Sigyidm hana̱'a̱

sigyidm hana̱'a̱

Language

Tsm̱syen (Sm’algyax)

Local Pronunciation

"si-gyi-dm ha-na̱'a̱"

Meaning

A matriarch; an honoured woman within the wilp. She carries:

• authority in decision-making,
• responsibility for lineage integrity,
• knowledge of names and histories,
• leadership in feasts,
• and the duty to uphold ayaawx.

She is not simply an “elder woman.” She is **the backbone of governance**, the one who directs, corrects, teaches, and balances the House.

Composition

The term is a contraction of two components:

• **sm’oogyit** — chief, high-ranking person
• **hana̱’a̱x** — woman, female

Together, they form the idea of a **female authority figure**, one who has rank, honour, and responsibility.

Related Forms

• **gyetk** – matriarch (more widely known term; general across Tsm̱syen)
• **sgyidmna̱'a̱** – dialectal variant meaning “honoured woman”
• **simgyaget** – high-ranking person/chief (male title)
• **sigidhanauk / sgigithanauk** – leadership role associated with governance protocol

Example Sentence

Sigyidmhana'a doni.

• The woman over there is a matriarch.*

Cultural Interpretation (Luudisk)

The **sigyidm hana̱’a̱** sits at the core of governance:

• She guides House decisions
• She aligns conduct with ayaawx
• She is consulted before speaking publicly
• Her word is binding in matters of kinship and protocol
• She instructs younger women in responsibilities
• She corrects chiefs, youth, and speakers when needed

In feast settings, she:

• determines seating
• approves speeches
• validates transfers
• ensures protocol
• identifies when ayaawx has been broken
• initiates correction

A House cannot function without her.

Feast & Meeting Protocol

In many gatherings, the **sigyidm hana̱’a̱** is:

• greeted immediately after chiefs (or sometimes before),
• seated in a position that reflects her authority,
• responsible for ensuring House dignity and law are upheld.

Her presence legitimizes House actions.

Variants

• sigyidm hana̱'a̱ (this form)
• sgyidmna̱'a̱ (dialectal / compressed form)
• gyetk (general matriarch term; broader usage)

MP3 Pronunciation

Click to listen (File uploaded from community dictionary audio)

Source Trail

Summaries only — NOT copied definitions.

Dictionaries

• Dunn, *Practical Dictionary*, entries 1696 & 1696a — lists “matriarch; honoured woman”
• Draft Dictionary — confirms contraction and variant forms

Related Academic Notes

• Shows connection between rank term (**sm’oogyit**) and gender marker (**hana̱’a̱x**)
• Often used in formal contexts and feast protocol

Community Usage

• Appears in meetings, greetings, and seating protocol
• Recognized as a high-status form for matriarch in certain regions

Notes

INITIATION DRAFT — To expand as elders and matriarchs provide deeper context. Luudisk prioritizes living usage over academic orthography.