Caskey Russell

Author of the Raven and Eagle Series

GLOSSARY FOR THE DOOR ON THE SEA
(w/ Original Tlingit Meanings)

  1. Aaní: A name for the People of the Sea.  (Tlingit: land; Haa Aaní = Our Land)
  2. Aankaawu: the civilian leader of a Aaní village (Tlingit: Chief; person of wealth)
  3. Ach: A Yahooni exclamation of frustration or acquiescence (author’s invention)
  4. A káx yan aydél wé tlátgi: the Aaní Islands Elders’ Council (author’s invention). Author’s Note: There are twenty main Aaní Islands in world of the novel, each with a large, permanent village or several permanent villages. Every one of these twenty islands is overseen by an elder responsible for the health, care, and maintenance of all living things on the island. Each elder, in turn, has an apprentice. As significant as the human elders, each island also serves as the shukáhít of a bird or animal. A shukáhít is the ancestral island—or home—of a particular animal clan, the place where that animal’s first ancestor was created long before humans inhabited Éil’. Samish Island is Raven’s shukáhít.
  5. At.óow: An inherited thing—tangible or intangible property owned by a clan and its members (same meaning in Tlingit. At.óow is one of the most important concepts in Tlingit cosmology and the Tlingit thought-world).
  6. Atx’aan Hídi: Yearly Longhouse of Service and Trade competitions in Aaní villages across Éil’  (Tlingit: At x’aan hídi = smokehouse).
  7. Ax xoonx’iyán: Silence-sharing friend.  The measure of a close friend in Aaní culture is the ability to share long spells of silence (author’s invention from Tlingit).
  8. Bandeyaeni: a Yahooni weapon; wooden club.
  9. Caraiden: A warrior from Naasteidi, mentor uncle to a group of younger warriors including Ch’eet, and close friend to Latseen (author’s invention).
  10. Ch’aak’: An Aaní Island Elder (Tlingit: Eagle).
  11. Chaatl: Halibut (Tlingit: Halibut)
  12. Ch’eet: a warrior from the village of Naasteidi (Tlingit: murrelet, a small sea bird)
  13. Chetdyl: A war wolf from Quintus Kwáan on Samish Island (author’s invention).
  14. Choosh: A large Deikeenaa village on Kasaan Island.  Choosh is a multistory village carved into a massive cliff over the ocean (author’s invention).
  15. Chxánk’: The apprentice to Héenjá (Tlingit: Little grandchild)
  16. Daadzi: An Aaní Island next to Samish Island (Tlingit: Firestone)
  17. Deception Pass: A narrow passage between East Shanaax and Sukkwaan Islands. (Also the name of a narrow passageway in the Salish Sea).
  18. Deikeenaa: The Aaní’s closest allies (Tlingit: Haida)
  19. Deshu: A village on Kéet’s Island (created by author’s son—though it is similar to the traditional Tlingit name for Haines, Alaska).
  20. Dláa an exclamation of frustration meaning enough! (Tlingit: Enough!)
  21. Dzanti: The strange weapon of the shapeshifting Kóoshdakáa. (Tlingit: flounder/sole, a type of bottom fish)
  22. East Shanaax: An Aaní Island in Éil’ (also known as Teew’s Island)
  23. Eesháan: Poor thing! (Tlingit: Poor thing!)
  24. Eiiiiiiii: An exclamation of excitement.
  25. Ei haaw! An exclamation of excitement and surprise (Tlingit: Exclamation of surprise; an exclamation used when a salmon strikes your fishing line and jumps into the air).
  26. Éil’ The Aaní name for their world (Tlingit: Salt water, ocean)
  27. Elān: A young Aaní from the village of Naasteidi. He is enrolled in Naasteidi’s Longhouse of Service and Trade, where he is training to become a teacher (author’s invention). Author’s note: Elān’s name differs from other Tlingit/Aaní names. Rather than using two as (aa) to indicate a long vowel sound, it uses an ā. Elān is unusual in other ways as well; for example, Raven calls him “moldy-eyed,” which is an old Tlingit way of describing blue or green eyes. Regarding his eyesight: Elān had poor eyesight and suffered from migraines until he was given medicine by the Koosh. Shortly thereafter, his vision is restored and becomes exceptionally sharp at long distances. For instance, as the crew of Waka flees Tsedi, Elān can see the carvings on a distant totem pole in clear detail.
