Gawagani

02/16/2025

Ada ap g̱a̱łgwisgüüda k’abatgüüłk.

And the kids were happy!

Way to rock in day one of the 100 day Sm’algyax challenge 🤘🏽🎸

Wayi wah!

11/27/2024

Hagwil yaan - Sm’algya̱x meaning “walk gently”.

My daughter Ksm Ganhada, or Lisa, embarked on a Sm’algya̱x apprenticeship in 2019. Sigidm Hana̱’a̱ Huhuuł, accepted Lisa as her apprentice, committing to three years of one on one Sm’algya̱x immersion for 20 hours per week without hesitation. 🙏🏽 Our family held this relationship with the utmost respect and care. Supporting them both in this work that sparked a very special and cherished friendship. It has been an honour to walk beside them both and witness the awakening of Sm’algya̱x in our family that rippled out from this beautiful friendship that emerged between my daughter and Huhuuł. A cherished gift that we tended to with care and held close to all of our hearts.

For all the teachings and friendship extended so warmly by Huhuuł to my daughter and by extension to our family, Ap Luk wil ataaltganu (we are so grateful) 🙏🏽

Huhuuł spirit has begun their journey walking into the forest. Our family is tending to our grieving hearts while sending clear and focused prayers for Huhuuł and her family during this journey. We invite you to join our prayers. Huhuuł believed in their power, as do we.

This is a significant loss for many. Our prayers are with all who may be grieving. My heart is confident Huhuuł is being greeted and meeting all our precious Tsym’syen ancestors, including Nooyu (my Mom), in a magical Sm’algya̱x world. 💜

Hagwil yaan daał 🕊️
Ndm Algyik ‘niidsn 🤍
Wayi wah

05/05/2024

Sigidm Hana’na̱x. Sm’algyax meaning “Honoured woman”.

Ts’msyen is a matriarchal society. It is an honour to walk beside ada in revitalizing Sm’algyax, and all the beautiful and meaningful teachings held within.
Including respecting women fairly, equitably and justly in our communities.

Smgyit Haaytgn Sigidm Hana’na̱x. 💪🏽
Ałgandi luk’odn 🫂

Wayi wah 👊🏽

03/17/2024

ḵ’aawts’. Sm’algya̱x meaning labret.

The time was right to acknowledge all the powerful experiences in our Sm’algya̱x journey and those yet to come. Today I had the honor to walk beside łguułgm hana̱’a̱yu (my daughter) in revitalizing this significant Ts’msyen hana’ax piercing ceremony.

Luk wil ayaaltagnu łaa gyigyet. I’m so very grateful to the ancestors.

Lumin baana goodu 💗

Wayi wah 👊🏽




🙏🏽 .piercemore for all the care and respect your extended for us and our Sm'algya̱x for this important occasion.

11/26/2023

Na k’yilamu mooksgm ganhada na̱'a̱xu łguułgm ha̱na̱'a̱xu 👗. Luk wil lu aam goodu.

Sm’algya̱x meaning, “I gave my white Raven dress to my daughter. My heart is really happy”

Our daughters beautiful spirits have been a part of our Sm’algya̱x revitalization journey since well before they arrived in this physical world. I designed and danced this dress at a time when we would dance, drum and sing with an amazing group of inspirational Gitksan, Kwakwakaʼwakw and Cree Métis women and Indigenous youth in Surrey, many moons ago. A treasured time.

Luk wil N’toyaxsn for always walking beside me on my journey. I look forward to now walking beside your beautiful journey as your storytelling spirit begins to shine ✨ ✨
Luk wil adziksa goodu łguułgm ha̱na̱'a̱xu.

Luk wil N’toyaxsn for such an inspiring week. 💖

Wayi wah!

08/09/2023

Wayi wah! Sm’algyax encouragement meaning“let’s go” , “ok, now” or “the time is now”

Sm'algya̱x is the language spoken within the Ts’msyen Nation and is a threatened language. Creating in Sm’algya̱x is ama xaldawxk 🪶(good medicine) as our family works had to bring back Sm’algya̱x to our voices. 👊🏽

Bringing a language back to its rightful homes, communities and landscape is the work of many over several generations and I’m so grateful to have so many walking beside us in this heart-work in so many different places and spaces. 🥰. Including . Kasiks is KitsumKalum owned and operated, so it makes sense it be the only brick and mortar location to stock Gawagani “Wayi Wah” swag! We be supporting KitsumKalum economy within KitsumKalum community! Wayi wah!!!

If your cruising around Hwy 16 between Prince Rupert and Terrace, be sure to include time to visit Kasiks. It’s a beautiful spot with a beautiful spirit. Every Wayi wah swag purchase supports Sm’algya̱x revitalization AND KitsumKalum economy revitalization!

Lumin baana goodu! 💞💞
My heart is running with excitement! 💞💞

Wayi wah! 👊🏽

07/30/2023

Lumin baana goodu 💗 Sm’algyax meaning my heart is running with happiness.

My dear Mama shared with me that this expression would be used when you were gifted something reeeeaaallly special. Yesterday was a treasured gift of Sm’algya̱x love, strength, community and kindness.

Luk wil ayaaltganu, I feel so blessed to be a small part of celebrating our dear Teedsa Shu’gyna’s 80 birthday. I will be forever grateful for the kind, fun and safe online space to learn Sm’algya̱x with Shugyna. Her spirit is a treasured gift to Sm’algya̱x.

Many of our online Sm’algya̱x learners met for the first time in person yesterday to celebrate our dear Shugyna💗Luk wil ayaaltganu to this beautiful committed determined kind supportive patient caring fun giggly online Sm’algya̱x community that has walked beside our families Sm’algya̱x journey. A gift I will treasure for always.

Heelda ayaaltganu gyits’ipda. I felt so many blessings. Here’s to this sparking the beginning of many more in person Sm’algya̱x gatherings! Sm’algya̱x ła gwelga lak 🔥. The fire is lit for Sm’algya̱x🔥

Lumin baana goodu. 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

Luk wil N’toyaxsism to everyone that made this day possible. Luk wil aam! 💞

Wayi wah!

📸

07/03/2023

Ama xaldaawk sah gya’wyn. Sm’algya̱x meaning “good medicine today”.

Lumin baana goodu Shxuysulwut 💞

Wayi wah 🫶🏽

07/01/2023

Luk wil Tsimshianu. Sm’algya̱x meaning “I’m real Tsimshian”.

There are many forces that continue to be at work to deny our family fair and equitable access to our languages and culture. This reality has many impacts including belonging and identity.

July 1, 2022 our family journeyed to Dałk gyilak'yoo. I will never forget all that that day meant for us and those who walked beside us. 💚

Luk wil Tsimshianu sah gya’wyn ada txa’niis sah. I’m real Tsimshian today and everyday 👊🏽💪🏽

Wayi wah

06/22/2023

Luk wil, Luk wil, Luk wil ayaaltganu. I am so very very grateful. 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

N’toyaxsn ada for rockin’ & rollin’ with this good ole Tsm’syen Ganhada entourage cheering y’all on along the way! ✌🏽❤️🤘🏽

Lumin baana goodu 💗

Wayi wah! 🤘🏽

📸 🫶🏽

04/24/2023

Luk wil aam Emily Elizabeth Bryant! Wayi wah!

Kitsumkalum Band language co-ordinator Emily Bryant and yoga instructor Bhavani Britt McDougall have been hosting yoga classes that incorporate words in Sm'algya̱x.