Haida Philosophy

Haida Philosophy / World View

• Áajii hlan gwáay uu ya’áats’ gingáan uu íijang.
  The world is like a knife blade.
• Daláng isdaal.hl uu st’áang dámaan hl ḵing’waang.
  When you are walking, watch your step.
• Gam st’a’áang dalang ḵingwáa.sang . . .
  If you don’t watch your step . . .
• Hlan-gwáay tlagaay dalang dlawíit’ae hl saang.
  You will fall off the edge of the world.

Upon hearing this Haida world view . . . a young lad ridiculed it and the story teller by prancing around and saying,

"Hlaw uu iijang!  Hey, look at me !
Dii dlawiit’ae hl saang.  I’m falling off the edge of the world."

While prancing around, he stepped on a fish bone and developed fish poisoning and died. Thus the old people say he had fallen off the edge of the World.

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Sourced from Snewaylh Co-op Radio, July 05, 2011. Vancouver BC Canada
Text and Audio by Káawan Sangáa, Compiled and edited by Giihlgiigaa Tsiij Git’anee

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