  28. Flicker House: Elān’s clan and longhouse. At one time a powerful clan, but it has fallen on hard times after Lateen’s death and loss of many of its warriors. (Tlingit: the author’s ancestral clan house.) Author’s Note: The traditional Flicker House (Kóon Hít) was a longhouse belonging to the Naasteidí clan on Kuiu Island in Alaska.  Kóon in Tlingit = Northern flicker, a common bird in Alaska; Hít in Tlingit = longhouse; house.  In the Tlingit thought-world, hít has a much more important connection to land, culture, identity, and ancestry than the English word house. The name given to a Tlingit longhouse, unlike the physical longhouse itself, is permanent in Tlingit cosmology and thought. The Flicker House was destroyed during the 1860s smallpox epidemic. The author’s great-great-great grandmother was one of the few survivors.
  29. Gáaxw: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  30. Gandaa: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  31. Gooch Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’. Named after author’s son’s stuffed animal. (Tlingit: Gooch = wolf).
  32. Goox: The name of a Yahooni character lethally injured when the crew comes across his after the battle at Xoots Jin (Tlingit: Slave)
  33. Gluuchu: a ball game played by the Aaní (author’s invention)
  34. Guemes Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’. (This island shares a name with an actual island in the Salish Sea).
  35. Gunalchéesh: Thank you. (Tlingit: Thank you)
  36. Haadaadooshi Island: An Aaní island in Éil’. 
  37. Gunyak: Naasteidi’s canoe maker (also the name of an actual Tlingit canoe maker from the village of Klawock in the 1800s and early 1900s).
  38. Haa Kusteeyí: A book of famous Aaní warriors; Elān’s favorite book (Tlingit: Our culture.) Author’s Note: Haa Kusteeyí is also the name of an important book in the Dauenhauer trilogy, which is a series of books by Nora and Richard Dauenhauer about Tlingit culture, literature, and leaders.
  39. Haa Shúka: A line from an Aaní death song (Tlingit: Our ancestors / ancestral inheritance. One of the most important concepts in Tlingit cosmology and the Tlingit thought-world). Author’s Note: Haa Shúka is also the name of an important book in Dauenhauer trilogy, which is a series of books by Nora and Richard Dauenhauer about Tlingit culture, literature, and leaders.
  40. Heeni (Battle of Heeni): The name of a famous battle led by Elān’s grandfather Latseen involving the Aaní and Deikeenaa against the Yahooni (Tlingit: héeni = into the water).
  41. Héenjá: An Aaní Island Elder (author’s invention from Tlingit: héen = water; jáa = honey.)
  42. Hits’aati: The leader of an Aaní village’s Longhouse of War and Diplomacy (Tlingit: Leader of a Clan House)
  43. Hoosa: A human black bear cousin; caretaker of the black bears in S’eek Kwáan on Samish Island (author’s invention).
  44. Ishkeen: A type bottom fish in Éil’. (Tlingit: Black cod).
  45. Íxt: The Aani Elder of Samish Island and leader of the Aani Islands Elders Council.  (Tlingit: Íxt’ = doctor, medicine person)
  46. Jánwu: An Aaní Island Elder (Tlingit: Mountain goat)
  47. Jinahaa: A Deikeenaa Island in Éil’.  Jinahaa is just north of Latseen’s Line and the closest Deikeenaa island to Botson Bay on the mainland.
  48. Jishagóon: An Aaní astral navigation device for use on the ocean (Tlingit: Tool)
  49. Kaas Island: An Aaní island in Éil’. (Also known as Aaní Kasaan, or Kasaan in Aaní Waters to differentiate it from the Deikeenaa island of Kasaan).
