Duration: 38 minutes
See also page links:
Statements/Commands
http://haidalanguage.blogspot.com/2011/04/statements-commands.html
Colors
http://haidalanguage.blogspot.com/2011/04/colors-of-rainbow.html
Greetings and Responses
https://haidalanguage.blogspot.com/2011/04/simple-phrases.html
Funded by a grant from First People's Cultural Council: BC Language Initiative in collaboration with the Strathcona Community Center Association and the Vancouver Haida Elder Collective.
There are so man things the Old Ones talked about.... imparted to me and I want to pass it on but, the difficulty lies in knowing where to begin. Here is a little bit that was given to me as a small boy.
THE CEREMONY
by Ḵáawan Sangáa
It was then that the Eldest spoke,
Ḵ’áwda G̱ángáas, Díi gyúudiyaa uu daláng weiyit aa hl kil guláasii. Daláng gudangáay an uuhl súugang.
"Listen to me dear boy, I want to tell you good words. I am saying it so you can remember it always...
At the time we were brought into the light, Nang Kilstláas gave each thing its own Ceremony. That is how we see them. So long as they hold to their own Ceremony they remain the Thing Sangs SG̱áanuwaay made them. There are many humans who no longer keep the Ceremony given.
They have discarded their Ceremony and now wander and smash things; like the wind gone crazy. They think they made themselves and try to make a new Ceremony, but only make destruction for themselves and their relatives...
Watch them carefully and learn... the things they do as with all other events, will come this way again."
The Old One paused to let the Atmosphere quieten down then, is the same quiet measured tones he continued.
“…Each of us here are called “Awáahl gin g̱iidiinii iik hal k’iyiit giigiinii.” (He always remembers what happened way over there. Or Tide Watchers). To us was entrusted the knowledge given by Nang Kilstlaas at the time we Came-Into-Being; that is what makes us X̱aat'áay, we have our own Ceremony...
Once we were all Tide Watchers... then just a few... now...? We can only pass to you that which was passed to us by our Grandfathers. As your Chanáa said, others will reveal themselves to you, but, beware of the hollow-Ones...
...Strange ones came among us at a time when it seemed as though this place would no longer have Watchmen to look out for those things which were here before we came-into-Being. We listened to their words. They sounded good. But, like the Cedar that grows tall and straight-grained, they are the ones who, when sounded, are hollow in the center.
Some of our own people are like that; we call them the ‘Hollow-Ones’.
From those, like the Cedar that is hollow in the center, we take what we can use and leave the rest to go back into the ground. This is what Nang Kilstlaas (Raven) taught us. Never take what you cannot use. If you take something you think you can use, do not throw it away in an incorrect manner. This we will teach you.
Those persons with the good words, who are hollow in the middle, take from them that which you can use and leave the rest to decompose as it should. They are hard to see, but if each day you look to see what is supposed to be there, you will soon learn to see what is not supposed to be there. ...everything begins with the knowledge that we are not in control. So, always, especially when things are goin' good, ask for help."
The old man, face impassive, stopped speaking and we listened to the quiet. Ḵ’áwda G̱ángáas glanced at the window and saw the snowflakes continued to fall... he realized that he could hear them falling. The Elder looked at the wood burning stove and, "Díi uúudangíi sgwáansang, Hakw" -- my mind is one let’s go. (we go to meet your relatives.)
Ts'áanuwaay (the Fire) spoke again then, like the drawing of curtains, the world outside the circle faded and disappeared. There was light without light; warmth without heat. Ḵ’áwda G̱ángáas, although but yet a child, sensed that somehow his thoughts had become linked with those of the Elders. He felt as though he was wrapped in a warm blanket without folds to restrict.
To Be continued.
