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As I Remember It: Teachings (Ɂəms tɑɁɑw) from the Life of a Sliammon Elder

qʷʋl čʼɛ tɑwθɛm kʷut tɑmʌs (They [Spirits] Just Came and Told You Something)

Visit “Note on Linguistic Analysis” to learn more about the English translation and linguistic analysis below.

This is an excerpt from a much longer recording of a conversation between Elsie and the late Mary George. Mary’s responses to Elsie, which were almost entirely interjections, have been removed from this version.

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23. Christmas Blankets
24. Elders and Cedar Roots
25. Cutting Fish
27. Elsie at Deep Bay
29. Wedding Day
30. Elsie and Stella
31. Elsie and Glen (1)
32. Christmas (1)
33. Mother’s Day, 1980
34. Elders and Friends
35. Elsie and Glen (2)
36. Assessing the Catch
37. Having a Laugh
38. Working Out
39. Bride and Groom
41. Retirement
42. Baby Glen
43. Joining Council
44. First Home
45. mɑksɛmɑ’s Cabin in toχʷnɑč (Okeover)
46. Graduation (1)
47. Preparing an Offering
48. Prince William
49. Party at Elsie Paul’s House
50. Elders' Gathering
51. At the Elders Lodge Elsie Paul with ɬaʔamɩn Elders when she was running the Elders’ program. Front row, from left: Elsie Paul, Henry Bob, Katherine Blaney, Mary Harry, Rose Louie (behind Mary), Joe Paul Sr. (behind Rose), Willie Bob, Calvin Harry. Back row, from left: Louise Bob, Marie Hackett (behind), Nora Wilson, Annie Dominick, Dave Dominick, Agnes McGee, Rose Peddie, Peta Francis (Okee Dokee), Johnny George, Charlie Charlie, Peggy Harry.
52. Friends (1)
53. The Children at Home
54. The Ladies
55. Visiting with Annie and Norman Gallagher
56. Elsie at Steveston in the Late 1940s
57. Sliammon Village Waterfront
58. Language Work Linguist Honoré Watanabe stands behind ɬaʔamɩn Elders at the Elders Lodge. Elsie was caretaker and lived at the Elders Lodge for many years. From left: Marion Harry, Mary George, and Elsie Paul. Honoré worked extensively with these three women over more than two decades, living with Elsie during his time in Sliammon. Marion was Elsie’s “little sister” at residential school and worked with Honoré to transcribe and translate the selections in Sliammon language included in this publication.
59. Elsie at Home
60. A Day in Town
61. Collaborators
62. Elsie and Teresa at the Cannery
63. Elsie, Agnes, and Children
64. Elsie and Cathy (2)
65. Boat to Westview When this photo was taken, it was quicker to get to town by boat than by foot, since people didn’t have cars yet. Peggy Harry is at the back of the group (with barrettes in her hair); Molly Timothy is on the right (with headband); Elsie Paul is in the centre (with flowers in her hair); Stella Timothy is centre right, beside Elsie; further right, holding a baby, is Agnes McGee, and in front of her is Sosen Galligos. Smokey John is on the left (wearing a hat), and lɑsɑ is in front of him.
66. Elsie and Cathy (1)
67. Party Time
68. Newlyweds
69. Wearing Slacks
71. On the Town
72. Repatriation
73. Going to Church (1)
74. Settlers’ Camp (1)
75. Dedicated Work Partners
78. Siblings Elsie Paul with her siblings at her brother Barney’s house in the early ’80s. Standing, from left: Teddy Francis (Elsie’s brother), Leo Francis (Elsie’s brother), Lillian Francis (Elsie’s niece, Barney Francis’s daughter), Elsie Paul, Doreen Hopkins (Elsie’s sister), Charlene Francis (Elsie’s niece), Jason Francis (Elsie’s nephew), Greg Francis (inch, Elsie’s nephew). Seated, from left: Aunt Agnes McGee, Rita Francis (Elsie’s sister), Nancy Phillips (Elsie’s sister), Vangie Francis (Elsie’s niece), Elizabeth Blaney (Elsie’s sister), Lily Timothy (Elsie’s mother).
79. A Visit with Auntie Katherine
81. Christmas with the Girls
82. Traditional Prayer Songs
83. Baby Marlane
88. Honorary Doctorate
89. Helping Ma
90. Going to Church (2)
91. Paul Family
