Yinna Aldama AKA Shaák Tipay (above) tells her story to Sholók (sholok.0000@gmail.com) in Yuma language
Synopsis: The art of tattooing is present in many cultures throughout the world, and the Yuman culture is no stranger to it. In the last century, many Kumiay women stopped tattooing their faces due to a forced shift in their culture, making this tradition rare in modern-day Kumiay communities. Yinna Aldama AKA Shaák Tipay tells me her experience in keeping this tradition alive.
Metipay Yumánpuch maat kwich uuwip matwam ñu jan tawá. Maat umalh ñu sh’aak yiw kwich ña’wiw, tarchach kway’kuu shash apesiiwm yay iján. Ilhyuw ñípuch awatj chawám kwaas mat nar puknach kwañiwch chilhit achpay, jan sh’aakpa lhwi Yinna Aldama, ñapom Shaák Tipay shiich, maat kwich Yumán ipaat lhkaway.
Shaák Tipay, mataam 26 ñuwit, piyápa jow sper Kumiay J’ták. Ñat piyá wiiw kweñúr sholóklh chawuuw pum piyách aa miskwá kwich atáp tuuyak, puchm ñachpay weyaw ilhyúwpu matwam tonak 21. “Jwanín maat ashley,” piyáchm kenaapm ñaapum ñach akwiip miyúy ñuwewum, puuiilhyuw weyuum wiis.
“Jmí mat tipey tayáw, makurr metipay Jikú tayáw,” piyá uwey ñujmí. Piyách chpam jipók J’tám ñamáyk wa chemu’yáwa skap waa, pum puuy wechows “wañá ipaat jwak: maat charray ña koriák shin, ñamáyk mat’arr koriák ñemích shin” wiis. Ñachemu’yáwa meshiay, wa-uyáw maat shkuyów, ñujow sper ñusay-maw mayey, ñipch piyá ñumaat ‘aw Kumiay taakaa.
Ñach piyá akwiich mi’ay maat kwich paychá, piyách ñuu’wey lisow: nmaw. “Piyach spá 2017 tawá, ñamayk ñach ña koriák akat piyá mayay spá uyáw,” Shaák Tipay wi. Ñipch piyá akwí: Ma’wich ña koriák maat psháw chaw ñip ripuyj maw? Mayich p’aamch yak ipay kweyuwj ñaapum ñuchewiichj? Mataam 24 tawá piyá aa miskwá maat kwich tawá panmaw iichaaj wiich.
Ñukwechayáwa Kumiay, Topas Meskwish, wekwiich jiay ma’wiipu kenaap: sha’á akulh mat kemwarr japshiiw mayay maat kwich. Shaák Tipay ñamayk wii tat jpá jmulh pajaw mayay. “Ñap tat aa miskwá atap ñamayk maat kwich tawá,” uwey. Ñutiñórrpa ajiirp jmok ñil aa ku’aay, ajiirp skap kulh lhemarr.
Wechuw ñimey ma’wii, maat kwich jekwanyp wechuy chaawíwa. Shaák Tipay’s ekwach, ñukwich maat ‘aw charray war chaawíwa: “Ajiirp kwashinch maat ashpey chaawíwa iichaa puu tarchach ñim wechuw,” panmaw kenaap. Ñach piyá akwí ñashpey, piyá uwey lisow: “Maat charray.” Piyá ñapom maat kwich utík wit yuwík, ilhyuw wechuw kwaas misión ilhyúwpu wejuyj wiich monjesk.
Author: Sholók (sholok.0000@gmail.com)
