This story is written about a point in my life when we were dirt poor. I was bored out of my skull with no entertainment and I had begged to go fishing with my husband to have a day out of the house. nuts’a’ skweyul tsetsul’ulhtun’ | A Day Fishing continues on with the teaching that everything in nature is alive and breathes life. The river is alive with its power but also its peacefulness. The fish travelling within it are alive, as are the trees along the river’s edge and sun shining down upon us. The teachings of not talking and not using a chair are the fundamentals, as you don’t want noise to scare the fish. The rituals for a man’s spear and the strictness about women being around the spear are teachings that tie back to a woman’s moon time. This story also speaks to the teaching of generosity—one must share what you have with those in your community.
This story was translated into Hul’q’umi’num’ by Ruby Peter | Sti’tum’at and edited by Donna Gerdts, Linguistics, Simon Fraser University.
(1) kw’un’a wulh hith ’i’ quxulh stseelhtun ’i’ ’u tthu quw’utsun’ stal’uw’,
A very long time ago there were a lot of fish in the Cowichan River,
(2) ’u kw’un’a-a-a wulh hith.
a long, long, time ago.
(3) nilh kwutst ’uw’ hwun’a’ ’ul’ tuw’ hwu sme’luyi’ ’i’ yath tst ’uw’ yu
sxuxitsstuhw tthu yu shhwunum’s tthu telu tst, niilh tst kwu’elh ’uw’
tsetsul’ulhtun’ ’ul’ ’u tthu stseelhtun tst, s’ulhtun.
We had been married for a short time, and our budget was very tight, so we
always went fishing for salmon to eat.
(4) ’i’ kwthunu sta’lus ’uw’ yu sxuxits ’ul’ tthu ni’ yu sht’es ’u kws nem’s
tsetsul’ulhtun’.
My husband was very strict in his ways about fishing.
(5) nuts’a’ skweyul ’i’ ni’ wa’lu tuw’ xulhstam’shus tthunu sta’lus susuw’
huye’stam’shus kwus nem’ tseelhtun.
One day, he felt sorry for me and he took me along with him fishing.
(6) kwutst wulh yu hunum’ ’u tthu shni’s kwus tsetsul’ulhtun’, ni’ tst yula’ulh
’u tthu snuhwulh, ’i’ wulh qwal, thut, kwthu ni’ yu shhwunum’ tst kws
nem’ tst tseelhtun ’i’ sht’e ch tse’ ’u tu’i.
As we were traveling, driving along in the car to his favorite fishing spot, he
told me his rules about when we were fishing.
(7) nuts’a’: ’uwu ch qwaqwul’uhw.
1: No talking
(8) yuse’lu: ’uwu ch xalhstun’a’mutuhw ’uw’ niihw kw’e’lus.
2. No whining it is too hot.
(9) lhihw: ’uwu te’ tse’ ’un’ s’ul’uthut, ’i’ skw’ey kwun’s thut kwun’s qulstuhw kwun’s nuw’ ’un’nehw ’ul’.
3. There is nothing to do, and no saying that you’re bored.
(10) xu’athun: skw’ey kwun’s ’i’lhtun’ ’uw’ qaa’qa’uhw ’ukw’ stem.
4. No eating or drinking.
(11) lhq’etsus: ’uwu te’ shts’e’nutstun. skw’ey kwun’s shts’unets ’ukw’ stem; nilh tthu tumuhw ni’ ’un’sh nem’ kwun’s ’umut.
5. There is no place to sit other than the ground.
(12) t’xum: ’uwu ch qwaqwul’uhw,
6. No talking and,
(13) tth’a’kw’us: ’uwu ch hw’i’untuhw ’ukw’ stem.
7. No talking.
(14) nusuw’ ptem’ut tthunu sta’lus, “ni’ ’u ’uw’ sthuthi’ kwunus qwul’qwul’stamu ’ula’ulh ’u tthu snuhwulh?”
I asked my hubby, “Is it ok to talk in the car?”
(15) suw’ thut-s, “ni’ ’uw’ sthuthi’ ’uw’ hay ’ul’ ’uw’ niin’ tse’ tsetsul’ulhtun’ ’i’ ’uwu ch xwapkwthutuhw.”
“Yes,” he said, “As long as you do not make noise while I am fishing.”
