Cradle Songs of Southeast Alaska (featuring Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian)

Cradle Songs of Southeast Alaska, a trilingual book, which features Lingít (Tlingit), X̱aad Kíl (Haida) and Sm'algya̱x (Tsimshian) old and new songs, English translations.  Published by Sealaska Heritage Institute for the award-winning Baby Raven Reads Program.

“Like parents throughout the world, the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian sang lullabies to their infants. These lullabies and the graphic designs introduce children to their culture, land and rich environment in which we live,” said SHI President Rosita Worl.

“Most songs in Southeast Alaska Native cultures are restricted from general public use because of clan or family membership. We are able to offer these beautiful songs because they are in the public domain or original works.”

The first two Tlingít songs are attributed to Kaal.átk (Charlie Joseph) and the third one to Clara Peratrovich, who learned it from her grandmother. The versions in SHI’s book were adapted from Ed Littlefield’s 2011 CD, Walking Between Worlds.

The X̱aad Kíl songs were adapted from texts owned by the Hlii'ilaang Kun 'Lan-gáay and HIGaa'xatgu 'Láanaas families, as recorded by John Swanton. The translations and modern orthography were done by Skíl Jáadei (Linda Schrack), Kwíigaay Í'waans (Phyllis Almquist) and llskyalas (Delores Churchill).

ISBN: 978-1-946019-36-3 Board book, 5-5/8 x 5-5/8, 24 pages