hec mq'ʷmoq'ʷ

The Weight of Mountains from Studiocanoe on Vimeo.

Some time ago, a group of friends got together and talked about the differences between an English-speaking worldview and a Salish-speaking worldview. Someone observed that the English language is filled with all manner of object-based words, perhaps more than any other language. In contrast, Salish languages are relational and action-based. 

As one example, in English we speak of the mountains, but what does that really mean? What is a mountain? An object, albeit it great in size? A collection of inanimate rocks or minerals? A potential economic resource?  

But in the Spokane Language, a mountain is an action. We say hec mqʷ'moq'ʷ, by which someone said the mountain is actually doing something. 

I'm not wise enough to know the doings of the ancient mountains, but this beautiful video gave me a hint of their amazing journey. The life of a mountain spans millions of years, and like all living things, reaches a resting place before rising again.