In Our Languages: Quechan

Muggins Mountains (photo from Bureau of Land Management). The ancestral and current homelands of the Quechan people spans across the southern end of the Colorado River in the currently named territories of Arizona, California, and Mexico.

In Our Languages

Quechan

Kwatsan’Uunyí (The Kwatsan Path)

by C. T. Hills

Matt’axwaa av aak avyaak’ashéntәk av’áak ayaak, maatsawíts xalykwáa-k, tsanyó iim, ‘Axwáa axwíivtan-k av’yáak

Through the smoke of the arrow weed, I trail the prints of my elders while purifying my spirit ‘Axwáa axwíivtan-k.

Aakwíin aakwíin a’étk av’yáak ‘Anyép ‘uunayúuts thomayúuv alya ‘émk. ‘Uunyí xalykwáa-k, Uunyényts táq na’ím, ayúuk.takavék taarawíim ‘axótt-k.

The many circles of life and experiences color or dim my life as I struggle through to my destination—destined to follow the path set by my creator ‘Axwáa axwíivtan-k.

‘Uunyí kwaxóttnya Xalykwáak a yáak, ‘Uunyí ts nyiikwév–m a yuuk thum amaylwathiik xalawak, xatályve-k av aak, ‘atsaayúu ‘uuxúutt viitháwm ‘ayúuk.

My journey searches for the perfect world and when tested, I look to my Creator for strength. My path keeps me humble as I cherish and share whatever I have the good fortune to possess.

Yéexa iim tsakaváar-k av yaak, amaylwathiik avuuváam shuupáwk, Nyáanyәnytsnawiik tәmathúum Wànya’a’iipáantik. When we become lively again…

Laughter strengthens my spirit and lightens life’s burden…the creator is always at my side, helping to complete my circle of life.