July/August 2022

before we bring this meeting to order
we want to acknowledge ourselves, the Kaktoviġmiut
yes, Siliun, this is how they are doing things nowadays
                  we are doing it right

                     we acknowledge ourselves, the Kaktoviġmiut
  we are the people of this island and of the mountains and lands around us
                           and all our traditional hunting areas

                                                                                                       since …

Tóyisdzáán shimá dishníigo
Nahasdzáán shimá dishníigo
Ni’ bitł’ááhdęę hasísná
Nahasdzáán shimá bijéí
chahałheeł yee hadít’éego
biyidęę’ hasísná
Nitsáhákees bá hooghandęę’ hasísná
Saad bá hooghandęę’ hasísná
Hooghandi nán’sdzá
Hooghandi nán’sdzá


 

I celebrate myself
And what I hereby cede you shall hereby cede,
For the country relinquished by me as good is relinquished by you

I loafe and convey to the United States
All the right, title and interest ... in my country, occupied and claimed,
I give and grieve ... meeting on spears of summer grass


I celebrate myself
And what…