Halloween

Happy Halloween! It may not be a traditional holiday, but Halloween is still a great time to celebrate your heritage by speaking your language. The SSBMI Language Department created this webpage to share Nisenan and Northern Sierra Miwok language for the spooky season.

Please contact us at language@ssband.org to check on the availability of language pins and stickers, or to ask any questions about language.

Annual pins and stickers

Halloween 2026

Pins

This year's bilingual pin features oolelé (bat) flying across a full moon. The bat on the pin is a Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Grab a flashlight and charge your pin - it glows in the dark!

Oolelé

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Úllele

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Bat

Stickers

This year's Nisenáan stickers feature a couple of handy phrases for trick or treating in your language! Want the Míw’a (Northern Sierra Miwok) equivalents? Check out the "More Halloween language" section below.

Mey nik helweybɨ́s min!

Trick or treat!

(Give me something or I'll mess with you!)

Meewá sudak’á!

Take candy!

(said to 2+ people)

Moletím Hɨ

Scary House

Halloween 2025

Pins

This year's bilingual pin features tonc’í (cat). Check it out in the dark - its eyes glow!

Tonc’í

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Tónci

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Cat

Stickers

This year we made four bilingual stickers featuring spooky animals and a cut-away section with a direct link to listen to the languages. You can find matching coloring pages below!

Táyaman

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Láanakassa

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

California Kingsnake

Kook

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Káakulu

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Common Raven

Huweenaná

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Wála

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Mountain Gartersnake

Teláa

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Lólloku

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Woodrat

Halloween 2024

Pins

This year we shared two bilingual pins, one featuring pokkón (black widow) and one featuring wokookók (California toad). Grab a flashlight and charge up your wokookók pin - it glows in the dark! You can find matching coloring pages below.

Pokkón

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Pókkumu

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Black Widow

Wokookók

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Póṭpoṭo

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

California Toad

Stickers

We made nine bilingual stickers featuring spooky animals, plants, and objects. You can find matching coloring pages below too!

Oolelé

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Úllele

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Bat

Sudák’

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Cú’cuyu

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Candy

Tonc’í

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Tónci

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Cat

Póombok

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Kóme

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Moon

Wa

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Húŋe

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Mushroom

Kalwaasá

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Kálwaasa

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Pumpkin

Potpotó

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Waṭáksayi

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

California Red-legged Frog

Wak’áat

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Waṭáksayi

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Sierran Treefrog

K’awím Kapá

(Nisenáan/Nisenan)

Kúttuulu

(Míw’a/Northern Sierra Miwok)

Tarantula

Coloring Pages

Browse, download, and print the SSBMI Language Department's collection of Nisenan and Northern Sierra Miwok Halloween coloring pages.

You can click on a coloring page below to download it, or you can download the whole collection (Nisenan, Northern Sierra Miwok). You can also listen to the language featured on the coloring pages and copy the language to your clipboard too using the copy button ( ).

*new*

AapelAapél

Apple

OoleleOolelé

Bat

PokkonPokkón

Black Widow

TayamanTáyaman

California Kingsnake

PotpotoPotpotó

California Red-legged Frog

WokookokWokookók

California Toad

*new*

WeelaWeelá

Candle

SudakSudák’

Candy

HimhimHɨmhɨ́m

Great Horned Owl

*new*

KoptiyuKop’tiyú

Lamp, Lantern, Flashlight

HuweenanaHuweenaná

Mountain Gartersnake

WaWa

Mushroom

*new*

LooyaLooyá

Pot, Cauldron

*new*

KalwaasaKalwaasá

Pumpkin

KookKook

Raven

*new*

Moletim HiMoletím Hɨ

Scary House

WakaatWak’áat

Sierran Treefrog

*new*

Meep sudakaMeep sudak’á!

Take candy! (said to 1 person)

*new*

Meewa sudakaMeewá sudak’á!

Take candy! (said to 2+ people)

Kawim KapaK’awím Kapá

Tarantula

*new*

Mey nik helweybis minMey nik helweybɨ́s min!

Trick or treat!

PicakPic’ák’

Western Fence Lizard

*new*

KondaKónda

Western Screech Owl

LollaLollá

Wolf

*new*

TelaaTeláa

Woodrat

*new*

AppiliÁapɨlɨ

Apple

UlleleÚllele

Bat

PokkumuPókkumu

Black Widow

LaanakassaLáanakassa

California Kingsnake

WataksayiWaṭáksayi

California Red-legged Frog

PotpotoPóṭpoṭo

California Toad

CucuyuCú’cuyu

Candy

TukkuuliTúkkuuli

Great Horned Owl

*new*

Leesi KocaLéesi’ Kocá’

Haunted House

WalaWála

Mountain Gartersnake

HuneHúŋe

Mushroom

*new*

LooyaLóoya

Pot, Cauldron

*new*

KalwaasaKálwaasa

Pumpkin

KaakuluKáakulu

Raven

WataksayiWaṭáksayi

Sierran Treefrog

*new*

Welli cucuyuyWélli’ cú’cuyuy!

