Cree Literacy Network

Thanks to Izaiah Swampy-Omeasoo for letting us share this Treaty Six territorial acknowledgement in Cree – as it is now used by Edmonton Public Schools’ First Nation, Metis, Inuit Education. Translation from English into Cree (y-dialect) was provided by Mary Cardinal Collins.

The Cree text reads:

inistawêyihtênaw ôta êhayâyahk nikotwâsik tipahamâtowina askiy tasi, kayâs mâmawâyâwin, êkimâmawinitohk, ita êkipimohtahocik nêiyawak, nahkawiniwak kaskitêwayasit, otipêimisowak, wêcipwayâniwak êkwa asinîwipwâtak.

kinistawêyihtênaw kahkiyaw iyiniwak, otipêyimisowak, êkwa Inuit ôta kâkipêhayâcik ôhi askiya pêcinâway.

The English text reads:

We acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gathering place and travelling route to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux.

We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.

If you scroll down, you can also watch Izaiah use the text for the first time ever (and even read along) as he emceed the 11th annual Honouring Celebration for over 500 Edmonton Public FMNI graduates. The Cree Literacy Network congratulates every one of them!