míx̲alh stsek̲?
Question: How wide was the Bear Tree?
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