Hul'q'umi'num Word of the Week - Tth'al'xwum-utsun - November 2019
Channel: Cowichan Valley School District
Date: 2019-11-05

The First Hul'q'umi'num Teaching for Tth'al'xwum-utsun - November 

‘Uy’ skweyul siem (good day respected friend). Journey with us as we learn Hul’q’umi’num through the Hul’q’umi’num Word of the Week Video Series. Ms. Claudia, and her class, will use these short videos to explaining the monthly teachings. Over the month they will include pronunciations of the month, the word of the month, the phrase of the month, and the Hul’q’umi’num teaching of the month. Ms. Sylvester will also teach some conversational Hul’q’umi’num so ‘thank-you’ and ‘you’re welcome’ can quickly become ‘huy ch q’u’ and ‘namut kwu’.

The Hul’q’umi’num language is the language spoken by Indigenous communities in, and around, the Cowichan Valley. Students, staff, and community members will now have an opportunity to learn alongside one another as our instructor, Ms. Claudia Sylvester, and her class, walk us through new words and phrases each week. 

The short videos will follow the monthly Hul’q’umi’num teachings for the month, and over the month will include pronunciations of the month, the word of the month, the phrase of the month, and the Hul’q’umi’num teaching of the month. Ms. Sylvester will also teach some conversational Hul’q’umi’num so ‘thank-you’ and ‘you’re welcome’ can quickly become ‘huy ch q’u’ and ‘namut kwu’.  

Historically, there were systematic attempts to destroy the language and culture of Indigenous peoples throughout Canada, and right here in the Cowichan Valley. As time has gone on and these systemic injustices were brought to light, wholehearted changes are being made to help rescue and rejuvenate language and culture. Led by dedicated cultural teachers in Indigenous communities across Canada, the change is being felt. Education plays a large role in that change, so let’s do our part here in the Cowichan Valley. 

We are hoping the video series inspires learners, staff, and community members to learn more about the language and culture of the Coast Salish peoples. Additional Hul’q’umi’num teachings are already part of the Cowichan Valley School District’s Indigenous Education site. These resources include audio files for common Hul’q’umi’num words, pronunciations of animals and body parts, storybooks, and so much more. That site can be found at http://abed.sd79.bc.ca/ , specifically under ‘Hul’q’umi’num Resources’

About your teacher: 

Claudia Sylvester is a Cowichan Tribes member, and holds a Masters of Linguistics of a First Nations Language - Hul'q'umi'num' from Simon Frasier University, Claudia uses her expertise to help students around the Cowichan Valley School District learn the Hul’q’umi’num language and culture, both as a passion, and as part of her position as a Cultural Teaching Assistant.