Hutłilaxda'xwla yaxs laxdamułasan's k'walsk'wal'yakw'wała yaxwa ka'e Edward Curtis ka sabadzwegile's…

“Listen, everybody, about the time our old people danced for Edward Curtis so that he could make a film…”

La'misan's Kwakwaka'wakw laxan's gweła'asi  laxux da U'mistax olak'ala amya'xalax i'ax'ine'yas Edward Curtis la'e sabadzawegila xan's k'walsk'wal'yakwi laxa k'wisała 'nala.  La'ma'as ikamas xan's ni'noka'yi le'gan's 'namaxas dłu' dukwamxda'xwax.  La'misan's ugwaka k'odła'nakwala le'gan's dukwalax yaxwała'ena'yasan's k'walsk'wal'yakwi dłu'wi da ik sixwa laxa xwak'wana.  Yu'am i'al'stsa k'walsk'wal'yakwi yaxus gaxex xit'saxalasu'wa.  La'misux 'namaxas gaxs łaxwe'yasan's k'walsk'wal'yakwi la'ex 'wi'la dłidłagad laxan's gwaya'ya'elasi.

The Kwak'wala speaking peoples—the Kwakwaka'wakw, represented by the U'mista Cultural Society—are indeed indebted to Edward Curtis for his work in documenting some of our traditions in this early film.  To see our old people as they looked in those early days is very special.  We continue to learn by watching the dance movement and the expert paddling in the film.  The young people you see in this live performance are descendants of the people you see in the film.  Because they have all been initiated and named in our ceremonies, they bring a true spiritual connection with them in their singing and dancing.

 
Chief William T. Cranmer
Chair, U'mista Cultural Society