Tabagh tsendeshu ch'u tahwił tanłkits.
I went down to the beach and I set out a net.
Shan łiq’a idayelghan
Preparing Fish in the Summer
Preparing fish is a very important Dena’ina tradition. This text explains how the Tyonek Dena’ina prepare smoked king salmon strips, or balik, so it will last all winter.
Download the original poster.
Łiq'a shik't'e'idatl'.
I caught some fish.
I caught some fish.
Uneq' ch'ayinłu.
I took them out of the net mesh.
I took them out of the net mesh.
Tunyelyu.
I carried them back.
I carried them back.
Ghesht'uts'.
I cut them.
I cut them.
Balik ngheshghun.
I made balik (fish strips) out of them.
I made balik (fish strips) out of them.
Biłni at nuti tughełtl'it', ch'u yi at tughełdatl'.
I put some salt into water, and I put [the fish] in it.
I put some salt into water, and I put [the fish] in it.
Biłni at nuti tughełtl'it', ch'u yi at tughełdatl'.
I put some salt into water, and I put [the fish] in it.
I put some salt into water, and I put [the fish] in it.
K'eghun tsesi hqugh ba tuyaghełu.
I soaked them for half an hour.
I soaked them for half an hour.
Yethdi badayinłdatl'.
Then I took them out.
Then I took them out.
Yudeh duyełu .
I hung them up.
I hung them up.
Yethdi ut'uh yidełq'un.
Then I built a fire under them.
Then I built a fire under them.
Nughelggen qech' ut'uh idaghełq'en.
I kept a fire under them until they were dry.
I kept a fire under them until they were dry.
Yethdi nghalggen qech' ghenhdi ch'ulqet'.
When they were dry, we ate them all up.
When they were dry, we ate them all up.
The original Dena’ina text was dictated by the late Nellie Chickalusion of Tyonek in 1976. For this version, it was spoken and recorded by Nora McCord of Tyonek in 2006. It was transcribed and translated by James Kari and Donita Peter. The html-version was prepared by Olga Lovick.