In Hiaki, the hummingbird is known as semalulukut. There are no specific names for the different types of hummingbirds, but it is recognized that many live around the world. It is known that the semalulukuchim in Sonora and Southern Arizona are attracted to mesquite flowers. The semalulukut is also known to appear in the worlds beyond our life on Earth and is referenced in a Pascola song with the name ‘Semalulukut’. There is also a folk song [1] that appears below:
Aa, semalulukuttaka huni Aa, the hummingbird, also,
Toloko huyapo siika In the light blue wilderness went,
Huyapo sewa luute In the wilderness he is using up the flower.
Semalulukuttaka huni The hummingbird also,
Toloko huyapo siika In the light blue wilderness went,
Huyapo sewa luute In the wilderness he is using up the flower.
(x3) (x3)
Aman ne seyewailo[2] Over there, I, in the middle
Sanialoata nasukun Of the flower-covered grove,
Weyekai As I am going,
Sanialo huyapo siika In the wilderness grove I went
Huyapo sewa luute In the wilderness he is using up the flower,
Semalulukuttaka huni The humming bird, also,
Toloko huyapo sisika In the light blue wilderness went,
Huyapo sewa luute. In the wilderness he is using up the flower.
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[1] This is an edited version of the “Semalulukut” song in Larry Evers, Yaqui Deer Songs, Maso Bwikam: A Native American Poetry. The Hiaki words and spellings have been updated slightly. The English translation was kept the same.
[2] The song form of sewawailo. Translates to ‘flower world’, but in this case it is used to mean wilderness.
