How I Became a Speaker of Kumeyaay
Synopsis: This is my journey of how I seek to reclaim my ancestral language which was once lost. I will share with you how learning ‘Iipay Aa opened doors and allowed me to meet some amazing people. I encourage you to learn your ancestors’ language and see where it takes you.
Xaawka,‘iipay nyaamat. Nicholas Smith wii nyechuuxii. Mattaam shaxuk xewak ‘enyewich.‘Enyaach ‘Iipay-Kumeyaay ‘eyuu. Paskwa (San Pasqual Reservation) kupaay.‘Enyaach kuuyaaw nyawixch kwaachemuyuuw ‘eyuu. ‘Etaly Lisa Baker wii chuuxii.‘Enekwaaw Calaway Baker wii chuuxii.
Nyimvey‘enyaach Paskwavi ‘enyewaayps. ‘Iipay nyaamatvech ‘Iipay Aavu uchewaypx umaaw.‘Enemuush sinych ‘Iipay Aa waayp; nyaapum ‘iipayvech uchewaypx umaaw. Puuch‘Iipay Aa, Mellychish Aa, Penyaay Aa waayp. ‘Elymash saarrapm nyewich; ‘IipayAa uchewayplly warx umaaw. ‘Enemuush sinych wiis “¡Menyaawapch Millychish Aakaayp!” Nyaapum, ‘enekwaaw nyawixch ‘etaly ‘Iipay Aa uchewaypx umaaw. Nyipily,‘enyaach ‘Iipay Aa ‘uuyaaw nyaapum ‘aayp.
Mattaam xewak emak, ‘Ewaa chemuyuuwvi ‘esalyem‘etarchach. San Pasqual Education Department wii chuuxii. ‘Enyaach ‘elymash‘exmiiym ‘aachemuyuuws. Uumall ‘Iipay Aavu kenaapm ‘echexpils. Uumall Baarroon(Barona Inter-Tribal Dictionary ‘Iipay Aa Tiipay Aa Uumall) nyawixch UumallTekemak (Dictionary of Mesa Grande Digueño) ‘ewuuw ta’waa. Kupilly nyipi,‘enur, ‘Iipay Aavu ‘uuyaawlly ‘ar. Kupilly nyaamat, uumall xewakvu ‘ewuuwta’waa. ‘Enyaach ‘Iipay Aavu mat ‘aachemuyuuw ta’waa. ‘Iipay Aavu ‘ewuuw,‘uumall, nyaapum ‘aaypx mat ‘aachemuyuuw ta’waa. ‘Iipay Aavu ‘emirrch apesiiw.Kupilly nyaamat, nyemich ‘estikm ‘uuyaaw ta’waa. Kupilly nyaamat, ‘Enyaach‘esan ‘Iipay Aavu ‘estikm ‘aayp.
‘Iipay ‘exmiiym ‘ekepekuw. Pupch ‘enyaanyachuutuu; ‘Iipayvech ‘exmiiym nyaachemuyuuw. ‘Enyaach ‘iipay nyaamat ‘IipayAavu aachemuyuuwlly ‘ar. Pily mattaam, ‘ewaa chemuyuuwvech “Anawakalmekak”esally nyinys. Uumall kaachemuyuuw nyinyx. ‘Iipay Aavu nyawixch ‘Iipay‘aaknachvu ‘aachemuyuuwx; nyaapum, ‘enyaach ‘ewaa chemuyuuwi ‘aachemuyuuwx.
‘Emirrs, ‘Iipay Aavu ‘uuyaaw nyawixch‘aachemuyuuw. Nyeknaap: ¡Maa ‘iipay aa kuuyaaw! ‘Iipay ‘exmiiym maaypx.‘Exmiiym muuyaawx. ¡Nyaapum, ‘iipay ‘exmiiym matt ‘estikm kaayp! ¡mekunychewaaynyawixch munycheway kaayp! ¡’Uuxayii!
You can contact the author at nicholascalsmith@gmail.com
