- Sx̲wōx̲wiyáms te qeltós x̲ótsa
- Sx̲wōx̲wiyáms te skw'ékw'qáq
- Sx̲wox̲wiyams te x̲alpeyelhp
- Sx̲wox̲wiyams te x̲als qes te lhxwale siyam
- Sqwelqwels te q'éwet
- Sqwélqwels te háwe qes kwexáls
- Sx̱wox̱wiyáms the Th'éx̱wiya
- Sx̱wox̱wiyáms the smímex̲álh
- thaytes te A:yeqels te lets’lots’tel sth’oleqwi
Sx̱wox̱wiyáms the smímex̲álh - Legend of caterpillar woman
Set 1
Kwulhíthelh ílh ts’e li ye smímex̲álh mestíyexw.
A long time ago here were two caterpillar people
Ólu tl’atl’ítel yutl’ólem.
They loved each other very much
Léts’e swáyel tl’osú q’oy te smímex̲álh.
One day the caterpillar man died.
Ehóthet te sx̱elhwílhs ste’á kw’e sxwéqw'lhelh.
She wrapped her hurt around herself like a scarf
Qesu iyóthet í:mex thútl’ó.
And so she started to walk.
Ye x̱am kw’eses ye í:mexs thútl’o.
She kept crying while she was walking.
Mi kw’áts te chíchelh siyám.
The high spirit saw her.
Qesu iyáqthet thútl’o la xwe smimeyáth.
And so she changed into a butterfly.
Set 2
The smímex̲álh mékw’ethet thutl’ó.
The caterpillar woman kissed him
Éwe stl’íses kw’es qwálstexwes kw’e wátes.
She didn’t want to talk to anybody.
Opel qes te isále skw’exós kw’es ye í:mexs thútl’o.
She walked for twelve months.
Tl’ó kw’es stelákw’ te témexw…
Because the earth is round…
Le tes kw’s iyólems…
It has come that it’s the time (it is right)…
…kw’es tiqxálem xwelá kw’e x̱aws témexwómex…
…thate she take a step towards a new looking world…
…x̱áws témexw shxw’íyómex.“
…a new world, beautiful looking.”
Themá kw’s lhéqw’tsesem te chíchelh siyám.
Creator clapped his hands twice.
Set 3
Ewéta ew lheq’élexwes wa xwe’ítes.
She just didn’t know what to do.
Ew éwe stl’íses kw’es sq’ós kw’e wátes.
She didn’t want to be with (around) anybody.
… osu xwelí te ílh we ó’o shxw’iyóthets thútl’o.
… she came to the place where she started
Qésu ts’éxwmetem thútl’o qésu thet:
And he pitied her and he said this:
“Ólu hith kw’es tesós.
“It is too long that she has been unfortunate/poor/suffering.
Tl’ó kwes st’á i ye xwélmexw…
That is why with Indigenous people…
… te sxwíthis te smimeyáth…
…the image of a butterfly…
… kw’esu hélems cha o.
is for eternal life (is for that it will keep going on)
Full Story
Kwulhíthelh ílh ts’e li ye smímex̲álh mestíyexw.
A long time ago here were two caterpillar people
Ólu tl’atl’ítel yutl’ólem.
They loved each other very much
Léts’e swáyel tl’osú q’oy te smímex̲álh.
One day the caterpillar man died.
The smímex̲álh mékw’ethet thutl’ó.
The caterpillar woman kissed him
Ewéta ew lheq’élexwes wa xwe’ítes.
She just didn’t know what to do.
Ew éwe stl’íses kw’es sq’ós kw’e wátes.
She didn’t want to be with (around) anybody.
Éwe stl’íses kw’es qwálstexwes kw’e wátes.
She didn’t want to talk to anybody.
Ehóthet te sx̱elhwílhs ste’á kw’e sxwéqw'lhelh.
She wrapped her hurt around herself like a scarf
Qesu iyóthet í:mex thútl’ó.
And so she started to walk.
Opel qes te isále skw’exós kw’es ye í:mexs thútl’o.
She walked for twelve months.
Ye x̱am kw’eses ye í:mexs thútl’o.
She kept crying while she was walking.
Tl’ó kw’es stelákw’ te témexw…
Because the earth is round…
… osu xwelí te ílh we ó’o shxw’iyóthets thútl’o.
… she came to the place where she started
Mi kw’áts te chíchelh siyám.
