Photo of author, Vincent McCarthy, email: jmvc16@aol.com
‘Emat Peyaa Aa Kwa’han
The True Language of This Land
A language can change your life, unlocking hidden insights into the world around you and the perspectives of those who came before. This is especially true of‘Iipay Aa, the original language of this land. Here, briefly, is my story of learning ‘Iipay Aa and why you should join me.
Haawka‘iipay nyaamat! Uumall peyaam menyaawap nyuuniiwch nyaaypm ‘eyay ‘ehan.‘Eyuuhuy, ‘estikm mat ‘ekenaaph. Vincent wii nyechuuhii. San Diego kupaay.‘Enyaa ‘Iipay ‘emaaw, ‘etaat ‘etaly hewakch ‘emat ‘ehini kupaays; ‘enyaavechnyimvey peyii ‘enyewaaypch ‘emat peyaa ‘emirrches. Nya’aastikm — ‘iichachvumatwaam shahuk ‘emaay ‘ehinm ‘enyewichkuh — kwachemuuyuuwvech nyukenaas heyaay,Millychish ‘Epenyaaych nekemich hemir, ‘iipay “Kumeyaay” wiich chuuhiim peyiinyechewayp tenyeway. Nyaapum ‘Iipay Aavu ‘enurhlly ‘ars.
‘EhemaychSam Brown ‘Iipay Aa kenaapem ‘eyips — puuch nyaachemuyuuwm “haawka”, “memeyuutemewaa?” ‘iih. Nyaapum ‘ewaachemuyuuw ‘ehapch Fraansees Aa, Latiin Aa,‘Epenyaay Aa ‘estikm ‘uuyaaws. Nyaapum ‘epuwkch ‘Iipay Aa nyinyuych ‘uuyaawhlly‘ars. Ted Couro uumallvu, ‘Iipay Aa ‘Uchewayph, ‘ehetuus. Nyepily matwaamsaarrap matt hamhuk nepekwilly, ‘Iipay Aa ‘ehmiiym ‘uuyaawch, ‘emirrch‘apesiiws. ‘Iichachvu aa peyaach ‘eshash kwapesiiw: kupilly nyaamat ‘Iipay Aam‘aayphlly ‘ar, nyii ‘echamhlly ‘arh ‘emaaw. Pily ‘uuyaawvu ‘iipay marway‘inyhlly ‘ars. Maa nyemach ‘Iipay Aa muuyaawhlly ‘ar. Aa peyaa nyamuuyaawk, maanyemach memirrh, meyay ‘ehanh.
Mu’yuum‘Iipay Aa muuyaawha? Maa ‘Iipay meyuuvek, iinuypk menepaaw matt menekalych‘Iipay Aa waaypm puu muuniiw maayphlly mar. Menemuush kumlayvech puwkvek, peyiitewaavek, maayaayp muchewaypha? Millychish aam nyamaaypem, puuch muuyaawha,nyawihch ‘Iipay Aam nyawaaypem, maach muuyaawha? Umaawvek, ‘Iipay Aavumuuyaawhm tuuyuuw.
Heyaaykwathemiivech nyuk nesoom, nekewaykh umaawh, miiches. Kumna, ‘uuchuch ‘ehmiiymwechaam, aa peyaach kenaaps. Iinuypvek nyuk menurs: matetay kwa’maay ‘ehin,‘ekwiiych ta’urvu nyachepittm, ‘ekwiyh tewaas. ‘Iipayvech matetay puu‘Ekwiiyemak wiich chuuhii, nyaapum “Cuyamaca” ‘Epenyaay aam weyuus — nyip nyukmenurkuhs. Nyaapum ‘ily ‘ehin tewaa, millychishvech nyaewupch, eyach kunemshapyaaypvi pemaanm ewups. Eyach peyap lyayk, mewas, nemeshap — ‘uuchuch nyimhechaw wechuw perewiis. Millychishvech ‘ily puu “cottonwood” wiich chuuhii.Heyaay ‘Iipayvech, peyii, nyii hechaw nyechewiichh umaaw. ‘Ily peyaa nya’hwinewups: ‘ehaa helyepay hemiis, kuttapvi, matt ‘ehaa kwenuw yiirvi. Nyawihchnyayaaypem, ‘ily peyaa ‘eyallch lampuulaamp (kuyaaypch hepesuuym ‘eyall nyaamatechachewaallk - peyaa nyaewiim “lampuulaamp” wiis). Puknaach heyaay ‘Iipayvech‘ily peyaa halampuulaamp wiich chuuhii.
‘Iipay Aa memelyayvek, ‘uuchuch peyap muuyaawha? Iinuypvek muuyaaw, “‘Ily peyaa‘Iipayvech ‘halampuulaamp’ wiich chuuhii,” pes mu’yuum ‘Iipayvech pewipvumuuyaawh umaawhs. ‘Iipay Aa muuyaawhlly mar, maayphlly mar, nyaapum ‘uuchuch‘ehmiiych ‘iiwaalph.
Hoo, miich, pily ‘Iipay Aa ‘uuyaawhlly ‘ars, mu’yuuk ‘uuyaawha? Mema’wiik muuyaawknyukenaahs: ‘Iipay Aa uumall kehmay. Uumall peyaa keleerr. Aa ‘ehin nyamewuuwk,memaally kepki’. ‘Iiwaarm kepuwk, aa nya’hwinvu nyinyuy keleerr, nyinyuykepki’. Nyaapum ‘uuyuk nyatemam, ‘uuchuch nyamewuuwk, nyii millychish aamkiichah kemaaw! Pily, hellyaaw ‘uunyaa pekwillym nyamewuuwk, maach miih umaawh,“Oh, there goes a bunnyrabbit.” Umaaw! Maach miih, “Oo, puum hellyaaw ‘ehinchwenuw pa’aa.” Kupilly nyaamat, aa ‘ehin matt hewak wehaym kenur. Aavu menurhpema’wiivek, ‘enyekachpayna!
Peyaa‘ehin kakekwi’: ‘Iipay Aa muuyaawhlly march meyu? March mapesiiwvek, meyuuwh.Iinuypvek ‘ewirh, muuyaawhlly marvu mehemayvek, mechehepilh. Uumall peyaamuuyaawvek, ‘enyekina, ii nyayhlly ‘ar! Muuyaawhlly marvek, ‘enyekina, ‘esallynyinyhlly ‘ars. Keyim ketarchach, kuuyaaw! Kupilly ‘ehin ‘enyaamatech aayaayp‘Iipay Aam ‘uchewayph. Nyipaches.
