Íihlx̱aadas húus x̱íinaangslaang
We Haida’s are coming alive again.
K’úuk sgunáay
k’úuk sgunáay
Stink/rotten heart
Strange ones will came among us at a time when it seemed as though this place would no longer have Nang Kyáang.giilaas - Watchmen - to lookout for those things that have not been here since before we Came-Into-Being. We listened to their words. They sounded real good. But, like the Cedar that grows tall and straight-grained with twin-tops, they are the ones who, when sounded, are hollow in the center - sometimes we call them Born without a Spirit or Heart (Gamal X̱áahlaan íijang ) or heart is stink/rotten (K’úuk Sgunáay). Like Windigo. Some of our own people are going to be like that; we call them the Hollow-Ones.
Sourced from When Spirit Whispers, Co-op Radio, May 14, 2012.
Skáajuu
skáajuu
to be round (sg) voluptuous
Sourced from When Spirit Whispers, Co-op Radio, April 9, 2012.
K'áax.ngáa dakúu is?
K'áax.ngáa dakúu is.
Poor thing, is that you?
Sourced from When Spirit Whispers, Co-op Radio, April 9, 2012
Haida Calendar
The Haida people of the Haida Gwaii islands have a simple but interesting system of counting the months. An entire year is called a "cold," or, as we should say, a “winter,” and originally this was divided into two periods of six months each, with a thirteenth month intercalated between them. In enumerating these to me they began with the summer series, recommencing their count with the winter series. Each month starts two days after the new moon.
So in 2013 there are 12 moons, 2014 has 13 moons = a complete cycle of 25 moons every two years or 100 moons every 8 years or 500 moons every 40 years. 2015 has 12 moons and 2016 has 13 moons, and so on.
Quick formula to determine your age in moons.
Age (in years) x 365 (days) / 29.5 (days per moon) = number of lunar months old
Download 2013 Moon Calendar (1st Draft)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/60450845/Haida%20Calendar%202013.pdf
It is said in the Raven story that, when Raven had thrown the moon up into the sky, he called a dog and said to him, "Shall I make four moons ?" But the dog wanted to have six. Then Raven said to him, "What will you do when spring comes on (and the food is almost gone)?” And the dog said, “I will move my feet in front of my face,” as dogs are said to do when they are hungry. So Raven established six moons in each series.
At Massett the low tides are said not to have been named, but Raven gave names to two of the high tides in spring. The new-moon tide at the end of the first summer month was called "dune?", which signifies it was thought that deaths would always occur at this high tide. The high tide on the full moon following the above was called "Tl’ao a‘ninaas?", which probably means that the shell-fish were then deeply buried under the ocean, the one before the big one.” Raven ordained that this tide should be the highest.
So in 2013 there are 12 moons, 2014 has 13 moons = a complete cycle of 25 moons every two years or 100 moons every 8 years or 500 moons every 40 years. 2015 has 12 moons and 2016 has 13 moons, and so on.
Quick formula to determine your age in moons.
Age (in years) x 365 (days) / 29.5 (days per moon) = number of lunar months old
Download 2013 Moon Calendar (1st Draft)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/60450845/Haida%20Calendar%202013.pdf
Moon name or Month and Description | 2013 Lunar Calendar | 2014 Lunar Calendar | 2015 Lunar Calendar | 2016 Lunar Calendar |
Kong gyaangaas "Standing up to defecate moon", because the ground is snowy and cold. | December 15 - January 12, 2013 | December 5 - January 2, 2014 | December 24 - January 21, 2015 | December 13 - January 11, 2016 |
Hlgidguun kongaas "Goose month", when Canada geese come down to the coast. | January 13 - February 11, 2013 | January 3 -
January 31,
2014
| January 22 - February 19, 2015 | January 12 - February 9, 2016 |
Taan kongaas "Black bear month," the bears come out of hibernation and come out on the shore, the sparrow, the murrelet, and the hajáa or Cassin's auklet all come to lay their eggs. | February 12 - March 12, 2013 | February 1 -
March 2,
2014 | February 20 - March 21, 2015 | February 10 - March 10, 2016 |
Xiid gyaas ’Laughing goose month’, when the laughing geese (A. albifrons) begin to fly northward across the islands, fish begin to spawn, and grass begins to grow. | March 13 - April 11, 2013 | March 3 - March 31, 2014 | March 22 - April 19, 2015 | March 11 - April 8, 2016 |
End of Winter months, Beginning of Summer months | ||||
Wiid gyaas "Salmonberry bird month," the song of the salmonberry (Russet-back thrush) birds announces that Winter is over. - In this month hair-seals are born, sea-gulls and, since the water is calm, boys begin playing with their toy-canoes. | April 12 - May 11, 2013 | April 1 -
April 30,
2014
| April 20 - May 19, 2015 | April 9 - May 7, 2016 |
Gansgee ’laa kongaas Month when the berries are forming. May also be interpreted as “Halibut month.” | May 12 - June 9, 2013 |
May 1 -
May 29,
2014
| May 20 - June 17, 2015 | May 8 - June 6. 2016 |
Wa.aay gwaalgee The weather is still somewhat cold. ** Haida New Year | June 10 - July 9, 2013 | May 30 - June 28, 2014 | June 18 - July 17, 2015 | June 7 - July 5, 2016 |
Kong koaans "Great month", because the weather becomes warm and food becomes plentiful. Also the sap-layer of bark, being thicker than at other times, is eaten. | July 10 - August 7, 2013 | June 29 - July 27, 2014 | July 18 - August 15, 2015 | July 6 - August 3, 2016 |
Sgaana gyaas "Killerwhale month", when cedar-bark is stripped from the trees it sounds like blowing killer whales. Dur ing this month, also, spring and white salmon begin to run. | August 8 - September 6, 2013 | July 28 - August 26, 2014 | August 16 - September 14, 2015 | August 4, September 2, 2016 |
K' iijaas "Belly month", animals begin to grow fat and their bellies get big. | September 7 - October 6, 2013 | August 27 - September 25, 2014 | September 15 - October 14, 2015 | September 3 - October 2, 2016 |
K' eed adii "In-between month" was so named because it is the intercalary month between the summer and winter series. | September 26 - October 24, 2014 | October 3, November 1, 2016 | ||
End of Summer months, Beginning of Winter months | ||||
K'algyaa kongaas "Ice month", the first ice appears on the rainwater in the canoes. The other salmon begin to run during this month. | October 7 - November 4, 2013 | October 25 - November 23, 2014 | October 15 - November 12, 2015 | November 2 - November 30, 2016 |
Jid kongaas "Digging month", the bears dig roots to prepare for hibernation. | November 5 - December 4, 2013 | November 24 - December 23, 2014 | November 13 - December 12, 2015 | November 31 - December 30, 2016 |
It is said in the Raven story that, when Raven had thrown the moon up into the sky, he called a dog and said to him, "Shall I make four moons ?" But the dog wanted to have six. Then Raven said to him, "What will you do when spring comes on (and the food is almost gone)?” And the dog said, “I will move my feet in front of my face,” as dogs are said to do when they are hungry. So Raven established six moons in each series.
At Massett the low tides are said not to have been named, but Raven gave names to two of the high tides in spring. The new-moon tide at the end of the first summer month was called "dune?", which signifies it was thought that deaths would always occur at this high tide. The high tide on the full moon following the above was called "Tl’ao a‘ninaas?", which probably means that the shell-fish were then deeply buried under the ocean, the one before the big one.” Raven ordained that this tide should be the highest.
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