In Our Languages: Washoe
Reflections from DaɁaw ɁagaɁa (the edge of Lake Tahoe) as we look to the future.
Melba Rakow, Wašiw (Washoe) Speaker/Language Teacher Washoe Tribe of NV and CA.
Transcribed by Herman Fillmore, Wašiw (Washoe) Tribal Member/Director of Culture/Language Resources.
Teli∙liwhu Ɂi∙da damo∙moɁmoɁ daɁaw ɁagaɁa Ɂipam Ɂi∙da wegeɁyaya taŋawlu keyŋ. Di∙miɁlewa taŋawe∙s weyi luliɁiš gelu lew wadiŋ leɁešɨpe∙sa. Wadiŋ ke lew waɁ daɁawaga dilakaŋ huya lew leɁešɨpetiɁa lew hutiweɁ diwayi dipayhuya diwagayay saɁ lew di∙bípse∙sa. Git gum tanu ɁeɁiŋa weyi Ɂaŋawe∙sa, hamugo∙l gapɨla daboɁo mućika hamugo∙ŋaɁa daboɁo ŋaŋa moŋil ɁetiɁa.
Today the men and woman have gathered DaɁaw ɁagaɁa (on the edge of Lake Tahoe) to talk in a good way. We come together to speak about the trauma of our pasts and how it has carried that pain into today. “The suffering of our ancestors have carried their pain on to us today”. We are lost today. We are losing our way. We are becoming assimilated into a world where we don’t fit.
Ɂaš wadiŋ ŋaŋawŋaŋ Ɂi∙da tešušluti git wegayay biṕus galama Ɂi∙da Wašiw guweyi Ɂašaše∙s galama. Wašiw mućik gapɨl Ɂašaše∙s Ɂeti gišuweɁ gelu Ɂišiwa. Git gum tanu weyiɁešɨpetiɁa, milew hamu dešɨp ɁetiɁa.
However, all of these children and young adults are picking up the language and enjoy speaking. They are doing things in a Wašiw way, in our way, and they will not forget these things. They are learning about our medicines and they carry with them only good things. The people, the young people, will continue to walk in a good way and make things right, together everyone will feel good and think good things for the future.
