Secwepemctsín

We are T’exelcemc (Williams Lake Nation people), members of the Secwépemc Nation

Here are some common words and phrases in Secwepemctsín (the Secwépemc language). The list below includes spelling and pronunciation that is specific to the Northern Secwepemctsín dialect, used in areas like T’exelc, Xatśūll, Tsq’escen’, and Stswecem’c Xget’tem. Spellings and pronunciations are often a little different than in the Southern Secwépemc centres like Tk’emlúps.


Animals

Bald Eagle – Speĺqweqs
Bear – Kenkéknem
Beaver – Sqlu7úẁl
Bird – Spyu7
Caribou – Selcwéycen
Deer – Ts̓i7
Duck – S7ést̓cwem
Eagle – Spel̓qwéqs
Elk – Tcets̓
Fish – Swewll
Golden Eagle – Spi7úy
Kokanee Salmon – Keknécw
Moose – Teníye
Muskrat – Seklécwe7
Osprey – Tsícwts’ecw
Otter – Lehéts̓
Painted Turtle – Spelq́wéqs
Rainbow Trout – Písell
Red-Winged Blackbird – Tqweqwíq́wit
Salmon – Sqlélten
Suckerfish – Tsq́wmus

Places

Alkali Lake – Esk’et
Canim Lake – Tsq’escen
Canoe Creek – Stswecem’c
Deep Creek – Cmetem’
Dog Creek – Xget’tem
Flatrock – NeSextsine
Land of the Shuswap – Secwepemcúl’ecw
People of Sugarcane – T’exelcmc
Soda Creek – Xatśūll
Sugarcane – T’exelc

Plants

Cattail – Kwtellp
Chokecherry Berries – Tkwlóse7
Chokecherry Tree – Tkwelséllp
Cottonwood – Mulc
Douglas Fir – Tsq̓ellp
Field Mint – Cwecw7ú7cw
Hawthorn Berries – Stmuqw
Hawthorn Tree – Stemqwéllp
Juniper – Punllp
Lodgepole Pine – Qweqwlít
Red-Osier Dogwood Tree – Tseqwtsqwél’qw
Red-Osier Dogwood Berries – Cpeqpqéqeńkcen
Rosehips – Sekwéw̓
Sage – Kéwku
Sasakatoon Berries – Speqpeq7úẃi
Sasakatoon Bush – Speqpqéllp
Silverweed – Cílcel
Soopolallie (Soap Berries) – Sxúsem
Stinging Nettle – Secwemém’llp
White Spruce – T̓.sellp
Yarrow – Qets’wew’ye7éllp

Secwépemc Prayer

Secwépemc Prayer (full)
‘We thank you, Creator for giving us everything that we need.’
‘Help us to be strong’

Secwépemc Lullaby

Secwépemc Lullaby