Magical Beings Glossary & Pronunciations

Thank you for your interest in refining your pronunciation of the names of the Magical Beings.

The Haida Language is a critically endangered language. We are grateful to the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program for providing the Xaayda Kil (Skidegate Dialect) translations, and Jaskwaan, Amanda Bedard for providing the Xaad Kil (Massett Dialect) translations.

We provide three sets of recordings of the names of the Supernatural Beings to help you with pronunciation. The first provides pronunciations in both Skidegate and Massett dialects; the second provides repeated pronunciations in the Skidegate dialect, and the third provides repeated pronunciations in the Massett dialect.

The files are available for you to download, and practice offline if you wish.

Listen to the songs!

“Cedar Sister” and “Swainson’s Thrush” can be found on Terri-Lynn’s latest album “Grizzly Bear Town” on iTunes or Spotify.


Cedar Sister Song Lyrics & Pronunciations

In the audio below, Terri-Lynn reads the lyrics to the Cedar Sister song.

Cedar Sister Song Lyrics

 Wiid Jaada Song Lyrics & Pronunciation

In the audio below, Terri-Lynn reads the lyrics to the Wiid Jaada song.

Wiid Jaada Song Lyrics

 Magical Beings Pronunciations

Below the pronunciations of the Magical Beings are provided to you in the different dialects.

White Raven - both dialects
Ice Woman - both dialects
Cedar Sister -both dialects
Fern Woman - both dialects
Mouse Woman - both dialects
Lady in the Moon - both dialects
Frog Woman - both dialects
Swainson's Thrush Woman
Butterfly Woman - both dialects
Rainbow Woman - both dialects

Here are the pronunciations for the Xaayda Kil (Skidegate) Dialect:

White Raven -Skidegate dialect
Ice Woman -Skidegate dialect
Cedar Sister -Skidegate dialect
Fern Woman -Skidegate dialect
Mouse Woman -Skidegate dialect
Lady in the Moon -Skidegate dialect
Frog Woman -Skidegate dialect
Swainson’s Thrush Woman -Skidegate dialect
Butterfly Woman -Skidegate dialect
Rainbow Woman -Skidegate dialect