ʔi yiy̓əq tə n̓ɑ weyəl = It is snowing today.

ʔi meqeʔ tə n̓ɑ weyəl = Snow on the ground today.

Thirteen moons counted, for the thirteen moons of the year.

The numbers spoken here use the suffix -əs to show that they are counting round objects. Take note of the numbers listed below to see the -əs suffix at the end of every number.

1. nəc̓əs
2. yəsal̕əs
3. ɬixʷəs
4. χəθinəs
5. ɬq̓acəs
6. t̕χəməs
7. t̕ᶿaʔkʷəs
8. tqeceʔs ~ tqecəs
9. tu:xʷəs
10. ʔəpanəs
11. ʔəpanəs ʔiʔ k̓ʷ nəc̓əs
12. ʔəpanəs ʔiʔ k̓ʷ yəsal̕əs
13. ʔəpanəs ʔiʔ k̓ʷ ɬixʷəs

Learn how to count to 20! Note that numbers above ten “ʔapən” use the word for ten and then another number. For example: 13, is ten and three: “ʔapən ʔiʔ k̓ʷ ɬixʷ” (ten and the three).

The numbers are listed below, along with direct translations for numbers above ten:

1. nəc̓aʔ
2. ʔisel̕ə ~ yəsal̕ə
3. ɬixʷ
4. χəʔaθən
5. ɬq̓ecəs
6. t̕χəm
7. t̕ᶿaʔkʷs
8. tqeceʔ
9. tu:xʷ
10. ʔəpan
11. ʔapən ʔiʔ k̓ʷ nəc̓aʔ (ten and the one)
12. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ ʔisel̕ə (ten and the two)
13. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ ɬixʷ (ten and the three)
14. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ χəʔaθən (ten and the four)
15. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ ɬq̓ecəs (ten and the five)
16. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ t̕χəm (ten and the six)
17. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ t̕ᶿaʔkʷs (ten and the seven)
18. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ tqeceʔ (ten and the eight)
19. ʔəpan ʔiʔ k̓ʷ tu:xʷ (ten and the nine)
20. c̓k̓ʷəx

k̓ʷinəw̓s
k̓ʷin                -əw̓s
How many?  bird bodies
How many birds?

nəc̓iw̓s
nəc̓aʔ    -iw̓s
one       bird body
one bird

yəsəliw̓s
yəsəl̕ə   -iw̓s
two       bird body
two birds

Enjoy a brief conversation about “Where are you from?” with Sesmelot and Aboriginal Support Worker, Tara Helps. Below is a translation of what is said. Take note of how place names sound in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ compared to how we say the in English.

S: Are you well/good?

T: Ahh . . . I am happy.

T: And you?

S: I am okay.

S: What’s your name?

T: I’m təməxʷəlwət.

T: And you?

S: Sesmelot is my name

S: Where are you from?

T: I come from Nicomekl

T: And you?

S: I come from Kwantlen

S: Right here!

T: Ahh . . . very good!

T: It’s beautiful

S: Yes.  This land is beautiful and this river is beautiful

T: Yes

S: Yes

T: See you later

S: Go well/see you later

ʔəy̓ sweyəl = Good Day

ʔa səy̓em̓ ʔiʔ tə nə siyey̓ə = Respected ones, friends.

ʔi ʔə ce:p ʔəw ʔeləy̓ ʔal̕ = Are you good? Are you well?

ʔe:nθə səy̓em̓ teyməts = I am Mr. Davids (səy̓em̓=respected one, teyməts=Davids)

təniʔ cən ʔə ƛ̓ q̓ic̓əy̓ = I am from Katzie

ʔi ʔə tə n̓a təməxʷ ʔə ƛ̓ šxʷq̓ic̓əy̓aʔɬ, šxʷq̓ʷa:n̓ƛ̓ən̓aʔɬ, šxʷmeθxʷəyaʔɬ ʔiʔ səmyəmaʔɬ məsteyəxʷ =

the/this is land of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui and Semiamhoo people

hay ce:p q̓ə = Thank you all

t̓ᶿχʷecsəm čxʷ, a sentence meaning “wash your hands”.

t̕ᶿə́χʷ means to get washed, -cəs is hand, and  čxʷ is you. So, this is a demand, linguistically. It literally means ‘wash hands you’, or ‘you wash your hands’.”

t̕ᶿqʷal̕əcaʔ means gloves.
t̕ᶿaʔqʷ means a container or cover, -l̕əc means hands, -aʔ

It literally means ‘a covering for one’s hands’.

