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

čʼɛhčʼɛhʌ čxʷ kʼʷʌnɛtomoɬ (You Thank the One Who Looks after All of Us)

“That is why you always do your morning rituals. You always do your morning rituals to better yourself to achieve the good things that will help you to be successful in your life.”

Visit “Three Narratives in Sliammon” to learn more about the English translation and linguistic analysis below.

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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. Family Portrait Painted photograph of Elsie Paul's great-great-grandparents and family. The photograph includes the medicine man featured in the story “He Got His Spirit Back.” Standing, from left: Teresa Tom (tɑlɛsɑt), Chief Tom’s daughter; Cecilia (child), talɛsat’s daughter; Katherine Dominick, daughter of Bob George (tiyʔəpθot) and sister to Granny Molly; Louise Bob, Chief Tom’s daughter; Emily Bob, Chief Tom’s daughter; Bob George (tiyʔəpθot), Granny Molly’s father. Seated, from left: Felix (toqʷɑnən pɛlɩks), medicine man and Elsie’s step-great-great-grandfather; Ann, Elsie’s great-great-grandmother and Granny Molly’s grandmother; Jeannie Bob (čine), Granny Molly’s mother; little girl (name unknown). Seated in foreground: Charlie Bob, the man who lost his spirit.
7. Wedding Day
8. Bride and Groom
10. Preparing an Offering
11. Christmas (1)
12. Baby Massage (1)
13. Baby Massage (2)
14. Elsie and Glen (2)
15. Boys
16. Elsie and Glen (1)
17. Sharon
18. Baby Massage (3)
20. Baby Papoose (2)
21. Katherine Dominick and Bill Brown
22. Baby Papoose (1)
24. At the Beach
25. Jeannie in the Crib
26. Willie and Jeannie
27. Elsie and Cathy (2)
28. Elsie and Cathy (1)
29. On the Town
30. Wearing Slacks
31. Granny with the Kids
32. Going to Church (1)
34. A Visit with Auntie Katherine
36. Soccer
37. Christmas with the Girls
38. Baby Marlane
41. Bear Hunt
42. Sliammon Soccer Team
43. The Boys
44. My Girls
45. Important Medicine
46. Pals
47. The Shield
48. Becoming Strong
49. Cleansing
50. Brem River Valley
51. Gifted People
52. He Got His Spirit Back
53. Times of Transition
54. You Thank It
55. The Spirits Are Hungry
57. When It’s Your Time
58. Grieving
59. Paul Family Photo
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21. Christmas Blankets
22. Elders and Cedar Roots
24. Cutting Fish
25. Elsie at Deep Bay
27. Wedding Day
28. Mother’s Day, 1980
29. Assessing the Catch
30. Christmas (1)
31. Elsie and Stella
32. Elsie and Glen (2)
33. Elders and Friends
34. Elsie and Glen (1)
35. Baby Glen
36. Elders' Gathering
37. First Home
38. Having a Laugh
39. 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.
41. Graduation (1)
42. Working Out
43. Retirement
44. Preparing an Offering
45. mɑksɛmɑ’s Cabin in toχʷnɑč (Okeover)
46. Prince William
47. Party at Elsie Paul’s House
48. Joining Council
49. Bride and Groom
50. Friends (1)
51. Visiting with Annie and Norman Gallagher
52. The Children at Home
53. Elsie at Steveston in the Late 1940s
54. The Ladies
55. Elsie at Home
56. 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.
57. Sliammon Village Waterfront
58. Collaborators
59. A Day in Town
60. Elsie and Teresa at the Cannery
61. 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.
62. Elsie, Agnes, and Children
63. Elsie and Cathy (2)
64. Elsie and Cathy (1)
65. Party Time
66. On the Town
67. Newlyweds
68. Wearing Slacks
70. Repatriation
71. Going to Church (1)
72. Settlers’ Camp (1)
73. Dedicated Work Partners
76. 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).
77. A Visit with Auntie Katherine
79. Christmas with the Girls
80. Baby Marlane
81. Traditional Prayer Songs
86. Honorary Doctorate
87. Helping Ma
88. Going to Church (2)
89. Childhood Friends
91. Paul Family
92. Elsie Paul with King of the Sea
94. Important Medicine
95. The Shield
96. Friends (2)
97. Beautiful Baskets
98. Author Group (7)
99. Author Group (5)
100. Rowing with mɑksɛmɑ
101. Author Group (4)
102. Pals
103. Author Group (8)
104. Author Group (6)
106. Sharing the Book (5)
107. Give It to Them
108. Sharing the Book (2)
109. Territory
110. Life History of This Project
111. Becoming Strong
112. Cleansing
113. Living with the Land
114. Sharing the Book (3)
115. tʼᶿɛwqʼ (pronunciation)
116. Watch Your Children
117. Community Activities
118. Contact Happened
119. Sharing the Book (4)
120. Designated Area
121. Old-Timers and Hard Work
122. Gifted People
123. You Thank It
124. New Year’s Dance
125. Lonely and Homesick
126. tɑʔɑw