‘Aashaa Taakuk / Birdsong (Kumeyaay

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Synopsis: When I was learning Spanish, I made it a part of my life. I played it on the radio, attended Spanish church services, and I certainly was no stranger to dating latino men (another story for another time-aaay). I immersed myself to the point of fluency, but now I turn my attention to my indigenous language; the ‘Iipay dialect. This is no easy task even though I am lucky enough to have people with whom I can practice. With the language being critically endangered, and our resources for learning ‘Iipay ‘Aa scarce, it’s a challenge to find materials to help you learn, so we’re creating some. I can’t wait to tell you about this project I am working on with my two friends Vincent McCarthey who has a great understanding for multiple languages including ‘iipay ‘Aa, and Andrew Pittman, owner of Condor Visual Media, and fellow Kumeyaay. We’ve decided to team up and make music available to the public to use as a learning tool. Exposure to the language is crucial, so this way, they can familiarize themselves with the words, hear the pronunciation and see the lyrics in both English and ‘’Iipay ʻAa. And, they can have the privilege of repetition which is how I learn just about everything. Please have a look and know so much more is coming. We are starting with a song I wrote about Gathering Season, and the joy of coming home.

Youtube: Mandy Curo- Birdsong/ ‘Aashaa Taakuk-’Iipay Aa ‘Ech’eyaawchh

Tarchach kwehay, ‘enyaa nyakenaah ‘ar. Vincent McCarthey muuyaawa? ‘Nyip ‘anyewaay kwa’hanches. Aa peyaa uuyaawch esally nyinys, pes ‘uuchuch ‘enyaamat ‘ewuphvu ‘echaawches. Kuchuuway nyemich muuniiwk maayph. Aam uumall meleerth. Cha’yaawch meyiph. Pes ‘aa mepishie muuway, ‘uuch nyii nya’kwar nyewicha? ‘Nyii ‘echeyuw uumaawvekyipvu? ‘Iipay Aavu ‘iipaych ‘estikch apesiiwch uchewayp, nyawihch ‘uuchuch nyim aa uuyaawvech ‘estikch apesiiw. ‘Iiwaarm tehewil ‘ehetuuVincent Andrew hewak ekwaach. ‘Echeyuw ‘uumall, Vincent ‘Iipay Aa chehekaayp, nyaapum Andrewch ewwiim ‘ewupch ‘eyewips. Maayaayp, ‘enyewaapch ‘uuchuch ‘ucheyuuwpvu ‘ewips. ‘Enyaawapch “ ‘Aashaa Taakuk”, ‘eyuuhuy ‘echaawches.

‘Aashaa taakuk meyiplly mar.

Nyuk ‘ekurch apesiiw meyiph umaaw

Maathaaw mally pily tekuwach

‘Empill hechuur tewaa

‘Ewaa kwenyur ‘iipatt eyukvech

Meyayy wyaakk wecham

Nyaapum menur

‘Ewaam maahlly mar

‘Enyaa ‘emilyvu ‘ehaa puully ‘aachanhlly ‘ar

‘Enyaa ‘eyiiwvi ‘enyaa ‘eyiphlly ‘ar

‘Ekwach kuhetmiim aayaayp ‘esuunatthlly ‘ar

‘Enyaawap nyaapum nyamaatech ‘ichemaachh