To say the action of putting gloves on your own hands:
t̕ᶿqʷal̕əcaʔəm cən
t̕ᶿqʷal̕əcaʔ means gloves, -em means an action being taken. Then cən, the noun for “I”.

ʔəy̓ sweyəl tə nə syey̓ə = Good day, my friend. (sweyəl = literally translates as sky/day)

ʔi ʔə ʔəw čxʷ ʔəy̓ ʔal̕ = Are you good/well?

ʔəy̓  ʔəy̓ = Good! Good!

ʔiyəs tə n̓a weyəl ʔəθ kʷan = Happy Birthday (literally: happy this day of your birth)

ʔiyəs tə n̓a s-weyəl ʔə θ s-kʷan = Happy Birthday to you.

ʔiyəs tə n̓a weyəl ɬekʷəm = Happy Birthday dear one

ʔiyəs tə n̓a s-weyəl ɬekʷəm. . . = Happy Birthday, dear…

ʔiʔ qəχəwi:nxʷ = And many more years

VOCABULARY:

s-weyəl        day (s- nominalizer)

tə n̓a weyəl   today ( literal: the this/exist day)

kʷan            to be born

s-kʷan         birth (s-nominalizer)

ɬekʷəm        pet name,  term of endearment

stem tə niʔ means What is that?

sqəl̕əw̓ tə niʔ means A beaver there.

sqəl̕əw̓ means Beaver.

Something to note: tə may look like it could mean is. tə is actually closer to the word ‘the’, called a determiner. Which means if you were to translate the questions above literally, it would read: What the there?

stem tə niʔ means What is that?

sməyəθ tə niʔ means A deer there.

sməyəθ means deer.

stem tə ʔi means What is there?/What is that?

sqəqəweθ tə ʔi means It is a rabbit.

sqəqəweθ means rabbit.

stem tə niʔ means What is that?

skʷayeʔ tə niʔ means It is a squirrel

skʷayeʔ means squirrel

stem tə niʔ = What is there?/What is that?

ʔeχeʔ = Canadian Goose

stem tə ʔi = What is there?/What is that?

sqʷiqʷəmey̓ tə ʔi = It is a little dog.

sqʷiqʷəmey̓ = little dog

spa:l̕ tə niʔ = There is a Raven

spa:l̕ = Raven

stem tə ʔi = What is this?

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓qən = Speak hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (qən = Lexical suffix mouth/language)

speʔəθ = Black (or any kind of) Bear

qəl̕et = repeat, again

sqəqəweθ = Rabbit

məlləs = Raccoon

stqayeʔ = Wolf

pipa:m̓ = Frog

sǝýeḿstǝxw – means “Respected One”

ctetəm čxʷ = What are you doing?

pəp̓ən̓əm̓ cən kʷθə sqewθ = I am planting wapato (wild potato).

Note, in the sentence above, pəp̓ən̓əm̓ is the verb “be planting”, cən is the pronoun “I”, kʷθə is the determiner (like the word “the”) for “not visible”, and sqewθ is the word for wapato or wild potato.

Historical Context:

Sesmelot: The Indigenous people of this area were quite sedentary so all that they needed were right in this resourceful and abundant area.  However, families had the rites to some gathering sites as well as fishing sites so it was the səy̓em̓ (respected ones) that told us when it was time to harvest certain plants and berries.

It was the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) people who were the keepers of the kʷəmləxʷ (root food).

Sesmelot is planting sqewθ (potato).  Actually this is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word for wapato, the root potato is a native species to the land was traditionally found in the Pitt Meadows area, Katzie territory.

How can students practice hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ in their own gardens at home?

Try repeating the sentences over and over as you make the action of planting, pəp̓ən̓əm̓. Sesmelot has also been making wooden signs for plants she has been planting using hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ words.

ʔi = here & now (auxiliary verb)

ʔaʔləχətəs = to gather resources (verb) [-ət = transitive, -əs = third person]

θə sɬenəy̓ = the woman [θə = determiner]

tə t̕ᶿəxʷt̕ᶿəxʷ = the stinging nettle [tə = determiner]

ʔi = here & now (auxiliary verb)

χteʔəm = to prepare

ʔə = preposition

tə t̕ᶿəxʷt̕ᶿəxʷ = the stinging nettle [tə = determiner]

Sesmelot uses a post-card to reach out to her students during the COVID-19 self-isolation.

