New storytime kits at a North Shore library are helping people of all ages learn the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish language) in a fun way.
The West Vancouver Memorial Library is launching the Sḵw’shítsut/Sḵw’shétsut Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim Storytime Kits officially on Wednesday, Sept. 24, for people to borrow, helping revitalize the language and culture.
“I thought it was the best idea to go with stories, something everybody can relate to of all ages,” said Tsitsáyx̱emaat (Rebecca Duncan), a Skwxwú7mesh Sníchim speaker and knowledge keeper who collaborated with the library by translating material to bring the storytime kits to life. “No matter what age, there’s always interest [in stories], there’s always morals and teachings.”
Each of the six kits have the book Iyá7yulh Tl’a Tsuńax̲en/ Tsunaxen’s Journey by Xwemilut (Lisa Lewis), along with felt pieces to help readers tell the story visually. There are two slightly different kits for people to borrow with extra stories connecting to Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) culture and helping to teach the language.
Xwemilut was thrilled when she found out her book, which was published last year, was being translated into the Squamish language.
“To have the whole book completely translated is amazing,” Xwemilut said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how it will be used in schools and other educational programs. Not just children but adults, because we lost our language through the residential school and so this book is hopefully going to be a help with that.”
The kits also have a Yoto player with cards to play audio components of stories and songs that many people know, like the “Hokey Pokey” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
“‘Hokey Pokey’ is a universal thing everybody knows, so that’s one of the big hits with the kids,” Tsitsáyx̱emaat said. “We threw that in there just to share the wealth, and hopefully other people can have fun with it.”
The storytime kits are an expansion of the Skwxwú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish Language) kits put out on library shelves last year, which saw a high interest from the public, said West Vancouver Memorial Library librarian Kendra Sakamoto.
Last year’s language kits include the basics of learning Skwxwú7mesh Sníchim, which feature a Squamish-to-English dictionary, an audio player to help learn pronunciation and alphabet blocks showing letters and numbers of the language. The kit also has opposites and animal flashcards, a walk guide learning land-based teachings and the game Potlach, a co-operative game that teaches the idea of a shared economy.
“That’s the foundation and we wanted to build off of that,” Sakamoto said.
Sakamoto said she hopes people have fun with the kits, but that the tools also open doors for conversations about Squamish language, culture and Coast Salish history.
“Because the kits are so culturally relevant, there’s lots of opportunity for conversation,” she said, citing one example of the Coash Salish woolly dog becoming extinct due to systematic colonial policies. “There are elements of deeper education available in these kits, it’s not just stories and songs.”
The timing of the launch of the kits is intentional, Sakamoto said, as it’s days away from National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.
“Reconciliation is something we all should be doing and thinking about year long. But the reality is, especially in the world of education, most people are kind of thinking about things with the theme of the month,” she said. “Schools are thinking about Indigenous education in September, so it’s a great time to launch them, when people are hungry for that content and … they decide to use them all year.”
For Tsitsáyx̱emaat, she hopes the kits will spark interest and conversation of the Squamish language for people from all walks of life.
“If we could share our language, and if they could take that on, that would just be so beautiful,” she said. “The language is really rhythmic and beautiful, just like this land, so I think creating those relationships and opening it up for conversation, I think that’s a good start there.”
Almost anyone who lives in B.C. can borrow the storytime kits as long as they show ID and register for a West Vancouver library card.
The library is holding a free launch event for the storytime kits on Sept. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to noon where Xwemilut will read her book. Bannock and prizes will be also be given out during the launch event.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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