Hoo’yis gum Gan an hiihl Simgan.
Anu lax mo’on wil
limkshl gan gan dip tgun. Ii nn’iiluk ii tux tuxt. Ganim gan
didils si wadihl Nisga’a. Hilt agu wilt hoox dit.
- Si pts’aan
- Siwilyee’enskw ii hoohlgan
- M’aalim Ha’aydax, Sim M’aal, M’aalim sil’in’iskw
ii M’aalim mink’a wax gwnhl w’ildigitkw
- Anjam, Galiink, Anuuhl, Galdim t’ilx, ii wo’omhlkw.
- Wax, Amiilukw, Haseex, ii galdim xt’iilx
- Anho’ya’am simwilp, Daxanish, Wasindoo’o, Uuksk’ayeex,
Haahlgan, Gambu, Ala, ii K’awax
- Gangahl digit, Sk’aaksa’an han’ii gwalkw maa’y,
galdim uux ksu’u ganhl xsnaax.
- Hat’aa’l, iimhl, Guuk, Hagwilux luux, ii dihlkw.
- Hoox dit laks ahl ha’niilaahl ganhl si satkw.
Daa hla ksiguuthl Sim’oogit naa dim an gahlkw pts’aan
ganhl dim silgawilit, kap sgi dimt wilax dit hal adaawagahl adooks
dim n’ii wanit loot, dim ii gwilks txaa gin’am dit yukhl
gihee’e dit. |
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Introduction of the Red Cedar Tree
The Red Cedar tree is called Simgan, which means genuine tree.
It grows to an average of four feet in diameter and one hundred
and twenty feet tall. They grow on the North Pacific coast. Red
Cedar is classified as the tree of life by the Nisga’a
Nation who use it for many things.
- Totem poles
- Talking staffs. Chief’s throne
- Seagoing canoes, cargo canoes, war canoes, hunting canoes
and race canoes.
- Cooking, cedar storage bent boxes, bent box drums, grease
box and bent baby cradle.
- Canoe paddles, ceremonial masks, rattles, grease bowls.
- Long houses, main posts, beams, rafters, wall planks, roof
shingles, revolving smoke hole and house front screen.
- 1” diameter sticks for smoking Eulachon, drying racks
for berries, and huge granting bowl.
- Cedar bark is stripped to make water buckets, cedar baskets,
cedar rope, cedar hats, headdresses, clothing and ceremonial
Chain of Office (neck rings made out of alder branch weaved
with cedar bark).
- Cedar boughs are used for mats, bedding and ritual cleansing.
When a carver is commissioned to create a totem pole, they
must first understand the story behind each figure adorning the
pole.
The carver and helper must dedicate themselves to the project ‘till
completion.
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