Our long time “Didee and Didoo” cartoonist and poet Allan Benjamin from Old Crow is excited to introduce his new Shoo’ii and Sheek’aii cartoons and poems. These new characters will appear in Gwich’in and English. Whenever you see Shoo’ii and Sheek’aii you can always be treated to a Gwich’in poem or Allan will simply have some vocabulary to share with you. Didee and Didoo will still make appearances but will be in English only for the time being. Allan is completely bilingual, he was taught his native language by his Didee (Grandma) and Didoo (Grandpa). Allan says there are so many fine poets in Old Crow, he hopes to inspire students to send their Gwich’in poems to What’s Up Yukon for you to enjoy as well. We’ll be sure to use the #SpeekGwichinToMe twitter hashtag when posting these stories.
Issue: 2017-09-06, CARTOON: Allan Benjamin
Shoo’ii Sheek’aii
Shoo’ii means uncle
Sheek’aii means auntie
Shoo’ii wears Didee’s hat
Sheek’aii wears a handkerchief
They both wear mukluks
Shoo’ii & Sheek’aii are strong
Shoo’ii is always comical
Sheek’aii is always wise
Shoo’ii likes to hunt an’ fish
Sheek’aii likes to set snares
Shoo’ii always cuts wood
Sheek’aii makes dry meat
Shoo’ii mushes his dog team
Sheek’aii paddles her canoe
Shoo’ii makes snowshoes
Sheek’aii weaves the babiche
Shoo’ii likes his kicker
Sheek’aii likes her sewing machine
Shoo’ii plays his fiddle
Sheek’aii likes to dance
Shoo’ii & Sheek’aii talk Gwich’in
Shoo’ii & Sheek’aii calls Allan Chih Ahaa
Issue: 2017-09-06, CARTOON: Allan Benjamin
Shizheh K’oo My Family
Jii shitr’ īinjòo t’iinch’uu This is my wife
Jii shitsuu t’iinch’uu This is my grandmother
Jii shitsii t’iinch’uu This is my grandfather
Jii shihanh t’iinch’uu This is my father
Jii sheek’aii t’iinch’uu This is my auntie
Jii shoo’ii t’iinch’uu This is my uncle
Jii sheejii t’iinch’uu This is my older sister
Jii shijùu t’iinch’uu This is my younger sister
Jii shoondee t’iinch’uu This is my older brother
Jii shichyaa t’iinch’uu This is my younger brother
Jii shiyeets’i’ t’iinch’uu This is my daughter
Jii shidinji’ t’iinch’uu This is my son
When I was a kid this Elder gave me a Gwich'in name"CHIH AHAA"
Translated it means "walking ahead"
Allan Benjamin - CHIH AHAA