ʔəy̓ sweyəl = Good Day

ʔi ʔə čxʷ ʔəw ʔəy̓ ʔal̕ = Are you well?

ʔi cən səl̕səl̕qʷ = I am lonely.

k̓ʷak̓ʷəcθət čxʷ = Look after yourself.

təniʔ ʔə k̓ʷ sesmélət = From Sesmelot

A post card is a great way to learn some basic conversation language tools.

A traditional opening spoken by Justin from Kwantlen. Notice some of the same sentences and structures from the Post Card reading, and the “Where are you from?” conversation from above.

NOTE: ʔa is stated before addressing an audience in the big house, a way of getting the attention of the audience or signalling to the audience that the speaker is talking.

ʔa səy̓em̓ ʔiʔ tə nə siyey̓ə ʔiʔ tə nə siyal̕əxʷeʔ – Respected ones, friends and elders

ʔi ʔə ce:p ʔəw ʔeləy̓ ʔal̕ – Are you all well?

Justin k̓ʷə nə skʷix – Justin is my name.

təniʔ cən ʔə ƛ̓ q̓ʷa:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ – I am from Kwantlen.

ʔəm̓i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm tə n̓a təməxʷ – Welcome to the land               

hiləkʷ tə nə šxʷqʷeləwən k̓ʷəns ʔi k̓ʷəcnalə tə n̓a weyəl – I’m happy to see you all

hay ce:p q̓ə – Thank you all

Watch and listen to the storybook above, narrated by Aboriginal Support Worker, Carlyn Andres from Katzie Nation.

ƛ̓aməχən = Butterfly
ɬəɬəna:yeʔ = Dragonfly

Some other great words to listen for are:

ckʷim = red
lələc̓aləs = yellow
cqʷay = green
t̕ᶿet̕ᶿəxʷəm̓ = blue

Verbs to listen for as well:

ʔəy̓stəxʷ = to like something
This is comprised of the word for good ʔəy̓ and the suffix -stəxʷ to cause to be. Or more literally: to cause to be good, which means to like something.
ʔəy̓stəxʷ cən tə ƛ̓aməχən = I like the butterfly.

k̓ʷecət = to see or look.

Here is the translation of the storybook below:

ƛ̓aməχən tə ʔi = This is a butterfly.
ʔəy̓stəxʷ cən tə həwal̕əm = I like to play
ʔi ckʷim ʔiʔ lələc̓aləs tə ƛ̓aməχən = The butterfly is red and yellow.
ʔəy̓stəxʷ cən tə ƛ̓aməχən = I like the butterfly.
ʔəy̓stəxʷ ʔə čxʷ tə ƛ̓aməχən = Do you like the butterfly?

ɬəɬəna:yeʔ tə ʔi = This is a dragonfly.
k̓ʷecət cən tə ɬəɬəna:yeʔ = I see the dragonfly.
ʔi cqʷay ʔiʔ t̕ᶿet̕ᶿəxʷəm̓ tə ɬəɬəna:yeʔ = The dragonfly is green and blue.
ʔəy̓stəxʷ cən tə ɬəɬəna:yeʔ = I like the dragonfly.
ʔəy̓stəxʷ ʔə čxʷ tə ɬəɬəna:yeʔ = Do you like the dragonfly?

ʔi k̓ʷecət tə ƛ̓aməχən tə ɬəɬəna:yeʔ = The butterfly sees the dragonfly.
k̓ʷecət ʔə čxʷ tə ɬəɬəna:yeʔ = Do you see the dragonfly?
k̓ʷecət ʔə čxʷ tə ƛ̓aməχən = Do you see the butterfly?

Further study:

• Notice that to make a question, the sound ʔə is added after the verb in the sentence.
• Try finding the subject and the object in the translated sentence. Then try to find where the subject and the object are in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ sentence.

Narrator: ƛ̓a tə skʷans ʔə ƛ̓ wali tə n̓a weyəl = “It’s Wally’s birthday today.”

Melissa: niʔ čxʷ wəɬ k̓win syəl̕anəm tə n̓a weyəl = “How old are you today?” (lit. “How many already years today?)