Take candy! (said to 1 person)

*new*

Wellic cucuyuyWéllic cú’cuyuy!

Take candy! (said to 2+ people)

KuttuuluKúttuulu

Tarantula

*new*

Ammeeti menaksinninitÁmmeetɨ menáksɨnniniṭ!

Trick or treat!

SakkitiSákkiṭi

Western Fence Lizard

*new*

TukummuṬukúmmu

Western Screech Owl

HunnuHúŋŋu

Wolf

*new*

LollokuLólloku

Woodrat

*new*

AapelAapél

Apple

OoleleOolelé

Bat

PokkonPokkón

Black Widow

TayamanTáyaman

California Kingsnake

PotpotoPotpotó

California Red-legged Frog

WokookokWokookók

California Toad

*new*

WeelaWeelá

Candle

SudakSudák’

Candy

HimhimHɨmhɨ́m

Great Horned Owl

*new*

KoptiyuKop’tiyú

Lamp, Lantern, Flashlight

HuweenanaHuweenaná

Mountain Gartersnake

WaWa

Mushroom

*new*

LooyaLooyá

Pot, Cauldron

*new*

KalwaasaKalwaasá

Pumpkin

KookKook

Raven

*new*

Moletim HiMoletím Hɨ

Scary House

WakaatWak’áat

Sierran Treefrog

*new*

Meep sudakaMeep sudak’á!

Take candy! (said to 1 person)

*new*

Meewa sudakaMeewá sudak’á!

Take candy! (said to 2+ people)

Kawim KapaK’awím Kapá

Tarantula

*new*

Mey nik helweybis minMey nik helweybɨ́s min!

Trick or treat!

PicakPic’ák’

Western Fence Lizard

*new*

KondaKónda

Western Screech Owl

LollaLollá

Wolf

*new*

TelaaTeláa

Woodrat

*new*

AppiliÁapɨlɨ

Apple

UlleleÚllele

Bat

PokkumuPókkumu

Black Widow

LaanakassaLáanakassa

California Kingsnake

WataksayiWaṭáksayi

California Red-legged Frog

PotpotoPóṭpoṭo

California Toad

CucuyuCú’cuyu

Candy

TukkuuliTúkkuuli

Great Horned Owl

*new*

Leesi KocaLéesi’ Kocá’

Haunted House

WalaWála

Mountain Gartersnake

HuneHúŋe

Mushroom

*new*

LooyaLóoya

Pot, Cauldron

*new*

KalwaasaKálwaasa

Pumpkin

KaakuluKáakulu

Raven

WataksayiWaṭáksayi

Sierran Treefrog

*new*

Welli cucuyuyWélli’ cú’cuyuy!

Take candy! (said to 1 person)

*new*

Wellic cucuyuyWéllic cú’cuyuy!

Take candy! (said to 2+ people)

KuttuuluKúttuulu

Tarantula

*new*

Ammeeti menaksinninitÁmmeetɨ menáksɨnniniṭ!

Trick or treat!

SakkitiSákkiṭi

Western Fence Lizard

*new*

TukummuṬukúmmu

Western Screech Owl

HunnuHúŋŋu

Wolf

*new*

LollokuLólloku

Woodrat

Esak’ábe mi? (Do you know?) Check out our Activities page for more Nisenan and Northern Sierra Miwok coloring pages and other fun activities.

More Halloween language

Nisenan English
Mey nik helweybis minMey nik helweybɨ́s min!
Trick or treat! (literal: Give me something or I'll play a trick on you!)
Helweymen nikHelweymén nik!
Don't play a trick on me! (said to 1 person)
Sudaka daakam niSudak’á daak’ám ni.
I want candy.
Meep sudakaMeep sudak’á!
Take candy! (said to 1 person)
Meewa sudakaMeewá sudak’á!
Take candy! (said to 2+ people)
Molebe mi?Molébe mi?
Are you scared? (said to 1 person)
MolemenMolemén!
Don't be scared! (said to 1 person)
MolemenwaMolemenwá!
Don't be scared! (said to 2+ people)
ImitmenƗmitmén!
Do not enter! (said to 1 person)
ImitmenwaƗmitmenwá!
Do not enter! (said to 2+ people)
Miwok English
Ammeeti menaksinninitÁmmeetɨ menáksɨnniniṭ!
Trick or treat! (literal: Give me something or I could play a trick on you!)
MenakseetikeMenákseetɨke!
Don't play a trick on me! (said to 1 person)
Ootaksim cucuyuyÓoṭaksɨm cú’cuyuy.
I want candy.
Welli cucuyuyWélli’ cú’cuyuy!
Take candy! (said to 1 person)
Wellic cucuyuyWéllic cú’cuyuy!
Take candy! (said to 2+ people)
Yalimnes aa?Yalɨ́mŋes aa?
Are you scared? (said to 1 person)
Nisenan

Mey nik helweybis minMey nik helweybɨ́s min!