(16) nuw’ sxuxits ’ul’ tthu ni’ sht’es kwus they’tus tthu s’unums.
Hubby had a certain way as he prepared his spear.
(17) kwus wulh hay kwus thay’thut ’i’ ni’ kwunutus tthu s’unums susuw’ nem’ust-hwus ’u tthu qwuqw’tens.
Once his ritual was over, he took his spear and placed it on to his shoulder.
(18) sus nem’ ’uw’ ’imush qwsuthut ’u tthu sta’luw’ ’i’ ’uwe te’ stem ni’ sqwals.
Then he walked into the river in silence.
(19) kwutst wulh ni’ ’u tthey’ tsetsuw’ ’i’ ni’ ch ’uw’ hwiine’mut tthu qa’ kwus xwa’wum’, huqwnuhw tthu sht’es tthu s’e’tl’q, ni’ ch ts’elum’ut tthu sqw’uqw’ul’ush kwus t’it’ulum’.
As we arrived at the river bank, you could hear the water flowing, smell the fresh air, and hear birds making their noise.
(20) ’i’ ni’ ch tl’uw’ ts’elhum’ut tthu sunihwulh kwus shahwuqwul’ ’u kwthu shq’utuw’ulh ni’ ’u tthu shelh.
Plus, you could hear the cars crossing the bridge on the highway.
(21) nusuw’ kwunut tthunu luxwtun nusuw’ tlhut ni’ ’u tthu tsetsuw’ nu suw’ ’umut, yusuy’amut ’ul’, la’lum’uthut kwus ’uwus ts’elhum’utheelt.
I spread the blanket on the river bank and sat down, gently, taking care that he wouldn’t hear me.
(22) huye’ tthunu sta’lus nem’ taal ’u tthu sta’luw’, yu kwun’etus tthey’ s’unums nem’ ’u tthu yath ’uw’ shhwunum’ kws tsetsul’ulhtun’s.
Hubby walked out into the river carrying his spear and found his favorite spot.
(23) suw’ kwunutus tthu shtulalus swe’s tthu qa’ shtulalus. ha’ ch ni’ t’uyum’t tthey’ shtulalus ’i’ ni’ ch lumnuhw tthu stseelhtun sqwuqwis ’u tthu qa’.
He put on his polarized glasses (so he could see the fish under the water).
(24) ni’ ’uw’ tuw’ hith kwus lhxi’lush ni’ ’u tthu ’unwulh ni’ ’u tthu sta’luw’ ’i’
’uwu te’ stseelhtun m’i hwiwul.
Time passed, and no fish were moving upriver.
(25) ni’ tl’uw’ nele’ tthu tsetsul’ulhtun’ suw’wuy’qe’, yath ’uw’ ni’ ’u tthu ’uy’st-hwus shhwunum’s kws tsetsul’ulhtuns.
Up and down the river other fishermen were standing in their favorite spots.
(26) ’uwu kws stutastul’s yath ’uw’ tsakwtul, ’uwu tsukwulus kws nem’s kw’ na’nuts’a’, nem’ ’u tthu swe’s shhwunum’s tthu na’nuts’a’.
But, not close to each other, each one was not very far, but each had their own space.
(27) yath ’uw’ shtatul’st-hwus ’i’ ’uwu kws nem’s hul’q’ulhthut.
And they always knew how not to encroach.
(28) ’uwu te’ stseelhtun, ’i’ ’uw’ lhxi’lush ’ul’ tthunu sta’lus, ’i’ qul’as ’utl’ ’een’thu.
No fish, and my husband’s back was to me.
(29) ’uy’stuhw tsun kwsus ’uw’ ’ayum ’ul’ tthu stsuhwum, ’uwu niis kwe’lus ’i’ ’uw’ niis xuy’tl’.
The breeze was nice — not too hot or cold.
(30) ’uy’ nu shqwaluwun kwunus ni’ ni’ ’u tthey’ ’a’mut. hay ’ul’ ’uy’uy’mut ’i’ ’iyusstuhw tsun kwunus ni’ ni’ le’lum’ut hwiin’em’ut tthu shn’is tthu ’i ’u tun’a tumuhw.
It was a nice feeling to be sitting in this beautiful place, happy to be watching and listening to this place here on earth.
