I’d always found it interesting that the Cree
calendar is so descriptive and takes into account what happens in a particular month.
And I’d always wondered how my own people described the months of the year.
Thanks to the efforts of my people, a blog on our language is in full swing!
This is our calendar, note that we, too, take into account what happens during
that particular month. Haawa’a for all your efforts!
The Haida people of the Haida Gwaii islands have a
simple but interesting system of counting the months. An entire year is called
a "cold," or, as we should say, a “winter,” and originally this was
divided into two periods of six months each with a thirteenth month
intercalated between them. In enumerating these to me they began with the
summer series, recommencing their count with the winter series. Each month
starts two days after the new moon.
Beginning
of Winter Months
Jid
kongaas ~ November 27 - December 25, 2011
"Digging month", the bears dig roots to
prepare for hibernation.
Kong
gyaangaas ~ December 26, 2011 - January 24, 2012
"Standing up/to defecate/month", because
the ground is snowy and cold.
Hlgidguun
kongaas ~ January 25 - February 22, 2012
"Goose month", when Canada geese come down
to the coast.
Taan
kongaas ~ February 23 - March 23, 2012
"Black bear month," the bears come out of
hibernation and come out on the shore, the sparrow, the murrelet, and the hajáa
or Cassin's auklet all come to lay their
eggs
Xiid
gyaas ~ March 24 - April 22, 2012
"Laughing goose month", when the laughing
geese (A. albifrons) begin to fly northward across the islands, fish begin to
spawn, and grass begins to grow.
Wiid
gyaas ~ April 23 - May 21, 2012
"Salmonberry bird month," the song of the
salmonberry (Russet-back thrush) birds announces that Winter is over. - In this
month hair-seals are born, sea-gulls and, since the water is calm, boys begin
playing with their toy-canoes.
End
of Winter Months, Beginning of Summer Months
Gansgee
’laa kongaas ~ May 22 - June 20, 2012
Month when the berries are forming. May also be
interpreted as “Halibut month.”
Wa.aay
gwaalgee ~ June 21, 2012 - July 20, 2012
The weather is still somewhat cold.
**
Haida New Year**
Wa.aay
gwaalgee 21 lagwa wáak sgwáansang
Kong
koaans ~ July 21 - August 18, 2012
"Great month", because the weather becomes
warm and food becomes plentiful. Also the sap-layer of bark, being thicker than
at other times, is eaten.
Sgaana
gyaas ~ August 19 - September 17, 2012
"Killerwhale month", when cedar-bark is
stripped from the trees it sounds like blowing killer whales. Dur ing this
month, also, spring and white salmon begin to run.
K'
iijaas ~ September 18 - October 16, 2012
"Belly month", animals begin to grow fat
and their bellies get big.
K'algyaa
kongaas ~ October 17 - Nov 14, 2012
"Ice month", the first ice appears on the
rainwater in the canoes. The other salmon begin to run during this month.
End
of Summer Months
K'
eed adii ~ Nov 15 - December 14, 2012
"In-between month" was so named because it
is the intercalary month between the summer and winter series.
Beginning
of winter months repeats
