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Klahoose Landscape

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

Orcas in Desolation Sound - Credit Larissa Rand

nənqəm

nənqəm : Klahoose

killer whale : English

 

ʔasxʷ

ʔasxʷ : Klahoose

seal : English

King Fisher - Bird Watching

t'ɛt'ɩtɛs

t'ɛt'ɩtɛs : Klahoose

birds : English

Dalls Porpoise

kʷunot

kʷunot : Klahoose

porpoise : English

Jellyfish under the dock at Klahoose Wilderness Resort

pupɬanačɛqəɬ

pupɬanačɛqəɬ : Klahoose

jelly fish : English

Steller Jay, Larrisa Rand

qʷišqʷiš 

qʷišqʷiš  Klahoose

blue jay : English

(Pictured: Steller Jay)

Raven : Larrisa Rand

p̓oho 

p̓oho : Klahoose

raven : English

Mink : Larrisa Rand

məs 

məs : Klahoose

mink : English

Owl

xɛxʔnɛk̓  

xɛxʔnɛk̓ : Klahoose

owl : English

Woodpecker, Larrisa Rand

kʷakʷawatɛxʷ 

kʷakʷawatɛxʷ : Klahoose

woodpecker : English

butterfly in Toba Inlet .jpg

kakilaq (paʔa pyunač) 

kakilaq (paʔa pyunač) : Klahoose

butterfly: English

Klahoose_Grizzlies_Social Size_Chase-21.jpg

xawgəs

xawgəs : Klahoose

grizzly bear : English 

 

 

Sea Lions

kʷumaqɛn

kʷumaqɛn ; Klahoose

sea lion : English

Black Bear

p̓əθ mɛxaɬ

p̓əθ mɛxaɬ : Klahoose

black bear : English

Deer

kʷunot

kʷunot : Klahoose

deer : English

Great Blue Heron - Credit Jeff Lucas

pəlʔ

pəlʔ : Klahoose

heron : English

Snake - credit Larrisa Rand

ʔoɬqay 

ʔoɬqay : Klahoose

snake : English

Wild Cat

mɛ:məw 

mɛ:məw : Klahoose

cat : English

Rabbit

tukɬɛ

tukɬɛ: Klahoose

rabbit : English

taq̓ʷa  

taq̓ʷa : Klahoose

octopus : English

lizard

sisxʷuɬ 

sisxʷuɬ : Klahoose

lizard: English

Hummingbird

xopxop 

xopxop : Klahoose

humming bird: English

Humpback Whale - Larrisa Rand

qʷənɛs 

qʷənɛs : Klahoose

whale : English

Pictured: Humpback Whale

 

Klahoose Wilderness Resort - Bald Eagle

qaykʷ 

qaykʷ  : Klahoose

eagle : English

Pacific White Sided Dolphin

qʷəšim 

qʷəšim : Klahoose

dolphin : English

Mountain Goats

xʷɛɬay

xʷɛɬay : Klahoose

mountain goat : English

Cormorant : Larrisa Rand

maθɛč 

maθɛč : Klahoose

commorant : English

Seagulls - Larrisa Rand

hayom̓

hayom̓: Klahoose

seagull : English

Squirrel, Credit: Larrisa Rand

kʷakʷaju 

kʷakʷaju : Klahoose

squirrel : English

Sharp Shinned Hawk

tᶿɛtᶿqeynɛs 

tᶿɛtᶿqeynɛs : Klahoose

hawk : English

Cougar

məga

məga : Klahoose

cougar : English

Duck

qʷaqʷaxʷ 

qʷaqʷaxʷ : Klahoose

duck : English

Wet dog in water

č̓ɛn̓o 

č̓ɛn̓o  : Klahoose

dog: English

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