xwuyxwi’ ni’ ’utl’ s’amunu theew’t-hw | Masked Dance at Somena Longhouse

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• Title: xwuyxwi’ ni’ ’utl’ s’amunu theew’t-hw | Masked Dance at Somena Longhouse
• Title spoken by: Pul-hwuletse’ | Wayne Charlie
• Description: Potlatch at Somenos featuring Masked Dancers and a canoe with blanket in front of the longhouse and many spectators.

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hwuhwilmuhw knowledge

• Speaker/Story Teller: Sti’tuma’t | Ruby Peter (Kwa’mutsun Elder)
• Date of recording:
• Listen to the recording in Hul’q’umi’num’:

xwuyxwi’ ni’ ’utl’ s’amunu theew’t-hw | Masked Dance at Somena Longhouse

1. pulhe’ch tu’i shxaatth’ustun.
   This picture is of a potlatch.
2. qu.u.ux mutimuhw tthu ni’, ’i’ ’e’ut yu qw’uyul’ush tthu sxwayxwi’.
   There are many people there, and the masked dancers are dancing.
3. xu’athun tthu sxwayxwi’ yu qw’uyul’ush sus ’uw’ saay’stum tthu lhuxwtun q’uluts’tunstewut tthu sxwayxwi’.
   There are four masked dancers dancing and they have prepared a blanket as a dressing area for the masked dancers.
4. tl’uw’ ni’ tthu snuxwulh slhelhuq’stum’ ni’ ’u tthu tumuhw.
   And there’s a canoe that they have laid out on the ground.
5. ’i’ ’e’ut ni’ tthu tse’lumun, st’i’am’ tthu swuqw’a’lh, st’e ’uw’ ’iis tuw’ sq’ulets’ tthu yuse’lu tse’lumun ’u tthu swuqw’a’lh.
   And there is a pole that a mountain goat wool blanket is attached to, it’s two poles that the blanket is draped on.
6. hayulh yuhw ’ul’ thi stl’unuq ’i’ ’uw’ hayulh lhu ts’uyximulwut ’iilh tl’unuq.
   And it must be a very important potlatch, and it’s Ts’uyximulwut who is hosting it.
7. yey’sul’u suw’wuy’qe’ tthu lhxi’lush ni’ ’u tthu tse’lumun, ’i’ tthu snuhwulh.
   Two men are standing next to the pole and the canoe.
8. qux mustimuhw ’i’, ’i’ yu qw’uyul’ush tthu xuthiinu tthu ’i swi’wul’ tth’uxwten sxwayxwi’.
   There are a lot of people dancing–you can see four of the masked dancers.
9. yathulh ’uw’ xe’xe’sta’lum’ kws hwxaatth’ust tst tthu sxwayxwi’ kws yu qw’uyul’ushs.
   The masked dancers also sanctify the work of our memorials with their dancing.
10. ’uw’ sxuxits ’ul’ kwthu tswe’ ’u tthu sxwayxwi’, ’uw’ hay kwthu tun’ni’ ’uw’ hay hakwush.
    And it’s just certain ones who own masks and are from the mask that can use them.
11. hay ch q’a’.
    Thank you.

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Key information

• Time period or Date: 1914
• Theme(s): Potlatch/Ceremonies, Buildings, Clothing and Ceremonial Dress
• Location: Somenos Village
• Source info (type – name): Museum — Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives
• Photographer credit: F.A. Monck
• Individuals identified: Not Specified

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