Hunter Finds A Mate

Denaakk'e Translation & Narration
Paulina Stickman
Martha Demoski

Grade 4/5 Teacher
Mrs. Christi Nixon

Student Story Authors, Page Illustration, and
English Narration
Andrew M, Grade 5
Vegaas K, Grade 5
Commack S, Grade 5
Aiyana P, Grade 4
Rylan S, Grade 4
Natasha A, Grade 5
Sullivan W, Grade 4

Thanks To
Principal Shaine Nixon and Superintendent Kerry Boyd for their leadership in making the Nulato Book Slam possible.

Book Slam Project Management
Steve Nelson, Project Coordinator
Consortium for Digital Learning
Association of Alaska School Boards
Cheryl Bobo, Site Facilitator

© 2019 Yukon-Koyukuk School District

Rayana M, Grade 5
Andyn, Grade 5
Cola S, Grade 4
Kellian K, Grade 5
Kiara, Grade 5
Gerald S, Grade 4

Read by
Paulina

Read by
Cola

Yagga Doyon nelaanh, eego Hunter, Nek’eghʉn. Doyon hayeełts’een eende yaakk’adenta’ye’ tłee holaanh. Eende gen eehoo, moho hoolaanh.

Ahooł, hadeeyo go degganaa’yooghʉn. Go adzoo, tse hak’edeeonh, ts’e ts’eetłkko k’a, k’etadledzayh dahoono. Yaga yogh todol lenh okko hootenaałaanh. Goodoogh Yʉkkan taamaan ghahoł. Ahooł Dave nendaal ghoneeneeyo. Neeł yeł halde hataalots goodoogh taamaan.

Although Hunter was the leader of his own pack, he was missing something in his life.

On a cold, sunny, bright, snow-fluffed day, Hunter left his pack to find a mate. As he made his way along the river’s edge, he met Dave the Duck. Together they walked along the Yukon River.

Read by
Paulina

Read by
Vegaas

Ahooł Hunter, Dave Kaalee ts’e hok’aaeelneek. Yokko halyo ehoo Dave, “go ło nedaa leedo,” detaal ne’. Ts’e yokko kotaadle ghok. Ahooł hakkaa ghadlekaat. Do’, ts’eetł yeeghaltłet hootłeł ts’enh hałet’aah.

Daagga tłee eet’onh. Ahooyeł, k’eyoogh nek’eghʉn maano daadleyoo eego nek’eghʉn tsoh yʉh ts’e meneełaanh. Atłe’e ło k’eyoo nek’eghʉn detł’ekts’enh. Atłeeło naamah ghanee dadetłeena’.

Suddenly Hunter realized Dave the Duck was missing. He said, “Dave where are you? “ Hunter begun running in search of Dave. He slipped and landed hard in the snow.

As he looked up, he saw that he was surrounded by a pack with a large wolf looking down on him. It was an enemy pack.

Read by
Paulina & Martha

Read by
Rayana

Hunter, yagga sakaay nelaanhdonh t’a yeeł soodolałna oyt eego deloodeełt’aanen sołtaanh t’a yeet soodolał. Eego maan laadleghan denh t’se modaa kaayoo koonh. Yaggadakoon yeenee deelaanh. Kk’oda koon, eenda eet’e naadlee get go k’eyooyee ghʉn.

Hadeetsiyh dahoono nek’elts’enh eego Hunter. Ahooł k’eeyoo nek’eghun eełtsonh. Eego Doyon nelaanne’ oydee tłeedo hoto-oł ts’e hok’a lehaanh dahoono eego maak’aal yodele halde’ k’ohheeltłot, dahoono haya delgoots. Dahoon hałde’ Hunter hook’o dolaanh.

Hunter remembered this pack from his childhood. He had been playing with a beautiful she-wolf when this pack attacked and killed his mother and the girls. He had often thought of her. Now he was again in danger from this pack.

On the wind Hunter picked up the scent of another wolf. With the large Alpha in attack position and wolves jumping and biting him, Hunter was being cautious.

Read by
Paulina & Martha

Read by
Sullivan

Ahooyeł, nendaal Dave hunde ts’aneeyo, tsetł lough denyaahghee. Ahool ts’ahadoldaatł, eego nek’e ghun detłekts’enh. Ahooł eego nek’elts’en dahoono yeghełt’senne hunde noeeltsonh. Ahooł deloodeneełt’aanen nek’eghʉn sołt’aan. Hunde tłeedo hogheeon, go k’eyoo nek’eghʉn yeł.

Doo,’ dzaa hadodaatł eego k’eyoogh nek’eghʉn. Dohoono k’ałneenoheelghał, go Hunter eego sołtaanh yeł. Hol ghʉytł kełoogha, hahaa yos hanoghʉyl nah’dla eego Hunter Eego dahoodeyogh ts’enh.

Suddenly, Dave the Duck came out of the pussy willows and frightened the pack. Then the scent he had picked up earlier was upon him, as a beautiful she-wolf attacked the pack.

In the surprised moment, Hunter and his girl escaped together. As they ran away, Hunter could not stop thinking about what had happened.

Read by
Paulina & Martha

Read by
Andrew & Gerald

K’odaa yʉgh taldo’ eego Hunter, halde k’odaa yʉgh todołts’e hoyłdeneyh. K’odaa megganaa ayeeldlat. Oyt hałde’ sa-ooza’ Wanda nek’eghʉn yełne eende detłekts’a Honey sahatnee. Go setłoogh deltłʉh t’sahan a’.

K’odaa, yoogh nedaat’se neholeł ehoo, dehoono neeł yeł, haaldo. Wanda odeeyaanh ledo denh, t’sa Hunter odeekoo yah hotaan tłʉh den, eende neeł yeł yah hoozoonhdenh hohoo onh.

This was the beginning of a friendship and Hunter knew he had met his soul mate, right then and there. She told him her name was Wanda the Wolf but everyone called her Honey because of her golden fur coat.

Over the days and weeks, Hunter and Honey never left each other’s side. Wanda had her own den and Hunter had his, but they soon found a new home together.

Read by
Paulina & Martha

Read by
Natasha

K’odaa ghelhee neeł yeł hataaldo’ ts’ohoyaanh. K’odaa ghelhee Kk’olkk’eey zo-o’ neehooneelet. Ahooł, Honey tł’eeyagga hoyaanh taaldo’.

Geeł dedzaanh ghelhee, Hunter teek’ot maam okko honeełaanh. Ahooł Honey hunde ses dzaanh de meeł ghał. Hałde nehoo tolaał, de nee hootaaldłet. Oyt Hunter hunde noeedeyo. Os hahaa Honey k’edogheeł taanh yʉgh nenee neekts’enh.

Soon they were together all the time and now they had found their mate. It was February now, and Honey began to stay in the den more.

One day Hunter was in the woods finding food, when Honey was surprised by a bear. She was about to have her pups. Hunter arrived at the den just in time to help Honey escape.