Glossary

All the Native American words in the book are from the Mi’kmaq language. Here is a rough guide to pronunciation. As a rule of thumb, ‘k’ is pronounced as a hard ‘g’, and ‘t’ as a light ‘d’.

eula’qmeujit (ey-oo-lahk-may-oo-jeet) — starvation

jenu (jen-oo) — ice giant, once a human being

ji’j (jeej) — small (a suffix)

jipijka’m (jee-peej-gahm) — horned serpent

jipjawej (jeep-ja-wedge) — robin

kewasu’nukwej (gee-wa-soo-nook-wage) — invisible Other One who chops trees

kiunik (gee-oon-ig) — otter

kopit (go-peed) — beaver

kwimu (gwee-moo) — loon, a diving water bird

kwetejk (gwed-edge-k) — St Lawrence Iroquois people

muin (moo-een) — bear

n’kwis (en-gwees) — my son

nukumij (noo-goo-meej) — my grandmother

nuji’j (noo-jeej) — my grandchild

nujj (en-oodge) — my father

plawej (pl-ow-wedge) — partridge

sinumkw (seh-num-k) — wild goose

skite’kmuj (es-kuh-deg-uh-mooj) — ghost

skus (es-koos) — weasel

sqoljk (es-holch-ig) — frogs

tia’m (dee-ahm) — moose

tioml (dee-oh-mull) — powerful animal totem

wiklatmu’jk (week-laht-moo-jig) — race of tiny Persons who inhabit the shore