1877, WA: A klootchman’s grave
I’m making note of this frontier-era news article not only for its casual use of Chinook Jargon (which every reader understood), but also to show that “fish Indians” was very common terminology.
I’m making note of this frontier-era news article not only for its casual use of Chinook Jargon (which every reader understood), but also to show that “fish Indians” was very common terminology.
Yup, for ‘elk’ in Lower Chinookan, Franz Boas documented both the -mulak root shape that gave us Chinook Jargon’s mulak, and also this:
There were compounds in “Nootka Jargon”; we find them at least as far back as <Tais frijoles> from José Mariano Mociño / Moziño in 1792, literally ‘chief beans’.
Say what you will about the imagery, but the word Skookum is a core memory for lots of us from northeastern Washington state. These are displayed at the truly well-done Okanogan County Museum in… Continue reading →
Something you’ll see… As you drive through Leavenworth, Washington on your way to further Chinook Jargon adventures… is “Chumstick“! 𛰅𛱁𛰃𛱂 𛰙𛱁𛱆𛰅𛱁 𛰃𛱄𛰙𛰃𛱄𛰙? qʰáta mayka tə́mtəm? kata maika tumtum? Qu’en penses-tu? What do you… Continue reading →