  50. Kaltask Island: A Deikeenaa Island in Éil’
  51. Kals’aak Island: An Aaní island in Éil’.  (Tlingit: Squirrel)
  52. Kanata Island: A Deikeenaa Island in Éil’ famous for its blueberries.  (Tlingit: kanat’á = Blueberry).
  53. Kasaan Island: A Deikeenaa Island in Éil’.
  54. Kasaan In Aaní Waters / Aaní Kasaan: An Aaní Island in Éil’ (also known as Kaas Island to differentiate it from the Deikeenaa island of Kasaan)
  55. Kéet’s Island: An Aaní island in Éil’; Kéet is also the traditional name of the Aaní elder in charge of that island (Tlingit: Orca whale; Kéet is also the Tlingit name of one of the author’s sons).
  56. Klatseen: An Aaní word exclusive to warriors to steel them as they prepare for and face battle (author’s invention).
  57. Kóoshdakáa Shapeshifters invading the Aaní world (Tlingit: Land Otter Man)
  58. Kooyu Kwáan: The author’s ancestral village on Kuiu Island, Alaska. (Tlingit: Kooyu = Kuiu; Kwáan = people from a village, region)
  59. Kugíinaay: A Deikeenaa village on Wuskóowu Island.  (Haida: The sound of a bell).
  60. Kusaxakwáan: The land of the cannibal giants (Tlingit: Cannibal giants; cannibal giants village)
  61. Kwalk: A yearlong service to another Aaní village after students graduate from the Aaní Longhouse of Service and Trade or the Longhouse of War and Diplomacy.  It marks the coming-of-age and also keeps good relations between Aaní villages (author’s invention; word made up by author’s son)
  62. Kwaatk’wa (Kwa): A warrior from the village of Yelm (the Tlingit name of the author’s great-grandmother).
  63. Latseen: A famous Aaní warrior from the Flicker House; Elān’s grandfather.  (Tlingit: Latseen = strength, power.)  Latseen is also the Tlingit name of one of the author’s sons.
  64. Longhouse of Service and Trade: A school in Aaní and Deikeenaa main villages to teach and train youth in all manner of trades both specialized and academic: farming, carving, house building, canoe-building, masonry, navigation, cartography, math, geography, languages, teaching, etc. Students live at home unless they come from far away villages in which case they live on campus. (Author’s invention.)
  65. Longhouse of War and Diplomacy: A school in Aaní and Deikeenaa main villages to train youth to become warriors and, eventually, diplomats and leaders. Students live in barracks attached to the campus. (Author’s invention.)
  66. Náa Goosh: A landing place for canoes on Kals’aak Island (also, author’s favorite fishing hole near the village of Klawock, Alaska)
  67. Naakw: The name of a big village on Shanaax Island where Kwa did her kwalk.
  68. Naasteidi: The largest village on Samish Island. Elān and Latseen’s home village (Tlingit: the author’s ancestral clan traditionally located on Kuiu Island in Alaska; the village that belonged to the Naasteidi clan was abandoned in the 1860s after the villagers were decimated by smallpox)
  69. Naaxiin: a robe of distinction (Tlingit: Chilkat blanket)
  70. Nóosk Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  71. Práatrovich Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  72. Quintus Kwáan: Clan territory of the wolves (Quintus was made up by the author’s son; Kwáan is Tlingit for people from a village, region)
  73. Saaw Island in Éil’ where the shapeshifting Koosh come from (Tlingit: Crab)
  74. Samish Island Samish Island is the main Aaní island in the novel and the home of the crew of Waka. It shares its name with a real island in the Salish Sea of Washington State, located near the author’s favorite salmon fishing and crabbing spots. Author’s note: The -ish ending is common in Salishan languages rather than in Tlingit. In the Raven and Eagle series, the name Samish subtly hints at influence from southern tribes, who in Book 2 are known as the Survivors of the Great Flood. The Aaní have traditionally traveled south into the Survivors’ territory to hunt elk, as elk do not exist in Aaní lands.