The high spirit saw her.
Qésu ts’éxwmetem thútl’o qésu thet:
And he pitied her and he said this:
“Ólu hith kw’es tesós.
“It is too long that she has been unfortunate/poor/suffering.
Le tes kw’s iyólems…
It has come that it’s the time (it is right)…
…kw’es tiqxálem xwelá kw’e x̱aws témexwómex…
…thate she take a step towards a new looking world…
…x̱áws témexw shxw’íyómex.“
…a new world, beautiful looking.”
Themá kw’s lhéqw’tsesem te chíchelh siyám.
Creator clapped his hands twice.
Qesu iyáqthet thútl’o la xwe smimeyáth.
And so she changed into a butterfly.
Tl’ó kwes st’á i ye xwélmexw…
That is why with Indigenous people…
… te sxwíthis te smimeyáth…
…the image of a butterfly…
… kw’esu hélems cha o.
is for eternal life (is for that it will keep going on)
| Audio | Halq'eméylem | English |
|---|---|---|
| mestíyexw | person | |
| q'ó:y | to die | |
| x̲á:m | to cry | |
| tesós | to suffer, have a hard time, poor, unfortunate | |
| th'éx̲wmet | to feel sorry for him/her, pity someone | |
| smímeyáth | butterfly | |
| st'elákw' | a circle | |
| sq'ó | together with, along with, companion | |
| ehó:t | wrap someone up, wrap something up | |
| sx̲wíythi | picture, carved pole | |
| skw'exó:s | month, moon | |
| sx̲wéqw'lhelh | scarf, neckerchief | |
| iyóthet | to start | |
| smímex̲alh | caterpillars | |
| hélem | be going, be on one's way | |
| tl'etl'ítel | to love one another | |
| qwálstexw | talk to someone (intentionally) | |
| tiqxálem | take a step |
| Audio | Halq'eméylem | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kwulhíthelh ílh ts’e li ye smímex̲álh mestíyexw. | A long time ago here were two caterpillar people | |
| Ólu tl’atl’ítel yutl’ólem. | They loved each other very much | |
| Léts’e swáyel tl’osú q’oy te smímex̲álh. | One day the caterpillar man died. | |
| The smímex̲álh mékw’ethet thutl’ó. | The caterpillar woman kissed him | |
| Ewéta ew lheq’élexwes wa xwe’ítes. | She just didn’t know what to do. | |
| Ew éwe stl’íses kw’es sq’ós kw’e wátes. | She didn’t want to be with (around) anybody. | |
| Éwe stl’íses kw’es qwálstexwes kw’e wátes. | She didn’t want to talk to anybody. | |
| Ehóthet te sx̱elhwílhs ste’á kw’e sxwéqw'lhelh. | She wrapped her hurt around herself like a scarf | |
| Qesu iyóthet í:mex thútl’ó. | And so she started to walk. | |
| Opel qes te isále skw’exós kw’es ye í:mexs thútl’o. | She walked for twelve months. | |
| Ye x̱am kw’eses ye í:mexs thútl’o. | She kept crying while she was walking. | |
| Tl’ó kw’es stelákw’ te témexw… | Because the earth is round… | |
| … osu xwelí te ílh we ó’o shxw’iyóthets thútl’o. | … she came to the place where she started | |
| Mi kw’áts te chíchelh siyám. | The high spirit saw her. | |
| Qésu ts’éxwmetem thútl’o qésu thet: | And he pitied her and he said this: | |
| “Ólu hith kw’es tesós. | “It is too long that she has been unfortunate/poor/suffering. | |
| Le tes kw’s iyólems… | It has come that it’s the time (it is right)… | |
| …kw’es tiqxálem xwelá kw’e x̱aws témexwómex… | …thate she take a step towards a new looking world… | |
| …x̱áws témexw shxw’íyómex.“ | …a new world, beautiful looking.” | |
| Themá kw’s lhéqw’tsesem te chíchelh siyám. | Creator clapped his hands twice. | |
| Qesu iyáqthet thútl’o la xwe smimeyáth. | And so she changed into a butterfly. | |
| Tl’ó kwes st’á i ye xwélmexw… | That is why with Indigenous people… | |
| … te sxwíthis te smimeyáth… | …the image of a butterfly… | |
| … kw’esu hélems cha o. | is for eternal life (is for that it will keep going on) |
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