- AAAC3219-041
- Item
- January 5, 1947
Part of Ida Halpern fonds
Ida Halpern recorded Billy Assu performing this song at his home in Cape Mudge - Weḵa'yi. From Chief Assu's commentary: "TAKATLIS owns that song. Chief Assu was 9 years old when he died. He was Assu's relative, a grand cousin. Lyrics include: 'You see my smoke. Big smoke. I own it. He sells 10 canoes. Do not eat too much. If you eat too much you vomit another man. And if you eat too much you vomit 4 men. The song is exclusively about the potlatch. WOHOO- that show the potlatch song. (noise that a chief makes)." Tom Willie added his translation of the song in 1977: "Smoke right through this country he made he said he is the big chief who make this country full of smoke. The Big chief is called Walas gikami. People can't see the village (or country) because of the smoke this big chief makes. The old chief and his brother (who is also a chief) go. For a little small Chief give a little feast." This is is part of the Winter Ceremonials or T’seka.