93. Elsie Paul with King of the Sea
94. Childhood Friends
96. Important Medicine
97. Author Group (7)
98. The Shield
99. Friends (2)
100. Beautiful Baskets
103. Author Group (5)
104. Rowing with mɑksɛmɑ
105. Author Group (4)
106. Pals
107. Author Group (8)
108. Author Group (6)
110. Life History of This Project
111. Becoming Strong
112. Give It to Them
113. Sharing the Book (5)
114. Sharing the Book (2)
115. Territory
116. Cleansing
117. Sharing the Book (3)
118. tʼᶿɛwqʼ (pronunciation)
119. Living with the Land
121. Community Activities
122. Contact Happened
123. Designated Area
124. Sharing the Book (4)
125. Old-Timers and Hard Work
126. You Thank It
128. Gifted People
129. Watch Your Children
131. The Young Girl and Eleven Puppies (English)
132. Author Group (3)
133. Lonely and Homesick
134. Her Name Was Jane
135. New Year’s Dance
136. The Young Girl and Eleven Puppies (Sliammon)
137. Author Group (2)
138. The Chinese Restaurant
140. My Dog Patsy
141. Times of Transition
142. Homebrew
143. Problems Handed down from History
144. Thank the Creator
145. When It’s Your Time
146. We Were Already Here
147. Part of Our Survival
148. Root Digging
149. He Got His Spirit Back
150. Grieving
151. Recovery
152. tɑʔɑw
153. Police Patrol (2)
154. Collecting Branches
155. Police Patrol (1)
157. Author Group (1)
161. Paul Family Photo
162. New Baby
163. Naming Ceremony
164. Preparing Fish and Community Drive-Through
165. The Police Were Standing by the Bed
166. Showcasing This Book
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4. Language Work Linguist Honoré Watanabe stands behind ɬaʔamɩn Elders at the Elders Lodge. Elsie was caretaker and lived at the Elders Lodge for many years. From left: Marion Harry, Mary George, and Elsie Paul. Honoré worked extensively with these three women over more than two decades, living with Elsie during his time in Sliammon. Marion was Elsie’s “little sister” at residential school and worked with Honoré to transcribe and translate the selections in Sliammon language included in this publication.
5. Dedicated Work Partners
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4. Baby Baskets Baby baskets made by Molly Timothy (Granny Molly) in the early 1950s. The basket on the left was made for Jeannie, born to Elsie Paul in 1954, and has since been used for all of Elsie’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The blue design is made with natural and dyed cherry bark. The basket on the right was made for a daughter of Elsie’s Aunt Agnes, and the design is woven with dyed reed.
5. Fine Craftsmanship
6. Basket for Baby Jeannie
7. Granny Molly’s Baby Baskets Side by Side Baby baskets made by Molly Timothy (Granny Molly) in the early 1950s. The basket on the left was made for Jeannie, born to Elsie Paul in 1954, and has since been used for all of Elsie’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The blue design is made with natural and dyed cherry bark. The basket on the right was made for a daughter of Elsie’s Aunt Agnes, and the design is woven with dyed reed.
9. Basket for Aunt Agnes’s Daughter
10. Baby Massage (1)
11. Baby Massage (2)
12. Baby Massage (3)
13. Baby Papoose (1)
14. Baby Papoose (2)
15. Important Medicine
16. Beautiful Baskets
17. Thank the Creator
18. Her Name Was Jane
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5. Elders and Friends
6. Language Work Linguist Honoré Watanabe stands behind ɬaʔamɩn Elders at the Elders Lodge. Elsie was caretaker and lived at the Elders Lodge for many years. From left: Marion Harry, Mary George, and Elsie Paul. Honoré worked extensively with these three women over more than two decades, living with Elsie during his time in Sliammon. Marion was Elsie’s “little sister” at residential school and worked with Honoré to transcribe and translate the selections in Sliammon language included in this publication.
7. Dedicated Work Partners