About the translator

Rebecca Duncan is from the Squamish and Musqueam First Nations of the Coast Salish Peoples. Rebecca has devoted her life to preserve the Squamish Language along with her Cultural teachings that have been handed down to her from her late Papa and his Papa and so on and so on since the beginning of time.

Rebecca is a remarkable storyteller, weaver, traditional cook, language teacher, singer & dancer.

No matter where you are from, it is so important to know your history, your ties to the land, and your culture.

Welcome to unceded Coast Salish Territory, Our history is your history!!!


PLAY THE AUDIO AND LISTEN TO HOW TO SAY THE PLANTS IN SQUAMISH LANGUAGE!

Sword Fern

tsx̱álem

Sword Fern

Wild/Indian Plum

smélhx̱wel (fruit),

smelhx̱weláy̓ (bush)

Wild / Indian Plum

Salmonberry

yetwán (fruit)

yetwánay̓ (bush)

Salmon Berry

SNOWBERRY/WAXBERRY

ts’ex̱w (fruit)

ts’ex̱wts’x̱wáy̓ (bush)

Snow (Wax) Berry
 

Oregon Grape

séliy̓ay̓ (bush)

Oregon Grape

Red Alder (Tree)

kwelúl̓ay

Red Alder Tree

Red Cedar (Tree)

x̱ápay̓ay

Red Cedar Tree

Huckleberry

sḵw’eḵwchs (red fruit)

sḵw’eḵwchsáy̓ (bush)

Huckleberry
 

Douglas Fir

ch’shay̓ (tree)

Douglas Fir

VINE MAPLE

t’eḵt’ḵáy̓

Vine Maple

bEAKED HAZELNUT

ḵ’p’ax̱w (generic term for any nut)

Beaked Hazelnut

Wild Rose

ḵál̓ḵay (bush)

Wild Rose
 

Stinging Nettle

ts’ex̱ts’ix̱

Stinging Nettle

Devil’s Club

ch’átyay̓

Devil's Club

Chocolate Lily

lhásem

Chocolate Lily

Kinnikinnick

tl’íkw’en (fruit)

tl’íkw’enay̓ (bush)

Kinnikinnick
 

Wild Ginger

xet’tánay

Wild Ginger

Thimbleberry

t’aḵw’emay̓ (bush)

Thimble Berry Bush

Licorice Fern

tl’asíp (root)

Liqourice Fern

Fireweed

x̱ach’t

Fire Weed
 

WAPATO

wápatu

Wapato

salal

t’áḵa7 (fruit)

t’áḵa7áy̓ (bush)

Salal