Edna Deacon's Stories
Biography
Edna was raised in Upper Shageluk by her parents Anna and Peter Matthews, who spoke the local Deg Xinag language in their home. She went to school in Shageluk and learned English but continued to use the Deg Xinag language at home and with her friends. When she married Wilson Deacon and moved to his village of Holikachuk, she continued to speak her own Deg Xinag language with other women from her home village. Edna moved with her family to Grayling when the village moved and kept in close contact with her mother who still lived in Shageluk.
In Grayling Edna continued to use the Deg Xinag language and worked with other elders, both Deg Hit’an and Holikachuk people, on stories and cultural projects in the community. She was one of the contributors to the Deg Xinag Learners’ Dictionary, and also one of the elders involved in the “Conversational Deg Xinag” telephone class. While working on the dictionary Edna recorded various events in her life, which give an important picture of the subsistence lifestyle of her family.
In 2011 Edna continues to be an important consultant for Deg Xinag language work from her home in Grayling.
Edna Deacon Xidhoy — Edna Deacon's Stories
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| Title | Captioned Narrative | Printed bilingual transcript |
|---|---|---|
| Sayings | Learn and follow along | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Ggagg Chux Xał Bear Trap | Learn and follow along | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Xuyh Roots | Learn and follow along | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Ethok Łats Potting Clay | Learn and follow along | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Tr’eqay Spring camp (part 1) | Learn and follow along | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Tr’eqay Spring camp (part 2) | Learn and follow along | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Tr’eqay Spring camp (part 3) | Learn and follow along | Transcript (.pdf) |