Distinguishing “Métis” from “métis” in the Chinook Jargon world
I often tell you that Chinook Jargon is a “Métis” language; is this the same as a “métis” language?
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Real info about the infamous Seattle Illahee / Illeah / Mad House / Sawdust Pile
From more than one source, I’d like to present you with some Chinook Jargon-related dirt on the notorious Seattle house of prostitution, the “Illahee“, famed in song and story.
1827-1830: The Fort Langley Journals and BC Métis
We can fairly call these documents an overlooked treasure for understanding BC Chinuk Wawa’s history.
1844: Lee and Frost, “Ten Years in Oregon” — where CW was and wasn’t spoken
Crazily enough, I’ve written here about a different, excellent book having the identical title (and quoting from this one)…
1942: Robie Reid’s fine little CW article
This is a solid lesson on Chinuk Wawa history, and a great chance to learn more about both preachers’ & naughty songsters’ use of the language in BC.
“Gitop” vs. “lei dawn”, etc.
Kluchmin iaka sit dawn, man iaka lei dawn (Image credit: Shutterstock) Here’s a selection from page 46 of the “Chinook Manual” (Kamloops: 1896)…
Kamloops + other residential schools, as reported to Native people in Chinook (Part 1)
Before they were called “residential schools”, they were “Indian industrial schools”…
A tongue-tied etymology for ‘Cowlitz’
A number of claims have been advanced, doubtless based on the most authoritative information then available, about the literal meaning of the tribe-and-language name “Cowlitz”.
Kamloops Wawa humour (Part 1)
Jokes, fun quips, recreative wordplay: the classic Chinuk Wawa newspaper Kamloops Wawa had plenty of humour.
A 2nd Kamloops Native WW1 letter from the front in Chinook
A letter from the Front, which the evidence suggests was written in Chinuk Pipa, from the Secwépemc soldier Auguste J. Jules, reproduced in French translation.