{"id":1419,"date":"2014-02-01T15:41:59","date_gmt":"2014-02-02T00:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ayatlin.wordpress.com\/?p=1419"},"modified":"2015-08-26T20:48:15","modified_gmt":"2015-08-27T04:48:15","slug":"athabascan-friend-and-mentor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/athabascanwoman.com\/?p=1419","title":{"rendered":"Athabascan Friend and Mentor"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Irene<\/a>
Irene Henry and late Lydia Simon playing cards in Bettles in the early 1990’s. Photo by Angela Gonzalez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was talking to my mom, Eleanor Yatlin, recently about my late Grandma Lydia Simon. She mentioned that Millie Moses of Allakaket was my late grandmother\u2019s siwogilaah. Siwogilaah means special friend or mentor in Denaakk\u2019e (Koyukon Athabascan). My aunt Irene Henry of Allakaket says, \u201cIt\u2019s like a very, best friend ever.\u201d Siwogilaah friendships are sometimes made because the parents or grandparents were friends. Another way this friendship can be formed is if someone gives a special gift. It could have also started because you were there in a time of need.<\/p>\n

In Denaakk\u2019e, siwogilaah is pronounced \u201cse wo gil agh\u201d. It means special friend or mentor.<\/strong>
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