ʔayʔaǰuθəm is the Language of the ƛoʔos (Klahoose), ɬəʔamɛn (Tla’amin), k̓ómoks (Comox), and χʷɛmaɬkʷu (Homalco) Nations. ʔayʔaǰuθəm (“Ayajuthem”) is part of the Coast Salish language family. It is estimated that the number of fluent speakers is between less than a dozen to around 50 people. Whether we are aware of it or not, language shapes and affects the way we think – it is intrinsically and inextricably tied to culture; therefore, it is essential to learn and use language – as often as we can. 

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Emily White, a Counsellor from the Klahoose and Tla’amin Nations shares:

“Our language is rooted in the land – it comes from the land; therefore, some words cannot be translated into English with their full meaning. An example of this is the place name ‘tišosəm’, which translates to ‘milky water from herring spawn’ and is the traditional name for where the current village of Tla’amin is located. This name also holds knowledge and history – traditionally, herring accounted for up to 90% of our diet.”

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Jordan T’hii Ayi Mitchell from the Tla’amin Nation adds:

“Place names in our language are related to the land but are also tied to how we lived – they give insights into what could be gathered at a place and when. Almost like a verbal map of where to get what you might need.”

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Below are some of the titačumɩxʷ you may see during your time with us. For more language and place name resources we recommend the following:

 

Historically, the Tla’amin, and adjacent First Nations of Klahoose, Homalco and K’omoks were one people without borders. Oral traditions form a collective living memory, which when combined with archaeological data, provide a more complete picture of the past. The map, entitled ʔəms gɩǰɛ (Our Land), presented here documents the place names as remembered by the residents of the Tla’amin Nation. 

https://powellriver.ca/pages/photo-history-of-powell-river

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First Voices is a web-based tool designed to support people engaged in language archiving, language teaching, and culture.  https://www.firstvoices.com/

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Native Land is a resource to learn more about Indigenous territories, languages, lands, and ways of life. We welcome you to our site: https://native-land.ca/

 

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titačumɩxʷ : Klahoose

animals : English

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