Lessons #1-2: Making Soapberry Ice Cream

Leda Jules: Pelly Banks dialect


Rose: Dēsgū́h gūshoshīdzídzéʼ łedī́h-ā?
How- soapberries- taste-information question?
What do soapberries taste like?
Grandma: Łáhtādé łedī́h īyéh łáhtʼāde déstsʼīʼ.
Sometimes-sweet-and then- sometimes- bitter.
Sometimes they are sweet and sometimes a little bitter.
Rose: Dēsgū́h entsedz-ā?
How- you eat-information question?
How do you eat them?
Grandma: Łā́néyéh gūshoshīdzídzéʼ łēngis. Łą̄́ łedī́h.
Really- soapberries- you stir.- Really- tasty.
You can make soapberry ice cream out of them.  It is really tasty!
Rose: Essų̄ dēsgū́h mełēngis-ā? Kesenhdį̄!
Grandmother- how- you stir it-information question?-Teach me!
Grandma, how do you make soapberry ice cream? Teach me!
Grandma: Ham, dūłā́ dededlah lā. Hadī dzūhtsį̄hī!
Yes, not difficult- assert.- Hurry- letʼs make it!
Sure, it’s easy, let’s make it!

Q: Dēsgū́h jam enhtsį̄h-ā?
How-jam-you make-information question?
How do you make jam?
A: Łedī́hī́ meténtlʼī́t īyéh enht’ḗs.
Sugar- you pour in- and then- you cook it.
You mix in some sugar and cook it.
Q: Dēsgū́h dzídze enhgan-ā?
How- berries- you dry?
How do you dry berries?
A: Echʼéléʼ kā néntlʼī́dī́ sā yūhganī dege.
Cloth-on-you pour- sun- dries it- for.
You spread them on a cloth and put them in the sun.
Q: Jahyigé dzídze łą̄́ gūtīe neyehī gā́gūnahʼą̄h-ā?
Where- berries-really- good- grow- you find-information question?
How do you find a good spot to pick berries?
A: Dene tsʼį̄́ʼ kḗdehdīʼ, “Jahyigé dzídze nístlōn neyeh-ā?”
People- to- you- all say like, where- berries- lots- grow-information question?
You ask people where it’s good to go.
Q: Dēsgū́h dzídze nénhī́l nédūtlʼī́dī dege?
How- berries, you hit- might fall off- for?
How do you knock the berries off the bush?
A: Dechin yéh nénhī́l plastic bag kāge nédūtlʼī́dī dege.
Stick- with- you hit- plastic bag- on it- will fall- for.
You use a stick to knock them onto a plastic bag.
Q: Dēsgū́h kē enleh-ā?
How- moccasins- you make-information question?
How do you make moccasins?
A: Dene tsʼį̄́ʼ kēdendīʼ kenegūhdī dege.
Person- to- you say like- she will teach you – for.
You ask someone to teach you.
Q: Dēsgū́h etsén tédentʼā́z-ā?
How- meat- you cut-information question?
How do you make dry meat?
A: Etsén dētʼūdze tédentʼā́sī  īyéh łetsʼī́h yige tedenléh
Meat- thin- you cut- and- then- smoke- under- you put up
You cut the meat into thin pieces and smoke it.
Q: Dēsgū́h kedāzís enhtsīh-ā?
How- moose hide- you make-information question?
How do you tan a hide?
A: Echōʼ yéh kī́nhłāʼ kenūhdį̄ dege.
Elders- with- you work- you will know- for.
You work with an elder to learn.
Q: Dēsgū́h hę̄́ł nénleh-ā?
How- traps- you set-information question?
How do you set traps?
A: Dene yéh géndah dehę̄́léʼ sahłaʼ tah.
Person- with- you go around- his/her set among.
You go with somebody on their trapline.

