Author Archive

Chinook Jargon in the news: “The Girl with Big Feet” community screening, June 27th!

by

Here’s your first chance to see a new movie that includes dialog in Northern Chinook Jargon, Dakelh, Toisanese, and English.

‘Breechcloth’ in Lower Chehalis shows hidden Chinuk Wawa testicles

by

In the classic publication by photographer Edward S. Curtis, “The North American Indian” (1907/1930), Volume 9, page 188 documents the Lower Chehalis Salish word < s͡hĭ-pi-ís-kat > for ‘breech-cloth’.

1858, BC: “Ho! For the new mines” with American assumptions about Chinook

by

Back when Steilacoom (in Washington Territory) was still a major metropolis, it was a conduit for information on — and relating to — the new Fraser River gold rush in BC.

The traces of Chinook Jargon in Tuwáduqucad (Twana, Coast Salish)

by

Publicly posted on the web is a wonderful research tool that’s new to me…

1884, WA: Chinook dictionary, racism, misogyny, bad grammar, the usual

by

A well-known Chinuk Wawa dictionary in the frontier era gets a reception that typifies Settlers’ privileged attitudes.

More humor: translating into Sechelt, or just playing cards?

by

I got a chuckle from the Chinook Jargon newspaper…

1885, WA: German-Chinook oaths!

by

Of course you know “Dutch” always meant “German” in America back then.

Chinook Jargon’s /yaka/ indicates pidginization from Chinookan /yax̣ka/

by

Now an ultra-short note.

1892, WA: Kikisoblu (daughter of Chief Seattle) speaks

by

Early settler Henry L. Yesler’s death is reported in the Seattle (WA) Post-Intelligencer of December 18, 1892, page 8, columns 1-2, in an article headlined “House of Mourning”, with Chinook Jargon prominent.

Chinook Jargon in the news: BC teachers get a CJ workshop

by

Pages 24-25 of BC Teacher magazine’s January-February 2025 issue report on a recent conference of social studies teachers from around that province.