top of page
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
Ê”a·kÇ‚u titqatÌ“ - 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
Ê”a·kÌ“ayuka - hat
qaǂa kinʔin_ - who are you_
ktamuxu - darkness
kamnuqǂu - white
ȼ̓ikan - come
Ê”a·kÇ‚u watÌ“kum - 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
ktÌ“isu·kakani·muÇ‚ - scarf
kiʔsuk kyukyit k̓ukunmakut - Happy New Year
haqwiǂin - dance
ȼ̓inan - go
Words of the Week - February
nupqu/nipqu – bear
Ê”a·kiÇ‚wi·nam – heart
qsamunaÇ‚am – to help one another
suknikitnamu – happiness
nuÊ”kiy – groundhog
k̓ituq̓ǂiǂqaǂ - letter
q̓uȼikisqǂiǂ - to flirty eyes
ktÌ“amuxu – to drum
kȼǂakiÇ‚amnam – love
qunaÇ‚wi· - to be lovesick
haÇ‚qukÌ“aÇ‚maxa – to kiss someone
ʔak̓ - arrow
Ç‚ana – come here
Ê”itwisqan – stop
qanaxamin … - put on ….
Ç‚a Ê”itkinin – do it again/ fix it again
hu ȼǂakiÇ‚ni… - I like …
Ê”a·kiÇ‚wiynam Ê”a·kinmititis – Valentine’s Day
hu ȼxaÇ‚ qanaxamÌ“ni … - I am going to put on …
kinȼ Ê”aqaqna? – what are you going to do?
bottom of page