Hvm'-naa~-ghvt-ya

When looking for a name for this new column, I came across the Tolowa phrase hvm'-naa~-ghvt-ya,which according to the official Tolowa Dictionary, translates to:

rain, about to.

It makes a lot of sense why there would be a need for a phrase that communicates a substantial change is about to happen. Rainfall can impact an activity, a task, a route home, wildlife, crops, anything really….it’s a unique phrase that more communicates the anticipation of impacting change than it does describing something tangible.

The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is in an exciting period of growth as an organization, people and community. The Planning Division and Community Development Department wanted to take the opportunity to contribute a monthly column to this publication to share and highlight some of those projects, programs or services that are contributing to progressive change.

While this column won’t predict the weather with any degree of accuracy, the spirit of the phrase, hvm'-naa~ghvt-ya, is strong in this community, and each month this column will strive to be a place for readers and citizens alike to read about something positive, and hopefully, provide you with an entertaining and informative read that communicates the anticipation of impacting positive change right here in this community.

Submitted by: Brian Millet, TDN Senior Planner