Photo: Anza Borrego State Park, Kumeyaay Land aka San Diego County
by Sholók (sholok.0000@gmail.com)
Synopsis: The desert is a hidden gem in plain sight. As open as it is, it’s an esoteric place where I have found a big part of myself. The fantastical species here act as our mentors in life, but you must find the water in unlikely places and ask for help.
Ñachxas’ilh shiiwilhm xmí tapá, paalhch ñe’iñ kwalhyaw ña yaytaanakches.Ipaxawwittm, ñach ña pin we’ip yiiwm metxá shuukattch ñamat taayul. Xechurrmñach melay sholók chemxán lhyuukwím suunaarr vel a’aw walh. Chiipamp wetapsh,chilhiich wetapsh nesoom. Kwerrawp s’aay welhyap, pes ñawach ñip kuuwam ñaawaapchatarr parawí texwín mangoneat.
Ipaatweñurr kiiñulches, xkay Matsay Sonorrch chilhiich taayulhches. Ña-wenákkepech’uurr keñewaych Suxwalm ñeway, shuumaap xas’ilh taaniw. Puy naa weshulhmLa Rumorós, ñeta’yulhches. Pes rewí mat kwaxánch ñemeshi’ayk. Ñach paychá emúpweyaytenakxwach mat kwatayk iiñaalh kepech’uurr, matsay uwiiw. Ñach paychámaayiich emúch Sierra de Juárez mat chuuway. Emúch sa’malh kwechsaw ipaat mats’aaym piipá ñechkuuyáwa.
Parawí,Kumiai xeyaay kwatxemích mat ewí mat may wiiw, kwelhyap ña-kwaas uuyaaw.Shuutík yoxán. Peyí El Diablitoch ñilhwá, wi omálh kwaxwat toyúmk, ñach xechurrtaakay wim pekwilh.
Ñewíñemich Matsay Sonorrm ‘a’a ñapaam. Paalh matsayp xanúp tewá, ñapom ña’waach xaipaat uuyáw. Xas’ilhch ñu waam tewá, ñamaayk mat kwechxwimk xpá kwatayñechewaykches. Ñáama xa ipaat kiipch chiilhich kwiinóslh ñewaaykches, ñaawaachwesáw.
Ket’ulhi‘a’a ñapaamm puuk Hayikwiir Mat’aarpuch ‘ii ‘aakuulh ñapaam, puuk Ñach kwaaskwa’xan kwaas welhich ipaatmches. Ñach Las Vegaslh xmú kwerraw naaman. Maachyuxm mepaycháx chexuukaay welhich waarraw matm, pes kwaas welhichx maawxiipukm. Ñaawaach kwalhyap kwatay chuupaam, metipay nepach tiiñam tenam uuyaawtewách, ñamayk ñach walh teñeway ñapom xak wam. Ipaat matsaym tapaa ñawaachlheweyaaw uuyaawxwachches. Pes ñamayk ña-wenákp nesoom ñach wa chemu’yáwatewám, puu shkwak yaam kemán. Ñach kwalhyap kwerrawx maw, pes kwalhyap mattaammweshulh. Maaykalh ipaat ñip aw aatuk,ñamayk ñap Vegas tipay weyú.
Ñewíkwiinos Hayikwiir Mat’aarm Numu Tubewabem ñip match xa wesí. Matm kepiiway matkwatay piyáw, ñip alap maayk piñewaay xechurrm. Welhyap piiyaw, ñamayk alapwechax ñamayk chewuwch yoxán xa ñip wesich, pes ñipch xa tuupallh wenawchilhich yoxán puym wesich. Met’aarr Tumpisach ñapom alap wechax wesí. Peyáchmet’aarrp welhyap xan Matm ñamach we’ip, pes matpu ñip wetapsh xam wenawku’aylh. Ñipch Timbisha ipaat tepkwirr piwám ñewá.
Matkwatay Rokayóspuch ñakk Numu Tubewabe esuw ñapom Xa Xwal ñewá, ñip mat yoxánmesheyayp metipay Yumán ñipaatm. Sukwín uuyaaw yumánch piim xemím tewá. Sukwínmatch matsaym pal meshiayp xan, ñipch ipaatp peyím tapám ñechaawíwaches. Ñapóm, ñach Xa Xwalpumeshiáypa wixches, puknach mat kwataym semay ipaat ñipch wenáw, ñapóm matsaylhxemúk ñemich wenáw: Numu Tubewabe, Hayikwiir Mat’aar, Matsay Sonorr, ñámaSuxwallh wenáwches.
Ñachñam kwalhyaw chepam. Ñach peyím ipaat map tapá maw, ñach xas’ilh shiiwilhmipaat map tapá. Pes ñam stik tewá matsaych xewak wa ñepiwá. Ñach chepap maayuuyaaw, ñach mat kwatay weshiich, ñawíx ñach matsaym tanáwa rripuyx maw.Ñamoyúm ñach matm kwatay pshiw toyúm. Pes ñach kurr kepway, tikwán met’arrs’aay uwíw, ñipch ñeshalh ñetaaluus rewí ñápax ñexekwán met’arrm chepap matkaakap. Mat kwatay xwat mewas xapshiw kwet’olhk, mat kwatay xapshiw wiikk,kweñilhpu kewaakk, kwekwaspu ñaakk.
Ñachñowáy Matsay. Ñapóm ñach wiñ ‘oxa’yí peyím weshúlh tetpiitt, puknach mat lexúxlhyewí uuyaaw. Ñach mat piyá piwá paychách kuuxáp ipaatlh.
