Translated:

Author:Composed from Nulato.

Year/Era: 1945

History:Emily Esmailka composed this song for her son. She lived in Nulato until her
death in 1947. This song was made about 1945. Emily’s song tells of how she took
her son to the doctors but they were unable to cure him. “What a pity,” she said.
It was a pity indeed in those days because tuberculosis was rampant in the Native
villages. It killed many people. Of course the disease was called “consumption” at
that time. So when later people talked about T.B., most of the people in the
villages didn’t know what the disease was.
When a person got T.B. in those days, there was no medication. Isolation was
attemped mostly in the summer. A tent would be built and the sick person moved
to it. He was encouraged to get lots of sunshine and fresh air. He had his own
eating utensils. The little children were discouraged from visiting the sick person.
Only the older sick people were isolated in this manner.
The Native people had their own medicine people. They used to go to these
medicine people and offer them gifts to affect cures. Sometimes the medicine
men advised the seekers of the cures to take the afflicted to the hospital because
they couldn’t cure them.
Most of the Native cures consisted mainly of restricted diets. Sometimes the
Native doctors would advise against manual labor or the use of sharp instruments.
This song is sung at every potlatch.

Yoonaane hɄt'aanhne meyeł edotseh denaalegeyo koole
She went to the doctor’s to help him, but they couldn’t help him.
(translation meyeł edotseh denaalegeyo- she cried to him in vain about my son)

HEY’ ahaa heeyoo hey hey
ahaa hee yoo hee hee

Koole hee

Hey a haa hee yoo hee hee
ahaa hee yoo hee hee
ahaa hee yoo hee hee

Choole

hey ahaa heeyo, hey hey ahaa heeyo
hey hey ahaa heeyo, hey, hey, hey, hey

Repeat 3 times, 3rd and to choola - a