ni’ tse’ ’aluxut kwthu s’axwa’ ni’ tse’ tth’hwast.
Clams were dug up and gathered to be steamed.

tth’hwastum tthu s’axwa’ ni’ thuytum, thuyqwtum tthu tumuhw
For clams to be steamed, you have to dig a hole in the ground

ni’ ‘u tthu tsetsuw ni’ ’u tthu stutes ’u tthu qa’ thuyqwtum tse’
that’s close to the beach. You dig a hole

nilh tse’ shnemusteeyt tthu s’axwa’.
where you’re going to put the clams.

suw’ thuytum thu huy’qw,
You make a fire,

luts’utum ’u tthu syalh.
and fill it up with wood or kindling.

sus ’o’ yuqw, kw’asthut
And it will burn really hot.

ni’ tse’ lhts’utum tthu syalh, tth’utth’a ni’ hwu tskwim tthu tth’utth’a.
And the tth’utth’a get red hot.

ni’ ’u tthey’ shthuy’qw nilh tse’ shnem’usteeyt tthu s’axwa’ kwsus qw’ulutum.
And this is where you’re going to put the clams to cook.

Margaret James, September 12, 2007
Transcribed and translated by Ruby Peter, October 11, 2007. Typed by Sarah Kell.