Wildlife & Klahoose Language
ʔayʔaǰuθəm is the Language of the ƛoʔos (Klahoose), ɬəʔamɛn (Tla’amin), k̓ómoks (Comox), and χʷɛmaɬkʷu (Homalco) Nations. ʔayʔaǰuθəm (“Ayajuthem”) is part of the Coast Salish language family. It is estimated that the number of fluent speakers is between less than a dozen to around 50 people. Whether we are aware of it or not, language shapes and affects the way we think – it is intrinsically and inextricably tied to culture; therefore, it is essential to learn and use language – as often as we can.
Emily White, a Counsellor from the Klahoose and Tla’amin Nations shares:
“Our language is rooted in the land – it comes from the land; therefore, some words cannot be translated into English with their full meaning. An example of this is the place name ‘tišosəm’, which translates to ‘milky water from herring spawn’ and is the traditional name for where the current village of Tla’amin is located. This name also holds knowledge and history – traditionally, herring accounted for up to 90% of our diet.”
Jordan T’hii Ayi Mitchell from the Tla’amin Nation adds:
“Place names in our language are related to the land but are also tied to how we lived – they give insights into what could be gathered at a place and when. Almost like a verbal map of where to get what you might need.”
Below are some of the titačumɩxʷ you may see during your time with us. For more language and place name resources we recommend the following:
Historically, the Tla’amin, and adjacent First Nations of Klahoose, Homalco and K’omoks were one people without borders. Oral traditions form a collective living memory, which when combined with archaeological data, provide a more complete picture of the past. The map, entitled ʔəms gɩǰɛ (Our Land), presented here documents the place names as remembered by the residents of the Tla’amin Nation.
https://powellriver.ca/pages/photo-history-of-powell-river
First Voices is a web-based tool designed to support people engaged in language archiving, language teaching, and culture. https://www.firstvoices.com/
Native Land is a resource to learn more about Indigenous territories, languages, lands, and ways of life. We welcome you to our site: https://native-land.ca/
titačumɩxʷ : Klahoose
animals : English
nənqəm
nənqəm : Klahoose
killer whale : English
ʔasxʷ
ʔasxʷ : Klahoose
seal : English
t'ɛt'ɩtɛs
t'ɛt'ɩtɛs : Klahoose
birds : English
kʷunot
kʷunot : Klahoose
porpoise : English
pupɬanačɛqəɬ
pupɬanačɛqəɬ : Klahoose
jelly fish : English
qʷišqʷiš
qʷišqʷiš Klahoose
blue jay : English
(Pictured: Steller Jay)
p̓oho
p̓oho : Klahoose
raven : English
məs
məs : Klahoose
mink : English
xɛxʔnɛk̓
xɛxʔnɛk̓ : Klahoose
owl : English
kʷakʷawatɛxʷ
kʷakʷawatɛxʷ : Klahoose
woodpecker : English
kakilaq (paʔa pyunač)
kakilaq (paʔa pyunač) : Klahoose
butterfly: English
xawgəs
xawgəs : Klahoose
grizzly bear : English
kʷumaqɛn
kʷumaqɛn ; Klahoose
sea lion : English
p̓əθ mɛxaɬ
p̓əθ mɛxaɬ : Klahoose
black bear : English
kʷunot
kʷunot : Klahoose
deer : English
pəlʔ
pəlʔ : Klahoose
heron : English
ʔoɬqay
ʔoɬqay : Klahoose
snake : English
mɛ:məw
mɛ:məw : Klahoose
cat : English
tukɬɛ
tukɬɛ: Klahoose
rabbit : English
taq̓ʷa
taq̓ʷa : Klahoose
octopus : English
sisxʷuɬ
sisxʷuɬ : Klahoose
lizard: English
xopxop
xopxop : Klahoose
humming bird: English
qʷənɛs
qʷənɛs : Klahoose
whale : English
Pictured: Humpback Whale
qaykʷ
qaykʷ : Klahoose
eagle : English
qʷəšim
qʷəšim : Klahoose
dolphin : English
xʷɛɬay
xʷɛɬay : Klahoose
mountain goat : English
maθɛč
maθɛč : Klahoose
commorant : English
hayom̓
hayom̓: Klahoose
seagull : English
kʷakʷaju
kʷakʷaju : Klahoose
squirrel : English
tᶿɛtᶿqeynɛs
tᶿɛtᶿqeynɛs : Klahoose
hawk : English
məga
məga : Klahoose
cougar : English
qʷaqʷaxʷ
qʷaqʷaxʷ : Klahoose
duck : English
č̓ɛn̓o
č̓ɛn̓o : Klahoose
dog: English