1. Etsedzī Sā gūshoshīdzídzéʼ denedī́l lā.
Molted Ducks- Month- soapberries- became- ripe- assert
Soapberries get ripe in July
2. Gūshoshdzídzéʼ nédetlʼęse ghólī́ nenbéʼ.
Soapberries- green- even so- you pick
You can pick soapberries even when they are still green.
3. Gūshoshdzídzéʼ nédetlęse mełēngisī dé dekʼale edē lā.
Soapberries- green- you stir- then- white- it becomes- assert.
Green soapberries make white ice cream.
4. Gūshoshīdzídzéʼ detʼele mełēngesī dé detʼele edē lā.
Soapberries- red- you stir- then- red- it becomes- assert
Red soapberries make red ice cream.
5. Gūshoshdzídzéʼ nenbe didī nī́’ kā gūdezōhī gūdē tsʼį̄́déh.
Soapberries- you pick- this- ground- on- frost- becomes- to them.
You can pick soapberries until the first frost.
6. Jahyigé dzídze nístlōnī tsʼį̄́ʼ kī́nyā dé kū́hyigé dzídze nenbé.
Where- berries- lots- to- you find- there- there- berries- you pick.
Find a good place to pick where there are lots of berries.
7. Airportetene kū́hyigé dzídze nístlōnī neyeh lā.
Airport road- there- berries- lots- grow- assert.
There are lots of good places to pick by the Airport Road.
8. Tūʼ kī́līnī gāgáh kʼī dzídze nístlōnī lā.
Water flowing- beside- also- berries- lots- grows- assert.
There are lots of good places to pick by the river.
9. Dáhyigé nī́ʼ etīe kā dzídze nenbéʼ.
Where- ground- good- on- berries- you pick.
Make sure you pick a place that is clean.
10. Dzídze dege ūsā́ʼ gínʼąh.
Berries- for- pot- you carry around.
Don’t forget to bring a container.
11. Gūshoshīdzídzéʼ nenbé!
Soapberries- you pick!
Pick soapberries!
12. Gūshoshīdzídzéʼ łánéyéh detsʼę́tl.
Soapberries- really- sticky.
Soapberries are really sticky.
13. Gūshoshdzídzéʼ nístsį̄dlī ghólī dene yehtsį̄h lā.
Soapberries- small amount- even- people- make it- assert.
You don’t need a lot of soapberries to make ice cream.
14. Kíhseh gūshoshīdzídzéʼ enʼóts.
First- soapberries- you wash.
First wash the soapberries.
15. Metah tsʼį̄h etʼāne yéh dechin yéh kénléh.
Among it- from- leaves- and- sticks- and- you take them out.
Make sure there are no leaves of branches in the soapberries.
16. Bowl keh gūkéntlʼī́t.
Bowl- in- you pour them.
Put the soapberries in a bowl.
17. Fork yéh, kū́kʼā yige yéh dzídze metenéndī.
Fork- with, cup- under- with- berries- you crush.
Use a fork or the bottom of a cup to crush the berries first.
18. Łedī́hī dzídze tah enlē!
Sugar- berries- among- you put.
Add sugar to the berries!
19. Síkʼādé łedī́hī yénlīn déʼ tenéntlʼī́t.
Still more- sugar- you want- them- you pour it in.
If you like it really sweet, use more sugar.
20. Dūłā́ łedī́hī yénlīn dé dḗtsédle zelé tenéntlʼī́t.
Not- sweet- you want- them- you pour it in.
If you don’t like it really sweet, use less sugar.
21. Dechin yéh mełēngis.
Stick- with- you stir.
Use a stick to stir the berries.
22. Hadī mełēngis!
Hurry- stir it!
Stir the berries quickly!
23. Hadī yéh deghosh edē lā.
Quickly- with- foam- becomes- assert.
The soapberries will begin to foam.
24. Síkʼādé mełēngis meghóshéʼ endū́é edē tsʼį̄́dé.
Still more- you stir it- its foam- nothing- becomes- until.
Keep stirring until the foam is firm.
25. Bowl zǭ́ze kekéntlʼī́t.
Bowl- small- you pour into.
Pour ice cream into smaller bowls.
26. Īyéh entsets kolā.
There- you eat- finally!
Serve and enjoy!
27. Łā́né łedī́h.
Really- tasty
Hmmm! Soapberry ice cream tastes really good!