Ktunaxa Language and Culture

Yaqan Nukiy School offers students a unique, culturally informed learning experience. From lessons in the Ktunaxa language to hands-on cultural activities, like canoe-making, our school is at the forefront of cultural reconciliation and knowledge sharing.

On this page, you will find a sampling of the Ktunaxa Language - including Words of the Week and cultural projects.

For more information on the Ktunaxa language visit the First Voices website.

Words of the Week - January

ʔuwukin - stand up

ʔa·kǂu titqat̓ - snowman

n̓aǂtukǂiʔitni - it is slippery

k̓isqat̓uk - cold water

kaȼa·kati - gray

ʔisaknun - sit down

wanuyitnamu - winter

mitxaǂiʔtit - to shoot off a gun

k̓ikȼinikiǂ - shovel

hu ȼxaǂ yakxaxumuniyamnaǂani - we will share

ʔa·k̓ayuka - hat

qaǂa kinʔin_ - who are you_

ktamuxu - darkness

kamnuqǂu - white

ȼ̓ikan - come

ʔa·kǂu wat̓kum - snowball

namnuqǂuni... - ... is white

kmitxaǂtitnam - New Year's Day

kaqȼ̓iʔmuǂ - skates

hu skikiǂ ʔitkini... - I am making...

ʔaǂtukǂiʔit - for a place or ground to be slippery

kt̓isu·kakani·muǂ - scarf

kiʔsuk kyukyit k̓ukunmakut - Happy New Year

haqwiǂin - dance

ȼ̓inan - go

Words of the Week - February

nupqu/nipqu – bear

ʔa·kiǂwi·nam – heart

qsamunaǂam – to help one another

suknikitnamu – happiness

nuʔkiy – groundhog

k̓ituq̓ǂiǂqaǂ - letter

q̓uȼikisqǂiǂ - to flirty eyes

kt̓amuxu – to drum

kȼǂakiǂamnam – love

qunaǂwi· - to be lovesick

haǂquk̓aǂmaxa – to kiss someone

ʔak̓ - arrow

ǂana – come here

ʔitwisqan – stop

qanaxamin … - put on ….

ǂa ʔitkinin – do it again/ fix it again

hu ȼǂakiǂni… - I like …

ʔa·kiǂwiynam ʔa·kinmititis – Valentine’s Day

hu ȼxaǂ qanaxam̓ni … - I am going to put on …

kinȼ ʔaqaqna? – what are you going to do?