As waves crash along the shores of Puget Sound, the descendants of the region’s earliest residents hear the words created by their ancestors.
“They heard what the waves said x̌ʷəlč,” Zalmai Zahir said, uttering a swooshing sound very similar to the echo of a rising and falling wave. “That’s what our people call the salt water or Puget Sound, x̌ʷəlč.”
“They went to the crow, and they said, ‘What’s your name? Tell me your name.’ And the crow said ‘k’aʔk’a.’” The word instantly brings to mind the caw of a crow. “And so that’s what our people call the crow.”…