Trick or treat!

Helweymen nikHelweymén nik!

Don't play a trick on me! (said to 1 person)

Sudaka daakam niSudak’á daak’ám ni.

I want candy.

Meep sudakaMeep sudak’á!

Take candy! (said to 1 person)

Meewa sudakaMeewá sudak’á!

Take candy! (said to 2+ people)

Molebe mi?Molébe mi?

Are you scared? (said to 1 person)

MolemenMolemén!

Don't be scared! (said to 1 person)

MolemenwaMolemenwá!

Don't be scared! (said to 2+ people)

ImitmenƗmitmén!

Do not enter! (said to 1 person)

ImitmenwaƗmitmenwá!

Do not enter! (said to 2+ people)
Miwok

Ammeeti menaksinninitÁmmeetɨ menáksɨnniniṭ!

Trick or treat!

MenakseetikeMenákseetɨke!

Don't play a trick on me! (said to 1 person)

Ootaksim cucuyuyÓoṭaksɨm cú’cuyuy.

I want candy.

Welli cucuyuyWélli’ cú’cuyuy!

Take candy! (said to 1 person)

Wellic cucuyuyWéllic cú’cuyuy!

Take candy! (said to 2+ people)

Yalimnes aa?Yalɨ́mŋes aa?

Are you scared? (said to 1 person)

Looking for something fun to do? Try making your own Halloween decorations using these phrases or any other language you know! You can get creative and make your decorations as spooky or as inviting as you'd like too. Have fun with your language!

About the languages

Nisenáan (Nisenan)

The SSBMI Community has ancestral ties to the Valley and Southern Hill dialects of the Nisenan language through the Tribe's Matriarchs, Pamela Cleanso Adams and Annie Hill Murray Paris. Pamela spoke the Valley dialect and she, her brother Tom Cleanso, and her daughter Lillie Williams are responsible for passing on most of the knowledge we have of Valley Nisenan today. We have less direct information about Annie’s language; based on where she was from and documented language from her relations and associates, she likely spoke Southern Hill Nisenan.

The Nisenan language that we share on our language learning materials is from speakers of the Valley dialect like SSBMI Matriarch Pamela Cleanso Adams and her brother Tom Cleanso, and speakers of the Southern Hill dialect like William Joseph (a.k.a. Bill Joe), Ida Hill Starkey, Charlie Hunchup, and Amanda Winn. We coined a few phrases, like "trick or treat" and "scary house", using Nisenan words and grammar.

Valley Nisenan and Southern Hill Nisenan are very similar to one another in their words and grammar, and they are more similar to one another than either one is to the other dialects of the Nisenan language (i.e. Central Hill Nisenan and Northern Hill Nisenan). You can learn more about the Nisenan language, the Tribe's language background, and where these dialects are spoken by checking out our "Language FAQ" pamphlet.

Míw’a (Northern Sierra Miwok)

There are several distinct and mutually unintelligible Miwok languages spoken in California. Northern Sierra Miwok is the northernmost of the three Miwok languages that are spoken in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It is spoken from the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River southward to the area between the Calaveras River and Angels Camp. It is distinct from Plains Miwok, which is spoken in the valley south of Sacramento.

The Northern Sierra Miwok language we share comes from many speakers like Eph Cummings and others who worked with C. Hart Merriam in the early 1900s, as well as Queenie Miller, Elena McCauley, and Nicolas Villa Sr., who worked with linguist Catherine Callaghan on the Northern Sierra Miwok dictionary (1987). We coined our translation for "trick or treat" using native Northern Sierra Miwok words and grammar.

You can learn more about the Tribe's language background and where Northern Sierra Miwok is spoken from our "Language FAQ" pamphlet.

About the website

This website is maintained by SSBMI Language Department staff so that we can share Nisenan and Northern Sierra Miwok language learning resources with Tribal Members and other learners. Our team consists of: Jonathan Geary, Skye Anderson, & Richenda Ervin. Unless otherwise specified, the Nisenan and Miwok audio recordings that you will find on this website are of Jonathan, Skye, and Richenda.

We are all learners of the Nisenan and Northern Sierra Miwok languages, and we hope that you will join us in learning Nisenan and Miwok too!

If you have questions or want to know more about either language, you can reach out to us at Language@ssband.org.

Webpage last updated: 2026-10-13