Janet Yoder, "Where the Language Lives" with Jill tsisqʷux̌ʷał La Pointe

1521 10th Avenue,Seattle WA 98122

19 July, 2022

Description

This program is scheduled to be live/in-person at Elliott Bay Book Company. A book many years in the making - in the living, actually - Janet Yoder’s Where the Language Lives: Vi Hilbert and the Gift of Lushootseed (Girl Friday Books) is the story of a life changed by a woman whose presence and diligent, loving attention and care changed many lives. Vi taqʷšəblu, Hilbert was an Upper Skagit elder who did heroic work to help make sure the Lushootseed language spoken here in Salish country would survive, and, indeed, thrive once again. Vi Hilbert had a profound impact on Elliott Bay’s evenings in the years before she passed, often telling stories, frequently attending programs by others. Janet Yoder first took a class from Vi Hilbert - and then never looked back. The book includes forewords by Vi Hilbert’s granddaughter, Jill tsisqʷux̌ʷał La Pointe (who presently directs the Lushootseed Research Foundation and great-grandaughter poet/singer/author Sasha taqʷšəblu La Pointe. Jill tsisqʷux̌ʷał La Pointe will also participate in tonight's program. “Janet Yoder’s writing captures the spirit of this honorable and mischievous elder. In Lushootseed culture, words are spoken and stories are told without explanation. Words mean what the listener hears. You learned to be careful what you said in the presence of taqʷšəblu [Vi Hilbert]—you may have just made her a promise. A tribute to the life of a revered elder on a mission to save her language—all that is missing are more of taqʷšəblu’s ‘R-rated’ stories.”—dxʷtuk kʷi at kən (Jack Fiander). “This book arrives like a comet, bright and beautiful, illuminating a world of wonders in the life and work of Upper Skagit elder Vi Hilbert. It should be required reading for every resident of Puget Sound Country. It is a delightful and intimate look into the life and culture of one of the most respected elders of Coast Salish territory.”— Lynda V. Mapes. Thanks to Lushootseed Research Foundation (http://lushootseedresearch.org) for their good work, and without whom this book wouldn’t have been possible. This program is scheduled to be live/in-person at Elliott Bay Book Company.