’eníq̓ixʷ is a x̄á’isla word for something called a “woodworm” or “shipworm”.

Here’s how the word is pronounced:

Woodworms are actually a type of beetle, which you can see here:

The beetles lay eggs on trees or wood and when they hatch, the larvae start digging holes in the wood, which looks like this:

As they dig, they leave behind debris called “frass”.

In an interview, x̄enáksiala elder Gordon Robertson once said, “when you pack [fire]wood, that’s called ’eníqa”. He says that when you split the wood that’s been eaten by shipworms, “it looks like it’s been carved by hand”.

Both ’eníqa and ’eníq̓ixʷ share the same root word, which makes them directly related to other x̄á’isla/x̄enáksiala words such as:

’eniḡán̓ex̄ʷ (firewood gathered)

’eníq̓inix̄ʷ (gatherer of firewood)

’eníq̓es (to gather firewood outside)

I find this to be of great interest and I hope you do too.