Wally: niʔ cən wəɬ c̓k̓ʷəx ʔiʔ k̓ʷ yəsel̕ə = “I’m already twenty-two.” (c̓k̓ʷəx is the number 20)

Melissa:  wə θəʔit ʔə = “Is that true?”
niʔ čxʷ təw xʷən ʔəy̓aməx = “You’re still pretty good looking.”

Wally: hay čxʷ q̓ə… ʔiʔ tə nəwə = “Thanks, and you?”

Melissa: wə ʔe:nθə ʔə = “Me?” (wə is “me”, ʔe:nθə makes the sentence emphatic, like an exclamation).

Wally: heʔe, niʔ čxʷ wəɬ k̓ʷənəwi:nxʷ = “Yes. How old are you?”

Narrator: niʔ nəyəm θə melisə = “Then Melissa laughs…”

Melissa: nəwə k̓ʷ nəcim̓ = “What’s it to you?”
qəχ tə nə syəl̕anəm = “Many are my years.”

Wally: ʔa: . . .  skatəy̓ čxʷ = “Ah, you’re crazy.”
niʔ čxʷ təw xʷən ʔəy̓aməx ƛ̓eʔ = “You’re still pretty good looking, too!”

Melissa: hay čxʷ q̓ə… k̓ʷecət čxʷ tən̓ kiks = “Thank you. Look at your cake!”
ʔi ɬeʔ yəqʷt = “Now, let’s light it.”

Narrarator: nəc̓aʔ, yəseɬə, ɬixʷ, χeʔaθən, ɬq̓ecəs, t̕χəm = “One, two, three, four, five, six.”

Melissa: ʔəm̓i.  ʔəm̓i.  ʔi ɬeʔ t̕iləm = “Come! Come! Now, let’s sing.

All: ʔiyəs tə n̓a weyəl ʔəθ kʷan = “Happy, this day of your birth.”
ʔiyəs tə n̓a weyəl ʔəθ kʷan = “Happy, this day of your birth.”
ʔiyəs tə n̓a weyəl ɬekʷəm wali = “Happy, this day dear one, Wally.”
ʔiyəs tə n̓a weyəl ʔəθ kʷan = “Happy, this day of your birth.”

Wally: wə n̓an ʔəw ʔəy̓ = “Very good!”

Melissa: qəχ tə həy̓qwi:n = “So many candles!” (həy̓qwi:n means light/lamp/candle/lantern)

Wally: ʔecəne = “Wow!”

Melissa: ʔaw̓θθət čxʷ. pa:t čxʷ = “Hurry up! Blow it (out), you!”

Both: ʔi ɬeʔ ʔəɬtən = “Let’s eat!”

Try This:

After watching this video try saying how old you are in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. Use the lesson on numbers above to learn how to say your age. Then try to copy the sentence where Wally says her age above, but instead, use your own age.

tə nə šxʷqʷeləwən = My (inner) feelings

cqʷay = green

ʔi cən ʔiyəs = “I am happy.”

ʔi cən hiləkʷ = “I am joyful.”

ʔi cən sθəθiy̓ = “I am okay.”

lələc̓aləs = yellow

ʔi cən tᶿeyəkʷ = “I worry.”

t̕ᶿet̕ᶿəyəkʷ cən = “I am worrying.”

ʔi cən ɬƛ̓eƛ̓iʔ = “I am puzzled.”

t̕ᶿet̕ᶿəxʷəm = blue

ʔi cən ɬc̓iw̓s = “I am tired.”

ʔi cən qiləs = “I am sad.”

ʔi cən q̓aq̓əy̓ = “I am sick.”

ckʷim = red

ʔi cən χit̕ᶿəl = “I am peeved (hot under the collar).”

ʔi cən šxʷqʷiqʷəχʷwəɬ = “I am angry.”

ʔi cən t̕et̕əy̓əq̓ = “I am mad.”

niʔ ct hay = “We are finished.”

c̓iyəθa:m kʷθə θ k̓ʷecət = “Thank you for watching.”

Try this game at home or with a friend to practice some new terms!

Try this game at home or with friends to practice some new terms!

kʷelx ʔiʔ səwq̓ = hide and seek

nem̓ čxʷ = you go

kʷelx tə sesq̓əc = hiding the sasquatch

ʔi ɬeʔ səwq̓ = Let’s seek (it)

niʔ ʔə́ncə kʷθə sesq̓əc = Where is the sasquatch?

