6:  Trapping a Small Bird at G̱igaḵ

I used to trap birds in G̱igak, those little birds, robin. I would dig (a hole) in the dirt. I put herring eggs and bread crumbs in it. I used a basket or a box. I stood a small stick in the ground and I tied a string on it and hid. I waited for little birds to come. The bird came inside the trap. I pulled (the string). The bird was inside. Then I caught the bird. Then George Walkus' boys would come. They made the bird fly away. 

One time, I was trapping birds when it was just me and my dad in G̱igaḵ. My mom came to Ba'a's for a funeral. My dad let me keep the little robin, winter robin. My heart was really happy when he made that box to put it inside. I fed it bread crumbs. The robin got very fat and I was really happy it didn't die. It was still alive. My dad tried to tell me to let it fly away. "No," I said, "it's my little bird." One day, I went to go see it again. The little bird was just lying there. The little bird wasn't alive. I was crying for that. "See, I tried to tell you," said my dad. He didn't let me keep them anymore, little birds. I was just a little kid. 

Listen to your mom and dad. Everything they say is right.

- Mary George (Henderson)

Ma̱lkwa̱latła̱n's: We Will Remember

6:  Trapping a Small Bird at G̱igaḵ

An audio space for Gwat̕sala and 'Nak̕wala, languages spoken by the Gwa'sa̱la and 'Nak̕waxda'x̱w Nations.

6: Trapping a Small Bird at G̱igaḵ

Bak̕wa̱mk̓ala