“We’re Still Alive”

We're Still Alive! This song honours the Haida people who live in Alaska. It relays oral traditions about how the Haida migrated to Alaska from northern Haida Gwaii. It is in northern Xaad Kil (Masset Haida), translated by Dr. Jasḵwaan Bedard

Lyrics:

We’re Still Alive

TERRI-LYNN WILLIAMS-DAVIDSON (2022)

K’iis gwáaaaay t’álang ‘isdáalgaan

(We walked from Langara Island)

t’álang ‘isdáalgaan

(We walked)

‘Waa!

(Expression of extreme awe)

xaadla gwáaaaaaay iitl’ kuyáa-adang

(We love Haida Gwaii)

ku-yáa-adang!

(Love!)

‘Waa!

Ah haaaaaaay eee yay

Ah hay eee yay

Ah hay eee yay, ah hay

Ah hay eee yay ah hay

Ah hay eee yay

Gin ‘wáadluuwaaaaaaan gud áhl ‘iswaang

(We are all interconnected)

gud ahl ‘iswaang!

(Interconnected!)

‘Waa!

hawáan íiii-tl’ ḵ’iiganii xaadáagang

(We’re still K’iigani Haida)

k’iiganii xaadáagang!

(K’iigani Haida!)

‘Waa!

CHORUS

Hawáan uu íiiii-tl’ xíinang.áang

(We’re still Alive!)

Hawáan uu íiiii-tl’

xíinang.áang! Hay, hay, hay, ‘Waa! ‘Waa! ‘Waa!

Yah-ah hay ee yay

xíinang.áang! Hay, hay, hay, ‘Waa! ‘Waa! ‘Waa!

Yah-ah hay ee yay

xíinang.áang! Hay, hay, hay, ‘Waa! ‘Waa! ‘Waa!

Yah-ah hay ee yay