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n̓syilxcən Pronunciation Guide
The People and Language
Ways of Life
captikʷɬ / ways of life and living; oral story laws
q’ʷc’iʔ / pit house dwellings
Expressions
pútiʔ kʷu aláʔ / we are still here
iscmypnwiɬn əc xʷəstustn k’l’ isnxaʔcinəm / walking our learning forward
Place Names
n̓kək̓m̓apl̓qs / Little Head of the Lake (referring to Kalamalka Lake)
xwił iʔ sw̓ kʷnaʔqin / Road of the Okanagan People
kɬusxnitkʷ / a place or a body of water that has two long sides; referring to Okanagan Lake
n̓łəłt̓pmíw̓scin̓ – means “jumping over place” referring to a place where the creek narrows; now downtown Vernon area
acɬuc̓us / Refers to the narrowest strip between Kalamalka and Woods Lake; a bushy strip of land; now known as Oyama Isthmus
pl̓míwaʔs – A reference to the wider parts of land between the middle of two water masses; relates to the general Oyama area.
ackɬtx̌ʷəx̌ʷqʷm / refers to “small enclosed land” or “the land between”in between three lakes; the area of Duck Lake reserve
kiʔláwnaʔ / Grizzly bear; name adopted by settlers for city of Kelowna
Food Chiefs
sk̓̓əmx̌íst / Black bear
sp̓iƛ̓m̓ / Bitterroot
nty̓tyix / Salmon
síyaʔ / Saskatoon berry
Seasons
sqipc / spring
sqʷac / summer
sk’ay / fall
slistk / winter
Plants and Animals
smúkʷaʔxn / Arrowleaf balsamroot
mul̓x / Black Cottonwood
nt̓t̓qt̓qikn̓xn / Shrubby Penstemon
sp̓itsn̓ / Hemp Dogbane
yitimniłp / Round Leaved Alumroot
paʕ̓páʕ̓łmlx / Rabbitbrush
x̌líwa / Nodding Onion
ɬux̌ʷɬáx̌ʷ / Chokecherry
ɬux̌ʷɬx̌ʷiɬp / Chokecherry bush
sc̓rsiłmlx / Oregon Grape
tukʷtán – Tule, hardstem bulrush
t̓l̓t̓l̓tiłp / Smooth Sumac
skʷəkʷʔiłp / Rose bush
skʷəkʷiw̓ Rosebud, rosehip
kəkn’í / Kokanee Salmon
ʔar̓ síkʷ / Turtle