Ring around the moon

Sim gyaa sak gyuun’, wa’ooltxw lax maasxw

January is when you can walk on the snow. It is a good time to wear snow shoes because the snow is so hard. This is the coldest part of the year.

When the beaver sticks his head out of the ice

Sa hetxw si gya’lahl tsimilx ahl gyuun’.

The beaver pokes a hole in the ice to see how things are around them. This is the month of the beaver.

When the bear moves around in the den

Nithl wil hlantxwhl simsmax t’sim tsap’t hloxs gyuu’n. Am dim sii’linasxw dix ahl lo’oba ts’al.

The bear starts to move around in their den. The bear starts to move towards the daylight to adjust to the light. It is a good time to hunt blue grouse, they are fat and lazy.

When the spring salmon are entering the Skeena River

Hla yuukxwhl hadixhl ya’a goohl tsim aakhl gali xsan. Nit wil hoodi bakxwhl gwisgangwa’altxw. Hloxs tun wil sga’lan’m ‘taahlxwhl wa’uumst.

The month of the spring salmon. The spring salmon start to move up the Skeena river from the ocean. When the first robin arrives and brings the spring salmon with them. This is the last month to pick devils club- it is not good to pick once the branches start budding.

When the leaves are budding

Hloxs tun wil sii’tsatxwhl yans. Nit wil hes tsokx sim, goon gya’adith hlo’omst ahl hon.

The leaves are budding. Our area starts to look lime green. This is the month we have our salmon bake and welcome the fish up the river.

When soap berries and strawberries come out

Sa hetxw si gya’lahl tsimilx ahl gyuun’.

The month of the berries. Soap berries and strawberries are the first berries to be seen. These berries arrive with the warm weather.

When the bear moves around in the den

Nithl wil hlantxwhl simsmax t’sim tsap’t hloxs gyuu’n. Am dim sii’linasxw dix ahl lo’oba ts’al.

The month of lots of fish. This is the month that our people prepare our fish for the winter. The first fish to come up are the sockeye, the end of July is when the blue back sockeye come up the river- these are the bigger sockeye.

When the grizzly bear starts to fatten up

Hloxs tun wil‘tis yookhl lik’i’nsxw si’hix’t dim wok’t ji wi’maadim

The month the grizzly bear begins to fatten up for their long winter sleep. The grizzly bear goes to the mountains to eat berries and fish.

When the groundhog are nice and fat

Nit wil si’linsxw Gitxsan ahl gwiikxw hlox tun, wil hix dit.

The month of the groundhog. The ground hog are nice and fat this time of year, perfect for hunting in the mountains.

When your work is done and the lake trout are fat

Sa’am googitxw Gitxsan hloxs tun, sa’hlo’ohl iixw dit, hlixw sin’hondit ganhl ‘taahlxw dit ma’ay. Go yo yuukhl si’oohl dit ganhl si’linaasxw dit ahl xaada.

The month of going out to fish for lake trout. Lake trout are hungry, taking bait easy now. We are finished harvesting fish and the berries. This is a good time to look and gather fire wood. The moose are rutting.

Getting the ground ready for a cold winter

Hla yuukhl gwildim goothl gyat dim sakx, ahl lakxw ganhl smaya xaadaa.

The month of hunting and gathering fire wood for the winter. It is getting cold and we are getting used to it. The moose are nice and fat after the nice long summer months.

When the weather gets really cold

Sakx hloxs tun, nit wil siisakxhl gan gan ii lakhl maasxw. Luu gwantxw dim anti’mahlsxw Ye’e ganthl Tsiits.

The month of cold. The trees are snapping because of the cold weather. It is snowing a lot during this month. This is the time of story telling and sharing of information.