(31) ’uwu te’ kwlh stem ni’ ts’elhum’utuhw — ’uw’ hay ’ul’ tthu sta’luw’ kwus xwoom’ ni’ ts’i’tl’elhum’utuhw.
It was quiet—all you heard was the sound of the river flowing.
(32) ’i’ yath nuw’ qul’asum’uthe’lum’ ’u tthunu sta’lus.
Hubby’s back was to me.
(33) hwun’ xut’u ’i’ wulh m’i hwiwul tthu hay ’ul’ thi stth’aqwi’ tl’lim’ ’uw’ yustutes ’u tthu tsuwmun.
All of a sudden, this BIG spring salmon was swimming close to shore heading up river.
(34) nus nuw’ yule’lum’ut tthey’ stth’aqwi’ kwsus wulh nem’ yul’ew’.
I sat there watching the spring salmon go past.
(35) nusuw’ lemut tthu ni’ shni’s tthunu sta’lus niis ’uw’ lumnuhwus tthu stseelhtun.
I looked up to see if my hubby saw the fish.
(36) ’i’ ni’ qul’asme’tham’shus.
His back was to me.
(37) nusuw’ suse’t tthunu t’eluw’ t’al’q’ust, nu stl’i’ kwunus yuthut-s tthunu sta’lus.
I started to wave my arms, trying to get hubby’s attention.
(38) ’uw’ hay ’ul’ tthu sta’luw’ ni’ le’lum’utus, qul’asme’tham’shus.
Hubby was only watching the river and his back was to me.
(39) nusuw’ sht’eewun’ niihw ’u stl’atl’um’ ’uw’ temutun’.
I was wondering if I had better call out something.
(40) ’i’ nilh kwus tl’lim’ ’uw’ xut’uste’lum’ ’uw’ ’uween’ qwaqwul’een’.
But he had really drummed into me to not be talking.
(41) “’uwu ch qwaqwul’uhw!”
“No talking!”
(42) ni’ wulh nem’ yul’ew’ tthu hay ’ul’ thi stth’aqwi’, ni’ yul’ew’shelum ’i’ ’uwu te’ lhwet ni’ yulumnuhw.
The big spring salmon passed right by me and no one was paying attention to it.
(43) ni’ ts’twa’ ’apun sxun’u kwsus nem’ yul’ew’ ’utl’ ’een’thu ’i’ yelh nus ni’ teem, “pitu, na’ut tthu stseelhtun!”
It was about ten feet past me and I finally yelled, “Peter, there is a fish!”
(44) xul’ts’thut tthunu sta’lus ’i’ yu hwt’it’iyaq’us ’i’ ni’ wulh lumnuhwus tthu stseelhtun.
Hubby turned and had this angry look but then he spotted the fish.
(45) sus nem’ ’uw’ t-suthut ’i’ ni’ wenshus tthu s’unums.
He moved toward it and threw his spear.
(46) ’i’ tahw nuw’ thuq’nehwus tthey’ hay ’ul’ thi stseelhtun.
And he accurately stabbed that big salmon.
(47) hwi’ hay ’ul’ thi tthu shyunumusth kwus wulh kwunnuhwus tthey’ tseelhtun.
Hubby had the biggest smile on his face when he got that salmon.
(48) ni’ hwkw’atus tthunu sta’lus tthu stseelhtun, m’i tsumst-hwus sus ’uw’ qw’aqwustus.
Hubby pulled the salmon to shore and clubbed it on the head.
(49) hay ’ul’ thi tthu stseelhtun ’i’ ni’ tse’ ’uw’ qux kws stl’atl’um’s ’u tthu ts’lhhwulmuhw tst.
The spring salmon was really big and there would be much to share with our family.
(50) hay ’ul’ ’uy’ s’ulhtuns ’u kwthey’ hwune’unt.
We had a beautiful salmon meal that evening.
(51) nilh ni’ shhw’uw’tsustheelt kwunus ’uwu qwaqwul’een’ ’i’ ni’ thulh ’uw’ tus tthu nuts’ehw kwun’s ni’ teem ’i’ yaat ch:
My lesson was no speaking, but when the time comes you have yell and warn:
(52) “na’ut yu hwihwuwul’ tthu stseelhtun ’u tthu sta’luw’!”
“There’s a salmon going up river!”
(53) ni’ hay.
The End.
A PDF of this story can be downloaded here.
