You can hear me and my drum trudging through the forest,
In a manner that is both silent and loud,
Here I come, like it or not,
Pounding on my deerskin drum,
Loud enough to wake the stick Indians from years of sleep,
Allowing them to chase me to the bay,
Where I'll sit in discomfort on a rock until they've passed me by,
But the pound of my drum will have brought the kalkaluhech to me,
Giant of the bay, warding off the evils, sacred spirit.
Above the bay it jumps, graceful being.
Silence…but now it sings a song of welcome.
I can hear the words, Lushootseed words.
My totem comes to me now and a peace offering is made,
My drum for your thanks.
I would so easily give up my drum
With the kalkaluhech painted delicately on it,
A drum that was arduous to make,
Taking a full week for it to dry,
Another week to paint.
The drumstick taking a precocious two days to make,
Wrapping leather,
Cutting rabbits fur to help soften the blow of bumping on the drum.
Beautiful creature of my dreams,
Beautiful creature who warns me of danger,
You take my drum,
Your thanks is welcomed,
I pledge to you my friendship and I'll see you again
When the stick Indians arise to chase
This foolish girl.