ʔi ʔi ʔə tə ʔi = Here it is!

wə n̓an ʔəw ʔəy̓ = very good!

ʔi ɬeʔ həwal̕əm = Auxillary verb imperative to play = Let’s play

ʔi χət̕ə tə səymən = Auxillary verb say, do, act determiner Simon = Simon says . . .

skʷul kʷəl stənəq = school one who does = School teacher (s)

saymən = Simon (S)

sc̓ec̓ən ce:p ʔəw xʷəyn̓e:m = really you all establisher to listen = Listen you all really carefully

ʔi χət̕ə tə səymən = Auxillary verb say, do, act determiner Simon = Simon says . . .

ʔiw̓əst čxʷ tən̓ məqsən = point, you determiner your nose give direction 2nd person possession = point to your nose

mək̓ʷ wet = every, all who = Everyone!

ʔiw̓əst čxʷ tən̓ məqsən = point, you determiner your nose give direction 2nd person possession = point to your nose

ʔi χət̕ə tə səymən = Auxillary verb say, do, act determiner Simon Here and Now = Simon says . . .

χiq̓ət čxʷ tə n̓ q̓ʷi:n̓ = to scratch something you determiner your ear 2nd person possession = scratch your ear

ʔəy̓ ! xʷəyl̕e:m ce:p . . . = Good ! to listen you all = Good ! Listen . . .

xʷisət čxʷ . . . tən̓ celəx = to shake something you determiner your hand 2nd person possession = Shake … your hand!

qəl̕et, səy̓em̓ = repeat, again respect one = again, sir/madame/respected one

xʷisət čxʷ . . . tə n̓ celəx = to shake something you determiner your hand 2nd person possession = Shake . . . your hand!

(xʷnəyəməs tə saymən … ) = locative to laugh Lexical suffice determiner Simon face = location of the laughter the Simon = Simon smiles

xʷisət ʔə čxʷ tə n̓ celəx = to shake question you determiner your hand something marker 2nd person possession = Did you shake your hand?

ʔəwə ! ʔəwə = negation = No!

ʔəwə niʔəs χət̕ə tə saymən = negation Auxillary verb 3rd person to say det. Simon subject = Simon didn’t say!

niʔ nəyəm tə saymən = Auxillary verb to laugh determiner Simon there & then = Then laughs Simon = Simon laughs . . .

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (downriver dialect)

nə́c̓aʔmat nə́c̓aʔ
mat = one reflexive (oneself)
Literal translation: one yourself; unite unite; one heart; one mind

Halq’eméylem (upriver dialect)

lets’é mó:t
lets’é mó:t = one reflexive (oneself)
Literal translation: one yourself; unite unite; one heart; one mind

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (downriver dialect)

ya:y̓əstəl̕
s-ya:y̓əs təl̕ = to work reciprocal
Literal translation: working together

Halq’eméylem (upriver dialect)

sq’eq’o yoyes
sq’eq’o s-yoyes = along side; together work
Literal translation: working together

Listen to the differences between the two languages when Sesmelot speaks. Note the differences in sounds, and some words.

Halq’eméylem
Éy swayel (Good day)
Sesmelot tél skwix (Sesmelot is my name)
teli tsel kwe Qwo:n’tel’ (I come from Kwantlen)
Éy kw’es emí (Welcome)
Kw’as hó:y (Thank you)

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓
ʔəy̓ sweyəl (Good day)
sesmélət k̓ʷə nə skʷix (Sesmelot is my name)
təniʔ cən ʔə ƛ̓ q̓ʷa:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (I come from Kwantlen)
ʔəm̓i čxʷ kʷətxʷiləm (Welcome)
hay ce:p q̓ə (Thank you)

Additional Notes:
Glottals: A glottal is the sound you make when stopping air flow using your throat or tongue, then letting it burst out to make a sound. English sounds such as the soft “g” as in “golf” is a glottal sound.

Enjoy this song translated to hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓.

Sung by Sheila Jack. This song was gifted to her by former Aboriginal Support Worker, Rose Green. The song is a song of honouring and is sung in Halq’eméylem, the Upper River dialect.

At the beginning of the video she addresses the viewers in the Cree language before moving into the song in Halq’eméylem. This is a great opportunity to listen to the sounds and differences of the different languages.

Ts’ítolé = Thanking you all

íkw’elò emí = here coming (for coming here)