  75. Seet: The distance an average ocean-going Aaní canoe can travel in a day under sail in steady wind (Tlingit: Shallow canoe)
  76. S’eek Kwáan: Clan territory on Samish Island of black bears and their human cousin caretakers.  Area where Hoosa comes from. (Tlingit: s’eek = black bear; kwáan = people from a village, region)
  77. Sháa: Elān’s mother (Tlingit: Woman)
  78. Shaada Island: A Deikeenaa island in Éil’ west of Xoots.
  79. Shaatlein: The mountain above the village of Naasteidi.
  80. Shaatleingagi: The meeting place on Samish Island for the Aani Island Elders’ Council. Since Samish Island is Raven’s shukáhít, Samish Island’s elder is always the leader of the Aaní Islands Elders’ Council and the council always meets on Samish Island.
  81. Shanaax Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  82. Sheet’ka: A big Aaní village on Lookaana Island (Teew’s Island).
  83. Shoox Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  84. Shukáhít: the ancestral island—or home—of a particular animal clan, the place where that animal’s first ancestor was created long before humans inhabited Éil’ (author’s invention from Tlingit: shuká = ancestor/ancestral inheritance; hít = house).
  85. Shéiyi: a type of spruce wood.  (Tlingit: Sitka Spruce).
  86. Skaan: Elān’s father (Also, the Tlingit name of one of the author’s great-grandfathers)
  87. Snaak: A teacher of geography, languages, and culture in Naasteidi’s Longhouse of Service and Trade. Elān’s favorite teacher. (Also, the Tlingit name of the author’s great uncle Frank Peratrovich and author’s older brother).
  88. Sú: a large, whip-like kelp.  (Tlingit: bull kelp). Author’s note: the Tlingit diet includes a lot of kelp and seaweed; bull kelp is one of the most delicious.
  89. Sukkwaan Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  90. Taan Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  91. Tas: An Aaní instrument similar to a guitar but with four strings (Tlingit: Thread)
  92. Teew’s Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’ (also known as East Shanaax)
  93. Tináa: A miniature copper shield engraved with a symbol on it used like a passport in the novel to provide entrance to foreign villages (Tlingit: Copper shield)
  94. Tláa: The Aaní word for “mother” (Tlingit: Mother)
  95. Tsedi: Yahooni village on the mainland
  96. Tundantáan Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’. (Tlingit: Thought-world).
  97. What in Yéil’s name?: An Aaní exclamation used often in surprise, frustration, or confusion (Tlingit: Yéil = Raven)
  98. Waka: The name of Elan’s canoe (Māori word for canoe)
  99. Xaax’w: A type bottom fish in Éil’. (Tlingit: Ling cod).
  100. Xoots / Xoots Jin: The Xoots are a clan of massive bears who inhabit Xoots Jin, an island in Éil’ shaped like a bear’s paw, with smaller, claw-like islands lying just north of the main landmass. These islands sit on the border between Aaní and Deikeenaa territory, yet are claimed by neither. Both peoples protect the surrounding seas. Any human who sets foot on Xoots Jin is killed by the Xoots. (Tlingit: Xóots = grizzly bear; Jin = paw, hand.) Author’s Note: Rumor among the Aaní and Deikeenaa says that Xoots Jin is secretly used by Aaní Island Elders and village leaders as a place of exile for criminals.
  101. Xuut: A Deikeenaa warrior and captain of the Choosh Sea Guard.  She was in the Battle of Heeni.
  102. Yaakw: One fifth of a seet.  (Tlingit: boat; canoe)
  103. Yaaw Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’
  104. Yaabel / Yaabel’s: Yahooni word for Kooshdakáa 
  105. Yahooni: the traditional enemy of the Aaní.  There are Mainland Yahooni and Island Yahooni. (Author’s invention).
  106. Yáay Island: An Aaní Island in Éil’.
  107. Yelm: The second largest village on Samish Island after Naasteidi. Kwa’s home village. (Yelm comes from the Coast Salish word for mirage.) Author’s Note: Yelm shares its name with a real city in Washington State which is 140 miles (225 km) from the actual Samish Island — also in Washington State. 140 miles is the approximate distance, in the world of the novel, from the northern tip to the southern tip of Samish Island. 140 miles is also the distance, top to bottom, of the island in Alaska where the author’s grandmother was born and raised.

(Contact Caskey through the contact link on this website if you have any questions about the glossary)