"Ye Spipath - Baby Bears" is a hilarious true story from the life of Dr. Elizabeth Herrling, the oldest living speaker of the Halq'emeyelem language. Told in her own words, entirely in her own language, it tells the story of how Elizabeth and her family were forced to raise two bear cubs, while working at a logging camp in the late 1940's--and the trouble the bears got into.

This full-colour book, illustrated by a skilled Stó:lō artist, includes a professional-quality media package to help you follow the story in the language. The media package includes vocabulary lessons in print and audio form, as well as an interactive CD-ROM version, which together will help you to grasp the sounds and words of the language even if you have no previous knowledge. Suitable for children as well as adult learners, this book is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to teach, learn, or just find out about one of the First Nations languages of Canada.

Hupacasath did everything according to seasons. Preparations were done during each season for the next. Tools were made from hard wood, sinew, shells, pitch, and rocks. Our people were very clever in making these tools. Our people knew exactly when every species of salmon and other fish came up and how to prepare and preserve it. We gathered berries and seeds from the land. These words in our language teach the reader about our way of life.

In 2002, shortly before she passed away, one of the last living speakers of Sto:lo Halq'emeylem (a Salishan language spoken in Southern British Columbia) visited a small recording studio in Chilliwack, where she recorded an oral version of a story about the creature Sasq'ests (Sasquatch). Her story has now been developed into a multimedia project consisting of the following components:

1) A storybook version, with text entirely in the Halq'emeylem language, consisting of 80 original full-colour illustration panels drawn by a Sto:lo artist.

2) A high quality stereo audio version of her story, suitable for playback on home or car stereo, including complete Halq'emeylem and English version of the story as told by the speaker.

3) A CD-Rom version, which allows the user to view the illustrated text on their computer panel by panel while listening to the phrases. The CD-Rom version also includes a phrase-by-phrase translation, with a phonetic transcription and grammar notes on each phrase.

This story is essential reading, viewing, and listening for anyone interested in learning Sto:lo Halq'emeylem, as well as for those with an interest in the stories, language, and cultures of the First Nations people of Canada. The format makes it useful to learners at all levels, and accessible even to those who have no knowledge of Salishan langauges.

Story by Rosealeen George, illustrations and multimedia development through staff at the Sto:lo Shxweli Halq'emeylem Language Program, Sto:lo Nation.

Copyright statement for CD-Rom.
THIS PROGRAM IS PROTECTED UNDER COPYRIGHT LAW
COPYRIGHT 2004 Sto:lo Nation, all rights strictly reserved.
All sound recordings, illustrations, computer code, and other materials included with this program are copyrighted to the Sto:lo Nation. No portion of this program, including sound recordings and all images including cover images and labels, may be copied, distributed, broadcast, or stored in an electronic retrieval system, without the express written permission of the Sto:lo Nation.
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