kwan tthu stsi’elh qeq | A high-status baby is born 

The father, qwulhutstun, and the grandparents announce the birth of the heir.

Song composed by Lawrence Thomas & Randeana Peter

Performed by the ladies from t’et’qe’, homeland of tth’asiyetun.

hay ch q’u, nu ’imiye’. | Thank you, dear grandchild.

nuwu tth’etth’ukwstuhw nu suli.  | You light up my spirit. 

kw’am’ kw’um’stuhw nu shqwaluwun. | You strengthen my heart/mind.

 hay ch q’u, nu si’sul’u.  | Thank you, dear grandparent. 

t’ut’a’thut | Training Song 

Composed by Lawrence George & Thomas Seymour

Performed by tth’asiyetun, the young men training with him, and the older warriors who are teaching them.

kwus hwun’ stl’i’qulh ’i’ ni’ wulh hw’uw’tsustum ’u tthu mens. 

tth’asiyetun’s father trained him when tth’asiyetun was still a child.

hw’uw’tsustum kws hwu yuw’in’a’qws ’u tthu t’eet’qe’ mustimuhw. 

Showing him how to become a chief of the t’eet’qe’ people.

suw’ sq’uq’a’s ’u tthu s’ul’e’luhw kwus qwuliil’qwul’tul’ ’aamut. 

He had to sit with his Elders when discussing things.

yuthustum ’u tthu sht’es ’u tthu t’at mustimuhw. 

And he was given information about how the ancestors used to be.

yuqwulhte’x st’ilum | yuqwulhte’x war chant

Composed by Siwidi David Dawson in the Kwak̓wala language.

sasixwakala | paddling

waxwinagatɫala | travelling to make war with another tribe

taanthelum tuwuqun | Song of sorrow

Composed by Roberta V. Charlie.

Performed by the t’eet’qe’ women.

taanthelum ’u kwthunu siiye’ye’ulh. | I am left behind by my friends and relatives.

taantalum ’u kwthu siiye’yu tstulh. | We are left behind by our friends and relatives.

Coast Salish War Songs

s-hwuhwa’us

lhnimulh s-hwuhwa’us shhwa’luqw’a’. | We are the thunderbird crew.

lhnimulh xisul’ stamush. | We are fierce warriors.

kw’am’kw’um’ tthu tth’ele’ tst. | Our hearts and minds are strong.

xwum kwutst yu ’i’shul’tul’. | We paddle together furiously.

xisul’ snuhwulh

lhnimulh xisul’ snuhwulh. | We are a fierce canoe.

lhnimulh kwalum’ kw’um’. | We are strong people.

lhnimulh xisul’ shhwa’luqw’a’. | We are vicious people.

nuts’umat kwutst yu ’i’shul’.  | We are of one heart and mind when we paddle. 

shlemuxutun | Lookout

shlemuxutun, shlemuxutun, stem ’a’lu ’i le’lum’utuhw, si’em’?  

Watchman, watchman, what do you see, sir? 

xilux – Battle

yuqwulhte’x st’ilum & Coast Salish War Songs

tl’hwunuq tthu hwuhwilmuhw | Coast Salish Victory Song

(reprise of t’ut’a’thut)

nuts’umat sqwalwuns tu hwuwilmuhw | The Coast Salish people are united.

ni’ tslhaqwnamut tu t’et’qe’ mustimuhw. | The t’et’qe’ people have prevailed.

hay ’ul’ thi tl’hwunuq tu hwuhwilmuhw. | This is a big victory for the Coast Salish.

’uwu tum’temtus kwus hwu’alum’ tu yuqwulhte’x mustimuhw.| The yuqwulte’x will never return.