Title: Halq'eméylem / Lesson: Learning Halqemeylem

hal: hilexw
english: to finish it, finish something

hal: thélmet
english: admire

hal: tó:lt
english: to learn (it)

hal: skw'íkw'iy
english: stingy

hal: tl'xwéleq
english: to win

hal: í'iy
english: cute (little thing), fun

hal: sx̲áx̲es
english: be determined

hal: sqéylemá:ls
english: funeral

hal: sqwéltel
english: language

hal: t'ó:kw'
english: to go home

hal: x̲wém
english: fast, hurry

hal: xwóxwelx
english: to hoist it up, lift it up

hal: t'it'ílt
english: singing it

hal: xolhmílh
english: take care of someone else’s kids, babysit

hal: sthethíy
english: be fixed, be fixed up properly, be made of

hal: qwelqwálqwemet
english: start talking

hal: íwesáwtxw
english: classroom

hal: qwólqweltel
english: speaking to each other

hal: xwe skwi’kw’áy skwoyxthetlómet
english: sacrifice

hal: sq'eq'ótel
english: family, team

hal: x̱éyelthet
english: sign up for something

hal: emómel
english: little ones

hal: ye qays skwúlkwel
english: preschool

hal: lexwóyewel
english: excited

hal: Tsel qwelqwáleqwemet te Halq’eméylem lite 1996
english: I started speaking Halq’eméylem in 1996…

hal: …kw'élse lam te íwesáwtxws thel tal lite stó:lō shxwelí.
english: when I went to my mom’s classroom at Sto:lo Shxweli.

hal: I’i te shxwtelíms kw’s íwestes kw'ewátes.
english: It was in a fun way that she taught everyone.

hal: Li xwúlh xwe sthethíy qesu tóltelmel kw’es halq’eméylem …
english: If you want to do it proper and learn Halq’éylem…

hal: … qex̱ te xwe skwi’kw’áy skwoyxthetlómet.
english: … sacrifices are many.

hal: Olu sx̱áx̱es the Tselóythelwet ew íweséleq.
english: Tseloythelwet was a very determined teacher.

hal: Áylexwstexwes te sqwéltel lis yóyes….
english: She made the language come to life at her work…

hal: ...lis sta qas lis leq'áleqel.
english: … at her home, and while he travelled.

hal: Tl’ólse thélmet kw’els tólexw lhe’á thútl’ò.
english: I admired her and I learned through her.

hal: X̱éyelthet tolt kw'e halq’eméylem kw'e x̱wem.
english: I signed up for learning halq’emeylem quickly

hal: Kw’élse iyóthet tolt, isále xwelált kw’els xwe hélem.
english: When I started learning, it was two evenings that I went

hal: Tset statá líte máthakwi.
english: My mom and I both lived in Matsqui.

hal: Tl’o tset tu yáysele íte kyo.
english: It was just us two in the car

hal: Olu ey te ste’á.
english: It was very good like that.

hal: Tset qwólqwetel íte halq’eméylem…
english: We were speaking with each other in haqemeylem…

hal: …xwe hélem te syóys qas ye t’ót’ekw’.
english: …when going to work and on our way returning home.

hal: Tset ew tí’ti’lt ye x̱ax̱a ste’ltí’lem xwelá kw’e sqéylemáls.
english: We just were singing sacred songs Hyms for funerals.

hal: Sq'os ye ste’ltí’lems ye emómel
english: Along with songs for litte ones.

hal: Líte xolhmílh qas ye qays skwúlkwel.
english: At daycare and preschool (just before school)

hal: Tsel xwe halq’eméylem sq'eq'ótel.
english: I became a part of the halq’emeylem family.

hal: Tsel tl’xwéleq’,
english: I won/gained/had the advantage

hal: kw’else tólexw te sqwéltel telí thel tal.
english: That I learned the language from my mom

hal: Tel shxwelí lexwóyewel kw’else telómet.
english: My spirit was excited to learn.

hal: Tsel híylexw mekw’ skwúlkwel.
english: I finished all schooling

hal: Tsel xwel íweséleq te halq’eméylem.
english: I am still a Halq’eméylem teacher

hal: Tsel sxwóxwelxes kw'els tólexw te s’íwesthóxes thútl’o.
english: I am very uplifted (honoured) that I learned what she has taught me.

hal: Ey tel sqwálewel kw’else télexw te halq’eméylem.
english: I am very thankful I learned Halq’eméylem.