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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?
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