Author Archive

From Bulmer’s Preliminary geographical notes on the US

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This blog’s reader Sam Sullivan sent in a draft translation of some really compelling material — a unique early attempt at education in Chinook Jargon: “From Bulmer’s Chinook, Vol. 5: Preliminary Geographical notes… Continue reading

New Year’s blessings

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This time of year I’m counting the blessings life brings my way: Jack Nisbet’s “Boundaries” columns are one of the biggies for me. It’s amazing, when I pause to think of it, that… Continue reading

How to say honeybee in Chinook Jargon

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Happy New Year! I love getting these quick little research questions from my readers! Someone asked me “how to say honeybee in Chinook Jargon”: The Grand Ronde Chinuk Wawa dictionary has this for ‘bee’– ántʰiyeł… Continue reading

Chinook Jargon translator

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“Chinook Jargon translator” — affordable rates — email me at spokaneivy@gmail.com! Oh, maybe the people searching for that phrase and landing at my blog are looking for an online, computerized translator? There’s no… Continue reading

George Gibbs’ journal of Redick McKee’s expedition through northwestern California in 1851

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George Gibbs’ journal of Redick McKee’s expedition through northwestern California in 1851. That’s the cover title.  Edited and with annotations by Robert F. Heizer.  Berkeley: Department of Anthropology, University of California, 1972. This… Continue reading

Visit to Skwamish, a CJ text

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A few days ago, I blogged about TS Bulmer and a Chinook Jargon text of his from the Kamloops Wawa newspaper. Reader Sam Sullivan of Vancouver, BC, courageously took up my challenge to try… Continue reading

Tilikums of Elttaes & the Seattle Potlatch boosters

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The Tilikums of Elttaes were “a bunch of boosters“.  Do you know more about them?  Add it in a comment. Their early 20th-century organization was headed by a Hyas Tyee or Tyee Kopa Konaway. It… Continue reading

The end of the mystery of Dr Thomas Sanderson Bulmer

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Dr. Thos. S. Bulmer looms large in history of Chinook Jargon, if we’re to be impressed with his voluminous entries in the landmark Bibliography of the Chinookan languages that James Constantine Pilling published through the… Continue reading

The Binfords and Mort Publishing Company and the Development of Regional Literature in Oregon

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This is an MA thesis in History by Jeremy Skinner at Portland State University, readable online for free. It’s a neat read overall, for anyone who engages much with printed pioneer-era Northwest sources.… Continue reading

Motivation in the Portland Chinuk Wawa language community

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That’s the title of a recent master’s thesis in ESL done at Portland State University, by Abigail Elaina Pecore.   (Picture acknowledgment: WAYK blog.) I’ve only skimmed it so far, having just discovered it.… Continue reading